CBD and Metabolic Syndrome (Diabetes)
First off, what is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that significantly increase your risk for serious health problems such as coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, as well as stroke and diabetes, which is the seventh leading cause of death (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.).
These conditions often include high blood pressure, obesity, elevated triglycerides, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance or diabetes—all of which research suggests CBD may positively influence.
The best strategy to lower your risk of premature death from these conditions is to tackle the root causes through lifestyle changes such as better nutrition, regular exercise, stress management, and adequate sleep. Prevention truly is everything.
Understanding how to use CBD as a complementary approach can help support your health naturally, without many of the unwanted side effects often seen with some pharmaceuticals.
CBD and Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, CBD has gained attention for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties, which may help the body combat various disease processes, including diabetes (Mattes, Espinosa, Oh, Anatrella, and Urteaga, 2021).
In diabetes, high blood sugar levels trigger inflammation and oxidative stress inside the blood vessels, which can lead to arterial narrowing and tissue damage. This disrupts the body’s ability to regulate both blood sugar and blood pressureeffectively (Horváth, Mukhopadhyay, Haskó, and Pacher, 2012).
CBD has been shown to help reduce the damaging effects of high blood sugar on the circulatory system thanks to those same anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective actions (Horváth et al., 2012).
You’ll often hear me emphasize these three properties—anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective—because they play a role in nearly every disease process. Inflammation and oxidative stress are at the root of most chronic illnesses, so targeting them has far-reaching benefits.
A Promising Natural Ally
While more research is needed to fully understand the potential of plant-based cannabinoids, one thing is clear: CBD has an excellent safety profile. No deaths, no overdoses—just promising evidence of a natural compound that could help improve human health and longevity.
One of nature’s finest herbs for health and wellness.
To be continued…
Bee Happy,
Brandon Farless
References
1. Horváth, B., Mukhopadhyay, P., Haskó, G., and Pacher, P. (2012). The endocannabinoid system and plant derived cannabinoids in diabetes and diabetic complications. The American Journal of Pathology, 180(2), 432–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.11.003
2. Mattes, R. G., Espinosa, M. L., Oh, S. S., Anatrella, E. M., and Urteaga, E. M. (2021). Cannabidiol (CBD) use in type 2 diabetes: A case report. Diabetes Spectrum: A Publication of the American Diabetes Association, 34(2), 198–201. https://doi.org/10.2337/ds20-0023
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). What is metabolic syndrome? National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/metabolic-syndrome
