Medical Marijuana May Lower Blood Sugar, Help Diabetics Control Disease
The study of medical marijuana seems to be gathering steam, as another new study of its health benefits was published today in The American Journal of Medicine. In a multicenter collaboration, researchers found that regular marijuana use was associated with better blood sugar control in diabetics, according to an Elsevier press release. The team reported that marijuana use was linked to lower fasting insulin and a lower risk of insulin resistance. The team used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and studied 4,657 patients who had answered questions on drug use. Of these, 579 were current marijuana users, 1,957 were former users, and 2,103 had never used. Fasting insulin and glucose levels were measured in all patients, Elsevier said. They found that recent use of marijuana was correlated with lower levels of fasting insulin and smaller chance of insulin resistance. This correlation was weaker in the people who were former marijuana users, suggesting the effects on insulin persist so long as cannabis is used regularly, Elsevier said. Fasting insulin levels were 16 percent lower in marijuana users than in participants who had never used the drug. "It is possible that the inverse association in fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance seen among current marijuana users could be in part due to changes in usage patterns among those with a diagnosis of diabetes (i.e., those with diabetes may have been told to cease smoking). However, after we excluded those subjects with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, the associations between marijuana use and insulin levels ... were similar and remained statistically significant," study co-author Elizabeth Penner said in the statement. American Journal of Medicine editor-in-chief Joseph Alpert, who wrote Continue reading >>
Diabetes Type 1 Patient Smoking Marijuana
nonah31750 over a year ago Hi, diabetes type one is very serious condition. I can understand your friend is under a lot of stress because of her situation. However, marijuana is definitely not the answer. She may think that this substance is helping her, but I believe she is wrong. Marijuana is an illegal substance so therefore there are not any valid studies that show it can help with lowering blood glucose level. You have every right to worry about her condition. I think you should try talking to her about her habit and the effects of marijuana smoking. This is a drug that alters person's state of mind. Under the influence of marijuana your friend can even endanger her health, because she might forget to take her insulin injection on time. If she refuses to listen to you, you shouldn't hesitate to talk to her parents. Believe me, it is for her own good. Guest over a year ago Actually it is not true that marijuana does not help. It does not alter one's state of mind, nor is it habitual. You need to look at research being done. I don't have the facts on hand, but I would definitely look into otehr points of view before I went and told my 19 year old friends parents that she is smoking weed. The knee-jerk reactions to say that marijuana is bad and lump it in with hard dcrugs like heroin, etc. is really disengenuous at best. Go to your university and do some research, especially from countries where it has been researched quite a bit, like the Netherlands. BTW I have type II diabetes and I find it helps relieve the pressure off my eyes to smoke medical marijuana. Guest over a year ago I am diabetic and have neurothapy. My doctor put me on nurontin which helps but the only thing that stops the pain is smoking marijuana. If you dont smoke marijuana and you think it is bad b Continue reading >>
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 >>
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 >>
Can Medical Marijuana Help With Diabetes?
Weed. Pot. Mary Jane. Cannabis. Whatever you call marijuana and wherever you stand on its legalization, it is hard to imagine that there is anyone unaware of the controversy raging around this rather nondescript plant. In the United States, medical marijuana has been decriminalized in more than half of the states but is still classified as a federal crime. Why the conflict? The FDA will not approve its use as a treatment because there have not been enough studies proving its effectiveness and safety, and no one can really do the research because the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers marijuana a Schedule I drug, the same as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy, which means a special and difficult-to-get license is required to study it. In other words, no one can study its safety until it’s proven safe to study. Sounds a lot like the old “don’t go in the water until you can swim” conundrum. Marijuana originated in Asia and has been around for thousands of years. In its spread around the globe, it has been primarily used for medicinal and spiritual purposes. The Vikings and medieval Germans are believed to have used it for toothaches and to relieve the pain of childbirth. The Chinese may even have used marijuana as an anesthetic during surgery. Cannabis finally made its way to the U.S. in the early 20th century and the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act promptly made even possession of the plant a crime. Today, in those states where it is legal, doctors are allowed to prescribe medical marijuana to treat: Medical Marijuana and Diabetes While there are few official studies showing definitive proof, research and anecdotal evidence supports the possibility that medical marijuana may reduce blood glucose levels. A study published by the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis (AAM Continue reading >>
Medical Marijuana And Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus (also known as primary diabetes) affects approximately 8.3% of the US population and 6.8% of Canadians. In 2007, diabetes contributed to over 200,000 deaths in the US alone. Although the early development of insulin medications made diabetes treatable, no cure exists and symptoms tend to worsen as the disease progresses. Now, a growing body of evidence points to medical marijuana as a promising therapy. In fact, research shows that marijuana may not only be useful for managing symptoms of pain and cardiovascular disease, but also aid in combating the disease itself. What is Diabetes? Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels. The two most common forms of diabetes are known as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in individuals under the age of 30 and involves an autoimmune attack on islet cells of the pancreas – cells that produce insulin. Approximately 10% of diabetics suffer from Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is far more common and tends to affect individuals that are obese and over the age of 40. It is usually a result of a combination of defective insulin production and insulin resistance. In both types of diabetes, high blood sugar levels eventually lead to a variety of other metabolic and non-metabolic complications. Endocannabinoids and Diabetes Endocannabinoids are natural compounds found within all humans that happen to act in a similar way as plant-derived cannabinoids such as THC. Along with cannabinoid receptors, they make up what is known as the endocannabinoid system. Cannabinoid receptors have been identified in the pancreas, heart, blood vessels, nervous system and many other organs – all of which suggests a potential role for cannabinoids in treating 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 >>
Sweet Issues Or Medical Marijuana In Treating Diabetes
SWEET ISSUES OR MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN TREATING DIABETES Home OUR BLOG SWEET ISSUES OR MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN TREATING DIABETES Our recent article was devoted to metabolic process in stimulating and regulating appetite. We made up our mind to continue metabolic topic in covering diabetes disease. According to National Diabetes Statistics Report an estimated 23.1 million people or 7.2% of the U.S. population had diagnosed diabetes. And in 2015 diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. In spite of the fact, that diabetes isnt so popularized as a severe and dangerous disease like for instance cancer and its quite possible to live with diabetes normally, the staggering figures show that it should be concerned seriously. For simple people never faced diabetes this disease is associated with sugar, or its high level in the blood. Of course its not because of chocolate and sweets, but we have to consider sugar blood, called glucose. To understand what diabetes is and how harmful it can be, we need to get the idea of how glucose is controlled. And it is the job of the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is responsible for regulating sugar and fat from consumed food. Diabetes can develop if the pancreas produces little or no insulin (type 1 diabetes), or when there is insulin in our body, but it couldnt be accepted properly (type 2 diabetes). The type 1 and type 2 diabetes may come out in (mainly for patients with untreated diabetes): Diabetes may result in such chronic complications as: nerve damage (which consequently may result in erectile dysfunction (ED, impotence), stomach and intestines disorders); eye complications: diabetic retinopathy (it may occur in those patients who have been suffering from diabetes for at least 5 years) Continue reading >>
Cannabis And Diabetes
In 2015, 30.3 million Americans, or 9.4% of the population, had diabetes. Worldwide, the numbers are even more staggering with approximately 387 million people have diabetes according to the International Diabetes Federation. In the United States, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death. Unfortunately, it has been estimated that nearly 80% of all Type 2 Diabetes cases could be prevented through weight management. What Defines Diabetes? In a healthy person, the body turns the foods you eat into sugar, or glucose, for energy. The pancreas releases insulin, which essentially unlocks cells so the glucose can enter. In diabetics, this system does not work causing too much sugar to build up in the blood stream which causes debilitating complications including: Diabetics are 2-6 times more likely to develop diseases of the arteries, including coronary artery disease and stroke. Nearly half of diabetes patients will suffer from retinopathy, a disease of the retina which results in vision impairment and even blindness Approximately 30% of diabetics will experience kidney damage or failure, and diabetes accounts for 50% of all kidney transplants in the US. Diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage, accounts for nearly 60% of all leg amputations. There are two forms of diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes: Also known as “juvenile diabetes” as it generally develops early in life. This form of diabetes is an autoimmune disease which signals the body’s own immune system to attack the pancreas. This onslaught causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin all together and patients must supplement with injections of insulin. However, dosing can be tricky as too much insulin can cause blood sugars to drop to dangerously low levels, while not enough will result in hyperglycemia, or too much Continue reading >>
Treat Your Neuropathy Foot Pain With Medical Marijuana
Individuals dealing with neuropathy foot pain are looking for relief. The condition can be extremely painful, cause a variety of negative symptoms, and create mobility challenges. Many of the treatments for neuropathic pain are not effective for all patients. This form of pain is known for being difficult to treat. Fortunately, medical marijuana may be an excellent alternative treatment. To understand how to treat your neuropathy foot pain with medical marijuana you need to understand what causes the pain, what treatments are available, the effects marijuana has on pain and nerve receptors, and how marijuana can be used as a treatment. What is Neuropathy Foot Pain? Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve pain caused by overactive peripheral nerves that send pain and other signals to the brain. When the peripheral nerves are in this state, they cannot seem to turn off the pain signals even when no injury or trauma are occurring. This is often caused by nerve disease, nerve damage, or other conditions that can affect nerve health like diabetes. Neuropathy foot pain is a condition that causes pain in the feet or lower extremities. It may also affect the hands. Neuropathy in the feet can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms, which may worsen over time. Symptoms of neuropathic foot pain include: Numbness Tingling Muscle weakness Sensitivity to touch Chronic pain in the affected areas Burning pain Worsening of pain at night Pain not relieved by traditional pain management options Cramps or muscle spasms Muscle wasting or deterioration Impaired sense of touch Paralysis Potential for nerve, tissue, or organ damage Difficulty walking or standing Increased risk of injuries, infection, or falls Around 20 million people in the United States are estimated to have peripheral neuro 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 >>
3 Facts About Cannabis, Obesity, And Diabetes
When we picture the stereotypical cannabis consumer, we don’t tend to picture health, fitness, and a trim waistline. Yet, a number of new studies are finding that cannabis users are less likely to be obese—seemingly regardless of how much Domino’s pizza you order while marathon-watching Cosmos. Before you get too excited, consuming cannabis probably isn’t the best weight loss plan. However, new studies are finding that cannabis may be key to controlling diabetes. We’ve known for a decade that Type 2 diabetes and obesity go hand in hand, and now multiple studies have found a correlation between cannabis, weight control, and potential diabetes treatments. Given that an estimated 25.8 million people have diabetes in the United States, and another 79 million people are thought to be pre-diabetic, we thought we’d give patients the low-down on the current conversations surrounding this miracle plant and your health. Here are three things you should know about cannabis, obesity, and diabetes: Cannabis Consumers Weigh Less An examination of two studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology has found that, on average, cannabis consumers are less likely to be overweight. While it may be hard to believe, people who consume cannabis at least three times a week have cut their chances of being obese by one third. In fact, the prevalence of obesity was significantly lower in cannabis consumers than in non-consumers. For example, the first study reviewed in the journal found that cannabis consumers had a 16.1% obesity rate compared to 22.0% in non-consumers. The second study findings were 17.2% vs. 25.3%. Cannabis Affects the Way You Metabolize Carbohydrates Last May, CNN discussed the recent developments of cannabis and diabetes research. In his discussion of t Continue reading >>
How Cannabis Oil Can Be Used For Diabetes Treatment And Prevention
Diabetes is a widespread disease inflicting millions of people worldwide. Chances are you know someone, either in your family or in your circle of friends, who has been battling diabetes, or just recently diagnosed. Or, perhaps you are the one living with the disease. And of course, there is a lot of information about diabetes treatment and prevention to learn and share. But first, let’s look at closer look at the reality of the disease. This unforgiving disease does not discriminate, because any age, gender, and race can fall victim to it. The impact of diabetes in Canada is alarming, especially with the numbers of new cases on the rise. Here are some troubling statistics on diabetes in Canada alone: Complications from diabetes can often lead to premature death. In 2008, 1 out of 10 adult deaths in Canada was tied to diabetes. Diabetics are 3 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease, 12 times more so to get end-stage renal failure, and more than 20 times more likely to endure a limb amputation. People suffering from depression have nearly 60% more chance of developing diabetes Approximately 15-25% of diabetics will experience a foot ulcer In Canada, 57% of diabetics report they have difficulty with the high-cost of prescribed treatments and supplies. Cardiovascular disease Eye disease Kidney disease Nerve damage Lower extremity ulcers and amputation Complications during pregnancy Oral disease Mental illness If you have been living with diabetes for a while now, you are most likely familiar with traditional diabetes treatments and prevention measures, such as insulin and diet change. Both are equally important in maintaining. But, many people are learning how to use cannabis oil to help cope with the disease. Cannabis oil is also referred to as CBD. How is CBD 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 >>
Diabetes And Marijuana: A Possible Treatment?
Marijuana is currently legal for medical use in 28 American states and the District of Columbia. There are increasing evidence to support the claims that the Cannabis plant offers many potential medicinal properties for a wide number of diseases and disorders. Although we know that marijuana can be helpful in treating nervous disorders, little research is available on its other healing properties because of the law against using the herb for medicinal use. Because of the regulations and the stigma against marijuana, the opinions are biased. But the early research looks promising between the relationship between marijuana and the metabolic processes of the body is still in a relatively new research phase. Of the many research done on various health problems, one of the newest claims is that marijuana can help prevent diabetes, help treat diabetes, and treat certain complications as a result of diabetes. To clear the stigma about marijuana, this article will cover these following topics: What is Marijuana Marijuana has numerous of nicknames throughout the years. Amongst all the names, it is most commonly known as weed, pot, ganja, Mary Jane, hemp, and Cannabis. It is actually the female flower buds of the plant Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, or a hybrid of both strains (the male flower buds have very minimal psychedelic chemicals if not none). Of the 483 known compounds in the plant, there are 86 canninoid chemicals identified. Of the 86 chemicals, the main psychoactive pharmacological chemical is called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Other cannabinoid chemicals found are cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabaravin (THCV), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannbicyclol (CBL). All these cannabinoid chemicals are known to also have psychoactive and pharma Continue reading >>
