Why Marijuana Is A Power Plant For People With Diabetes

One drug, many uses.

By: Brea Mosley

Photo by Paweł Kadysz via tookapic

The symptoms surround diabetes can vary depending on which type patients have. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin and requires those effected to receive insulin (the hormone that keeps your blood sugar at a normal level) injection multiple times a day.


Type 2 on the other hand is a chronic condition that impacts the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose). This disorder usually directs the pancreas to produce more insulin that is necessary.

A study published in the American Journal of Medicine showed that frequent and active cannabis users were able to metabolize carbohydrates more efficiently than those who didn’t use cannabis.

The study examined about 4,657 men and women between 2005 and 2010. 48 percent of the participants smoked cannabis at least once and 12 percent of the participants were active cannabis smokers.

After controlling for factors that might put people at risk for diabetes including exercise, economic status, alcohol use and cigarette smoking, researchers observed the results. They found that the active cannabis users had insulin levels that were 16 percent lower than those who once used or never used the drug.

It is fair to assume that this study would have varying results on the two different types of diabetes, but researchers note these results apply for both Type 1 and Type 2.

 

In Type 1, cannabis was able to lower the fasting level, which might eliminate or reduce, the need for an insulin injection at the time. In Type 2, the cannabis has the ability to make patients less resistant to the insulin and help them manage their glucose levels more effectively.

 

Marijuana has also been noted to treat glaucoma, which can develop from having diabetes.

People who have diabetes are 40 percent more likely to develop glaucoma as compared to people who don’t have it. Typically, glaucoma occurs when too much pressure builds inside the eye, but it has been noted that forms of cannabis can help decrease that pressure.


Scientists can’t directly say that cannabis cures diabetes, but they can confirm that it’s a powerful tool that can treat the disease and its subsequent side effects.