Medical Cannabis For Diabetes: What You Need to Know

Key Points:

• Diabetes is a lifelong ailment that occurs when the body is no longer able to produce insulin or get the most out of the insulin it produces. Nearly 5 million people suffer from diabetes in the UK today. 

• Medical cannabis is a blanket term for a wide range of cannabis-based products and supplements widely used to help achieve wellness and lifestyle goals. There is a growing body of research exploring cannabis use and its potential effects on patients with diabetes.  

• The notion that medical cannabis could be a natural remedy for diabetes comes down to its potential to help manage everything from sleep problems, chronic pain, eye health conditions and other ailments related to diabetes. 

• Cannabis is nothing new, but studies on its potential long-term effects on the body are still preliminary. It is, therefore, essential to consult a specialist before using medical cannabis for diabetes. 

What Is Diabetes? 

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that disrupts your body’s ability to produce or make use of insulin, an essential hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels by signalling the liver and fat cells to turn glucose into energy. Basically, the sugar (also known as glucose) that your body uses comes from the food you eat that, when digested, gets absorbed into the bloodstream and is distributed to different parts of the body where it’s needed. That explains why you often feel more active and in full swing after eating. 

But what happens when there is too little insulin or when the liver and cells fail to respond to it? Typically, your system becomes less capable of breaking down the glucose into energy. This causes the glucose to remain in your bloodstream for a sustained period of time, causing your blood sugar levels to rise in the long run. Excessive amounts of glucose in the body often lead to what is known as diabetes. 

Different Types of Diabetes 

Type 1 Diabetes 

This condition is believed to be associated with an autoimmune response in which the body’s natural defence systems attack the body’s own healthy tissues by mistake. This affects how your body makes insulin. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes may involve frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, sudden weight loss that a person experiences without trying to lose weight and cuts or bruises that take longer than normal to heal.

Type 2 Diabetes 

With type 2 diabetes, your system becomes unable to produce or use insulin well, thereby increasing your blood sugar levels. This type of diabetes is more prevalent than the previous one. Almost 5 million people in the UK are diagnosed with diabetes, and 90% of them suffer from type 2. Type 1 and 2 diabetes often share the same symptoms, but some are hardly noticeable in type 2 diabetes. So, it’s best to get your blood sugar regularly checked if you feel that you are at risk. 

Gestational Diabetes 

This type of diabetes typically develops during pregnancy and goes away on its own after giving birth in some cases. However, suffering from gestational diabetes could mean that you and your baby are likely to develop diabetes and other health problems later in life. 

As of now, no clinically-approved medicine can cure diabetes in general and delay the risks of developing its symptoms. But there are alternative treatment options available, which might just work well when used alongside a nutritious diet and increased activity to help manage blood sugar levels and feel better as a whole. One of them has been garnering much global attention in recent years: medical cannabis. 

Can You Get Medical Cannabis For Diabetes?

The term medical cannabis refers to a wide-ranging group of cannabis-derived wellness products. Those that contain cannabidiol (CBD) or hemp are available to buy legally in different parts of the UK as food supplements. CBD is an abundant phytochemical found in hemp cannabis varieties, which are known for their non-intoxicating profile. This means that taking CBD in moderate doses won’t get you high but may rather act as a health aide. While CBD- and hemp-based products are legally celebrated in the UK for their naturally relaxing benefits, not everyone can get access to them for specific medications. But you don’t necessarily have to take the risks of resorting to illicit markets just to lay your hands on these medicines. 

On the other hand, medical cannabis is regulated heavily by the National Health Service (NHS), as the quality and content of some cannabis-based products in illicit dispensaries are not known. They may contain high amounts of the primary psychoactive cannabis compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is strictly illegal in the country and potentially unsafe to consume in liberal doses. Fortunately, specialist doctors and private practices like Lyphe can prescribe the type and dosage of cannabis that best address your health conditions and match your lifestyle and wellness needs. 

If you would like medical assistance and guidance in choosing the right medical cannabis for your situation and obtaining a medical cannabis prescription in the UK, our lines are always open for your questions and inquiries. The doctors and health specialists at Lyphe are experts in giving medical care and treating a variety of health conditions with medical cannabis. You can ensure your safety and soundness in their hands throughout your journey to full recovery.  

Closing Thoughts

Many studies have put emphasis on the potential effects of using medical cannabis to help address specific symptoms and risk factors of developing diabetes. Some suggest that it may be beneficial for treating nerve pain, inflammation and other health issues related to diabetes. However, the results are unclear, and more clinical trials are still in the works to fully verify its effectiveness on diabetic patients. It is vital to use all cannabis-derived medicines with extra caution and under the advice and guidance of a specialist. 

Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you take CBD gummies if you have diabetes?

Researchers continue to investigate the potential effects of CBD-infused products on diabetes. While CBD is well tolerated by most users, it’s hard to be sure what side effects it could have on diabetic patients. It’s best to consult a medical cannabis professional when choosing the right type of CBD to use for treating common diabetes symptoms.

What is the best CBD for diabetics?

CBD comes in several product forms, from oils to capsules, gummies, and the list goes on. However, it’s important to know that what’s best for other patients may not be the best for you. Even if two people are both diabetics, they may still experience different potential effects after taking CBD. Everyone has their own way of reacting to CBD, so it’s ideal to try out different CBD products until you find what suits your condition most, provided that they are prescribed by a medical cannabis expert.

Can CBD help with high blood sugar?

Some studies suggest that CBD may help regulate blood sugar, cholesterol levels and insulin production in some people. Other studies found that it may assist the body’s natural defence systems in keeping chronic nerve pain and inflammation among diabetics at bay. Nonetheless, it is imperative to use CBD for any serious health conditions with caution and careful consideration.

Resources

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/medical-cannabis/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8178711/

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/professionals/position-statements-reports/statistics