Controlled Substances Act, which classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug with the highest restrictions. Some CBD and diabetes studies have been done in rats, which leads to findings that don’t always apply to human health. Other studies have looked more generally at the body’s endocannabinoid system, which sends signals about pain, stress, sleep, and other important functions.
Of the CBD products on the market, Jackson says it’s often difficult to know what’s inside. A study published November 2017 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that only 30 percent of CBD products were accurately labeled, with under- and over-labeling of CBD, and some products containing unlisted chemicals such as THC. “The FDA, for the time being, has focused its limited enforcement resources on removing CBD products that make claims of curing or treating disease, leaving many CBD products for sale,” wrote Pieter Cohen, MD, and Joshua Sharfstein, MD, in a July 2019 perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine.
“In general, especially if they’re not well controlled, people are looking at cannabinoid therapy as an alternative, and usually as an adjunct option,” says Jackson, adding that callers have questions about CBD for both blood glucose control and neuropathy pain. If you’re managing type 2 diabetes, it’s natural to be curious about whether CBD might help you manage those symptoms, too, to help stabilize your blood sugar. Some healthcare professionals say CBD may play a role in treating diabetes, but it’s important to understand that the only health condition CBD has proved effective for isepilepsy in kids. The jury is unfortunately still out, because of a lack of comprehensive research on CBD and type 2 diabetes.
Still other studies, including one published in theAmerican Journal of Medicine, have looked at marijuana and diabetes, but not CBD specifically. ACanadian study published in Painof 37 people with diabetes found that a synthetic cannabinoid called nabilone improved nerve pain. “We also found patients had better sleep measures, so their sleep was more complete. Anxiety levels improved to a smaller amount,” says Dr. Toth, who led the study. Despite interest among people with type 2 diabetes, large, rigorous studies showing how CBD may affect type 2 diabetes are lacking, says Y.
The insoluble fiber in whole hemp seeds helps form bulk and keep things moving, if you know what I mean, while soluble fiber can help lower your low-density lipids (LDL or “bad cholesterol”). I keep this in mind when I need to hide some extra protein and fiber in my growing son’s food. I quickly throw a scoop of EVO Hemp Protein Supplement into his smoothies, or substitute a tablespoon of flour with it in my baked goods.
One thing I really love about this brand is that they buy their hemp from Native American farmers on the Pine Ridge Reservation. “What you put in your body is really important,” says Jackson, adding that’s especially true for people with major health conditions including diabetes. Jackson speaks from personal experience as a mom finding CBD treatments for her son’s epilepsy. She says consumers should ask manufacturers whether CBD products are free of mold, pesticides, and other toxins.
Tony Yang, MPH, a doctor of science in health policy and management and a professor at George Washington University in Washington, DC. Specifically absent are randomized controlled trials, which are the gold standard of medical research, per a June 2016 article in theNew England Journal of Medicine. Heather Jackson, the founder and board president ofRealm of Caringin Colorado Springs, Colorado, a nonprofit that focuses on cannabis research and education, also senses an interest in CBD within the diabetes community.
Dr. Cohen is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, and Dr. Sharfstein oversees the office of public health practice and training at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Historically, cannabinoids (a group of chemicals in the cannabis plant) have been lumped together, including CBD, THC, and more than 100 others. In the past decade, growers and manufacturers have been able to isolate CBD, mainly by cultivating industrial hemp that is high in CBD and very low in THC, says Jackson. The 2018 Farm Bill removed industrial hemp from the controlled substances list, clearing the way for more production and research of hemp and thus CBD.
Jadoon KA, Tan GD, O’Sullivan SE. A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study. There is a wide best hemp oil range of products to choose from for those who are ready to decide which product and how they would like to take CBD oil to either address medical conditions or maintain general well-being. People with high blood pressure have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death in the United States. Products containing CBD isolates do not have THC, while full-spectrum CBD products do.