Diabetes is one of the common diseases that has affected more than 100 million American adults. Under certain conditions, diabetes could be fatal. Despite the best efforts put up by the Govt. it remains 7th major diseases claiming maximum number of lives. As a result, this disease remains a major health concern.

It’s a cluster of metabolic disorders that results into high blood glucose levels. Two reasons ascribed to the disease are; body stops producing insulin & natural production of insulin remains insufficient; and second, the body fails to respond to insulin. Some expectant mothers may also develop gestational diabetes between 24th – 28th weeks of pregnancy.

Our body extracts glucose from the food we eat and it enters into our blood. Insulin helps to supply the glucose to cells across the body. Our internal systems get energy from the glucose and function in the desired manner. But due to short or no production of insulin, this glucose accumulates in the blood and fails to reach to the cells.

Diabetes is a slowly progressing disease with long-term conditions. Initially, a patient may have a problem of frequent urination, continuing thirst and hunger. The patient may also experience tiredness or fatigue and difficulty in breathing. The patient may feel tingling & a burning sensation in hands and soles. A male patient may lose sex vigor or may have erectile dysfunction.

It is a severe, as well as critical disease. Uncontrolled diabetes may cause premature death or other severe disabilities. These include loss of partial vision, heart stroke or some other cardiovascular issues & kidney damage. The severity may also necessitate amputation of toes, feet or legs. Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of complete blindness across the world.

Prescription medicines have completely failed to alleviate diabetes permanently. Patients need insulin shots or formulations on a regular basis. This helps them get a short time relief. On the other hand, medical hemp oil & cannabis oil have been found to be effective in treating diabetes.

How does medical hemp oil & cannabis oil differ?

Though hemp oil & CBD oil both belong to cannabis species, yet they differ significantly.

Hemp oil is extracted from industrial hemp plants which have low CBD content. Hemp oil is of two types, “Hemp Seed Oil” & “Hemp Extract Oil”.

“Hemp Seed Oil” is extracted from seeds only. This oil is rich with fatty acids. CBD content is available in a small amount. THC content is almost nil. Hemp seed oil is extracted by the cold-press method. This oil is tested for fatty acid profile and not for THC & CBD.

“Hemp Extract Oil” is extracted from the whole sativa plant. It’s mostly used for industrial purposes. It has nutritional values and is also used as a cooking oil or kitchen oil.

In California, using Industrial hemp oil for food is prohibited.

CBD oil is extracted from cannabis-sativa plants with high CBD content. The oil is extracted from the cannabis plant stems, flowers & leaves. Seeds are not used for extracting the oil. Nontoxic CO 2 process is used for extraction of CBD oil. The oil is rich with high CBD & a low THC content.

How Medical Cannabis Oil Controls Diabetes?

Insulin dysfunction is one of the key factors behind diabetes. It’s “Islet Cells” in our body that are responsible for producing insulin. Islet cells produce insulin when CB1 receptors are activated.

Dysfunction of our endogenous endocannabinoid system is responsible for several diseases. These include diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, pains, kidney & cardiovascular issues.

Oxidative stress, inflammation & metabolic syndrome are the important reasons for diabetes and related complications. Obesity is the main risk factor for type 2 diabetes, leading to insulin resistance in our body. Type-1 diabetes occurs due to autoimmune destruction of islet cells, resulting in lack of insulin or insulin resistance.

When we consume CBD, it interacts with CB1 receptors in the same way as natural cannabinoids in our endogenous ECS activate CB1 receptors. This means when the natural cannabinoids fail to perform & islets cells fail to produce insulin, then cannabis-based CBD steps in and helps ECS to work in a natural way.

Scientific studies and researches have proven that the natural endocannabinoid system (ECS) influences our metabolic effects, reactive oxygen production, inflammation and tissue injury.

It has also been proved that when we consume cannabis in any form, cannabinoids, which are present in it, mimic the function of natural cannabinoids that exist in our ECS. The reason is, both have a similar chemical structure & properties.

Consumption of cannabis plant derived exogenous cannabinoids and ECs (CBD) increase insulin resistance, food intake and helps weight gain. This also helps blockade of CB1 receptors with rimonabant (RIO) which results in increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, weight loss, decreased waist circumference, and decreased triglyceride levels.

Clinical trials conducted with CBD infused medicines Sativex in patients with painful diabetic conditions. The results showed that CBD promises therapeutic advantage because it has the potential to control the neuropathic pains.

CB1 inhibition has been found to be helpful in mitigating inflammation in cells, tissues & nerves which is an important cause of diabetes.

Studies conducted by the American Diabetes Association showed that CBD & THCV, which are active compounds of cannabis, affect lipid and glucose metabolisms. Patients who were given CBD & THCV, showed a significant decrease in fasting glucose plasma.

Research papers published by NCBI suggested that cannabis oil was highly useful in controlling the following conditions: