World Diabetes Day

Cannabis for diabetes

Today is world’s Diabetes Day. As we all are aware of the fact, that every third person in this world is suffering through Diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic illness in which the organ pancreas is not able to produce enough insulin hormone, which is responsible for digestion of glucose present in blood.?

?It leads to hyperglycemia, meaning the glucose in blood can not be digested or absorbed by body cells to generate energy or to carry out various body functions. That ‘s why it causes a lot of complications to various organs like in the eye, it causes glaucoma, cardiac disorders, in the skin it causes pyoderma and a very severe complication is diabetic foot which leads to amputation of foot further.

Recent clinical studies have proven that cannabis therapy helps in battling diabetes and its complications in the best way.

Cannabis actually refers to a group of three plants.i.e, cannabis sativa, cannabis indica and cannabis ruderalis.

The leaf of cannabis sativa plant is generally used to derive an extract . This extract contains almost 120 active ingredients(cannabinoids). The chief active ingredients present in cannabis sativa plant , are;-

1. Cannabidiol(CBD)
2. Tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)

CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid which doesn’t give a sensation of ‘high’. It helps in curing nausea, vomiting, pain and anxiety.

THC - is one of the chief cannabinoids which has psycho active properties which does give a sensation of ‘high’ . It helps in relieving pain, anxiety , and insomnia.

Recent researches have shown that cannabis does affect diabetes in a very positive manner.

The ways in which cannabis affect diabetes are as follows:-

1. It stabilises the blood sugar level.
2. It is best anti -inflammatory , so it reduces the inflammation of arteries which is commonly found in diabetic people.
3. The neuroprotective nature of cannabis helps in relieving the neuropathic pain of diabetic people.
4. It relieves muscle pain and Gastrointestinal disorder pain.
5. It dilates vessels and improves blood circulation.
6. It calms down the high blood pressure.
7. It is cardio protective and hence contributes in enhancing blood circulation.
8. It relieves tingling sensation in hands and feet (common in diabetics).
9. It aids sleep and helps in ‘restless leg syndrome; (again a common complication found in diabetics).

Clinical researches have shown that it improves the efficacy of beta cells found in pancreas of the human body. That’s how it lowers the risk of getting type 2 diabetes and in type 2 diabetic patients too, it prevents developing complications of diabetes.?

Complications of diabetes are;-

1. Premature greying of hair , hair loss
2. Glaucoma in eyes, early cataract
3. Boils in skin, dermatitis
4. Stomatitis
5. Otitis (ear infection)
6. pyorrhoea
7. Cardiac disorders, hypertension
8. Neuropathic pain
9. Daibetic foot
10. Urinary tract infections

Clinical studies shown in various researches have proven that cannabis oil is very helpful in controlling blood sugar levels.

Cannabis oil controls BMI i.e, Basic metabolic index and hence, maintains the weight of diabetic people.?

Cannabis oil improves circulation and lowers cholesterol levels.

Cannabis regulates carbohydrate levels in the body and maintains insulin levels , thus maintaining good blood sugar levels in the body.?

There is enough scientific evidence to prove that cannabis can treat glaucoma by decreasing intraocular pressure and by enhancing the blood flow to the eyeball , it prevents diabetic retinopathy.

There are enough endocannabinoid receptors present in the brain and throughout the human body. These receptors make it easy for cannabis to get absorbed easily in the brain and other systems of the body without causing much side effects. Because of the presence of endocannabinoids , CBD and THC , can carry out the process of homeostasis even at subcellular level.?

That’s why we can say that cannabis in small doses, but at regular intervals can act as a tonic for the healing system.

By using CBD continuously, people find out that their blood sugar levels and HbA1c has lowered down. Besides, the complications which occur because of diabetes, are also cured.

As far as harmful effects are concerned, a purest or uncontaminated form of cannabis can never harm in any way to the human body.

References:

? Brook E, et al. Pharmacol Res. 2019;doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2019.01.009.

? Danielsson AK, et al. J Diabetes Res. 2016;doi:10.1155/2016/6278709.

? Jadoon KA, et al. Diabetes Care. 2016;doi:10.2337/dc16-0650.

? Leung J, et al. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2022;doi:10.1007/s00213-021-06047-8.

? Maurya A, et al. Curr Top Med Chem. 2021;doi:10.2174/1568026621666210305102500.

? Penner EA, et al. Am J Med. 2013;doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.03.002.

? Sexton TR, et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020;doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108035.

? Weiss L, et al. Autoimmunity. 2006;doi:10.1080/08916930500356674