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Diabetes – Research on cannabinoids

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that prevents the body from using glucose properly. Studies have shown that marijuana reduces the risk of diabetes, can help treat advanced cases, and aid in managing pain associated with the disease.

Overview

Diabetes is a group of diseases that influence how the body uses glucose – blood sugar. Glucose is an important fuel source for cells and the brain’s main source of energy. In diabetes, the bloodstream has an excess of glucose. This accumulation is due to a problem with insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows the body to process and use glucose.

There are two types of the disease. Type 1, or insulin-dependent, diabetes commonly affects children and adolescents and occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes – around 90-95% of all cases of the disease – occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not respond to insulin properly. Excess blood glucose can lead to serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease, damage to nerves, kidneys, eyes, feet, skin problems and hearing impairment. Symptoms associated with diabetes include increased thirst and frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, extreme hunger, irritability, blurred vision, presence of ketones in the urine, frequent infections, itching and dry skin. The cause of type 1 diabetes remains unknown. The immune system accidentally attacks and destroys the cells inside the pancreas that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Treatments for diabetes commonly include encouraging healthy eating and regular exercise to reduce body weight. Additionally, it is important to regularly monitor blood sugar for individuals diagnosed with either type of diabetes. Insulin injections may be needed to adjust blood glucose levels.

Effects of cannabis on diabetes

The use of cannabis has shown an inverse association with diabetes 2. Cannabis users have a lower incidence of the disease, which has been observed in studies with humans and animals.


In animal studies, one of the cannabinoids found in cannabis, CBD (cannabidiol), was shown to significantly reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream and the incidence of diabetes in non-obese mice 23. Later, the same researchers did a similar study, but with rodents that had early symptoms or a latent stage of the disease, and found that CBD was effective in controlling the manifestations of the disease. Only 30% of mice treated with CBD ended up developing diabetes24. Other research has found that CBD treatments in rats for between one and four weeks have been shown to offer significant protection from diabetic retinopathy 10. Another cannabinoid found in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), produces several beneficial effects reducing the risk of diabetes in obese mice, including reducing glucose intolerance, improving glucose tolerance and increasing insulin sensitivity 22. Cannabinoids have also been shown to trigger anti-inflammatory effects that effectively treat type diabetes. 1 in mice 1.

In human studies, cannabis use has been associated with a lower prevalence of diabetes 17. One observational study found that individuals who had used cannabis in the past 30 days experienced lower fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance 16. Other researchers found that those who consumed cannabis in the previous year were more likely to have a body mass index, lower fasting insulin, and lower insulin resistance when compared to non-users 14. In patients infected with HIV-HCV – who have a higher risk of developing diabetes – cannabis has been shown to be associated with a lower risk of developing insulin resistance, thus demonstrating its potential as a therapeutic option 4. Cannabinoids have also been shown to play a role in regulating glucose metabolism, suggesting that they are beneficial in regulating adipose tissue in obese humans 15.

CBD and THC act on cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) of the endocannabinoid system, which stimulates analgesic and anti-inflammatory responses 3, 8, 11. Due to these anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis, researchers have concluded that it may serve as a viable therapeutic option in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as diabetes 5. One study found that administration of CBD decreased oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death and fibrosis, suggesting that it has a great therapeutic potential 18. An animal study found that action at the CB1 receptor lowers fasting plasma glucose, improves the glycemic response to glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity 12. When combined with a low-calorie diet, blocking the CB1 receptor for over a year, has been shown to cause a significant reduction in body weight and waist circumference, improving cardiovascular risk factors 20. Another study found that cannabinoids are effective in reducing the destruction of beta cells, which leads to insulin deficiency and causes type 1 diabetes 13.


Cannabis can also help manage pain associated with the disease. In several studies, administering cannabis to mice reduced diabetes-related tactile allodynia, or pain resulting from a non-harmful stimulus to the skin 9, 19. One placebo-controlled study found inhaled cannabis to be effective in reducing diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain that had otherwise been proven resistant to treatments 21.

Recent studies on cannabis for diabetes

  • Individuals who used marijuana in the past 30 days experienced lower fasting insulin levels and less insulin resistance. The impact of marijuana use on glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance among American adults.
    http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(13)00200-3/pdf
  • Marijuana users have a lower prevalence of diabetes when compared to non-marijuana users. Reducing the prevalence of diabetes in marijuana users: cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III.http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000494.full

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