I’ve been wanting to look at this for a while … and I’ve tried to find a local medical doctor and a medical group willing to host a discussion about CBD oil and Type 1 diabetes. But most places I checked would not go on the record to host or even discuss this topic. Really!?!?!? I understand that there are no strongly conclusive medical research studies that prove the effectiveness and the proper dosing/strength as well as the impact of us folks with diabetes. That being said, folks are either using CBD oil and/or, medical marijuana … or would LOVE to have more information. So here is a whole bunch information from lots of sources. Hope this is helpful.
Let’s start with a definition of CBD Oil: CBD is short for cannabidiol, an abundant chemical in the cannabis plant. Unlike its more famous cannabinoid cousin, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD does not make you stoned. Which is not to say that you feel utterly normal when you take it. The product purports to relieve stress, reduce pain and improve cognition. Users speak of a “body” high, as opposed to a mind-altering one. “Physically, it’s like taking a warm bath, melting the tension away,” said Gabe Kennedy, 27, a founder of Plant People, a start-up in New York that sells CBD capsules and oils. “It is balancing; a leveling, smoothing sensation in the body mostly, and an evenness of attention in the mind.”
Why is CBD Everywhere? was written by Alex Williams of the Self-Care section of The New York Times, 27 October 2018. As Mr. Williams says, “Cannabidiol is being touted as a magical elixir, a cure-all now available in bath bombs, dog treats and even pharmaceuticals. But maybe it’s just a fix for our anxious times.”
“Right now, CBD is the chemical equivalent to Bitcoin in 2016,” said Jason DeLand, a New York advertising executive and a board member of Dosist, a cannabis company in Santa Monica, Calif., that makes disposable vape pens with CBD. “It’s hot, everywhere and yet almost nobody understands it.”
The tsunami of CBD-infused products has hit so suddenly, and with such force, that marketers have strained to find a fitting analogy. Chris Burggraeve, a former Coca-Cola and Ab InBev executive, called it the “new avocado toast,” in an interview with Business Insider.
Skeptics who assume CBD is just 21st-century snake oil, however, may be surprised to learn that the substance is being studied as a potential treatment for maladies as diverse as schizophrenia, insomnia and cancer.
“CBD is the most promising drug that has come out for neuropsychiatric diseases in the last 50 years,” said Dr. Esther Blessing, an assistant professor at New York University School of Medicine, who is coordinating a study of CBD as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder. “The reason it is so promising is that it has a unique combination of safety and effectiveness across of very broad range of conditions.”
Read more:
- Why Is CBD Everywhere?
- CBD Is Everywhere, but Scientists Still Don’t Know Much About It
- Can CBD Really Make Everything in Your Life Better?
Again, a definition of Cannabis: is a genus of flowering plants, also known as hemp, although this term is often used to refer only to varieties of Cannabis cultivated for non-drug use. Cannabis has long been used for hempfibre, hemp seeds and their oils, hemp leaves for use as vegetables and as juice, medicinal purposes, and as a recreational drug. Industrial hemp products are made from cannabis plants selected to produce an abundance of fiber. To satisfy the UN Narcotics Convention, some cannabis strains have been bred to produce minimal levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive constituent. Some strains have been selectively bred to produce a maximum of THC (a cannabinoid), the strength of which is enhanced by curing the flowers. Various compounds, including hashish and hash oil, are extracted from the plant. (Wikipedia)
Cannabis use was associated with a doubled risk for diabetic ketoacidosis among people with type 1 diabetes, researchers reported from survey data in Colorado. Users of cannabis had a higher odds of experiencing hospitalization for diabetic ketoacidosis within the past year compared with nonusers (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.01- 3.91), Viral Shah, MD, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, and colleagues wrote in a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine. Over 20% of these patients with type 1 diabetes who used cannabis — either recreationally or for medical purposes — were hospitalized for diabetic ketoacidosis within the previous year compared with only 8.2% of nonusers.
Patients who reported cannabis use also had higher mean HbA1c levels when compared with nonusers (8.4% vs 7.6%, P<0.01). Even after adjustment for the method of insulin delivery, age, and income level, people who reported cannabis use still had higher mean HbA1c levels (difference 0.41 percentage points, 95% CI 0.38-0.43).
“Cannabinoids alter gut motility and cause hyperemesis, which may play a role in increased risk for [diabetic ketoacidosis] in T1D,” they wrote. However, use of diabetes technology also tended to be lower among patients who used cannabis. This included lower rates of continuous glucose monitoring (45.5% vs 55.1%), as well as lower rates of using an insulin pump (50.7% vs 66.5%) compared with nonusers, which may have also influenced the study findings.
Bottom Line: Overall, Shah’s group highlighted their small sample size and self-reported variables as limitations to the study. The researchers also did not account for some potential confounders such as healthcare access. “Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the effects and adverse consequences of cannabis use in patients with T1D,” the team ultimately concluded.
Read more: Cannabis Tied to Higher Ketoacidosis Risk in T1D
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Is it Safe for People with Diabetes to Smoke Marijuana? by Julie Workman of ASweetLife.org, December 2018. This article has a lot more information for the person with diabetes.
Marijuana has been proven to be an effective treatment for a variety of health ailments—often with fewer side effects than many of the other drugs that are available today with a prescription or over-the-counter. It comes from the cannabis plant and contains cannabinoids, which are chemicals that work within the Endo-cannabinoid System (ECS) in the human body. These chemicals are naturally found within the body but may be in short supply for people with certain ailments. When a person takes a drug containing cannabinoids, these chemicals collaborate with the receptors of the central nervous system to produce various benefits in the brain and body.
When considering marijuana use in conjunction with diabetes, there’s a lack of controlled trial testing on a large scale. In relation to the treatment of diabetes, some studies note that the anti-inflammatory capabilities of the cannabinoids in marijuana may have therapeutic effects that may help to: stabilize blood sugar, lower blood pressure, prevent nerve inflammation, and improve circulation in diabetics. A study published in The Natural Medicine Journal showed that marijuana use may be associated with lower levels of glucose, fasting insulin, body mass index, waist circumference, and HOMA-IR.
Since the use of marijuana can impact the appetite and perception, it’s important for people with diabetes who use marijuana to be prepared to address insulin and sugar needs as they occur. As balancing blood sugar can be like walking on a tight rope, it is critical to take into account the extra food that may be eaten in response to getting the “munchies”.
Another consideration is, if the THC in marijuana brings on a state of euphoria, the user may not be as capable of discerning how they feel in terms of blood glucose levels. Perceptions may be skewed, which means blood sugar levels should be checked frequently, even if the person “feels okay”.
Of course, if marijuana is smoked, dangers and risks are certainly prevalent in relationship the impact of the smoke on the respiratory system, especially the lungs. Other options for taking marijuana (that may be less dangerous than smoking it) include oils taken sublingually, vaping the oil, edibles, and applying it to the skin in a lotion, cream, or spray.
The Bottom Line: So the question about whether or not marijuana is safe for people with diabetes? Well, the answer is—it’s complicated.
Read more: Is it Safe for People with Diabetes to Smoke Marijuana?
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Characterization of cannabinoid-induced relief of neuropathic pain in rat models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes was abstracted through PubMed/ncbi/nlm/nih/gov, August 2012 (note the date of first publication!). BOTTOM LINE: Cannabinoids, acting on systemic and/or peripheral receptors, may serve as a new therapeutic alternative for symptom management in painful neuropathy associated with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Read more: Cannabinoid-induced relief of neuropathic pain
New Israeli research pits cannabis against heart disease was written by Brian Blum for Israel21C.org, 11 October 2018. Canadian-Israeli corporate partnership aims to develop proprietary cannabinoid-based treatments for preventing atherosclerosis, which could directly benefit those of us with Type 1 diabetes.
Can cannabis cure heart disease? That’s what Canadian cannabis company FSD Pharma and Israeli-Canadian firm SciCann Therapeutics hope to find out with a new research project aimed at developing proprietary cannabinoid-based treatments for preventing atherosclerosis. Dr. Zohar Koren, CEO of SciCann, who is heading up the research said, “We believe that smart and targeted modulation of the endocannabinoid system may offer a new approach to treat this devastating progressive disease.”
Read more: New Israeli research pits cannabis against heart disease
So want to know more?
Do Different Strains of Marijuana Cause Different Highs? Cannabis researchers say popular notions of indica and sativa are “nonsense”, according to Markham Heid for Medium | Health, 24 January 2019.
Depending on the type of experience you’re looking for, you may lean — or be guided by a dispensary employee — toward a sativa- or indica-dominant strain, or even a “pure” strain, which you may be told is 100 percent one species or the other. For example, Purple Kush is usually marketed as 100 percent indica, while White Widow is often described as a 60–40 percent split between the two species.
All of this is fantastic product marketing. It suggests a level of botanical and biochemical precision that is comforting to consumers — whether you’re using cannabis recreationally or to relieve an affliction (or a bit of both). Unfortunately, a lot of it is bunk.
“The evidence we have to date shows that indica and sativa labeling as currently applied to consumer products is not a reliable indicator of genetics or ancestry, or even of the plant contained within the package,” Myles says.
Read more: Do Different Strains of Marijuana Cause Different Highs?
Just because CBD is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe or effective. You have to study it and look at the evidence. Unfortunately, high-quality trials are unusual for multiple reasons (one of which is that marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug by the DEA… meaning there is no known medical use — this makes it hard to study historically). Still:
- There is evidence that it may reduce seizures in a pair of particular types of rare childhood seizure disorders. There is actually a recent cannabis-based pharmacology therapy approved by FDA for this purpose.
- Claims of anti-inflammatory effects, social anxiety, and general anxiety amelioration are based on small animal studies and small case studies in human and on anecdote.
- What about curing cancer? No reliable evidence beyond anecdotes that likely confuse correlation with causation.
Read more: Smoke This: Inhale Marijuana Science
Business and Legal Stuff?
Why so many Americans now support legalizing marijuana, in 4 charts was produced by PBS Science, 5 February 2019.
American views on marijuana have shifted incredibly rapidly. Thirty years ago, marijuana legalization seemed like a lost cause. In 1988, only 24 percent of Americans supported legalization. But steadily, the nation began to liberalize. By 2018, 66 percent of U.S. residents offered their approval, transforming marijuana legalization from a libertarian fantasy into a mainstream cause. Many state laws have changed as well. Over the last quarter-century, 10 states have legalized recreational marijuana, while 22 states have legalized medical marijuana. So why has public opinion changed dramatically in favor of legalization? In a study published this February, we examined a range of possible reasons, finding that the media likely had the greatest influence.
Read and see more charts: Why so many Americans now support legalizing marijuana
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Top Marijuana Stocks to Buy in 2019 was written by Keith Speights for TheMotleyFood, 18 December 2019. Cannabis legalization is sweeping over North America – 10 states plus Washington, D.C., have all legalized recreational marijuana over the last few years, and full legalization comes to Canada in October 2018.
Legal marijuana was worth $10 billion for the U.S. in 2017 alone. And since experts have projected the U.S. industry to skyrocket to $50 billion by 2026, it’s time for investors to start paying attention.
Understanding the marijuana industry
Before buying any stock, it’s important to understand the underlying business. And the marijuana industry is more complex than it might seem at first glance.
First, there are key geographic considerations. Canadian pot stocks have received the most attention from investors over the past few years. The U.S. is and will continue to be where the most money is made for the marijuana industry, with nearly 80% of global marijuana sales in 2019.
Areas of Focus:
- Marijuana producers.
- Ancillary products and services providers.
- Cannabis-focused drugmakers.
What to look for in marijuana stocks
The two key things to look for in marijuana stocks are similar to what you should look for in any stock: growth opportunities and the ability to capitalize on those opportunities.
Read more: Top Marijuana Stocks to Buy in 2019
The DKA study seems contrived. Many questions exist. Do people who use alcohol have a higher, lower or similar incidence of DKA? We do not know and frankly even the size of the study we d not know how Marijuana impacts DKA either.
Basically I support legalization and would like to use it for RA and AS. But, I live in Indiana and have often said Indiana will be the 148th state to ratify a marijuana law. (that is not a typo)
As for CBD oil, what anyone buys these days may be water or CBD oil. I mean really who knows. When someone says they swear by it? I want to ask what are you swearing by the idea, or actual product? few knwo the difference.
I found it interesting and informative. Good job for being open to new possibilities!!!
What is the difference between CBD hemp oil and regular CBD oil one seems to be a lot cheaper than the other
Here’s a great description for you: https://www.healthline.com/health/hemp-vs-cbd-oil#1