Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Pot Luck: Could Marijuana Be Used to Treat Diabetes?
8 views
Skip to first unread message
BigNascarFan
May 17, 2013, 1:30:01 AM5/17/13
to
Lisa Nainggolan 16May2013
In research dubbed "remarkable" by an accompanying
editorialist, US doctors describe how current users of
marijuana appear to have better blood glucose control
than never or former users.
Existing cannabis smokers had lower levels of fasting
insulin and were less likely to be insulin resistant than
nonusers; this finding remained true even when patients
with diabetes were excluded in this large sample from the
National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) between 2005
and 2010.
Marijuana users also had smaller waist circumferences and
higher levels of HDL cholesterol than never users,
Elizabeth A. Penner, from the University of Nebraska
College of Medicine, Omaha, and colleagues report in their
article published online May 16 in the American Journal
of Medicine.
"Previous epidemiologic studies have found lower prevalence
rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus in marijuana users
compared with people who have never used marijuana,
suggesting a relationship between cannabinoids and
peripheral metabolic processes," says senior author Murray
Mittleman, MD, DrPH, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center, Boston, Massachusetts, in a statement. "But ours
is the first study to investigate the relationship
between marijuana use and fasting insulin, glucose, and
insulin resistance."
In an accompanying commentary, Joseph S. Alpert, MD, from
University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, who is
also editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Medicine,
wonders whether "[Tetrahydrocannabinol] THC will be
commonly prescribed in the future for patients with
diabetes or metabolic syndrome alongside antidiabetic oral
agents or insulin for improved management of this chronic
illness.
"Only time will answer this question for us," he adds.
"Nevertheless, what is very clear is that we desperately
need a great deal more basic and clinical research into the
short- and long-term effects of this agent in a variety of
clinical settings, such as cancer, diabetes, and frailty of
the elderly."
Effects Seem to Be Related to Current Use of Cannabis
Ms. Penner and colleagues studied 4657 participants of the
observational NHANES database, a nationally representative
survey of US adults, who had completed a drug-use
questionnaire.
Of these, 579 were current users (had self-reported smoking
marijuana or hashish in the past month), 1975 had smoked
marijuana in the past but were not current users, and 2103
had never inhaled or ingested marijuana. Fasting insulin
and glucose were measured via blood samples following a
nine-hour fast, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin
resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated to evaluate insulin
resistance.
Glucose levels were lower among current users of marijuana
than never users, but this difference ceased to be
significant following multivariate adjustment. The
researchers also found no significant association between
marijuana use and triglyceride levels or systolic or
diastolic blood pressure.
But compared with those who had never used cannabis,
current users had 16% lower levels of fasting insulin and
17% lower HOMA-IR, findings that remained significant even
after multivariate adjustment. They also had 1.63-mg/dL-
higher HDL-cholesterol levels, as well as lower waist
circumferences, both of which remained significant after
adjustment.
And in an analysis also adjusting for body mass index,
which the researchers say is a potential mediator of the
link between marijuana and cardiometabolic outcomes, the
associations were attenuated but remained statistically
significant. The results were also not materially different
when participants with diabetes mellitus were excluded.
Crucially, the best results were seen in current users of
cannabis. "These associations were weaker among those who
reported using marijuana at least once, but not in the past
30 days, suggesting that the impact of marijuana use on
insulin and insulin resistance exists during periods of
recent use," Ms. Penner and colleagues observe.
These new findings "are indeed remarkable observations that
are supported, as the authors note, by basic-science
experiments that came to similar conclusions," Dr. Alpert
points out in his editorial.
Call for Much More Research Into Cannabis
With the recent legalization of medical marijuana use in
the form of THC in 19 states and the District of Columbia
and recreational use in 2 states, "physicians will
increasingly encounter marijuana use among their patient
populations," Dr. Alpert adds. There are an estimated 17.4
million current users of marijuana in the United States,
with approximately 4.6 million of these smoking it daily or
almost daily.
And although there will continue to be debate regarding
legislation and current medical use of cannabis, the real
problem is that there "a dearth of scientific,
pharmacologic, and clinical studies with this agent," he
observes, pointing out that the majority of research that
does exist looks at central nervous system effects of
marijuana and potential addictive qualities.
"I would like to call on the National Institutes of Health
and the Drug Enforcement Administration to collaborate in
developing policies to implement solid scientific
investigations that would lead to information assisting
physicians in the proper use and prescription of THC in its
synthetic or herbal form," he concludes.
The authors and editorialist have reported no relevant
financial relationships.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804281?nlid=31304_1049&src=wnl_edit_dail&uac=54526HK
In research dubbed "remarkable" by an accompanying
editorialist, US doctors describe how current users of
marijuana appear to have better blood glucose control
than never or former users.
Existing cannabis smokers had lower levels of fasting
insulin and were less likely to be insulin resistant than
nonusers; this finding remained true even when patients
with diabetes were excluded in this large sample from the
National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) between 2005
and 2010.
Marijuana users also had smaller waist circumferences and
higher levels of HDL cholesterol than never users,
Elizabeth A. Penner, from the University of Nebraska
College of Medicine, Omaha, and colleagues report in their
article published online May 16 in the American Journal
of Medicine.
"Previous epidemiologic studies have found lower prevalence
rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus in marijuana users
compared with people who have never used marijuana,
suggesting a relationship between cannabinoids and
peripheral metabolic processes," says senior author Murray
Mittleman, MD, DrPH, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center, Boston, Massachusetts, in a statement. "But ours
is the first study to investigate the relationship
between marijuana use and fasting insulin, glucose, and
insulin resistance."
In an accompanying commentary, Joseph S. Alpert, MD, from
University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, who is
also editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Medicine,
wonders whether "[Tetrahydrocannabinol] THC will be
commonly prescribed in the future for patients with
diabetes or metabolic syndrome alongside antidiabetic oral
agents or insulin for improved management of this chronic
illness.
"Only time will answer this question for us," he adds.
"Nevertheless, what is very clear is that we desperately
need a great deal more basic and clinical research into the
short- and long-term effects of this agent in a variety of
clinical settings, such as cancer, diabetes, and frailty of
the elderly."
Effects Seem to Be Related to Current Use of Cannabis
Ms. Penner and colleagues studied 4657 participants of the
observational NHANES database, a nationally representative
survey of US adults, who had completed a drug-use
questionnaire.
Of these, 579 were current users (had self-reported smoking
marijuana or hashish in the past month), 1975 had smoked
marijuana in the past but were not current users, and 2103
had never inhaled or ingested marijuana. Fasting insulin
and glucose were measured via blood samples following a
nine-hour fast, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin
resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated to evaluate insulin
resistance.
Glucose levels were lower among current users of marijuana
than never users, but this difference ceased to be
significant following multivariate adjustment. The
researchers also found no significant association between
marijuana use and triglyceride levels or systolic or
diastolic blood pressure.
But compared with those who had never used cannabis,
current users had 16% lower levels of fasting insulin and
17% lower HOMA-IR, findings that remained significant even
after multivariate adjustment. They also had 1.63-mg/dL-
higher HDL-cholesterol levels, as well as lower waist
circumferences, both of which remained significant after
adjustment.
And in an analysis also adjusting for body mass index,
which the researchers say is a potential mediator of the
link between marijuana and cardiometabolic outcomes, the
associations were attenuated but remained statistically
significant. The results were also not materially different
when participants with diabetes mellitus were excluded.
Crucially, the best results were seen in current users of
cannabis. "These associations were weaker among those who
reported using marijuana at least once, but not in the past
30 days, suggesting that the impact of marijuana use on
insulin and insulin resistance exists during periods of
recent use," Ms. Penner and colleagues observe.
These new findings "are indeed remarkable observations that
are supported, as the authors note, by basic-science
experiments that came to similar conclusions," Dr. Alpert
points out in his editorial.
Call for Much More Research Into Cannabis
With the recent legalization of medical marijuana use in
the form of THC in 19 states and the District of Columbia
and recreational use in 2 states, "physicians will
increasingly encounter marijuana use among their patient
populations," Dr. Alpert adds. There are an estimated 17.4
million current users of marijuana in the United States,
with approximately 4.6 million of these smoking it daily or
almost daily.
And although there will continue to be debate regarding
legislation and current medical use of cannabis, the real
problem is that there "a dearth of scientific,
pharmacologic, and clinical studies with this agent," he
observes, pointing out that the majority of research that
does exist looks at central nervous system effects of
marijuana and potential addictive qualities.
"I would like to call on the National Institutes of Health
and the Drug Enforcement Administration to collaborate in
developing policies to implement solid scientific
investigations that would lead to information assisting
physicians in the proper use and prescription of THC in its
synthetic or herbal form," he concludes.
The authors and editorialist have reported no relevant
financial relationships.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804281?nlid=31304_1049&src=wnl_edit_dail&uac=54526HK
Pro-Humanist FREELOVER
May 17, 2013, 10:53:26 AM5/17/13
to
- - -
On Friday, May 17, 2013 12:30:01 AM UTC-5,
BigNascarFan wrote:
> Lisa Nainggolan 16May2013
>
> [...]
>
> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804281?nlid=31304_1049&src=wnl_edit_dail&uac=54526HK
The report, interesting regarding dealing
with Cellosis (old name: type 2 diabetes)
and in trying to avoid getting Cellosis, but
what wasn't reported in the article, the
impact on dealing with Insulinitis (old name:
type 1 diabetes).
Also unreported, the impact on those who
use insulin injections (or insulin via a pump),
as implied in the article, the lower insulin
levels were in people who either have no
diagnosed glucose anomaly -or- in those
who have Cellosis and who continue to
produce their own insulin.
Also unreported, the impact on hypogly-
cemic risk, were those risks increased,
decreased, or unimpacted, in those with
any glucose anomaly who had used
marijuana in the past 30 days?
Needless to say, something other than
self-reporting needs to be utilized in
future studies regarding marijuana, and
breakdowns between the impact on
those with Cellosis, Insulinitis, Diminosis,
and other High Glucose Conditions (such
as PreCellosis, old name: prediabetes,
and Gestational Cellosis, old name: ges-
tational diabetes) need to be part of
future studies, espcially the impact on
hypoglycemic risk, HbA1c levels, and
amounts of other meds used to deal
with glucose levels.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - -
Pro-Humanist FREELOVER
C.ure I.nsulinitis A.ssociation
http://prohuman.net/cureinsulinitisassociation.htm
- - -
Alan Mackenzie
May 18, 2013, 11:43:06 AM5/18/13
to
Hi, BNF! How're you doing?
BigNascarFan <bignasNOS...@att.net> wrote:
> Lisa Nainggolan 16May2013
> In research dubbed "remarkable" by an accompanying
> editorialist, US doctors describe how current users of
> marijuana appear to have better blood glucose control
> than never or former users.
> Existing cannabis smokers had lower levels of fasting
> insulin and were less likely to be insulin resistant than
> nonusers; this finding remained true even when patients
> with diabetes were excluded in this large sample from the
> National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) between 2005
> and 2010.
> Marijuana users also had smaller waist circumferences and
> higher levels of HDL cholesterol than never users,
> Elizabeth A. Penner, from the University of Nebraska
> College of Medicine, Omaha, and colleagues report in their
> article published online May 16 in the American Journal
> of Medicine.
[ .... ]
> "I would like to call on the National Institutes of Health
> and the Drug Enforcement Administration to collaborate in
> developing policies to implement solid scientific
> investigations that would lead to information assisting
> physicians in the proper use and prescription of THC in its
> synthetic or herbal form," he concludes.
Somehow, I can't help thinking that the national organisations are going
to be frustrating rather than facilitating such research. After all, it's
such a cheap and useful drug that it's in nobody's interest (apart from
patients', and they don't count) to promote it.
> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804281?nlid=31304_1049&src=wnl_edit_dail&uac=54526HK
--
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).
BigNascarFan <bignasNOS...@att.net> wrote:
> Lisa Nainggolan 16May2013
> In research dubbed "remarkable" by an accompanying
> editorialist, US doctors describe how current users of
> marijuana appear to have better blood glucose control
> than never or former users.
> Existing cannabis smokers had lower levels of fasting
> insulin and were less likely to be insulin resistant than
> nonusers; this finding remained true even when patients
> with diabetes were excluded in this large sample from the
> National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) between 2005
> and 2010.
> Marijuana users also had smaller waist circumferences and
> higher levels of HDL cholesterol than never users,
> Elizabeth A. Penner, from the University of Nebraska
> College of Medicine, Omaha, and colleagues report in their
> article published online May 16 in the American Journal
> of Medicine.
> "I would like to call on the National Institutes of Health
> and the Drug Enforcement Administration to collaborate in
> developing policies to implement solid scientific
> investigations that would lead to information assisting
> physicians in the proper use and prescription of THC in its
> synthetic or herbal form," he concludes.
to be frustrating rather than facilitating such research. After all, it's
such a cheap and useful drug that it's in nobody's interest (apart from
patients', and they don't count) to promote it.
> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804281?nlid=31304_1049&src=wnl_edit_dail&uac=54526HK
--
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).
Jim Dumas
May 25, 2013, 5:18:01 PM5/25/13
to
On Fri, 17 May 2013 01:30:01 -0400, BigNascarFan wrote:
> "But ours is the first study to investigate the relationship between
> marijuana use and fasting insulin, glucose, and insulin resistance."
Hi BNF!
> "But ours is the first study to investigate the relationship between
> marijuana use and fasting insulin, glucose, and insulin resistance."
Hope all is well! I blame MJ for my first ex-wife. I got her bong in
the divorce along with the vacuum cleaner she no longer wanted. It was a
$700 Kirby that kept breaking belts when she used it.
Personal BG experience suggests that the amorous exercise, post-pizza was
the real cause-effect for better DM control.
But clinicians can not test for this and the bong is in mint condition!
--
Jim
Still kick'n! Low tech T1 4/86, no complications. T.75? 7/2011
Email mangled: change SeeSig2Fix to mindspring for utopia. (Where?)
0 new messages