Diabetes Mellitus and Medical Cannabis: What Research Shows
Diabetes mellitus is a long-term condition in which blood sugar stays too high because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well. Medical cannabis does not treat it: no trial in people has tested cannabis or CBD against A1C, and most of what is known about cannabinoids and blood sugar comes from animals, cells and observational studies. Any form, smoked, vaped, eaten or held under the tongue, can interact with diabetes medicines and get in the way of checking your sugar, and inhaled forms add their own load on the lungs and heart, so the decision belongs in a conversation with a physician.
Built on peer-reviewed research published from 1930 to 2026: trials in people, observational studies and laboratory work
When diabetes is more than a blood sugar number
Clinic visits tend to circle one figure: the A1C. Living with diabetes is a lot more than that. It is finger sticks before meals, alarms on a sensor at night, a pill organizer with six compartments, and a quiet calculation behind every slice of birthday cake. The parts that wear people down rarely show up in the lab report.
Feet that burn at night
Years of high sugar can damage the long nerves that run to the feet. This is diabetic neuropathy, and for many people it starts as tingling, then turns into burning, stabbing or electric pain that is worst in bed, when there is nothing else to think about. Some feel the opposite: numbness, so a blister from a new shoe goes unnoticed for days. The pain medicines usually tried for it help some people and leave others drowsy or dizzy.
The fear of going low
Insulin and some tablets can push blood sugar too low. A bad low feels like shaking, sweating, a pounding heart and a mind that will not focus, and it can come on while driving or asleep. People who have had one often run their sugar a little high on purpose afterward, just to feel safe, and then worry about the long-term damage from that.
Anxiety about every reading
A number that is too high or too low can feel like a grade. Clinicians call this diabetes distress: the tiredness and worry that come from managing a condition every single day, with no weekends off. It is common, it is real, and it affects how well people manage everything else.
A stomach that will not empty
Diabetes can also slow the nerves that move food through the stomach. This is gastroparesis: nausea, early fullness, bloating and vomiting, and blood sugar that swings unpredictably because food leaves the stomach at random times. Meals stop being a pleasure and become a problem to solve.
What Is Diabetes Mellitus? Definition, Meaning and Pronunciation
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder of metabolism in which blood glucose (sugar) stays above normal because the pancreas makes too little insulin, the body responds poorly to insulin, or both. Insulin is the hormone that moves glucose from the blood into cells. Without enough of it, sugar builds up in the blood and, over years, damages blood vessels and nerves [1] [2].
Pronounced dye-uh-BEE-teez MEL-ih-tus
The name is a description, not a diagnosis code. “Diabetes” comes from the Greek word for a siphon, something that passes water straight through, because the first thing doctors noticed was how much urine people made. “Mellitus” is Latin for “sweetened with honey” (mel means honey): that urine tasted sweet, since the kidneys spill extra glucose into it. Doctors and pharmacists shorten the whole term to DM, so “DM2” or “T2DM” on a chart means type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of the endocrine system, the network of glands that make hormones, and of metabolism, how the body turns food into energy. The pancreas is the endocrine organ at its center. The damage, though, lands on other systems: the heart and blood vessels, the kidneys, the eyes and the nervous system [2].
Diabetes mellitus
What it is: high blood sugar from too little insulin or insulin that does not work well.
What goes wrong: the pancreas, the body’s response to insulin, or both.
Blood sugar: high. This is the condition this page is about.
Diabetes insipidus
What it is: a rare condition that makes the body pass large amounts of dilute urine.
What goes wrong: the hormone vasopressin, which tells the kidneys to hold on to water [3].
Blood sugar: normal. The two share a name and the thirst, nothing else.
Quick answers
Which body system does diabetes mellitus affect?
It starts in the endocrine system, with the pancreas and its insulin-making beta cells. Over time it affects almost every system: the cardiovascular system (heart attack, stroke, poor circulation in the legs), the kidneys, the eyes, and the nervous system, including the nerves that control digestion and heart rate [2] [4].
What does DM stand for in medicine?
DM is the standard abbreviation for diabetes mellitus. You will also see T1DM and T2DM for type 1 and type 2, GDM for gestational diabetes, and LADA for latent autoimmune diabetes in adults. “Prediabetes” is not DM: it means blood sugar is above normal but below the diabetes cutoff [1].
Can diabetes mellitus be cured?
Type 1 diabetes has no cure today; it is managed with insulin. Type 2 can go into remission, meaning blood sugar returns below the diabetes range without diabetes medicines, most often after substantial weight loss, but it can come back, so doctors keep checking. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the birth [1]. Cannabis is not a cure for any type.
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 1 or Type 2?
Both. Diabetes mellitus is the umbrella term, and type 1 and type 2 are the two most common kinds under it. They share high blood sugar and many of the same complications, but the cause, the age it usually starts and the treatment differ. Type 2 is by far the most common form in adults [1] [2].
Compare by
Pick one column to read it across all five types; nothing here tells you which type you have.
| Type | What goes wrong | Who gets it, and when | Usual treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | The immune system destroys the insulin-making beta cells of the pancreas, so the body makes little or no insulin. | Often starts in children, teens and young adults, though it can begin at any age. | Insulin every day, by injection or pump, with frequent glucose checks or a sensor. |
| Type 2 | The body responds poorly to insulin (insulin resistance), and the pancreas gradually cannot keep up. | Usually adults, increasingly younger people; tied to family history, extra weight around the waist and inactivity. | Food and activity changes, metformin and other tablets or injectables, and insulin for some people. |
| LADA | Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults: a slow version of the type 1 immune attack, with diabetes antibodies in the blood. | Adults, often first labeled type 2 because it starts later in life and progresses slowly. | May start on tablets, but most people need insulin sooner than in type 2. |
| Gestational | Pregnancy hormones raise insulin resistance beyond what the pancreas can cover. | Found during pregnancy, usually on screening at 24 to 28 weeks [1]. | A meal plan, glucose checks and insulin if needed; it usually ends after the birth but raises later type 2 risk. |
| MODY and other forms | A single inherited gene change (MODY), disease of the pancreas, cystic fibrosis, or medicines such as steroids. | MODY often shows up young and runs through several generations of a family. | Depends on the cause; some MODY types do well on a sulfonylurea tablet or need no medicine at all. |
Diabetes that starts in childhood used to be called juvenile-onset diabetes; that is type 1. Prediabetes is not a type: it is a warning range on the blood tests below, and it is where type 2 usually begins [1].
Who Is at Risk? Could I Have Diabetes?
The risk of type 2 diabetes rises with age, extra weight carried around the waist, a parent or sibling with diabetes, little physical activity, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and triglycerides, a history of gestational diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Black, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native and some Asian American and Pacific Islander groups also carry higher risk in the United States [5]. Type 1 has fewer known risk factors; family history matters most.
Which factors went with type 2 diabetes over 17 years?
How to read it: each row compares people who had one risk factor with people who did not. The dot is the best estimate of how much more often type 2 diabetes developed; the line around it is the likely range. Anything to the right of the gray “no difference” line means more diabetes. The data come from a 17-year cohort of 40,083 adults in Iran, of whom 5,342 developed type 2 diabetes [6].
- Waist above the high-risk cutoff, compared with a normal waist 1.9× more often (1.8-2.1) [6]
- Abnormal cholesterol or triglycerides (dyslipidemia) 1.6× more often (1.4-1.9) [6]
- High blood pressure (hypertension) 1.16× more often (1.10-1.22) [6]
- Each one-point rise in body mass index (BMI) 1.09× more often per point (1.09-1.11) [6]
Show as a table
| Risk factor | Compared with | RR and likely range |
|---|---|---|
| High-risk waist circumference | Normal waist | 1.89 (1.756-2.053) |
| Dyslipidemia | Healthy participants | 1.63 (1.393-1.928) |
| Hypertension | Healthy participants | 1.16 (1.102-1.222) |
| BMI | Per one-unit increase | 1.09 (1.086-1.106) |
What this cohort cannot tell you: it followed adults in one region of Iran, diabetes was counted from self-report or use of glucose-lowering medicine rather than lab tests, and it had no data on diet, physical activity or family history [6]. It is a study of risk factors, not of cannabis.
Early signs and when to see a doctor
- Being very thirsty and urinating often, including at night.
- Feeling hungry soon after eating, or losing weight without trying.
- Blurred vision that comes and goes.
- Cuts and sores that heal slowly, or frequent skin, gum or urinary infections.
- Tingling, numbness or burning in the hands or feet.
- Tiredness that sleep does not fix [7].
Type 2 can sit quietly for years with none of these, which is why adults with risk factors are advised to have a blood test even when they feel well. Type 1 tends to arrive faster, over weeks, and can begin with vomiting and heavy breathing; that needs care the same day [1].
Can you have diabetes without being overweight?
Yes. Type 1, LADA and MODY have little to do with weight, and type 2 also occurs in people with a normal BMI, especially those with a strong family history, fat stored around the organs rather than under the skin, or ancestry linked to higher risk at lower weights [5]. A normal scale reading is not a reason to skip a test if the symptoms above fit.
Diagnosis, Labs and ICD-10 Codes
Diabetes is diagnosed with blood tests, not by symptoms alone. A doctor uses one or more of four tests, and unless symptoms are obvious, an abnormal result is confirmed with a second test [1].
| Test | Normal | Prediabetes | Diabetes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1C, percent (average sugar over about three months) | Below 5.7 | 5.7-6.4 | 6.5 or higher |
| Fasting plasma glucose (no food for at least 8 hours) | Below 100 | 100-125 | 126 or higher |
| Oral glucose tolerance test (2 hours after a sugary drink) | Below 140 | 140-199 | 200 or higher |
| Random plasma glucose (any time of day) | Not used to rule out | Not used | 200 or higher with classic symptoms |
Other blood work helps tell the types apart: antibodies against beta cells point to type 1 or LADA, and C-peptide shows how much insulin the pancreas still makes. A1C can read falsely high or low with anemia, some hemoglobin variants, pregnancy and recent blood loss, so doctors confirm with a glucose test in those cases [1].
ICD-10 codes for diabetes
ICD-10-CM is the US system of diagnosis codes used on insurance claims and medical records [8]. Filter the list by what you are looking for.
| Code | What it describes | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| E10.9 | Type 1 diabetes without complications | Type 1 with no complication recorded |
| E10.65 | Type 1 diabetes with hyperglycemia | Type 1 documented as poorly controlled or out of control |
| E10.10 | Type 1 diabetes with ketoacidosis without coma | An episode of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) |
| E11.9 | Type 2 diabetes without complications | Type 2 with no complication recorded; also the default when the chart does not say which type |
| E11.65 | Type 2 diabetes with hyperglycemia | Type 2 documented as poorly controlled or out of control |
| E11.649 | Type 2 diabetes with hypoglycemia without coma | A low blood sugar episode in type 2 |
| E11.42 | Type 2 diabetes with diabetic polyneuropathy | Nerve damage in the feet and legs |
| E11.43 with K31.84 | Type 2 diabetes with autonomic neuropathy, plus gastroparesis | Diabetic gastroparesis: both codes are listed together |
| E11.22 | Type 2 diabetes with diabetic chronic kidney disease | Kidney disease from diabetes, with a second code for its stage |
| E11.621 | Type 2 diabetes with foot ulcer | A diabetic foot wound, with a second code for its site and depth |
| O24.4- | Gestational diabetes mellitus | Diabetes that starts in pregnancy; the last digit says whether it is managed with diet, insulin or tablets |
| R73.03 | Prediabetes | Borderline results in the prediabetes range |
| E13.9 | Other specified diabetes without complications | Forms such as some MODY types or diabetes after pancreas surgery |
| Z79.4 | Long-term (current) use of insulin | Added next to the diabetes code for people on insulin |
How is diabetes monitored?
The A1C is repeated every three to six months; for many adults the target is below 7%, though a doctor may set a different goal [1]. Day to day, people check with a fingerstick glucose meter or wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a small sensor on the arm or belly that reads sugar every few minutes and alarms when it runs too high or too low. CGM reports also show “time in range,” which tells more than an average does about lows and swings.
Why these records matter at a medical card evaluation
A physician certifying a medical cannabis patient works from your records: the diagnosis, your last A1C and the complete list of medicines. Those same papers are what let the physician judge whether cannabis is safe next to insulin or other glucose-lowering drugs.
Could medical cannabis be worth discussing with your diabetes?
Fourteen short questions about your diagnosis, your blood sugar, the medicines you take and the symptom that bothers you most. Your answers stay on this page and show what to bring to a physician.
14 questions · about a minute · your answers stay in this browser
Diabetes Mellitus Complications and Long-Term Effects
High blood sugar does its damage slowly, mostly to blood vessels, large and small, and to nerves. That is why diabetes shows up years later in the heart, kidneys, eyes and feet, and why the routine checks below exist: each one catches a problem while it can still be treated [1] [4].
Choose a part of the body
One at a time, or all together.
Heart and blood vessels: heart disease and stroke are the most common serious complications of diabetes. High blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol often come with type 2 and add to the strain, so blood pressure is checked at every visit and cholesterol at least yearly [1] [4]. Poor circulation in the legs (peripheral artery disease) slows healing in the feet. How heart risk looks when diabetes meets a substance use disorder is in the heart risk chart further down.
Kidneys: diabetic kidney disease develops silently. A yearly urine test for albumin (a protein that leaks through damaged filters) and a blood test for kidney function find it early, when blood pressure control and some diabetes medicines can slow it [1].
Eyes: diabetic retinopathy damages the tiny vessels at the back of the eye and often causes no symptoms until vision is affected. A dilated eye exam or retinal photo at regular intervals is the check that catches it [1].
Nerves and feet: neuropathy brings burning pain or numbness, usually in both feet first. Numb feet do not feel a stone in a shoe or a blister, small wounds heal slowly with poor circulation, and an infected ulcer can end in amputation. Looking at your feet every day and a full foot exam at least yearly prevent most of this [1] [4].
Liver: fat building up in the liver is very common in type 2 diabetes and can progress to inflammation and scarring. Doctors screen for it with routine blood tests and, if needed, a scan of liver stiffness [1].
Stomach: when diabetes damages the nerves of the gut, the stomach empties slowly (gastroparesis). Nausea, vomiting, bloating and early fullness follow, and blood sugar becomes hard to predict because food is absorbed at random times [4].
High or low blood sugar: how to tell
Both can make you feel unwell, shaky or confused, and they need opposite responses. If you have a meter or a sensor, check before you treat.
Hyperglycemia (high)
Signs: strong thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, tiredness, headache; builds over hours or days.
What to do: follow your plan, drink water, and check for ketones if your sugar stays above 240 mg/dL, especially with type 1 [1].
Call 911 if: vomiting with ketones, deep or fast breathing, fruity-smelling breath, or confusion and drowsiness.
Hypoglycemia (low)
Signs: shaking, sweating, fast heartbeat, hunger, irritability, confusion; blood sugar below 70 mg/dL; comes on in minutes [9].
What to do: take 15 grams of fast sugar, such as glucose tablets or half a cup of juice, recheck after 15 minutes and repeat if still low [9].
Call 911 if: the person passes out, has a seizure or cannot swallow safely. Use glucagon if it was prescribed.
Can you die from diabetes mellitus?
Yes, and most of that risk can be lowered. Three emergencies can be fatal within hours or days: diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), when the body without insulin burns fat into acids; hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, extreme high sugar with severe dehydration, mostly in type 2; and a severe low that is not treated. Over years, the bigger toll comes from heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure [1] [4]. Keeping sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol in range, not smoking, and going to the yearly checks are what change those odds.
Uncontrolled diabetes (diabetes mellitus descompensada)
“Diabetes descompensada” is the Spanish term for diabetes that is out of control: blood sugar repeatedly well above target, an A1C far over goal, or an episode of DKA. It is not a separate type of diabetes. On a chart it usually appears as type 1 or type 2 “with hyperglycemia” (E10.65 or E11.65). It most often follows missed or unaffordable medicine, an infection, a new steroid prescription, or a diagnosis that has moved past what the current treatment can handle, and it is a reason to see your doctor within days rather than at the next routine visit.
How Is Diabetes Mellitus Treated and Controlled?
Treatment has one aim: to keep blood sugar close to your target without frequent lows, and to protect the heart, kidneys and nerves while doing it. What that takes depends on the type, the stage and the person [1].
Food and movement
The base of every plan. Fewer refined carbs and sugary drinks, more fiber and vegetables, regular meals, and about 150 minutes of moderate activity a week plus some strength work. In type 2, losing weight can bring sugar down by itself [1].
Metformin and other tablets
Metformin is the usual first medicine for type 2. Others are added by need: SGLT2 inhibitors, which also protect the heart and kidneys; DPP-4 inhibitors; and sulfonylureas, which work well but can cause lows [1].
Insulin and other injectables
Insulin is essential in type 1 and used in type 2 when tablets are not enough, by pen, syringe or pump. GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide lower sugar and weight and are given by injection, with one available as a tablet [1].
When diabetes needs hospital care
- Signs of diabetic ketoacidosis: vomiting, belly pain, deep breathing, fruity breath, high ketones.
- Blood sugar that stays very high and will not come down, with confusion or severe thirst.
- A low that does not respond to sugar, or any low with a seizure or passing out.
- Vomiting or diarrhea that stops you keeping fluids or medicines down for more than a few hours.
- A foot wound that turns red, hot, swollen or smells, or a fever with it.
- Chest pain, sudden weakness on one side, slurred speech or a drooping face [4].
Home remedies: what holds up
What actually works at home
The home measures with real evidence are not products: steady weight loss in type 2, regular activity (even a walk after meals), enough sleep, not smoking, and taking prescribed medicines every day. A home glucose meter or sensor is what tells you whether any of it is working [1].
Cinnamon, vinegar, bitter melon and berberine
Each has small studies behind it, and the results are inconsistent. The American Diabetes Association does not recommend herbal or dietary supplements for lowering blood sugar, because there is no clear evidence they help people who are not deficient in something [1]. Some, berberine in particular, can add to the effect of diabetes medicines and cause a low. Tell your doctor about anything you take.
Hemp seeds and cannabis teas
Compounds from cannabis seeds lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats [10], and extracts from cannabis leaves and hemp seed protein blocked alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that breaks down starch, in test tubes [11] [12]. None of this has been tested in people, and a seed snack or tea is not the same as the purified compounds in those experiments.
Cannabis and Blood Sugar: What the Research Actually Shows
Here is the honest short version. There is no randomized trial in people that gave cannabis, THC or CBD and measured A1C. The randomized trials that exist tested rimonabant, a drug that does the opposite of THC at the CB1 receptor. Studies that watched people who use cannabis show associations, some neutral and some unfavorable. The encouraging results come from mice, fish and cells.
| Level | What exists for diabetes | What it can and cannot tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Trials in people | No trial of cannabis, THC or CBD measured A1C. Three randomized trials of rimonabant, a CB1 blocker, in 368, 281 and 1,047 people with type 2 diabetes lowered A1C and weight against placebo [13] [14] [15]. | Shows that the CB1 receptor matters for blood sugar. Says nothing about whether cannabis, which switches CB1 on, helps. |
| Observational studies | Studies of people who already use cannabis: higher A1C in young people with type 1 who use it [16], no clear link with later type 2 in a large Swedish cohort [17], and higher heart risk in type 2 with a substance use disorder [18]. | Shows links, not cause. Heavy or problem use is not the same as supervised medical use. |
| Animal and lab work | Mice without CB1 in their beta cells, CBD in diabetic rats and zebrafish, and cannabis compounds on insulin-making cells in dishes [19] [20] [21] [22]. | Explains why scientists are interested. Has not been tested in people. |
In people
What was studied: people with diabetes who already use cannabis, compared with those who do not.
What came out: in the SEARCH study of adolescents and young adults, current users with type 1 diabetes had an A1C 0.61 points higher than people who had never used cannabis (95% CI 0.32-0.90), and use went with skipped glucose checks and forgotten insulin doses [16]. A large Swedish cohort found no clear link either way with later type 2 diabetes [17].
What it means: no sign of better sugar control in people, and some sign of worse self-care.
In animals and cells Not tested in people
What was studied: mice bred without the CB1 receptor in their beta cells and fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet for 15 weeks; zebrafish kept in high glucose with CBD at 5 mg/L for 28 days [19] [21].
What came out: in mice, fasting insulin was 153% higher at 10 weeks, islets 1.9 times larger, and the beta cells resisted the diet’s damage. In fish, mean blood glucose was 77.15 mg/dL with CBD against 110.58 mg/dL without it [19] [21].
What it means: a lead for drug research. Rodent and human islets differ, and fish are not people.
Browse the studies yourself
Every study cited on this page, in plain words. Neutral and unfavorable results are included, and studies that are background rather than cannabis research are marked.
Rimonabant in type 2 diabetes treated with insulin
Over 48 weeks on 20 mg a day, A1C fell 0.89 points on rimonabant against 0.24 on placebo; psychiatric side effects were more common on the drug [13].
Rimonabant alone in newly treated type 2 diabetes
In six months, A1C dropped 0.51 points more than on placebo and body weight 3.84% more; 84.9% finished the study [14].
Rimonabant with metformin or a sulfonylurea
Overweight people with type 2 diabetes lost 3.9 kg more on 20 mg rimonabant than on placebo; nausea and dizziness were among the side effects [15].
Heart risk in type 2 diabetes with a substance use disorder
People with type 2 diabetes and a cannabis, opioid or cocaine use disorder had more heart attacks, heart failure, strokes and deaths than matched people without one [18].
Cannabis use in young people with diabetes
In the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study, current users with type 1 had higher A1C (0.61 points, 95% CI 0.32-0.90) and more often skipped glucose checks and insulin [16].
Cannabis use and later type 2 diabetes in Swedish adults
Following Swedish men and women over several years, the study found no clear link either way between cannabis use and developing type 2 diabetes [17].
Quitting smoking with diabetes
Smokers with diabetes who had recently used cannabis were less likely to stay off cigarettes for a month (odds ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.50-0.90) [23].
How many US adults with diabetes use cannabis
Used the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2005 to 2018 to estimate how common cannabis use is among people with diabetes [24].
Substance use in high-need patients with diabetes
Looked at how often substance use and mental health disorders appear in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes, using health records [25].
Drug use and the quality of diabetes care
Checked whether how often and what kind of drugs people used was tied to poorer blood pressure and blood sugar control; results were mixed [26].
Recreational cannabis in young adults with diabetes
A plan for a mixed-methods study of self-care and adverse events, describing possible disruption of glucose control with insulin or metformin; it reports no results yet [27].
Who develops type 2 diabetes over 17 years
In Iran’s Golestan Cohort, 13.32% developed type 2 diabetes; a wide waist, dyslipidemia, hypertension and BMI raised the risk [6].
Knowing versus doing in rural clinics
Township clinicians in rural China identified type 2 diabetes in 48.2% of written cases but in 2.1% of visits with trained actors playing patients [28].
Newer diabetes drugs and autoimmune disease
GLP-1 drugs did not change overall risk; SGLT2 inhibitors went with a lower risk of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease than DPP-4 inhibitors (hazard ratio 0.51, 95% CI 0.31-0.84) [29].
GLP-1 drugs and pancreatitis
Compared pancreatitis risk in US adults with type 2 diabetes with and without GLP-1 receptor agonists, in people without other major illnesses [30].
GLP-1 drugs and heart risk factors
Followed blood pressure, cholesterol and weight after adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease started weekly GLP-1 drugs [31].
Oil spill cleanup and diabetes
Looked at whether exposure to hydrocarbons during oil spill cleanup work was tied to later diabetes [32].
Telephone health coaching, eight years on
Coaching by phone for people with chronic conditions, diabetes among them, made no clear difference to later illness and deaths [33].
Beta cells without the CB1 receptor
Mice lacking CB1 in beta cells made more insulin (fasting insulin 153% higher) and resisted damage and inflammation from a high-fat, high-sugar diet [19].
CBD in fish with high blood sugar
CBD at 5 mg/L, 20 minutes every other day for 28 days, went with lower glucose and better vision responses; other measures were mixed [21].
CBD in diabetic rats
Tested CBD on blood sugar, insulin and liver sugar handling; the authors also note that CBD blocks the CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 liver enzymes that clear many drugs [20].
CBD and S-allyl cysteine in diabetic mice
Compared the two compounds, alone and together, on amyloid protein in the gut and blood of db/db mice; effects differed by compound [34].
Five cannabinoids on stressed beta cells
THC, CBD, THCV, CBC and CBG were tested on insulin-making cells in high glucose and fat; the results varied by compound [22].
A light-switchable cannabinoid in beta cells
Azo-HU308 changed calcium signals in insulin-making cells, but through channels other than cannabinoid receptors [35].
Compounds from cannabis leaves
Several compounds from Cannabis sativa leaves blocked alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that digests starch, in test tubes [11].
Peptides from hemp seed protein
Fragments of hemp seed protein blocked the same starch-digesting enzyme in lab and computer models [12].
Cannabis seed extract in diabetic rats
Plant compounds from Moroccan cannabis seeds lowered blood sugar and protected the liver and kidneys in rats [10].
SGLT2 and stress hormones in mice
Mice without SGLT2, or given dapagliflozin, on a high-fat diet were used to study stress hormones and inflammation [36].
A fermented herbal extract
Fermenting Rehmannia root raised its catalpol content 1.87-fold, which acted on the GLP-1 receptor in cells [37].
A traditional Thai herbal formula
The formula improved glucose uptake and insulin release in cell models [38].
No studies of this type are cited on this page.
What kinds of studies is this evidence built on?
How to read it: each row is one kind of study, and the bar shows how many published studies on cannabinoids and diabetes are of that kind. Stronger designs are at the top. Gray bars are commentary, animal and lab work, which cannot answer whether something helps patients.
Show as a table
| Design | Studies |
|---|---|
| Meta-analyses | 6 |
| Systematic reviews | 5 |
| Randomized trials | 9 |
| Crossover randomized trials | 1 |
| Other clinical trials | 7 |
| Cohort studies | 22 |
| Case-control studies | 5 |
| Cross-sectional studies | 21 |
| Surveys | 5 |
| Case reports | 6 |
| Guidelines | 1 |
| Narrative reviews | 85 |
| Animal studies | 117 |
| Cell and lab studies | 57 |
| Who was studied | Studies |
|---|---|
| People in clinical trials | 24 |
| People observed, not treated | 143 |
| Whole populations | 20 |
| Animals | 18 |
| Cells and molecules | 65 |
| Methods papers | 4 |
| Not classified | 76 |
Which cannabinoids have been studied, and why the biggest trials were not cannabis
“Cannabis” in diabetes research means very different things. THC is the compound that changes how you feel; it switches on the CB1 receptor. CBD does not cause a high and works through other targets. THCV is a minor cannabinoid that has been tested on beta cells in dishes [22]. And the largest trials tested none of them. A result for one does not carry over to another: what CBD did in rats says nothing about THC, and what a CB1 blocker did in people says nothing about either.
THC: switches the CB1 receptor on
What it does: activates CB1 in the brain, liver, fat tissue and pancreas; known for raising appetite.
Studied in diabetes: on beta cells in dishes [22]; in people only as existing use, with higher A1C in young type 1 users [16].
Status: sold in dispensaries where your state allows; no trial for blood sugar.
Rimonabant: blocked it
What it does: blocks CB1 in the brain, fat tissue, liver, muscle and pancreas; lowers appetite.
Studied in diabetes: three randomized trials in type 2, with lower A1C and weight than placebo [13] [14] [15].
Status: never approved in the United States; withdrawn in Europe because of depression and anxiety.
Show one group
Dispensary products, prescription medicines and the withdrawn drug are kept apart; nothing here ranks one above another.
CBD
Tested on blood sugar and insulin in diabetic rats and zebrafish and on beta cells in dishes [20] [21] [22]. No trial in people with diabetes. It blocks liver enzymes that clear many medicines.
THC
The main active compound of most cannabis products. Studied on beta cells in the lab [22] and in people only as existing use, where it went with poorer self-care in type 1 [16].
THCV
A minor cannabinoid often marketed for appetite and weight. Here it appears only in a lab study of stressed beta cells, alongside four other cannabinoids [22]. Not tested in people with diabetes.
Dronabinol and nabilone
Synthetic THC-like capsules approved by the FDA for nausea from chemotherapy, and dronabinol also for weight loss in AIDS [39]. Not approved for diabetes or nerve pain.
Epidiolex
A purified CBD oil approved by the FDA for seizures in three rare epilepsy syndromes [39]. It is the only approved CBD medicine; it has no diabetes approval.
Rimonabant
A CB1 blocker that lowered A1C and weight in trials and was withdrawn over psychiatric harm [13]. It is often quoted as “cannabinoid research,” but it acts against THC, not like it.
What Science Doesn’t Know Yet
Most of what is not yet known is basic. The researchers behind the studies on this page list their own limitations, and the same gaps come up again and again; each one is a question that needs further research in people with diabetes before it can guide treatment.
- Mouse islets are not human islets. The beta-cell work was done in mice, and human beta cells mostly carry a different form of the CB1 receptor (CB1b), so the result may not transfer [19].
- CBD and high blood sugar have been studied in dishes and in animals: in rats, in diabetic mice and in zebrafish [20] [34] [21]. A fish study, by its authors’ account, still needs mammals, clinical trials and long-term safety data before it means anything for patients.
- There is no tested dose of cannabis, THC or CBD for diabetes, and no long-term safety data in people who have it.
- Studies of people who already use cannabis show links, not causes. The heart risk study could not see how long or how severe the substance use was, or how long people had had diabetes, and it followed them for three years [18].
- THCV, often marketed for blood sugar and appetite, has not been tested in people with diabetes; here it appears only in a cell study [22].
- The CB1-blocker trials were short (six months in one) and lost many patients to psychiatric side effects, so even they leave long-term heart outcomes open [14].
- Whether cannabis helps the symptoms people actually ask about with diabetes, such as burning nerve pain or nausea from gastroparesis, is a separate research question that this page’s studies did not test in people with diabetes.
Cannabis and Diabetes Medications: Safety and Interactions
For a person with diabetes, the biggest cannabis question is rarely the plant itself. It is what cannabis does next to insulin and tablets, to the routine of checking and dosing, and to the heart. Open each item: this is what the studies recorded, not a complete list, and it applies to every form, smoked, vaped, eaten or held under the tongue.
Do not change insulin, metformin or any other medicine without your clinician.
CBD and the liver enzymes CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 Known mechanism
CBD blocks two liver enzymes, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4, that break down many medicines, diabetes tablets among them [20]. When they are blocked, another drug can build up to higher levels than intended. For sulfonylureas, which can already cause lows, that is the pairing to raise with your physician; blood thinners, statins and some heart medicines go through the same enzymes. A CBD-only product is not automatically free of this.
Insulin and the daily routine Seen in patients
In young people with diabetes, cannabis use went with skipped blood sugar checks and forgotten insulin doses [16]. Being high makes the routine harder to keep, and for insulin users a missed dose can mean ketoacidosis while an extra one can mean a severe low.
Insulin, metformin and glucose control Seen in patients
Researchers planning a study of young adults with diabetes who use cannabis recreationally name disrupted glucose control and self-management with insulin or metformin as the problem they set out to measure [27]. It is a study protocol and reports no results yet, but it points the same way as the SEARCH findings above: the risk sits in the routine as much as in the chemistry.
Medicines that can cause low blood sugar Known mechanism
Insulin, sulfonylureas such as glipizide or glimepiride, and meglitinides can push sugar too low on their own. THC can hide the warning signs: dizziness, confusion, a racing heart and sudden hunger feel much like being high, so a low can be missed until it is serious. Edibles add a second trap, because their effect starts late and lasts for hours, often overnight. If you use any of these medicines, checking your sugar before and after cannabis use is a point to agree on with your physician.
If you are trying to quit smoking Seen in patients
In a French national registry of smokers with diabetes using quit services, those who had recently used cannabis were less likely to stay off cigarettes for a month (odds ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.50-0.90) [23]. For people with diabetes, stopping smoking is one of the strongest ways to protect the heart and feet.
Heart risk in type 2 diabetes with a substance use disorder
A 2026 study used health records to compare 69,419 people with type 2 diabetes and a cannabis, opioid or cocaine use disorder with the same number of matched people with type 2 diabetes and no such disorder [18].
How to read it: each row is one heart outcome over about three years. The dot is the best estimate of how much more often it happened in people with a substance use disorder; the line is the likely range. Anything to the right of the gray “no difference” line means more often.
Show as a table
| Outcome | HR and likely range |
|---|---|
| Acute myocardial infarction | 1.994 (1.766-2.253) |
| Heart failure | 1.837 (1.693-1.994) |
| Stroke | 1.524 (1.354-1.715) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 1.455 (1.300-1.630) |
| All-cause mortality | 1.420 (1.359-1.483) |
Read this carefully: the group had a diagnosed cannabis, opioid or cocaine use disorder, not occasional or supervised medical use, and the three drugs were counted together. The study looked back at records, so it shows a link, not that cannabis caused heart disease [18].
What it does mean in practice: people with diabetes already carry higher heart risk, and a physician will want to know about any heart disease, irregular heartbeat or past problem use before cannabis is discussed.
Forms of Cannabis and Diabetes: What Changes by Method
Cannabis is not only smoked. People also vape it, eat it in gummies and chocolate, drink it, swallow it as capsules or oil, hold drops under the tongue, or rub it on the skin. With diabetes, each form avoids some problems and keeps others, and none of them is a safe default. This section explains the differences; it does not recommend a form.
How do you use it, or how would you?
Choose the closest; most people combine more than one.
Specific to smoking
Joints, blunts, pipes and bongs burn plant material. The smoke irritates the airways and, like tobacco smoke, is hard on blood vessels that diabetes already strains. The effect starts within minutes and is hard to measure in milligrams.
Specific to vaping and dabbing
Dry-herb vaporizers, oil pens and cartridges avoid burning, but hot vapor still travels the same airways. Concentrates used for dabbing, such as wax, shatter or rosin, are very strong, which makes a low harder to tell apart from the effect.
Specific to edibles and drinks
Gummies, chocolate, baked goods and many cannabis drinks contain sugar and carbohydrates that count toward your meal plan, and the label may not list them clearly. Edibles and capsules act late and last for hours, and the liver processes them first. Taking a second piece “because the first did nothing” is a classic mistake, and low blood sugar overnight is easy to mistake for the effect of THC.
Specific to tinctures and sprays
Drops held under the tongue and mouth sprays avoid the lungs and most of the sugar of edibles, and are measured by the drop or spray. Part of the dose is still swallowed, and some oils are flavored with sweeteners or carry alcohol.
Specific to topicals and patches
Creams and balms act mainly where they are applied; people sometimes ask about them for burning feet, and the studies here did not test that. Do not put them on broken skin or a foot wound. Transdermal patches are different: they deliver cannabinoids into the bloodstream, so their effects on the brain and on other medicines count like any other form.
Specific to prescription cannabinoids
Dronabinol, nabilone and Epidiolex are medicines with an exact dose, prescribed by a doctor and filled at a pharmacy, not bought with a medical card. None is approved for diabetes [39].
True of every form
- THC can blur the signs of low blood sugar and make it harder to keep up checks and insulin doses [16].
- CBD and THC are handled by liver enzymes that also clear many medicines [20].
- THC can cause drowsiness and raise the heart rate.
- No driving after use, and with insulin, not without checking your sugar first.
Choosing a form is a conversation for the appointment.
All forms as a table
| Form | What it avoids | What remains |
|---|---|---|
| Smoking | Delay in onset; added sugar | Smoke in the airways, strain on blood vessels, hard-to-measure dose, all effects of THC |
| Vaping and dabbing | Burning plant material; added sugar | Hot vapor in the airways, very strong concentrates, all effects of THC |
| Edibles and drinks | Smoke and vapor | Sugar and carbs, slow and long effect, repeat-dose risk, overnight lows hidden by THC, liver processing |
| Tinctures and sprays | Smoke, vapor and most added sugar | Effects on the brain, partly swallowed dose, interactions |
| Topicals | Most effects on the brain | Skin reactions; not for wounds; untested for nerve pain here |
| Transdermal patches | Smoke, vapor and swallowing | Effects on the brain, interactions, the same masking of lows |
| Prescription cannabinoids | Unknown product content | Drowsiness, dizziness, interactions; not approved for diabetes |
Is there a standard dose for diabetes?
No. No study has tested a dose of cannabis, THC or CBD in people with diabetes, so there is no number to give. The doses you may see quoted come from other settings: 20 mg a day of rimonabant, a CB1 blocker and not cannabis [13], or CBD at 5 mg/L in the water of zebrafish [21]. Neither translates to a person.
When a physician does discuss cannabis with someone who has diabetes, the decision rests on things only your records show: whether you use insulin or a sulfonylurea, how often you go low and whether you feel it, your A1C and sensor data, heart and kidney health, every other medicine, and which symptom you want help with. The ratio of THC to CBD and the form follow from that, not the other way around.
Who should not use cannabis for diabetes without a doctor’s plan
For some people the answer is “not now” or “only with a clear plan,” whatever the symptom. Many of these groups are left out of research entirely, so there is no evidence of safety for them.
- Frequent low blood sugars, or lows you no longer feel coming (hypoglycemia unawareness): THC can hide the warning signs further.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding, including gestational diabetes: THC reaches the baby, and pregnancy changes insulin needs week by week.
- Teenagers and young adults with diabetes: in this group, cannabis use went with higher A1C and skipped self-care [16].
- A personal history of psychosis, or schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in the family: THC can bring on psychotic symptoms.
- Heart disease, a past heart attack or stroke, or an irregular heartbeat: THC raises the heart rate, and see the heart risk chart above.
- Advanced liver or kidney disease, which changes how cannabinoids and diabetes medicines are cleared.
- Driving on insulin or a sulfonylurea: a low and THC together slow reactions twice over.
- A past or current substance use disorder.
Is Diabetes a Qualifying Condition for a Medical Marijuana Card?
It depends on your state, and diabetes itself is rarely named outright. Every medical cannabis program keeps its own list of qualifying conditions, and a physician has to match a diagnosis in your records to that list. People with diabetes most often qualify through a condition that comes with it, such as chronic or nerve pain, or, where the law allows, through the physician’s judgment that a condition is debilitating.
The lists change as legislatures and health departments update them, so the current wording for your state is the one that counts. The physician confirms it at the evaluation.
Diabetes is named in your state
The simplest case. Bring the record of your diagnosis and your latest A1C, and the physician evaluates you against that listed condition.
A related condition is listed
Chronic pain, severe nausea or a condition a physician judges debilitating may be on the list where diabetes is not. A diagnosis in your records counts, not a symptom alone.
Neither is on the list
A card may not be available yet where you live. Some states let physicians certify other conditions, and some accept petitions to add new ones.
What else has a doctor diagnosed?
State lists name diagnoses, not symptoms: pick what is in your records.
Chronic pain: the most widely listed condition across state programs, and diabetic nerve pain is a form of it when it is recorded as such. Read chronic pain and medical cannabis.
Nausea: severe or persistent nausea is listed in a number of programs, and gastroparesis is one of its causes in diabetes. Read nausea and medical cannabis.
Insomnia: listed in some programs; with diabetes, night pain and night-time lows are worth ruling out first. Read insomnia and medical cannabis.
Obesity: rarely listed on its own, and THC can raise appetite, which matters for weight and blood sugar. Read obesity and medical cannabis.
None of these: then the decision rests on your state’s wording and the physician’s judgment. Start with your state’s medical marijuana laws.
Medical card or buying without one
In states with adult-use sales, adults can buy without a card. A card still changes several things, though the details are set state by state.
| Aspect | With a medical card | Recreational |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes | Often lower; some states waive part of the cannabis tax for patients | Full state and local cannabis taxes |
| Purchase and possession limits | Often higher; depends on your state | Set for adult-use buyers |
| Products | Access to medical dispensaries and, in some states, medical-only products | Adult-use product range |
| Age | Patient age rules set by each program | Adult-use age limit set by the state |
| Physician involvement | A licensed physician reviews your conditions and diabetes medicines | None |
| Document | State card or recommendation, recorded in a confidential registry | Government ID only |
Will a card save you money?
It can, but only where your state taxes patients less than recreational buyers, and the amount depends on your state’s tax rates and how much you buy. Weigh that against the evaluation fee and any state registration fee. The breakdown is in medical vs. recreational cannabis taxes, and the wider differences in medical and recreational cannabis compared.
Legal questions before you apply
Firearms and federal Form 4473
Federal law bars an “unlawful user” of a controlled substance from buying or owning a gun, and the federal purchase form, ATF Form 4473, asks this question directly. Federal authorities have treated marijuana use as covered even when a state allows it for patients, and federal marijuana rules have been under review. If gun ownership matters to you, read the current form and speak with a lawyer in your state before you register.
Work and drug tests
Some states protect registered patients from being fired for a positive test alone; many do not, and no state requires an employer to allow impairment at work. Federal jobs and safety-sensitive transportation jobs follow federal rules, where a card is not a defense. Check your state’s protections and your employer’s written policy.
Driving with THC and diabetes medicines
Driving under the influence of THC is illegal in every state, card or not. With insulin or a sulfonylurea there is a second risk: a low behind the wheel. Check your sugar before driving, and do not drive after using cannabis.
Privacy and the state registry
Your evaluation is a medical record and is protected like one under HIPAA. State patient registries are confidential: they are used by the program and by dispensaries to confirm a card, and access beyond that is set by state law. The rules for your state are on the laws and regulations pages.
What the program in your state involves
Qualifying is the first of two steps. In most states a physician’s recommendation is followed by registration with the state health department, which issues the card and enters you in a confidential patient registry; in a few, the recommendation itself is what a dispensary asks for. Purchases happen at licensed dispensaries, and products there are lab-tested and labeled with their THC and CBD content.
Many state laws also let a patient name a registered caregiver who may buy and handle products on their behalf; who qualifies and how to register is set by each state. Cards from one state are not automatically valid in another; see which states accept out-of-state cards. Possession limits, home growing and taxes are listed state by state on the laws and regulations pages.
Talk to a Licensed Physician About Diabetes and Cannabis
A useful evaluation is a conversation about one specific symptom, the diabetes medicines you take and what would count as “better.” It goes faster and safer when your numbers are on the table, because the physician’s first question is whether cannabis is safe next to your treatment.
What to bring to the appointment
Tap each item as you get it ready.
Questions worth asking
- Could cannabis change how my insulin or tablets work, and what would we watch?
- How do I tell a low from the effect of THC, and when should I check my sugar?
- THC, CBD or both, and why that choice for my symptom?
- Should my endocrinologist or primary care doctor know, and what should I tell them?
- What would make us stop right away?
An evaluation makes sense if
- A specific symptom, nerve pain, sleep or nausea, has not settled with the usual steps.
- Your blood sugar is reasonably stable and you check it regularly.
- Your full medicine list can be reviewed.
- Your state’s program covers your diagnosis or a related one.
It is not the right step if
- The hope is to lower your A1C or cut back on insulin.
- You have frequent lows or do not feel them coming.
- You are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
- There is a history of psychosis or problem substance use.
This page summarizes published research for education. It does not replace a physician’s advice. Cannabis does not treat diabetes or lower blood sugar in people, and anyone using insulin or other glucose-lowering medicines faces a higher risk of missed lows.
How to Get a Medical Card With Diabetes
Everything happens online, so there is no waiting room and nowhere to travel. Four steps take you from the first form to a card your dispensary will accept.
Fill in the intake form
Your state, your diagnoses and your current medicines. Have your diabetes record and last A1C ready to upload.
See a physician licensed in your state
A one-on-one appointment online. You agree on the time with the physician; keep an hour free rather than a minute.
Receive your signed recommendation
If the physician approves, the signed recommendation arrives in your account.
Register with your state
Where required, you submit the recommendation to the state program, which reviews it and issues the card.
After you apply
- A confirmation email arrives once your intake form is in.
- You agree on the appointment time with the physician; it appears in your appointments.
- After the appointment, the signed recommendation is placed in your account, where you can download it.
- In states that issue their own card, you register with the state program before your first dispensary visit; its review time is set by the state.
What you end up with
Across 250 reviews from patients in the states where we are licensed. We do not sort them by score and do not hide the low ones.
- 150,000+patients evaluated – everyone who has been through an appointment with us, in every state where we are licensed
- Since 2017doing only this: online evaluations for medical cannabis programs, and nothing else on the side
A recommendation from a physician licensed where you live and, once your state registers it, a card that lets you buy at licensed dispensaries. Your documents stay in your account and documents, and how the medical card works explains the evaluation in detail. The physicians who see patients and review this page are listed on our physicians page.
Programs for veterans and for people with low income are available in some states.
Already have a card or a recommendation? Renewal starts in your account. If your diabetes medicines have changed since the last evaluation, a new insulin, a sulfonylurea or a GLP-1 drug, tell the physician at renewal. Page or form not loading? Write to us through support in your account.
Pricing and Money-Back Guarantee
The cost of the evaluation depends on your state, and the full amount for your state is on the checkout page before you pay. Read the line items before you confirm: if anything beyond the physician evaluation is charged, it is listed there, before payment, and not after the appointment.
What the evaluation fee covers
- A one-on-one appointment with a physician licensed in your state
- A review of your diabetes records, A1C and the medicines you take
- The signed recommendation in your account if the physician approves
What is paid separately
- The state registration fee, in states that charge one; it goes to the state program, not to us
- Products at the dispensary, with any taxes your state sets for patients
Cancellation and refund terms: return policy. Questions about a charge go to support in your account.
Diabetes Mellitus and Medical Cannabis: FAQ
Can cannabis lower blood sugar?
Not in any way shown in people. No trial has given cannabis, THC or CBD to people with diabetes and measured A1C. Lower glucose has been seen in animals, such as zebrafish given CBD [21], and a drug that blocks the CB1 receptor lowered A1C, but that drug works against THC and was withdrawn [13]. In young people with type 1, cannabis use went with a higher A1C, not a lower one [16].
Can I take CBD with metformin or insulin?
Not without asking first. CBD blocks liver enzymes that clear many medicines, diabetes tablets among them [20], and no study here tested CBD together with metformin or insulin in people. The form does not change this: oil, gummy, capsule or vape all reach the liver. Show your physician the product and your full medicine list.
Can people with diabetes eat cannabis gummies?
Gummies bring two problems at once. They contain sugar and carbohydrates that count toward your meal plan, and their effect starts late and lasts for hours, so a low later in the evening is easy to blame on THC. Inhaled forms skip the sugar but add smoke or vapor to the airways; drops under the tongue skip most of both. Whichever form, THC can hide a low, so the choice is one to make with a physician.
Is Delta-8 THC safer for people with diabetes?
There is no evidence that it is. Delta-8 acts much like regular THC, with the same effects on appetite, alertness and the signs of a low, and hemp-derived products sold outside dispensaries are less tightly regulated, so labels may not match what is inside.
Does cannabis cause or prevent type 2 diabetes?
Neither has been shown. A large Swedish cohort that followed adults for several years found no clear link either way between cannabis use and later type 2 diabetes [17]. Studies like this cannot rule out small effects, and they say nothing about using cannabis to prevent diabetes.
Can cannabis help diabetic nerve pain?
It is one of the most common reasons people with diabetes ask, and it is a pain question rather than a blood sugar one. The studies on this page did not test it in people with diabetes. Where chronic pain is a qualifying condition, nerve pain recorded in your chart can count. Read chronic pain and medical cannabis for what is known about pain.
Will THC make me hungry and push my sugar up?
It can. THC works through the CB1 receptor, which helps drive appetite, and late-night snacking is a common effect. For someone with diabetes that means unplanned carbs, often at the hour when checking is least likely. A physician will ask about this, and a sensor or a planned check makes it visible.
My dog has diabetes mellitus. Can cannabis help?
Dogs do get diabetes mellitus, usually a form that needs insulin, but this page is about people. THC is toxic to dogs and can cause stumbling, a slow heart rate and dangerous drowsiness [40]. Do not give a dog any cannabis product; ask your veterinarian.
Can I use my medical card in another state?
Sometimes. A few states accept out-of-state cards or let visiting patients register for a short time, and many do not. Check before you travel, and never carry cannabis across state lines. See which states accept out-of-state cards.
What if I lose my medical card?
Your recommendation stays in your account, where you can download it again. A replacement state card is ordered through your state program, usually online and sometimes for a small fee; how it works in your state is on the laws and regulations pages.
Is an online evaluation legal?
Yes, in the states where it is offered. The evaluation is telemedicine: a medical appointment held online, with a physician licensed in your state, under the same medical rules as an office visit. Each state decides whether a cannabis recommendation can be made this way, and evaluations are offered only where it can.
Should I tell my endocrinologist that I use cannabis?
Yes. The doctor who adjusts your insulin or tablets needs to know about anything that can affect lows, appetite or the liver, and cannabis does all three. A card does not change that conversation; it makes it easier to have, because there is a physician’s record behind it.
More research on cannabis and diabetes mellitus
This page cites a selection of studies. Our research library holds every study we track on cannabis and diabetes mellitus, from laboratory work to clinical trials, and lets you filter them by cannabinoid, study type and year.
- studies
- 410+
- in people
- 200+
- clinical trials
- 19
Diabetes-Related Qualifying Conditions
Diabetes rarely travels alone. These conditions come with it often enough to be worth reading about, each for its own reason; every other diagnosis is in the conditions section.
Stay rooted in the latest news and research
References
40 sources
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