Can Cannabis Lower the Risk of Diabetes For Women and Men?

Can cannabis lower the risk of diabetes for men and women? 

Cannabis is amazing. Studies are coming out left and right on how consuming cannabis can reduce the risk of many conditions in men and women, particularly with diabetes. How does cannabis and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) help people manage the worst effects of diabetes? Let’s find out by diving into some of the research on the topic. 

The endocannabinoid system in people with diabetes 

For many people, their blood sugar levels are at healthy levels. People with diabetes, they often have higher blood sugar levels in their bodies than people without diabetes. This means their body’s endocannabinoid system may not function well or could be overactive. Cannabis and CBD consumption may be a way to treat this imbalance and restore it for those who live with diabetes.
Since consuming cannabis tends to help keep blood vessels dilated and open, THC-based products can help people with diabetes by helping them release insulin from the body into the blood cells. This process works because it can help reduce inflammation, help regulate blood sugar, and ease neuropathic pain. 

Manage diabetes-related blood sugar issues with cannabis 

One of the main concerns for people with diabetes is learning to manage pesky blood sugar levels. That is why eating sugary snacks can be so harmful to women and men with diabetes because sugar can have negative effects on the body.  

Cannabis may help women and men manage blood sugar levels by improving the flow of insulin through the body. Since cannabis tends to have a calming and relaxing effect, it could place someone in a calmer place to then choose what they want to eat, in order to manage blood sugar levels to healthy levels. 

Weight gain can be managed with the help of cannabis 

Too much sugar leads to weight gain. Some women and men tend to eat a large number of sweets and fatty foods with sugar. This can be especially harmful to those with diabetes. Cannabis might just be able to save the day. Studies show that cannabis might affect the body’s metabolism by affecting and improving the body’s insulin sensitivity and help maintain weight. People who used marijuana at least one time per month tended to have smaller waists and lower levels of fasting insulin. 

While these studies suggest consuming marijuana-based products may have positive effects on the body’s metabolism, they are few and far between. So be careful. The first step in protecting your body to help manage the nerve pain from diabetes is to consult a doctor about how to help manage the pain. Doctors are trained and can share their knowledge with you on how to manage weight gain and other issues— like peripheral neuropathy —  to manage safely and responsibly manage diabetes. 

Managing diabetes and nerve pain with cannabis 

A hallmark condition in women with diabetes is chronic nerve pain. The clinical name for this condition is peripheral neuropathy. Cannabis may help reduce chronic nerve pain by stopping inflammation of nerves and therefore helping reduce the pain in nerves. You can think of cannabis as a sort of activating agent that lights up certain parts of the brain that are used to monitor the body and the brain’s response to pain.  

Medical Cannabis Doctors’ cannabis-based indica or sativas may offer a solution by helping the body against nerve pain. Take a look at these websites because when you return, we’ll discuss how cannabis can help protect other health conditions associated with diabetes. 

Cannabis may protect against diabetes-related eye pain conditions  

Have red and painful eyes because of diabetes? We understand: it’s tough. Men and women with diabetes often live with a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Retinopathy occurs from damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye because of abnormal blood flow to the eye.  

Cannabis may be able to help with this condition. THC and CBD-based products help increase blood flow to the body. This helps blood vessels widen, a process called vasodilation. This widening can allow blood to flow through the eye’s arteries, which can help reduce the pain associated with diabetic retinopathy. Less pain plus less redness is what we call a win-win. 

Be careful about cannabis use with diabetic ketoacidosis 

Diabetic what? Yep, diabetic ketoacidosis. It is a complication that can often arise as a result of having type-1 or type-2 diabetes. What happens is that the body cannot take up enough energy from glucose and then resorts to other unhealthy ways to produce energy. This way of taking in energy can result in a build-up of harmful salt-based acids — or ketones — which can hurt the body. The condition often results in nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, confusion, frequent urination, and sometimes a loss of consciousness.

The jury is still out on whether cannabis can help with diabetic ketoacidosis. One study found that people with type-1 diabetes who consumed cannabis within 12 months were at double the risk of contracting diabetic ketoacidosis compared with those who did not use cannabis at all. If ever in doubt about whether cannabis is right, Medical Cannabis Doctors has pulled up local state legislation to help you stay informed about how cannabis can help you with your condition. Consult a doctor near you or look into your state’s legislation to learn more about what your state’s laws are about cannabis to help you with your condition. 

Final words from Medical Cannabis Doctors on Diabetes and Cannabis 

Diabetes is a very complex condition. Men and women are smart to monitor their glucose levels, sugar intake, and sleep. Doing so can save lives. It’s important to contact a physician near you to determine whether medical marijuana or cannabis is the right treatment for you. 

At Medical Cannabis Doctors (MCD), we’re here 24/7 to answer any questions you might have about medical cannabis. If you are interested in obtaining your medical marijuana card, schedule a telemedicine appointment today. See how cannabis can help you manage your diabetes and start living and thriving again. 

Medical Cannabis Doctors is a one-stop resource for buying medicinal marijuana and learning more about healthy cannabis consumption, where our team of physicians and patient advocates are on-call, ready to meet your needs. Phone support is available 24/7, so contact us at (630) 551-8210 or at MCD@cannabisdoctors.com to receive your medical marijuana card and learn how cannabis can help you today.