CBD and Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease. The daily routine of constant monitoring of carbohydrates, working out rations, testing blood sugars, taking pills or injecting insulin. Then the daily concerns of hypos and hypers, dizziness, extreme thirst, fatigue and lack of energy, weight gain or loss and higher risk of infection. Of course, as well as all this, there are also the long term more serious conditions such as obesity, glaucoma, stroke, heart disease, diabetic infection, nerve damage, blood vessel damage and even, in serious cases, amputation or death. Can CBD help?
Diabetes affects around 10% of the population with many more going undiagnosed!
Good News! There is an increasing amount of research into the causes, prevention and treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Part of the ongoing research has included the use of CBD oil as part of the management of diabetes.
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are very separate but related conditions. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the antibodies attack the pancreas stopping its ability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes, the more common type which accounts for 95% of all people with diabetes, is where the pancreas produces insulin however either it does not produce enough insulin or the body’s cells are resistant to it. At the moment there is no cure for either type of disease.
So how does CBD work to help someone with diabetes?
CBD oil helps to put the body into ‘homoeostasis’, a stable equilibrium. When the body is in balance it can then work at its optimum, repairing itself and protecting against damage and disease. Scientific evidence shows that because of the impact CBD has on our body it can help lower blood sugar levels and minimise, even negate, the adverse effects of diabetes.
CBD helps the stimulation of insulin production
Naturally-occurring CBD receptors are found throughout our body, including the brain and nervous tissues, immune cells, and all the organs. In fact there have been many CBD receptors found on and in the pancreas, the organ responsible for insulin production, it has been suggested that, in the case of type 2 diabetes, CBD helps the stimulation of insulin production. CBD is a neuroprotectant (regenerates the nervous system) and it reduces infarcts (areas of dead tissue due to lack of blood flow) by up to 30%, protecting the tissues, blood vessels and nerves against diabetic infection and damage. CBD helps to protect the cardiovascular system against diabetic dysfunction. CBD has strong anti-inflammatory properties aiding the immune system, cell growth and sugar metabolism, so helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels and an increased ability to fight infection. CBD helps to regulate sleep patterns and increase energy, alleviating lethargy and fatigue. There is even plenty of anecdotal evidence to show that CBD oil, along with diet and exercise, can actually reverse type 2 diabetes!
CBD helps control blood sugar levels
Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes CBD will help control blood sugar levels, as well as supporting your whole body, ensuring you minimise your risk of diabetic related conditions. In fact Dr. Allan Frankel, an M.D. with Greenbridge Medical, wrote on OCC Newspaper recently about the experiences and successes he’s had treating his diabetes patients with CBD oil, concluding that it can help with both the treatment of the disease itself, as well as aiding the day to day management of diabetes related symptoms like inflammation and joint pain. “For certain, it is worth a try.”