Basic research shows that CBD has a beneficial effect in the treatment of type 1 diabetes, because CBD prevents the complications that cause the disease, such as damage to blood vessels and veins (Weiss 2006, Stanley 2013, Ohki 2010 Liu 2009).
Tests on mice
Scientists at the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem investigated the effects of CBD on the development of diabetes (type 1 diabetes) in mice with a genetic predisposition to developing the disease (Weiss 2006). The so-called NOD (non-obese) mice developed insulin deficiency from 4 to 5 weeks of life, which turned into diabetes at 14 weeks of life. Insulin deficiency is an inflammation of the pancreatic cells that produce the hormone insulin, and diabetes (type 1 diabetes mellitus) occurs as a result of damage to these cells. GCD of mice aged 6 to 12 weeks, who were injected with 10 to 20 injections of CBD daily (5 mg CBD per kilogram of live weight), showed significantly lower – 30% – diabetes than other mice that were not treated, in which the type 1 diabetes mellitus was 86%.
Mice that developed diabetes despite the introduction of CBD, the progression of the disease was significantly suspended. In GCD of mice with a genetic predisposition to diabetes, the level of blood cytokines that are responsible for the spread of inflammation (interferon-gamma and interferon-alpha) is usually significantly higher than the average values. When receiving CBD, a significant decrease in the level of both cytokines was achieved (more than 70%).
Subsequently, a study was conducted on 2 groups of mice, in which CBD was not given in one group of 5 mice, and CBD was administered to the other 5 mice for 26 weeks. The following was discovered: in the first group, diabetes developed in all five mice. In the second test group, which was administered CBD, diabetes developed in only 2 out of 5 mice.
The introduction of CBD can prevent the development of diabetes
Scientists have concluded that “the introduction of CBD can prevent the development of diabetes – type 1 diabetes mellitus”, as well as other autoimmune diseases. They also noted that a large number of patients who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes had a sufficient number of cells producing insulin at the time of diagnosis, and therefore such patients are suitable for treatment using CBD.
Other studies
In other studies, it was noted that an increased content of endocannabinoids in the body leads to a change in the function of blood vessels in a negative and positive direction for type 2 diabetes and add that CBD can be used as improved endothelin vasorelaxation – by expanding blood vessels (Stanley 2013).
Scientists also point out that CBD is effective in treating retina damaged by diabetes – diabetic retinopathy (Liu 2009).
Studies published by scientists from the U.S. National Institute of Health in Bethesda show that CBD reduces the number of cardiovascular problems, stress, seizures, and slows down the aging and death of cells caused by diabetic cardiomyopathy (Okha 2010). Scientists came to the conclusion that the results, along with the harmlessness and high tolerance of CBD to the human body, indicate a high therapeutic potential of CBD in diabetic and cardiovascular diseases.