CBD for Diabetes: Does It Work? What Are The Advantages & Disadvantages?

Nikhil Goswami
Hemp oil products in small bottles placed together. CBD hemp oil is extracted from black background fresh hemp extract. Herbs and recreation herbs have space for entering text.

Ever since the arrival of CBD, people have been using it for multiple purposes. CBD got famous after many studies revealed that it could help cure pain, anxiety, and depression. CBD is a chemical from hemp (subspecies of the cannabis plant) that has a much lower concentration of THC but a much higher concentration of CBD. Marijuana contains a higher concentration of THC, giving people a high feel as they consume it.

People in pain show a stress response, which leads to an increase in blood sugar levels and cortisol. CBD can help reduce chronic pain and relaxes your body, which can bring your sugar levels to a balance and also reduce cortisol. On the other hand, people having trouble sleeping can also get a good sleep with the help of CBD. But can people use CBD for diabetes? Will it work or not? Let’s find out. You can try several CBD Brands for cbd flower, cbd gummies, cbd drinks and other cbd products as well.

There are some studies suggesting that CBD is beneficial for patients with type 2 diabetes. Since CBD products are pretty famous, you can easily find them in multiple forms. CBD oil is the most famous one due to its quick and long-lasting effects. Using CBD oils for a month or more can improve your blood sugar levels. This led to an increase in CBD usage among diabetic patients in the previous decade.

Despite all these studies, there are still doubts about whether CBD will work properly. The only solid evidence is that CBD can help cure symptoms of epilepsy in children. Additionally, CBD products don’t require a prescription; thus, people with diabetes will use them with the hope of getting better. Without solid research, there is no surety of using CBD to treat diabetes, but we can check its benefits and risks to see how beneficial it can be.

Multiple Ways To Use CBD For Type 2 Diabetes:

CBD products are available in different forms like oils, tinctures, gummies, CBD patches, creams, etc. Those who are more worried about consuming CBD choose to stick with CBD topicals and use them on the areas that hurt the most. You can try cbd flower amongst other cbd products as well.

On the other hand, those who want a quick and long-lasting relaxation opt for CBD gummies or CBD oil or any other CBD potent product. Those who like to smoke have an option to opt for CBD carts they can use with vape pens. With so many products available and people learning that they are getting potential health benefits from CBD, they’ll give it a try.

Cannabis therapies are becoming a trend, and institutes offering such therapy are getting more and more inquiries every day. People choose to get cannabis therapy as an alternative to getting rid of the pain.

These therapists only use pure CBD since THC is not allowed in most states. While THC does cause a high feel, a meager concentration of it only provides a little buzz. Using THC has some advantages, but it gets addictive, so it is highly recommended not to use it under normal circumstances. There are several questions like: how long does cbd stay in the system? & How many gummies should I eat? which shall the addressed too. 

Another thing to watch out for is the dosage, a potent CBD product might offer quick relaxation, but it can also cause headaches once the effects wear off. It is better to start with a lower dosage and increase it if you don’t get desired results.

Pure CBD is not good for your tastebuds; thus, companies add flavors to it. However, CBD products with artificial flavors can cause health issues, so only opt for natural flavors CBD products. If this is your first time using CBD for blood glucose, we highly recommend starting with CBD gummies.

Research Into CBD and Type 2 Diabetes & Complications To The Process:

Controlled trials are the gold standards of medical research. Any study that doesn’t involve the results of such trials is not solid. In the case of CBD and type 2 diabetes, these controlled trials are missing. So, despite much interest in CBD among people, there are not many scientific studies to prove that CBD can cure type 2 diabetes.

There is some research available, but it is done on a random basis, making it difficult to conclude a decision. Furthermore, human bodies are different, so if one person got positive results from CBD, it doesn’t mean that another person will get the same results. Even a Holistic Cannabis Practitioner has a hard time finding solid support for CBD helping in diabetes.

On the other hand, those who use insulin to control their blood sugar cannot rely on other products. Their bodies have high insulin resistance. They need to take magnesium supplements or other medicine, so their blood sugar stays normal.

This condition also requires research, where people in a controlled environment should be given CBD for a prolonged time to see if their insulin levels are restored. There is only one research available for this case, but participants were not taking insulin but other sugar medicines. They took CBD and THC in different dosages, and surprisingly, the results were more positive with higher dosages of THCV.

CBD research mostly revolves around how CBD can get rid of chronic pain, relieve stress, and improve sleep and other functions. In the future, we might have more research on CBD. For now, there aren’t many papers that can support CBD and type 2 diabetes. However, the ones available indicate that there are chances that you can use CBD at the early stages of type 2 diabetes and prevent further damage to your body.

How People Reacted To CBD Helping In Type 2 Diabetes & The FDA’s Approach To The Regulation Of CBD?

Medicines are expensive, and medical procedures are even more expensive. If anyone finds a relatively easy, cheap, and entertaining method to get rid of a disease, they will go for it.

The same is happening with type 2 diabetic patients, especially the younger generation who are open to using CBD for treatment. However, the problem is that people are hesitant to purchase CBD from a shop that also sells marijuana, and most young people mistakenly start using CBD products with mild THC. Using such products can increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis; thus, it is highly advisable not to use them even if you have mild symptoms of diabetes.

On the other hand, regulatory authorities such as the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) only approved CBD medicines to treat epilepsy in children. Currently, there is no FDA-approved CBD medicine for diabetes. However, as the popularity of CBD grows among people, there is a probability for CBD medicine to help control diabetes.

The problem of research remains as, without enough scientific evidence, authorities won’t allow the medicine to reach the market. Although so many people are asking for it, they still have to rely on normal CBD products instead of specific CBD medicines for diabetes since there is none available.

Lack of knowledge is another problem for people who want to use CBD for treatment. Instead of purchasing products with pure CBD, they usually tend to grab marijuana products. On the other hand, the trend of using CBD vapes is emerging. Most e-liquids have THC in them, which gives relaxation, but it will also mess up your blood sugar.

Precautions For Type 2 Diabetic Patients:

CBD products are famous, due to which it is hard to find a brand trustworthy enough to provide the right product. Pure CBD is not something people would love to use many times unless they get satisfactory results from it. On the other hand, THC can bring back lots of customers since the high feel can provide immense relaxation quickly.

Due to this, most brands won’t mention that their product has THC, but they add some amount of it. Moreover, CBD e-liquid is rarely available without THC, but companies mention them as CBD products; thus, people purchase them without checking for THC. Some vape oils might contain synthetic marijuana, and it is hard to check for it since the companies won’t mention it anywhere.

It is better not to purchase CBD vapes from unregulated and illicit markets and do a lot of research before choosing one. On the other hand, check for brands that share the third-party lab tests reports since these reports accurately show what is inside the product. There are many brands available online that sell quality and safe CBD products and have lab reports to back them.

Always start with a low dosage to check how your body reacts to CBD. You don’t want to feel the side effects of high CBD dosages. These side effects are not dangerous, but they are irritating and take time to go away. Common side effects include tiredness, diarrhea, and change in appetite, which you don’t want to experience if you already have diabetes.

Diabetic patients are already on a strict diet schedule; a change in appetite can mess it up. So be careful while using CBD and consult your physician immediately if you feel any of these side effects. Besides diabetes, you can also try cbd for weight loss as the weight plays a crucial role in maintaining blood sugar in the body. 

What Are Different Types of CBD? Which One Is Suitable For Diabetes?

You can find three types of CBD, each containing different compounds to offer different results.

Full Spectrum CBD

If you see full-spectrum CBD oil, gummies, or vapes, it means the product contains all parts of the cannabis plant. This means it will have THC, but its concentration will be lower than 0.3%. For health conditions like diabetes, this kind of CBD is not helpful; instead, the THC in it can deeply impact your health despite a low concentration.

THC has anti-inflammatory properties, so it might help manage pain, but you’ll experience the worst side effects. Once the effects of THC wear, the pain will come back stronger than before. Since sugar patients don’t have good pain endurance, the pain will cause more irritation than before.

Broad Spectrum CBD

Broad-spectrum CBD doesn’t have THC but contains most other compounds of the hemp plant. It also contains all the beneficial terpenes from the cannabis sativa plant to help overcome pain and to boost the effects of CBD.

Most CBD products have broad-spectrum CBD in them instead of full-spectrum or CBD isolate. One reason is that THC is banned in most USA states, and this is the only CBD that offers the most health benefits. However, you must check the ingredients in the product you choose and see if any of them won’t harm your health, as sometimes these products have allergens.

CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is the pure form of CBD that has no terpenes or any additional component of the cannabis plant. Most of the benefits that CBD products offer comes from the terpenes added to them. Pure CBD won’t offer those benefits; instead, it only offers relaxation and helps manage pain to a minor extent.

Products having pure CBD are hard to find since they are not popular. You have to search a lot to find these products. However, if you don’t want any side effects while using CBD, this form of CBD is the best.

Benefits Of CBD For Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is an inflammatory condition, with CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the symptoms. However, CBD alone cannot be that helpful in reducing inflammation; it is THC that helps the most. Using THC-infused CBD products for diabetic patients is out of the question, so we’ll take a look at other benefits. However, up to an extent, CBD can help manage inflammation, so it is not harmful to try using THC-free CBD products.

Obesity & Insulin Resistance

Being overweight is 80-85% involved in causing type 2 diabetes, and in most cases, people who reduce weight can overcome their diabetes. On the other hand, if your cells become resistant to insulin, it can lead to hyperglycemia, and if that keeps for a long time, it can cause Type 2 diabetes.

CBD has helped people to reduce weight and insulin resistance, thus reducing the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. CBD has the potential to alter the factors that can lead to type 2 diabetes by reducing inflammation and altering glucose metabolism.

Blood Sugar Control

As we mentioned above, CBD can help manage blood sugar levels. People who take CBD on normal levels experienced a massive change in their health and saw positive impacts that helped them manage type 2 diabetes symptoms. CBD alone help them in decreasing insulin resistance and increasing insulin release. CBD can also bring a balance to hormones which otherwise can play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Nerve Pain

Diabetic neuropathy, also known as nerve pain, is common among diabetic patients. Its symptoms include a burning sensation and pain in the hands and feet. CBD can help reduce pain by increasing the development of nerves and nervous tissue.

The only complication is that CBD’s effect on nerve pain is not tested on humans; thus, there is no surety that it will work on humans. Further studies can explain this, but until then, it is just a theory that CBD can alleviate nerve pain.

Anxiety and Stress Management

Managing diabetes can lead to stress and anxiety, especially in youngsters since they don’t expect to have it at such a young age. As your stress hormones are imbalanced and you feel the adrenaline rush in your body due to stress, your body will release glucagon, which increases the blood sugar levels in your body.

If you somehow manage your stress, it leaves a positive impact on your body, reducing the physical symptoms of diabetes. CBD is well-known to reduce anxiety and depression. It also relaxes your brain so it won’t feel stressed, bringing a balance to the sugar levels raised due to the release of glucagon.

If you are struggling to lower your blood sugar levels because you can’t keep your mind calm? Try using broad-spectrum CBD, as it will help a lot in reducing the symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Other Conditions Related to Diabetes

People who have type 2 diabetes can also have other conditions. CBD can help control symptoms of such conditions.

  • Insomnia: People with type 2 diabetes are more prone to experience insomnia. Lack of sleep is another reason why most people feel stressed, which also leads to worsening diabetes issues. CBD can help correct your sleep cycle, allowing you to sleep for five to six hours in peace. However, you must try CBD oil or gummies if you want good sleep.
  • Chronic pain and inflammation: CBD helps reduce pain and inflammation. Initial studies on CBD showed that CBD products got famous because of this reason. However, taking too much CBD can increase body pain, so it is better to stick to the normal dosage and direction given by the company.
  • Blood pressure: CBD can help reduce blood pressure which reduces the chances of cardiovascular disease. People with diabetes are more prone to such issues, and CBD can help manage them.
  • Cannabidiol Lowers Incidence: Some tests were done on NOD mice showing that CBD significantly reduces the symptoms of diabetes. CBD drastically interacted with their endocannabinoid system increasing their immunity to diabetes. These tests were also done on non-obese diabetic mice to check how much CBD is beneficial for type 1 diabetes.

Risks Of CBD For Type 2 Diabetes:

Due to limited research on CBD, there is no proper evidence that CBD can lead to what sort of side effects prolonged usage. Currently, studies show that CBD can cause headache, nausea, fatigue, and Irritability. However, these side effects are not there under normal circumstances; only those who overdose or tried higher doses of CBD for the first time experienced these side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms and do not use CBD products before your doctor advises you.

CBD and Diarrhea

This usually happens when your stomach cannot absorb CBD and increase the heat levels in the stomach. Taking higher doses of CBD irregularly can cause diarrhea. People with type 2 diabetes already suffer from diarrhea, and CBD can make the situation worse. It is better to start with a lower dosage and use a product that you can easily take. Monitor your body reaction and alter the dosage as necessary.

CBD With Other Medications

If you are already taking medicine to control your diabetes, it is better to check with your physician first before using CBD. CBD products can alter the medicine results, making them worse or better. The risk of CBD causing weird reactions in your body is at the highest when you take it with other medicines.

Diabetic Retinopathy

This happens rarely, but the excessive use of CBD can lead to damaging your retina if your blood sugar levels won’t get balanced. If using CBD increases your blood sugar, you better watch out before it starts affecting your eyesight.

Interactions and Warnings

Here are a couple of things to remember and watch out for before you start using CBD for type 2 diabetes.

No FDA Regulation

FDA only approved CBD to treat epilepsy in children since there are enough studies and tests to back it. CBD for type 2 diabetes still requires more studies and controlled trials, so the FDA does not approve it. You won’t get enough information about these medicines that is usually available if the drugs are FDA approved.

Dosage and Quality

CBD oil and gummies are available in multiple doses; choose the one that suits your condition the most. There is no need to choose a higher dose as it might cause side effects, and a lower dosage won’t affect your body at all.

On the other hand, only the third-party lab results can show the quality of CBD. Choose the brands that share the lab results on their website so you can check the product’s quality before purchasing.

Other Medications

While CDB is natural, it can interact with other medicines. If you are using medication like Metformin, Coumadin (blood thinner), Benadryl, or Tylenol, CBD will cause a different reaction in your body which includes drowsiness or liver enzymes. Talk to your doctor before using CBD with any medicine you use to learn about its side effects.

THC Is Banned in Most States

First of all, THC is not recommended for diabetic patients regardless of its amount in a product. More than 0.3% THC is illegal, and it also causes addiction. It is better to buy CBD in person and check its ingredients and also learn about the product you choose on the internet for its reviews. You can find the hidden information in the reviews letting you know if that product has THC or not.

How Much CBD Is Good For Diabetes?

CBD oil is quite easy to measure compared to gummies and other products since it comes with a dropper. Typically, using 20-40 mg is enough for the conditions you want to treat. If your body shows extreme reactions to such doses, reduce them to 2.5 mg and see what happens.

The critical CBD dosage is 70 mg, so don’t exceed that if you want to enjoy multiple health benefits. The best way is to eat and hold the CBD oil under your tongue for at least 60 seconds and swallow it. It will take around 30-40 minutes for the CBD oil to show its effects, and you’ll feel immense relaxation and pain reduction in your body.

Use CBD oil an hour before going to sleep, so you sleep for at least four to six hours in peace. Additionally, you can use CBD oil twice a day to sleep more; however, don’t use it too much; otherwise, your body will build tolerance against CBD.

Talk To Your Doctor First Before Choosing CBD

Your doctor knows more about your health than you do. It is better to tell them that you want to use CBD products for type 2 diabetes so they can monitor your health. Taking professional advice and under professional care, you might get much better results than average.

On the other hand, if CBD is to cause weird reactions in your body, your doctor can take care of them quickly. Additionally, they can suggest the best products and correct dosage so that you won’t feel extreme side effects on your body. Doctors know more about cannabis dispensaries, and they can help you find the best CBD oil or other products.

Conclusion: CBD for Diabetes: Does It Work? 

CBD has multiple health benefits, and there are many scientific studies to back that. However, CBD curing type 2 diabetes is still a vague topic since there are no studies that show tests in a controlled environment. People are using CBD for diabetes, but not all of them are getting the desired results. CBD helped some people to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes, which means it has the potential to help people, but require more studies to confirm it. You can and mixing cbd with your drink or maybe just find cbd drinks online

CBD is available without a prescription, but it is better to use it after talking to your doctor so you can get quick medical care if your body doesn’t accept CBD.

 

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