Diabetes affects millions of
people worldwide. As a chronic inflammatory disorder, it wreaks havoc to people
who develop it. Treatment for diabetes addresses symptoms but not the underlying
cause which is still under investigation. Common treatment methods for diabetes
include insulin administration, weight management, and lifestyle changes. But
more are looking for alternative ways which led many people to turn to CBD oil.
Here are some ways that CBD oil helps people manage and prevent diabetes.
1. Helps with retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a
complication among diabetic patients that affects the eyes. It is caused by the
light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye being damaged because of the lack
of adequate blood supply. When it first occurs, diabetic retinopathy doesn't
have any marked symptoms or only very mild vision problems. If left untreated,
it can cause permanent blindness. This medical condition affects people of both
type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of
adult blindness.
New research is coming to light
that suggests cannabis, and CBD can be used to prevent the onset of retinopathy
in diabetic patients. Early studies suggest that CBD works to protect the eyes
from leaky blood vessels as a result of uncontrolled blood sugar level. Studies
using animal models have shown that CBD can halt further destruction to cells
in the retina. It stops microglial cells from eating dying cells and it helps
cells pump out excess nitric oxide which is toxic to cells.
2. Helps with neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is a type of
nerve damage that afflicts people with diabetes. Excess blood sugar can injure
nerve cells throughout the body. Diabetic neuropathy most commonly affects the
nerves in the legs and feet. Symptoms of neuropathy include pain, numbness,
digestive and urinary problems, or blood vessels or heart problems. Diabetic
neuropathy affects half of all people with diabetes. The good news is
neuropathy can be prevented through consistent blood sugar monitoring and
management and following a healthy lifestyle.
To date, there are still no
clinical trials conducted to find out the effects of CBD in addressing
neuropathy. Evidence that purports CBD's effectiveness in treating neuropathy
is largely based on research carried out on culture nerve cells and/or animal
models. Having said that, CBD can serve as a neuroprotectant and as a
pain-reliever for people at risk or showing symptoms of neuropathy. High-grade
CBD oil has the potential to protect nerve cells from developing neuropathy,
with some people even claiming that it can even reverse damage caused by
neuropathy.
3. Helps with carbohydrate
metabolism
Normally, when people consume
carbohydrates, the digestive system breaks it down to simple sugar which then
enters the blood. As the sugar level rises, the pancreas releases insulin that
prompts the cells of the body to absorb the sugar either for energy use or
storage. This results in the blood sugar levels in the bloodstream to decrease.
This in turn prompts the pancreas to release another hormone, this time
glucagon, that signals the liver to release its stored sugar. All this
interplay of glucagon and insulin ensures that the body has a steady supply of
sugar in the blood.
But in the case of a person with
diabetes, cells stop responding to insulin which means blood sugar remains high
after eating. Over time, the high demand put on insulin-producing cells begin
to wear them out and they stop insulin production altogether.
A study conducted in 2006 shows
that CBD was able to lower the incidence of diabetes among laboratory rats.
Research suggests that CBD helps the body to convert white fat into brown fat
thus promoting normal insulin production as well as sugar metabolism.
Furthermore, a study that used 4,600 test subjects found that cannabis users
have fasting insulin levels that were 16% lower than nonusers. They also have
higher levels of HDL, a type of "good" cholesterol that protects against
diabetes. And cannabis users have a 17% lower levels of insulin resistance.
4. Control weight
It is predicted that in the next
20 years, the number of adults in the United States alone will reach 26 million
people. According to many experts, this rise in obesity cases will result in
more than one million additional cases of type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart
disease. Obesity is no longer just a condition exclusive to older people. In
fact, there is an increasing number of younger people who are diagnosed with
obesity.
Although the exact cause of
diabetes is still not fully understood, it is known that obesity factors into
the risk of developing diabetes mellitus. As a matter of fact, obesity is
believed to be responsible for 80% to 85% of developing type 2 diabetes, and
recent studies are suggesting that people who are obese are up to 80 times more
likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people whose BMI are less than 22.
Being able to keep the weight
can, therefore, be helpful in preventing the development of diabetes. A study
that was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that CBD users
have a lower chance of being overweight. In another study that was conducted in
the University of Reading drew comparisons to three different cannabinoids when
it comes to reducing obesity. The study found that CBD is able to reduce food
consumption in rats.
5. Helps manage fasting insulin level
It is well known that the
endocannabinoid system plays an integral role when it comes to regulating the
body's metabolism which is important for people with diabetes. New studies
suggest that the endocannabinoid system sets the sensitivity in the insulin
response cells. What this means is that the system plays an important part in
how the body reacts and responds to insulin, making cells more or less
sensitive to insulin.
Anecdotal reports have varying
responses to CBD oil use. A few people who have searched for online dispensary ontario have
reported a dramatic decrease in their blood sugar in a matter of minutes, while
others report that CBD oil doesn't have any effect on their blood sugar level.
This conflicting report is indicative that further research needs to be done to
ascertain this claim.
AUTHOR BIO:
Leanne Brooks is an
avid blogger and informative content writer who loves to write about health,
travel, fitness, and more. She is currently working with GreenSociety, the
leading online dispensary in Canada, which offers premium quality weed online.
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