Cannabidiol or popularly known as CBD oil is derived from the Cannabis plant, which is diluted using a “carrier oil” such as hemp seed or coconut oil. CBD binds the brain receptors to create specific effects, but it doesn’t cause the “high” feeling caused by tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.
Within the wellness industry, Cannabidiol or CBD oil is once of the most popular topics recently that hit the scene. There is lots of research that suggests potential health benefits of using CBD oil, including CBD for diabetes. Still, even though it sounds very promising, it needs more studies and clarification.
Using CBD oil for diabetes
Diabetes is classified as an inflammatory disorder, and CBD possesses anti-inflammatory properties. According to research, CBD is a promising treatment when it comes to minimizing insulin resistance as well as managing blood sugars for patients having type 2 diabetes and not using insulin.
Studies about CBD’s effects on diabetes are mostly done in rats or mice. This is the issue here; the differences between humans and animals, laboratory conditions, and many other factors can have impacts on the study results. Not because CBD works on mice or rats means it also works in humans. In a study where researchers gave CBD on rats having less blood flow to the brain, the same diabetes complication for humans. They discovered that CBD:
- Increases insulin production
- lowers cholesterol and reduces “bad fats”
- Controls hyperglycemia or high blood sugar
How to use CBD for diabetes?
CBD products are available in many forms, from drops, oils, vapes, capsules to lotions. However, the FDA doesn’t approve and take control of those products. As of writing, the only FDA approved CBD product is Epidiolex, which is prescribed to patients with specific types of epilepsy. It is challenging to identify which products with CBD for diabetes is legit because all labels seem official. Many CBD product manufacturers say they only contain pure CBD, but that is hard to believe because there are instances where THC has been uncovered in some CBD products.
People using CBD should also be very cautious because using CBD for diabetes also has some adverse reactions such as:
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
That’s why it is vital to consult your doctor first before you go on with your treatment plan.
How does CBD help with diabetes?
Studies on how does CBD helps with diabetes treatment have started back then, and it is still ongoing right now with the primary objective of proving that CBD for diabetes truly helps. Most of the studies are pointing out that CBD provides relief from specific symptoms because of the anti-inflammatory properties it possesses. Chronic inflammation has a significant role in the increase of insulin resistance, the one that triggers the start of type 2 diabetes.
What do studies say about CBD for diabetes?
Most of the studies that explore the impacts of CBD for diabetes are done on animal models that show promising results.
In a study by Elsevier journal Autoimmunity in 2006, it pinpoints that taking CBD regularly lessened the occurrence of diabetes in rats or mice. Low levels of specific inflammatory cytokine cells are discovered in the rat’s plasma, the one that is given with CBD for diabetes. Also, it seems that CBD prevents destructive insulitis, a disease in the pancreas.
More than that, CBD for diabetes also got neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, and this exhibits nitrative and oxidative stress in the human body. Such stressors lead to retinal damage and neuronal injury that directly results in diabetic blindness, also referred to as diabetic retinopathy.
The American Journal of Pathology also published a study in 2006 that shows how CBD for diabetes reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, which prevents cell death in the retina of a diabetic rat.
On a different preclinical study in 2010 published by Elsevier in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, it mentioned that CBD for diabetes didn’t only reduce inflammation. Still, it likely lowered the possibility of cardiac fibrosis or myocardial dysfunction and other cardiovascular disorders that can take place among diabetic patients.
In a recent 2019 study done by the Springer Journal Neurotoxicity Research, it found out that CBD’s neuroprotective effects play an essential role in stopping inflammation and enhancing the brain’s memory function, especially for older diabetic rats.
But on a different, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled test in humans shows less promising results. The study by Diabetes Care in 2016 mentioned that CBD for diabetes makes no difference in glycemic control in comparison with a placebo. If you want successful diabetes management along with its symptoms, glycemic control is very important.
What are the CBD benefits for diabetes?
Ongoing studies are now focusing on the CBD benefits for diabetes, for pediatric epilepsy, pain relief, and irritable bowel disorders. However, further studies are still needed to be done, and everyone should be mindful that there are plenty of anecdotal claims and misinformation out there, so it is important to find a trusted source of information.
At present, the FDA approved one medicine derived from Cannabis, Epidiolex, a prescription drug that treats two forms of epilepsy. All other products that are not FDA approved cannot make any claims about treating or curing any disease. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of evidence that proves the effectiveness of CBD for diabetes treatment. Although there are a few related studies that mainly focused on diabetes, yet most of them, as mentioned, are done on rats or mice and not with humans.
Conclusion
Typical medications used to manage diabetes provokes terrible side effects like dizziness, stomach cramps, and nausea. Many anecdotal reports and emerging research indicates the ideal benefits of CBD for diabetes. But before you go on with your plan and start using CBD products, you should consult your physician first, be honest with your ideas so that he can help you create the best treatment plan that suits your way of living.