About Diabetes
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps bring sugar (glucose) into cells. Diabetes is when blood sugar level is too high, caused by either a decrease or a lack of insulin secretion, or a failure of insulin receptors in the cells.
There are two types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes: The immune system attacks the insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas. Thus, the body cannot make insulin.
- Type 2 diabetes: This is when the body has a decrease in insulin secretion for some reason, or insulin does not work properly (possibly due to impaired insulin receptor sensitivity).
Prolonged high blood sugar in diabetes can cause many dangerous complications, such as causing impairment of many different organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nervous system, heart, brain, and blood vessels.
Symptoms may include: fatigue, eye opening, thirst, slow healing of wounds, or a feeling of pain or numbness in the hands or feet. Blood tests will show elevated blood sugar.
Cannabinoid and diabetes
The endogenous cannabinoid system can play a role in blood sugar regulation and the immune system, bringing the body back into balance. Cannabinoids can provide:
- Anti-inflammation
- Protects the nervous system.
- Vasodilation, improves blood circulation.
- Pain relief.
Cannabinoids may be beneficial for both type 1 and 2 diabetes. In 2011, researchers looked at the endogenous cannabinoid system's ability to regulate energy metabolism in the body. An imbalance of this system is likely one of the contributors to obesity, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. They also hypothesized that a CB1 receptor blocker might be considered for use in the treatment of those disorders. Non-psychoactive cannabinoids, such as CBD, CBDV, and THCV, also have the potential to help reduce pancreatic beta cell damage in type 1 diabetes.[1]
Studies in 2006 and 2008 also showed that CBD has the ability to slow the progression of diabetes in rats.[2] Only 32% of the mice were diagnosed with diabetes, compared with 86% in the emulsifier group, and 100% in the untreated group.[3]
How to use cannabinoids for diabetes
Both THC and CBD can be used. Always start from the small dose of about 5-10mg CBD on the first day, then gradually increase the dose every two days by 5mg until you find the right dose that gives the desired effect.
Since each person responds differently to cannabinoids, it is best to experiment with different delivery systems while gradually and slowly increasing the dose to find the best way of administration and the most optimal dosage.
Bibliography
[1] Di Marzo, Piscitelli, and Mechoulam, “Cannabinoids and Endocannabinoids in Metabolic Disorders with Focus on Diabetes.”
[2] Di Marzo, “The Endocannabinoid System in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.”
[3] Weiss et al., “Cannabidiol Lowers Incidence of Diabetes in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice.”