Is CBD oil effective against diabetes? Can CBD oil, which in everyday speech is often referred to as miracle oil, or miracle product really help against one of the biggest problem diseases in the world right now? That’s exactly what we’re going to find out in this article.
If you want to know more about using CBD oil for diabetes, or read more about what the research says, you have come to the right place. We sort out all the question marks, and give insights into everything you need to know about CBD and diabetes.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that can affect both children and adults, but in different forms. While type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that can be due to heredity, infections, etc. which occurs in children and adolescents, type 2 diabetes is a so-called lifestyle disease that can in short be a result of diet, lack of exercise and obesity.
When a person suffers from diabetes (whether it is type 1 or 2 diabetes), it is because the body is not able to produce enough insulin to balance the blood sugar in the body.
A healthy body breaks down carbohydrates and converts them into glucose, then produces insulin which transports the substance to the cells. The body produces enough insulin to balance the glucose present in the body.
When the body, more specifically the pancreas and the endocrine system are exposed to stress for a long period of time, they can be affected in such a way that the pancreas is not able to produce enough insulin, and the whole endocrine system can become unbalanced.
The deficiency of insulin that occurs can lead to diabetes because there is an imbalance between the amount of insulin and the blood sugar.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes affects about 10% of all people who suffer from diabetes, and affect children and adolescents. This in itself has nothing to do with lifestyle. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body for some reason attacks the insulin production itself. This means that type 1 diabetes is actually an autoimmune disease.
The reason why children and adolescents suffer from type 1 diabetes may, among other things, have to do with heredity or infections. There is also research that suggests that food additives can cause this type of problem.
Type 2 diabetes
Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is a disease that mainly affects adults. 80% of all people with diabetes belong to this group. Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease, which simply means that it is most often caused by a lack of a healthy diet and exercise, which can lead to obesity, among other things. This in turn can contribute to a variety of diseases, including type 2 diabetes.
What happens in type 2 diabetes is that the body gradually loses the capacity to produce enough insulin.
Common symptoms of diabetes
The symptoms of someone with diabetes are very different, but early signs can include unreasonable and excessive thirst and hunger, weight gain, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, and the need to urinate more often than normal.
How is diabetes treated?
Depending on the type of diabetes you suffer from, the treatment will look different. Type 1 diabetes is usually treated by administering insulin in some way, for example by a number of injections daily. Type 2 diabetes can also be treated with medication, but is usually treated by making sure you keep track of your blood sugar levels and avoid foods that trigger them. At the same time, this treatment places a lot of focus on exercise and a balanced lifestyle.
Because the development of type 2 diabetes is usually slow, it is possible to stop the negative trend before fully developing diabetes. In fact, by focusing on a healthy and balanced lifestyle, you can get rid of the disease completely. You can do this to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes:
- Regular exercise
- Healthy diet
- Lose weight (if you are overweight)
- Avoid alcohol
- reduce stress
- stop smoking
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is a substance extracted from the cannabis plant. Many people associate cannabis with THC, which is a drug. However, CBD should not be confused with THC – as it is extracted from another variety of the cannabis plant (hemp) and does not possess the psychoactive properties that THC does at all.
CBD extracted from hemp is sold in the form of CBD oil, but today you can also buy CBD capsules, CBD gummies, various CBD foods, CBD sweets, and more. The purpose of using CBD products is to take advantage of the health-promoting effects that CBD can have on humans and the positive effects that it can have on some diseases.
CBD oil works by activating the human ECS (endocannabinoid system) which is usually activated by the body’s self-produced endocannabinoids. However, cannabinoids such as CBD, for example in the form of CBD oil, can fulfill the same function.
ECS plays an important role in several of our bodily functions and also for our brains. for example, it plays a role when it comes to the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. ECS also plays a role when it comes to our immune system, the endocrine system, sleep, and more. Therefore, it is natural that through the use of CBD oil that affects ECS, we can also see that in some cases it causes improvement when it comes to certain conditions.
How can CBD oil help with diabetes?
Depending on whether a person has type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, CBD oil can be helpful in various ways. Here, some research suggests that CBD oil can balance the immune system and reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation of the pancreas can, for example, cause the body’s immune system to attack it and thus destroy insulin production.
Unfortunately, there are still insufficient studies on CBD and diabetes in humans, to be able to determine the function with certainty. However, the studies performed on mice show positive results. In some of the studies that have been done, it can be seen that type 1 diabetes decreased in mice when they were treated with CBD. However, more research is needed, especially research on humans, to be able to say with certainty that the benefits of diabetes / CBD.
Type 2 diabetes / CBD
When it comes to type 2 diabetes, it is primarily a matter of looking at how CBD oil can help counteract the things that are risk factors for developing diabetes. A major risk factor is obesity, especially if it is concentrated centrally on the body.
What happens in severe obesity is that it can easily cause inflammation in the body which in turn can cause insulin resistance. In addition, the fat around the organs can cause stress in the organs and if the pancreas is stressed, it can stop producing sufficient amounts of insulin.
There are thus two problems that can occur in overweight and obesity that affect type 2 diabetes. 1. The pancreas produces less insulin. 2. The body responds less to the insulin produced (insulin resistance). This means that weight loss is a major factor in “curing” type 2 diabetes.
Because CBD oil can help balance the endocannabinoid system, and contribute anti-inflammatory properties, it can theoretically help balance insulin production.
Overall, it can be said that the content of CBD oil, ie cannabinoids, generally contributes to a better mood and therefore can give several positive effects when it comes to better habits and a healthier lifestyle which in turn can contribute to weight loss that gives positive effects on diabetes. Of course, more research is needed to fully confirm the diabetes / CBD link, but overall there is much to suggest that CBD oil can help the body work against diabetes.
The intestines can also be stressed by imbalance in the body and contrary to what many people think, the intestines can have a very big influence on our mood. for example on our hormone balance. It has also been seen that there is a direct link between our intestinal bacteria and the production of neurotransmitters (for example serotonin and dopamine). In studies that have been done, it has been seen that CBD can contribute to better intestinal health.
According to studies, CBD can also help regulate sleep, and thus contribute to better health (people who sleep poorly are at greater risk for a number of diseases, including obesity, depression, anxiety).
Is there evidence that CBD oil can help people with diabetes?
Does CBD work against diabetes? Because CBD was closely associated with THC (both of which are extracted from cannabis), and THC is generally classified as an illegal drug in most countries, there is a lack of research to establish with certainty that CBD helps with conditions such as diabetes. However, here is what you know:
- Study suggesting that CBD may reduce inflammation of the pancreas (Source)
- Study suggesting that CBD may indirectly regulate blood sugar along with THCV (Source)
- Study suggests that CBD may contribute to better sleep (Source)
- Study that suggests that CBD may contribute anti-inflammatory properties (Source)
When reviewing research, one should also be aware that sometimes there is no distinction between studies between cannabis and CBD. This means that you sometimes come across studies where cannabis has been used, including all components, and not hemp, where the concentration is primarily on CBD.
We also want to be clear that no one right now can say that CBD oil can prevent the development of the disease (diabetes), help the body produce or absorb insulin or replace conventional treatments for the disease. However, there are some indications that the right amount of CBD oil per day could help both reduce many of the symptoms and alleviate this condition. And it is for this reason that we ourselves would test using CBD against diabetes.
Summary: CBD for diabetes
Although there is much to suggest that CBD can help prevent the development of diabetes or alleviate diabetes, it is not possible to say with certainty that CBD against diabetes would actually work as a treatment for the disease.
When it comes to CBD against diabetes, there is much to suggest that the disease will continue to affect people both due to lifestyle but also for other reasons. We believe that it is reasonable to assume that people suffering from diabetes would like to try the options available on the market. Treating diabetes with CBD may be an option, at least as a supplement along with a healthier lifestyle (especially in type 2 diabetes).
If you are already using medicines for your diabetes, it is reasonable to consult a doctor first; you should not substitute your current medication to treat diabetes with CBD, but may use CBD oil as a supplement.
