Diabetes-More Than Blood Sugar – Oregon Cannabis Connection

By Dr. Allan Frankel, M.D. Greenbridge Medical

March 28, 2017 On Diabetes AlertDay it is fitting to discuss not only attempts at managing the disease, but also contributing factors and other conditions related to the disease.

For some time I have been recommending whole plant cannabis CBD for patients with Diabetes. We have seen a substantial lowering of their glucose levels in those with Type II Diabetes including several patients Hemoglobin A1C levels normalize so they are able to stop their Type II Diabetes medications.

The first time I saw this with a Diabetic, he called me after having some hypoglycemic episodes while taking CBD in addition to his Metformin. I told him to stop his Metformin and continue his CBD. His glucose levels normalized and he remained off Metformin. This is a good demonstration of blood sugar control over a three-month period. With any patient with Type II Diabetes, I warn them about this.

With regard to cholesterol, Diabetes can raise bad cholesterol levels and lower good cholesterol levels. Once a patients blood sugar levels are stable, if they are on a statin I will often discuss with the patient and their primary care doc, the idea of stopping the statin and monitoring their cholesterol levels. The drop in cholesterol is not overnight. It can take some months for reasons we dont yet understand. However, we are seeing improvements in cholesterol levels and many patients remain off their statins.

We have also seen improvements ranging from apparent stabilization of macular degeneration and help with neuropathic pain. Sometimes combined with THC, CBD is a vascular and renal protectant.

Finally with regard to weight and Diabetes, there is certainly a connection to being overweight and the onset of Diabetes. I have written about the effect of CBD on curbing appetite before. The ability to achieve weight loss with CBD is real.

So, when discussing CBD and Diabetes, it is a multi-pronged approach. Helping patients with weight, cholesterol and glucose issues. I believe this is all happening on a number of metabolic levels, such as bringingthe sensitivity of insulin back to normal.

So, help with many major issues resulting from, and associated with diabetes can be achieved with CBD. For certain, it is worth a try.

2017 Greenbridge Medical. All rights reserved. Posted by special permission. Original article appeared here.

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Diabetes-More Than Blood Sugar - Oregon Cannabis Connection