Can marijuana beat diabetes?

A new study has shown that marijuana smokers may have better control of their blood sugar, are skinnier and less likely to get diabetes than non-marijuana users! Anyone who has seen habitual users wil

By: Nirmalya Dutta | | Updated: May 16, 2013 11:56 am

marijuna medicinal A new study has shown that marijuana smokers may have better control of their blood sugar, are skinnier and less likely to get diabetes than non-marijuana users! Anyone who has seen habitual users will attest to the fact that they usually are skinnier than others. The research published in the American Journal of Medicine showed that users were at a lower risk of insulin resistance and had lower fasting insulin levels. They also found that users to have lower waist lines, higher levels of good cholesterol or HDL. The research was conducted by scientists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the University of Nebraska and the Harvard School of Public Health. Also Read - Most humans at risk of type 2 diabetes as evolution of insulin hits roadblock

‘It is possible that the inverse association in fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance seen among current marijuana users could be in part due to changes in usage patterns among those with a diagnosis of diabetes,’ like if people with diabetes are advised to quit smoking, study researcher Dr. Elizabeth Penner, M.D., M.P.H., said in a statement. ‘However, after we excluded those subjects with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, the associations between marijuana use’ and insulin, cholesterol and waist circumference still remained true. Also Read - Type 2 diabetes: This cooking oil may alleviate your blood sugar levels

Though the recreational use of the drug is illegal in most countries, medical marijuana is legal in 19 states in the US and other parts of the world. However, it would be prudent to remember that marijuana can be detrimental to other facets of life like mental health and IQ levels and also could lead to lung disease and other problems associated with smoking. Also Read - Want a solution for your high blood sugar levels? Try foot refloxology

The new study included data from 4,657 people who were part of the National Health and Nutrition Survey from 2005 to 2010. Among all the study participants, 1,975 had used marijuana before but weren’t current users, and 579 were current marijuana users. There were 2,103 people who had never used it.

medicinal marijuana dispensary Among the subjects – users had 16 percent lower fasting insulin levels compared to never-users – but not as pronounced as those who had used marijuana before. Even taking into account the fact that marijuana users actually consume more calories than non-users, they still had smaller waist circumference. One way to get past the ‘drug stigma’ attached to marijuana and limit its abuse is to consume it in a pill form which will only have its active ingredients. A recent study at the Columbia University found that pill form was actually better at relieving pain than the smoked form and also less pleasurable so the drug would be likely to be abused.