Can CBD oil treat diabetes?
CBD oil is a cannabis-derived product, the most effective of which is the CBD. CBD is one of more than 100 compounds found in cannabis plants. It is the most famous cannabinoid other than THC. Due to the nature of the CBD itself and its effective health benefits, there is a growing interest in the CBD. Studies have shown that CBD oil can effectively treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia and so on. Since CBD has so many health benefits, does it also have a positive effect on the treatment of diabetes? Can people use CBD oil as one of the best natural treatments for diabetes?
Types and effects of diabetes
Millions of people are affected by diabetes every year in the United States, and the number of patients is growing every day. Over the last decade, millions of people with diabetes have experienced blindness, organ failure, and even amputation because of the disease. Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that is mainly characterized by metabolic disorders. It attacks the body’s immune system and destroys the pancreatic cells in the process, ultimately causing the body to not produce insulin. In short, diabetes makes it difficult to effectively transform the sugar intake in the human body. The main feature of diabetic patients is that their blood glucose is higher than the standard value for a long time. Depending on the cause and effect of the disease, diabetes can usually be divided into two categories: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is mainly characterized by unable to produce enough insulin or to stop producing insulin. It is usually a hereditary disease that occurs mostly in infants or adolescents. Therefore it is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
Type 2 diabetes is mainly due to changes in the processing of glucose or sugar in the blood. It is often associated with lifestyle factors and choices of individual such as diet, exercise and weight management. Type 2 diabetes patients are the mainstay of the diabetic population.
More than 30 million people in the United States currently have diabetes. And the number of affected people is rising. Patients and researchers are looking for positive and effective treatment. Some researches have shown that CBD oil is considered to be one of the best natural remedies for diabetes. It can effectively relieve pain and help you reduce your fight against diabetes. So is this the case? Can the CBD really play a positive role in the treatment of diabetes? This is the focus of our discussion today.
Can CBD treat diabetes?
1.CBD can affect blood sugar levels
The reason why CBD is considered to be one of the best natural remedies for diabetes is that it can affect blood sugar levels in the body.
The human body has an endogenous cannabinoid system. The receptors for the ECS are present in the brain, organs, connective tissues, and other parts of the body. Studies have shown that these receptors help to maintain the internal balance of the body, which is the key to maintaining the stability of the human body system. As an endogenous cannabinoid, CBD can be combined with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the human body to enhance the receptor’s ability while helping to maintain homeostasis.
An article published in the American Journal of Medicine in 2013 took an in-depth look at the effects of CBD on fasting insulin and insulin resistance. According to a five-year study, regular use of CBD oil lowers the fasting insulin levels by up to 16% and the insulin resistance levels by up to 17% compared with patients who never used CBD. At the same time, the study also found that the CB1 receptor is located in the same place where insulin is produced. And insulin dysfunction is the underlying factor in diabetes. The researchers, therefore, concluded that there is an important link between the frequent use of CBD oil and better blood glucose levels. CBD oil may help patients fight high blood sugar levels. But we still need more research to prove the relationship between the two.
2.The effect of CBD on the immune system and pancreas
In addition to affecting blood glucose levels, the CBD also helps to strengthen the immune system and can have a positive impact on the pancreas. The specific performance is as follows:
Because type 1 diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disorder, and CBD is known to aid in boosting the immune system, it makes sense that it could help regulate various systems and conditions like Type 1 diabetes.
The role of CBD for the pancreas is mainly reflected in the fact that CBD can alleviate inflammation caused by diabetes. In a study published in Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, it was found that CBD can ease inflammation caused by diabetes in the pancreas of mice. In addition, studies have shown that the overall occurrence of the disorder after taking CBD is lower, which could have a positive impact on future human studies. Although CBD has not yet been proven able to reduce overall occurrences among humans, it has been shown to reduce the amount of insulin a patient requires to reach a target blood sugar level and function.
Related research of CBD in the treatment of diabetes
In fact, various conclusions about the treatment of diabetes in CBD are based on animal research. As far as the current situation is concerned, we lack a large number of effective human clinical trials.
A record in human clinical trials has directly studied the effects of CBD on blood glucose and insulin levels in diabetic patients. According to this record, it was found that CBD has a weak therapeutic effect on diabetes. The study was published in the October 2016 issue of the British Journal of Diabetes Care. Scientists studied the effects of CBD and THC on blood glucose, insulin sensitivity, HDL cholesterol and other markers in 62 patients with type 2 diabetes. They take one compound or a combination of two compounds every day for 13 weeks. It was found that THC slightly reduced blood glucose levels. As to the effect of CBD on blood glucose levels was minimal.
The CBD does cause small changes in resistin (a protein that promotes inflammation and may be involved in insulin resistance; and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide hormone that stimulates insulin release), but the researchers did not detect the corresponding metabolic effects.
The impact of CBD on diabetes-related diseases
Diabetes itself is not terrible, but the horrible thing is the impact of its complications. CBD has a positive effect on diabetic complications such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, nerve damage or nervous system diseases, and retinal lesions. Mainly manifested as it can prevent the accumulation of arterial plaque, cell damage, atherosclerosis and inflammation caused by diabetic complications. And CBD oil can effectively prevent optic nerve problems and reduce neurotoxicity and inflammation. In other words, it enhances glucose tolerance and improves triglyceride levels.
1.inflammation and metabolism
Diabetes inflammation is an important aspect of diabetes that can prolong the discomfort of patients. It plays a key role in the development of insulin resistance. In addition, there is excess fatty tissue in diabetic patients, which limits the metabolic efficiency of glucose and leads to higher levels of sugar in the bloodstream. Because CBD is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, it can be used to treat inflammation and improve metabolism.
2.Nerve damage or nervous system diseases
Nerve damage or neurological disease is one of the most common complications of diabetes. Patients with hypoglycemia have limited sensation in the body due to lack of adequate blood flow, especially the nerve perception of the limbs. This nerve damage is usually accompanied by a series of body pains, including constant pain or tingling, numbness, temperature sensitivity, balance problems or pain caused by touching objects. Traditional treatments do not always apply to all the patients, and sometimes even cause the opposite side effects.
However, CBD may provide relief for neurological patients. Because of its neuroprotective nature, CBD has been shown to reduce the incidence of infarction by 30%. ( infarction means dead tissue areas due to insufficient blood flow)Once the patient has frequent nerve damage to the limbs, amputation is necessary in severe cases. So it is better to use CBD oil during the early stages of illness in order to reduce this risk.
3.Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the serious complications of diabetes. Blindness caused by diabetes is a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. Studies have shown that CBD is becoming a therapeutic means of easing inflammatory retinal diseases.
4.Other complications
Lowering blood pressure is vital for diabetics. One study found that subjects who took CBD had lower overall blood pressure during different readings.
In short, the use of CBD is beneficial for the treatment or prevention of diabetic complications. CBD is a neuroprotective agent and can effectively reduce infarction and increase blood flow to the limbs. In addition, CBD research is also promising for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and even cardiac dysfunction.
Possible side effects during treatment
In the above, we explored the role of CBD in the treatment of diabetes. CBD can lower blood sugar levels and help alleviate the adverse effects of diabetic complications. Because of this role in the CBD, thousands of patients use it on a daily basis and experience the benefits it brings. Although CBD can ease and treat diabetes, it is not a cure for diabetes. At least from the current research, there is no such possibility.
However, using CBD to treat diabetes with other medications may change the effectiveness of the medication or cause fatigue. So we recommend that if you are using a prescription drug for diabetes, you should consult your doctor before using CBD oil. That is because it is necessary to get their approval with the use of prescription.
The way CBD oil is consumed and the dosage it takes will also affect its efficacy. The risk of lung problems may be present compared to vape or inhaled CBD. And oral or sublingual swallowing is considered to be the safest form.
Cannabidiol doses of up to 300 mg daily have been used safely for up to 6 months. High doses of 1200-1500 mg per day can be safe to consume for 4 weeks. Some reported side effects of cannabidiol include dry mouth, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and drowsiness.
At last
In conclusion, the therapeutic benefits and medical potential of CBD oil for diabetes are staggering. Many people with diabetes have begun to use it and rely on it every day to treat their disease symptoms while improving their overall quality of life. In view of the continuous development and innovation of research and technology, more people may use CBD oil for their diabetes treatment in the future.
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