Diabetes – Medical Marijuana Research Overview
The following information is presented for educational purposes only. Medical Marijuana Inc. provides this information to provide an understanding of the potential applications of cannabidiol. Links to third party websites do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations by Medical Marijuana Inc. and none should be inferred. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that prevents the body from properly utilizing glucose. Studies have shown marijuana reduces the risk of diabetes, can help treat diabetes once its developed, and assists in the management of pain associated with the disease. Overview of Diabetes Diabetes mellitus, also commonly simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of diseases that influences how the body uses glucose. Glucose, or blood sugar, is an important source of fuel for the body’s cells and is the main source of energy for the brain. In diabetes, there is too much glucose in the bloodstream. Glucose builds up because of an issue with insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas that allows your body to process and use glucose. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes, commonly affects children and teenagers and occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90 to 95% of all diabetes cases, occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells fail to respond to insulin properly. Having too much glucose in the blood can lead to serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, skin conditions and hearing impairment. The symptoms associated with diabetes include increased thirst and frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, extreme hunger, irritability, blurr Continue reading >>
What Conditions Qualify For Medical Marijuana
As cannabis for healing purposes has become legal and vastly popularized, many patients have inquired about how to get a medical card in Arizona. Medicinal marijuana is used to treat, alleviate or lessen the symptoms of many ongoing conditions. Amongst the most common areas of relief for medical marijuana are: Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome / Human Immunodeficiency Virus Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Anorexia Nervosa Anxiety Disorder Arthritis Asthma Autism Cachexia (wasting syndrome) Cancer Crohn’s Disease Diabetes (adult onset) Diabetic Renal Disease Epilepsy Glaucoma Graves’ Disease Hepatitis C Insomnia Lyme Disease Lymphoma Malignant Melanoma Nail Patella Nausea Opiate Dependence Premenstrual Tension Prostate Cancer Reiter’s Syndrome Severe and/or chronic pain Schizophrenia Shingles Skin Cancer (non-melanoma) Testicular Cancer Thyroiditis Tourette’s Syndrome Uterine Cancer Although cannabis can be used to treat a wide variety of ailments, medical marijuana conditions by state vary. The following is a list of conditions that qualify Arizona residents for the Arizona Medical Marijuana Program: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cachexia (wasting syndrome) Cancer Crohn’s Disease Glaucoma Hepatitis C Human Immunodeficiency Virus Muscle spasms (related to multiple sclerosis) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Seizures, especially those related to epilepsy Severe and chronic pain Severe nausea Are you curious about how to get a medical card in AZ? Reach out to our team at Affordable Evaluations for all the information and guidance you need surrounding medical marijuana conditions and card requirements. Continue reading >>
Marijuana: The Next Diabetes Drug?
Toking up may help marijuana users to stay slim and lower their risk of developing diabetes, according to the latest study, which suggests that cannabis compounds may help in controlling blood sugar. Although marijuana has a well-deserved reputation for increasing appetite via what stoners call “the munchies,” the new research, which was published in the American Journal of Medicine, is not the first to find that the drug has a two-faced relationship to weight. Three prior studies have shown that marijuana users are less likely to be obese, have a lower risk for diabetes and have lower body-mass-index measurements. And these trends occurred despite the fact that they seemed to take in more calories. Why? “The most important finding is that current users of marijuana appeared to have better carbohydrate metabolism than nonusers,” says Murray Mittleman, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the lead author of the study. “Their fasting insulin levels were lower, and they appeared to be less resistant to the insulin produced by their body to maintain a normal blood-sugar level.” The research included over 4,600 men and women participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2010. Among them, 48% had smoked marijuana at least once in their lives, and 12% were current cannabis smokers. The authors controlled for other factors like age, sex, income, alcohol use, cigarette smoking and physical activity that could also affect diabetes risk. Even after these adjustments, the current marijuana users showed fasting insulin levels that were 16% lower than those of former or never users, along with a 17% reduction in another measure of insulin resistance as well. Higher levels on both tests are associated wit Continue reading >>
Metabolic Effects Of Chronic Cannabis Smoking
OBJECTIVE We examined if chronic cannabis smoking is associated with hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, reduced β-cell function, or dyslipidemia in healthy individuals. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a cross-sectional, case-control study, we studied cannabis smokers (n = 30; women, 12; men, 18; 27 ± 8 years) and control subjects (n = 30) matched for age, sex, ethnicity, and BMI (27 ± 6). Abdominal fat depots and intrahepatic fat content were quantified by magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Insulin-sensitivity indices and various aspects of β-cell function were derived from oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). RESULTS Self-reported cannabis use was: 9.5 (2–38) years; joints/day: 6 (3–30) [median (range)]. Carbohydrate intake and percent calories from carbohydrates, but not total energy intake, were significantly higher in cannabis smokers. There were no group differences in percent total body fat, or hepatic fat, but cannabis smokers had a higher percent abdominal visceral fat (18 ± 9 vs. 12 ± 5%; P = 0.004). Cannabis smokers had lower plasma HDL cholesterol (49 ± 14 vs. 55 ± 13 mg/dL; P = 0.02), but fasting levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, or free fatty acids (FFA) were not different. Adipocyte insulin resistance index and percent FFA suppression during an OGTT was lower (P < 0.05) in cannabis smokers. However, oral glucose insulin sensitivity index, measures of β-cell function, or incretin concentrations did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Chronic cannabis smoking was associated with visceral adiposity and adipose tissue insulin resistance but not with hepatic steatosis, insulin insensitivity, impaired pancreatic β-cell function, or glucose intol Continue reading >>
Cannabis And Diabetes
Tweet Cannabis, or marijuana, is a drug derived from the cannabis plant that is used for recreational use, medicinal purposes and religious or spiritual rites. Cannabis plants produce a unique family of compounds called cannabinoids. Of these, the major psychoactive (brain function-affecting) compound is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Marijuana contains high levels of THC, as well as other psychoactive chemicals, which produce the 'high' users feel when inhaling or ingesting it. History of cannabis Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years, with the earliest record of its use dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. It is indigenous to Central and South Asia, and is believed to of been used by many ancient civilizations, particularly as a form of medicine or herbal therapy. Cannabis drug class Laws regarding the production, possession, use and sale of cannabis came into effect in the early 20th century. But despite being illegal in most countries, including the UK, its use as a recreational drug is still very common. In fact it is the most used illicit drug in the world, according to the United Nations, with approximately 22.5 million adults across the globe estimated to use marijuana on a daily basis. Legal status In the UK, cannabis is categorized as a Class B drug under the UK Misuse of Drugs Act. Individuals caught in possession of these drugs are therefore given more lenient punishment - often confiscation and a 'cannabis warning' for small amounts. Effects of cannabis Cannabis causes a number of noticeable but mild (in comparison with other recreational drugs) physical and mental effects. These include: Increased pulse rate Increased appetite Bloodshot eyes Light-headiness Occasional dizzy spells Problems with memory, concentration, perception and coordina Continue reading >>
Asknadia: Can I Use Marijuana To Lower My Blood Sugar
Dear Nadia, Is marijuana used to lower high blood sugar? if so, does this mean I have to refrain from the munchies to get the benefits? Leah Dear Leah: The new Marijuana industry is still at its infancy in terms of its medicinal applications. Institutional investors are flocking at financial conferences to see how they can benefit from investing in this up and coming industry. There is some research that demonstrates, Marijuana, also known as Cannabis Sativa, does have some medicinal properties for people living diabetes. The American Journal of Medicine reports on a study by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted with 4,657 women and men from 2005 to 2010. The results concluded that people with diabetes experienced less insulin resistance and lower blood sugar readings. The results are considered statistically significant. The Munchies and THC A group of neuroscientists at the University of Bordeaux, conducted a study with mice and found that the THC in marijuana is what enhances the mice’s brain to smell food creating a desire to eat more. This occurs through the receptors of the brain, where the dopamine and ghrelin receptors, regulate the pathways for mood, feeling of joy, pain and hunger. There are different marijuana strains that have higher cannabinoids and less THC. The assumption is less THC will not stimulate the ghrelin receptors, thereby reducing the desire to eat. Some people that take insulin experience stomach issues and are unable to eat. They welcome the munchies because it allows them to have some appetite. To avoid drug interactions, it’s extremely important to tell your healthcare professional if you have decided to add Cannabis in your therapy mix. You might be interested in reading these articles that were wri Continue reading >>
Can Cbd Help With Diabetes?
Verdict Is Still Out on Whether CBD Oil Can Help With Diabetes Here's Why Over the past two decades, medical cannabis has been legalized in 29 states and Washington DC . In the years since its legalization, cannabis and CBD oil (an extract that doesn't get you high) have been used to treat a variety of physical and mental illnesses including anxiety disorder , epilepsy , nausea, multiple sclerosis , and general pain relief . Researchers have explored the possibility that CBD oil could potentially be used to treat diabetes . Several studies have found that CBD oil can lower the incidence of diabetes in nonobese, diabetes-prone mice , but there hasn't been a great deal of research in this area, and no human trials have been conducted. Doctors are deeply divided on whether CBD oil should be used to treat diabetes. Some report overwhelmingly positive results in their patients, while others state that it could actually be a harmful treatment method. We spoke to experts on both sides of the debate. Here are the cases for and against using CBD oil to treat diabetes. World Health Org Announces CBD Has No Health Risks Why CBD Oil Could Be an Effective Treatment Method Dr. Joy Summers, naturopathic physician at Arizona Natural Medical Center , and Dr. Bonni Goldstein , medical adviser to Weedmaps and medical director of Canna-Centers Wellness and Education , use CBD to treat diabetes patients. "CBD is anti-inflammatory, immunoprotective, and neuroprotective, which all provide direct benefit to patients dealing with diabetes. Often with diabetic patients, immune systems are compromised, and CBD helps to boost or fortify the immune system. Diabetic neuropathy is another complication many patients face, and CBD can help with both pain relief from the neuropathy as well as protectin Continue reading >>
Study: Marijuana Can Benefit People With Diabetes
In the U.S., over 29.1 million people are currently diagnosed with diabetes. This is almost 10 percent of the population. Furthermore, two out of three of these people will die from the condition or the many complications that arise from it. This has prompted researchers to look into how medical marijuana can help treat diabetes and its associated complications. Type 1 diabetes, often termed juvenile diabetes, is a genetic disorder where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin –– a hormone that allows the body to process the sugars from carbohydrates. Sufferers of Type 1 diabetes often take multiple injections of insulin each day. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes (also known as adult onset diabetes) is a disorder where the body doesn’t process insulin properly, often signaling the pancreas to make more insulin than required. This is the most common type of diabetes. Medical marijuana has been the focus of several studies examining potential diabetes treatment. One such study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, found that active users of marijuana had a more productive carbohydrate metabolism than people who didn’t use marijuana (Ref. 1). Murray Mittleman, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard and author of the study, said, “[Marijuana users’] fasting insulin levels were lower, and they appeared to be less resistant to the insulin produced by their body to maintain a normal blood-sugar level.” The study comprised over 4,657 men and women participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2010 –– 48 percent had smoked marijuana at least once and 12 percent were current cannabis smokers. The researchers controlled for other factors that might impact diabetes risk, such as gender, income, alcohol Continue reading >>
Can Marijuana Help Diabetes?
While research on the risks and benefits of medical marijuana for people with diabetes is only preliminary, some studies suggest certain potential effects that may be worth further scientific exploration. Sign Up for Our Living with Diabetes Newsletter Thanks for signing up! You might also like these other newsletters: Sign up for more FREE Everyday Health newsletters . Big questions remain about the health benefits of cannibis. Although research on marijuana for medicinal purposes is limited and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the drug as a standard of care, 29 states and Washington, DC, have legalized medical marijuana. That legislation has passed at a time when some research , which has mostly been observational and conducted in animals, links marijuana use to improved symptoms associated with HIV, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and mental disorders. But what do researchers say about using marijuana to help treat or prevent diabetes ? Suffice it to say, studies suggest you shouldnt light up just yet. The marijuana plant contains chemicals called cannabinoids that have a range of effects, including increased appetite and diminished pain and inflammation . That all sounds great, but whats really going on? Even though some preliminary research suggests medical marijuana may help improve glucose control and insulin resistance , doctors across the board arent quick to recommend marijuana for diabetes prevention. Thats because most of the studies havent met the gold standard for medical research: Medical marijuana hasnt been analyzed in large, randomized, controlled studies in human subjects with type 2 diabetes. Such studies reduce the risk of bias in study authors, and provide the most reliable evidence we have for a cause-and-effect relations Continue reading >>
Can Marijuana Improve Blood Sugars In Type 2 Diabetes?
Doctors visits, blood tests and more medications. This is the norm when you’re living with type 2 diabetes. Life becomes a new routine of pricking your finger, worrying if the food you ate is going to spike your sugars and becoming nervous at every little tingle in your fingers and toes. You have to deal with conflicting advice about what you should and shouldn’t eat (hint: diabetic foods are definitely not a good choice). Is it any wonder that there is a higher risk of depression for type 2 diabetics. What if there was a natural solution that might help your mood and your blood sugar control? What are Cannabinoids? This plant goes by so many names, marijuana, maryjane, weed and is the most widely used illicit drug worldwide. What you might not know is that cannabis has a wide range of medicinal benefits. To understand the medicinal uses of cannabis we first need to look at how it works in the body. Our body has it’s own cannabinoid receptors, called the Endocannabinoid system. The system helps regulate a number of processes including appetite, memory, mood, pain, metabolism, blood flow and cell immunity. The active ingredients in cannabis are called cannabinoids, they can act on the endocannabinoid system which is where the medical benefits come from. Cannabis contains around 80 different cannabinoids most of which have not been widely researched as yet. The most well known cannabinoid contained in cannabis is THC. Cannabis: the old kid on the block Actually, humans have been cultivating and using hemp (the plant the cannabis comes from) for over 10,000 years. Evidence shows it is the first agricultural crop our ancestors farmed. Cannabis has also been used medicinally for nearly as long, with Queen Victoria using it regularly. It is the THC component of cannabis Continue reading >>
Marijuana And Diabetes: Benefits, Disadvantages, And Legality
Marijuana has been used medicinally for thousands of years, although many people use it as a recreational drug too. Research now indicates marijuana may have medicinal properties that can provide benefits for diabetes, as well as other health conditions. After alcohol, marijuana (also known as cannabis) is the most commonly used drug in the world. The United Nations World Drug Report 2016 estimate there are 182.5 million users globally. This article explores the medicinal properties of marijuana and how its use might benefit people with diabetes. It also examines the potential downsides of using marijuana for people who have diabetes and what the legal status of the drug is. Contents of this article: Medicinal properties of marijuana Compounds in marijuana are believed to be responsible for the health benefits associated with the plant. These are called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids interact with receptors found in the central nervous system of the body. This can affect a number of processes such as: mood pain memory coordination appetite Of all the cannabinoids in marijuana, THC and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most commonly studied. THC is the main psychoactive component in cannabis, producing the "high" associated with the drug. CBD is not considered psychoactive, but has a number of medicinal uses. As such, it is of interest to those considering marijuana for medical use. Medical marijuana and synthetic drugs The term "medical marijuana" means the use of the whole, unprocessed cannabis plant (or extracts from it) to treat certain health conditions. It should be noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved marijuana as a safe and effective drug for any condition. The FDA has, however, approved the following medications containing synthetic versio Continue reading >>
Cannabis And Neuropathy: How Marijuana Helps Treat Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathy is defined as the damage to the sensory, motor or automatic nerves that occurs from an underlying cause. It’s a complex and chronic condition that affects nearly 20 million people in the United States. Also known as peripheral neuropathy, this condition causes weakness, numbness and pain to extremities like hands and feet. The pain is often described as stabbing, burning or tingling and can be extremely agonizing. It can result from a number of things, such as traumatic injuries, infections, toxin exposure, diabetes and genetic predispositions. Recently, cannabis has been found to help people suffering from neuropathy by relieving some of the pain associated with the disorder. To fully understand how cannabis can help treat neuropathy though, we must first gain a little more information on neuropathic pain. To understand neuropathic pain, let’s look at your peripheral nerves. They are divided into several different classifications with specific functions: sensory nerves that receive sensation from temperature, pain and touch; motor nerves that control muscle movement; and autonomic nerves that control essential functions such as your blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and bladder. Your entire peripheral nervous system sends information from your central nervous system to the rest of your body. And when nerve fibers are damaged, dysfunctional or injured, they can send incorrect signals to other pain centers. Peripheral neuropathy can affect one nerve (mononeuropathy), two or more nerves in different areas (multiple mononeuropathy) or many nerves (polyneuropathy). Most individuals suffer from polyneuropathy, but it all depends on which nerves are damaged. But pain is complex and entirely subjective. It can’t be measured, it’s hard to describe and is Continue reading >>
Marijuana Use Linked To Prediabetes
Does cannabis protect against blood sugar problems…or ignite them? Several big population studies hint at an intriguing association between marijuana and lower risk for type 2 diabetes. But a recent University of Minnesota study has uncovered 49-65% higher odds for prediabetes in current smokers and former “heavy” users. The study was published in the September issue of the journal Diabetologia. Researchers used data from the large, on-going CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study, which is studying heart disease development in 5,115 black and Caucasian women and men over several decades. For this study, they looked at associations between marijuana use and blood-sugar levels in a group of 3,034 study volunteers 25 years after the study began in the mid-1980s. They also looked at 3,151 volunteers who did not have prediabetes or diabetes in 1992-1993 to see, in follow-up exams, how blood sugar levels changed for pot users and abstainers. Overall, marijuana use dropped from 28% at the start of the study to 12% by 2010. By then, current smokers had a 65% higher risk for prediabetes. And former users who smoked or otherwise ingested marijuana at least 100 times in the past had a 49% higher risk for prediabetes. But pot wasn’t associated with higher risk for full-blown type 2 diabetes. “Marijuana may have a more noticeable impact on glycemic metabolism in the prediabetes range compared with the diabetes range,” says lead researcher Michael Bancks, a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. In contrast, traditional risk factors like obesity may overshadow the effects of marijuana in people who do develop diabetes, he adds. THC and A1c Nearly 19 million Americans use marijuana. But “despite the growing movem Continue reading >>
Part Iv - Treatment With Cannabis
The medical literature has very few citations in regard to any direct effect of cannabis on blood sugar levels. These citations are sometimes contradictory. Despite the lack of research, a large body of anecdotal evidence is building amongst diabetic sufferers that medical cannabis may help stabilize blood sugar. One suggested method that may be responsible is the reduction in catecholamines and/or stress related hormones (glucocorticoids) that is caused by cannabis. Many cannabinoids act primarily to inhibit prostaglandins and COX-2, while providing powerful anti-oxidant properties to salvage free radicals, and inhibit macrophage and TNF. All of this means that cannabis is an excellent anti-inflammatory that lacks the side effects of steroids (which diabetics have to avoid), the NSAIDS, and the COX-2 inhibitors like Vioxx. This anti-inflammatory action may help quell some of the arterial inflammation common in diabetes. Cannabis is also neuroprotective. It is believed that much of neuropathy comes from the inflammation of nerves caused by glycoproteins in the blood that deposit in peripheral tissues and trigger an immune response. Cannabis helps protect the nerve covering (myelin sheath) from inflammatory attack. Cannabis also lessens the pain of neuropathy by activating receptors in the body and brain. Some components of cannabis (perhaps cannibidiol) act as anti-spasmodic agents similar to the far more toxic anti-convulsants like Neurontin. This action of cannabis helps relieve diabetic muscle cramps and GI upset. Two other major actions of cannabis can benefit the diabetic. The first is helping to keep blood vessels open and improving circulation. Cannabis is a vasodilator and works well to improve blood flow. The second action is how cannabis can reduce blood press Continue reading >>
Cannabis Oil For Diabetes? The Positive Effects Of Cbd On Insulin And Metabolism
Five-year study shows CBD oil helps treat diabetes With CBD use on the rise, many doctors are questioning whether they should prescribe the plant compound for diabetes to help patients cope with the symptoms and even fight the disease itself. Dr. Allan Frankel, an M.D. with Greenbridge Medical, wrote on OCCNewspaper recently about the experiences and successes he’s had treating his diabetes patients with CBD oil, concluding that it can help with both the treatment of the disease itself, as well as aiding the day to day management of diabetes related symptoms like inflammation and joint pain. “For certain, it is worth a try.” CBD Oil For Diabetes: What Do Patients Say? We spoke to Pete Jarlett, a diabetes patient to get a personal view on how CBD oil for diabetes can be beneficial. He has been treating his diabetes with a combination of a Ketogenic diet (healthy fats) and CBD oil, on the advice of Dr. Joseph McCall and HoneyColony cofounder Maryam Henein. “Overall, I feel a million times better, but everyone has to make their own decision. I feel strong and I’m getting my energy back.” Jarlett even enjoys cooking with CBD oil although temperature is important to consider to not destroy the healing properties. “You can even elevate the CBD oil at the pinnacle with other oils. Once you can work it into your diet it can be so easy.” Diabetes: Relentless Rise Diabetes refers to the group of metabolic disorders characterized by high blood glucose levels; almost 400 million people worldwide suffer from either type one or type two diabetes and it kills up to 5 million people every year. Type one diabetes is caused by an autoimmune attack on the islet cells in the pancreas (which produce insulin), while type two diabetes develops as a result of defective insulin Continue reading >>
