You definitely don't need to look any further than your neighbourhood pharmacy or beauty supply store to discover that CBD has become a prominent ingredient in anything from candy and sparkling water to lotions and medicinal oils. Cannabidiol (CBD), which, like THC, is a component of the cannabis plant but lacks its euphoric effects, is sometimes referred to as the "it" substance of our time.


You may have also heard that CBD products can help with pain, stress, and anxiety. It makes sense to wonder if CBD can help you control those symptoms if you have type 2 diabetes in order to assist your blood sugar stay stable. In fact, a study that surveyed people about their use of cannabis (CBD or THC, in any form, in the prior 30 days) revealed that the prevalence of cannabis use among people with diabetes increased by 340 percent between 2005 and 2018, as reported in a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence in July 2020.


Research Challenges and Scientific Investigations on Cannabidiol and Type 2 Diabetes

Y. Tony Yang, MPH, a doctor of science in health policy and management and a professor at the George Washington University School of Nursing in Washington, DC, claims that despite the interest of those who have type 2 diabetes, large, rigorous studies demonstrating how CBD may affect type 2 diabetes are lacking. The gold standard of medical research, randomised controlled trials, are specifically missing.


Early research indicates that CBD products and diabetes are topics that merit more investigation. For instance, a short study looking at 62 persons with type 2 diabetes and published in October 2016 in Diabetes Care in the United Kingdom revealed that CBD did not lower blood glucose. While none of the participants were taking insulin, several did. During a period of 13 weeks, they were randomised into five various treatment groups: CBD at a dose of 100 mg twice daily; THCV at a dose of 5 mg twice daily; CBD plus THCV at a dose of 5 mg twice daily; CBD and THCV at a dose of 100 mg twice daily; or a placebo. The authors of the study noted that THCV (but not CBD) dramatically enhanced blood glucose regulation.



How to Discuss Using CBD for Type 2 Diabetes with Your Doctor


Before you buy CBD product and CBD in their treatment regimen, Jackson and Brady suggest those who are thinking about it to talk to their doctors about complementary medicine. Brady claims that, even in her capacity as a diabetes educator, it is challenging to discover studies on CBD and type 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, in her opinion, it is worthwhile for patients to speak with their doctor if they are looking for a natural strategy to manage pain. In particular, Brady advises, "it's something that should be discussed if they're having large amounts of pain, or really any pain at all linked with their diabetes.