Cannabis is a drug derived from the marijuana plant and used for recreational and medical purposes. It contains two main components, CBD and THC.
These components interact differently with body receptors whereby CBD does not get you high while users choose THC for recreational purposes due to its euphoric effects. CBD is medical marijuana and does not contain high levels of THC.
Many people across the world use cannabis due to its benefits. The legalization of the substance is several states is contributing to its popularity. Today, you can buy your favorite strains, budget buds, cannabis edibles online right at the comfort of your home.
It is effective in treating many conditions. One of the diseases that cannabis can be effective in treating is diabetes. Diabetes is a medical problem that affects the way the body regulates blood sugar. It can lead to adverse complications relating to the kidneys, blood vessels, heart, and the nervous system.
In this article, we look at how cannabis can help to treat diabetes.
Cannabis and Diabetes
If you are wondering how marijuana can help to treat diabetes, you are not alone. One of the areas that current research on marijuana is focusing on is the link between diabetes and cannabis. The components in marijuana may help to treat diabetes in the following ways:
Neuropathy Pain
High levels of sugar in your blood can cause diabetic neuropathy that interferes with nerve signals in the feet and hands. People with diabetic neuropathy feel some tingling in their feet, hands, toes, and fingers or frequent numbness in these areas.
Diabetes patients also experience a sharp and burning nerve pain in the arms and legs that can get worse. As such, it may be hard to undertake daily tasks.
Marijuana plays a vital role in diabetic neuropathy. Cannabis can blunt the pain experienced by diabetes patients without impairing their cognitive functions.
The higher the amount of cannabis consumed, the more the pain relief. The findings of a recent study show that cannabis reacts with CB1 receptors in the brain to numb nerve pain in diabetes.
Manages Depression
There is a close link between diabetes and depression. People with diabetes are at a high risk of developing depression, and at the same time, depressed people are more likely to develop diabetes. The good news is that cannabis contains antidepressant properties that can help to manage depression symptoms in diabetic patients.
The human body contains the endocannabinoid system that comprises of CB1 and CB2 receptors. The endocannabinoids produced by the body are similar to the active compounds found in marijuana. Depression reduces the production of these compounds but using strains like Violator Kush can help to supplement their levels, reduce stress and improve your mood.
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Lowers Insulin Levels/Resistance
A recent study shows that obese people who use cannabis regularly report low levels of insulin compared to those who don’t. In this study, all the research participants had diabetes and showed low fasting insulin. Normally, high fasting insulin is a sign of insulin resistance that leads to diabetes. These findings indicate a possible role of marijuana in diabetes treatment.
Insulin resistance is a condition whereby muscle cells, the liver, and body fat ignore or resist the signal sent out by insulin (to remove glucose from the blood and put it in the cells). At frequent and low consumption levels cannabis reduces insulin resistance. You can experiment with cannabis today to see how it affects your insulin levels.
Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
The THC component of weed improves a person’s brain to smell food, which in turn creates the desire to eat. This occurs when marijuana reacts with the receptors in the brain that regulate hunger, pain, feelings of joy, and mood. Some diabetic people that take insulin have stomach issues that prevent them from eating well.
Such people can consume cannabis to increase their appetite. Many marijuana strains are good for triggering metabolism as well.
In one study, researchers investigated the relationship between blood-sugar levels and marijuana use. They also used a control group of people who did not have diabetes for comparison purposes.
The findings of the study show that marijuana affects metabolism and helps to reduce blood sugar levels. Therefore, if you are looking for a way to reduce your blood sugar, marijuana may come in handy.
Anti-inflammatory Action
The anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis can help to manage swellings and pain associated with diabetes. Diabetic people have high levels of some inflammatory chemicals called cytokines compared to healthy people. As the disease progresses, the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, and this leads to insulin resistance that, in turn, causes inflammation.
Inflammation is a key reason why diabetic people experience kidney problems, strokes, heart attacks, and other chronic conditions. The marijuana plant contains compounds that are 30 times more powerful in reducing inflammation compared to prescription drugs.
Chronic pain and inflammation mostly require treatment with opioids, but these drugs have strong side effects. Using cannabis to treat inflammation and pain could be a useful alternative. It does not have any side effects and will not only reduce inflammation but also help you sleep and relax better.
Studies show that cannabinoids possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are significant in diabetic conditions. Another research also indicates that THCV compound is promising because it works as an antagonist for CB1 receptors while also activating CB2 receptors, and this leads to a reduction in inflammation.
If you have been suffering from inflammation due to your diabetic condition, we recommend that you should try cannabis.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a common health condition that affects many people across the world. Patients struggle with managing symptoms and are susceptible to other chronic conditions such as kidney diseases and heart problems. Conventional medicine has proven beneficial most of the time but is full of side effects.
Cannabis contains pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties that can help diabetic people. Besides, it is a good alternative because it has no side effects.
With many benefits that come with using cannabis, you might be thinking of growing the plant. But before engaging in any farming picking the right seed such as Feminized cannabis seeds will enable you to enjoy a bountiful harvest. The female plant contains an important compound, cannabinoid, that every farmer is after.
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