CBD in diabetes: Can CBD also help with diabetes?

There is currently a lot of research going on regarding the use of CBD to reduce the risk of developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is also being investigated whether CBD can help lower blood sugar and also minimise the nerve pain caused by diabetes.

Does CBD help with diabetes?

The potential effect of CBD on diabetes is attributed to the fact that cannabinoids can communicate with receptors in the so-called endocannabinoid system (ECS) in our body. This regulatory part of our nervous system is responsible for maintaining the chemical balance in our body as well as regulating important functions. CBD can potentially do the work of naturally occurring endocannabinoids in the body, thereby enhancing the ECS. This could give cannabidiol a positive effect on inflammation, stress, pain and the immune system, among other things.

Previous studies that have made the effect of CBD on diabetes a research topic have mainly been conducted on mice and rats. Although the results are promising, no definitive conclusions can yet be drawn about the effectiveness of CBD in people with diabetes. However, one can be cautiously optimistic and say that there is evidence of potential and some benefits for the user when using high-quality products.

How does CBD oil work for people with diabetes? 

The treatment of diabetes is essentially about lowering excessively high blood sugar levels.

It is through interaction with the receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that CBD exerts its effect. We know that the body's own ECS plays an essential role in regulating energy metabolism, which is important for people with diabetes. In this way, it regulates our body's response to insulin. This is how blood sugar can rise or fall.

The vast majority of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the cells no longer respond to insulin. This is called insulin resistance and leads to increased blood sugar and inflammation.

A study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of CBD in patients with type 2 diabetes. CBD was well tolerated in this study but did not primarily lower blood sugar levels. However, it was found to reduce resistin, a protein responsible for insulin resistance and obesity.

Differentiating between type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Those who suffer from type 1 diabetes have a pancreas that does not produce insulin. The reason for this is a so-called autoimmune disease. In this case, the immune system destroys the body's own structures. In type 1 diabetes, the cells of the pancreas that are responsible for insulin production are affected.

The carbohydrates ingested with food are converted into sugar and enter the bloodstream. From there, however, they can no longer reach the cells due to the lack of insulin or be stored in the liver, our sugar store. The result: the blood sugar level in the blood rises steadily.

Type 2 diabetes is also popularly known as adult-onset diabetes, because it used to affect mainly older people. It is the most common form of diabetes and affects about 90 percent of all diabetics.

In type 2 diabetes, insulin production is slowed down. In addition, the body's cells no longer respond as well to insulin. This condition is called insulin resistance. As a result of this insulin resistance, the pancreas has to produce more insulin. In the long run, this overtaxes the cells of the pancreas that are responsible for insulin production.