Month: August 2019

CBD + DIABETES

Posted on by Mary Anderlik

How CBD Helps Regulate Insulin Levels

The pancreas is an organ in our bodies responsible for regulating sugar levels through a group of cells called the Islets of Langerhans which secrete the very important hormones insulin, glucagon and somatostatin. These three hormones regulate blood glucose levels. Insulin lowers it by encouraging sugar uptake from the blood into the cells while glucagon raises it through stimulation of the liver converting glycogen stores into glucose and promoting gluconeogenesis. Somatostatin decreases activity from both of these hormones.

Diabetes is, simply put, a group of diseases that directly results in an excess amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. High blood sugar caused by our pancreas not creating enough insulin or our cells not responding to the insulin. Diabetes can cause symptoms such as excessive thirst, sweet taste, frequent urination, fatigue, weight loss or gain, blurred vision or dizziness.

There are two types of Diabetes. Type 1- Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, a chronic condition where the pancreas produces little to no insulin. Insulin, a hormone, allows your body to use glucose from carbohydrates in food and stores energy for later use from those carbohydrates. In other words, insulin helps keep your blood sugar level, neither dipping or rising, by regulating glucose resourcing. People who have this type of diabetes have to be very careful about their sugar stores, how many carbohydrates they’re consuming, how much activity they’re getting, etc. Insulin treatment is required with Type 1 diabetes as well as frequent monitoring of blood sugar and regular doctor visits to monitor your A1C levels. Treatment usually includes hormone replacement such as insulin injections or an insulin pump, nutrition counseling and carb counting, exercise regime and a diabetic friendly diet of foods low in sugars. Scientists that have done studies believe Type 1 diabetes to be caused by genes and environmental factors, such as viruses. Type 1 diabetes can occur when your immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, resulting in little to no insulin produced.

Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body resists the insulin. Symptoms can include increased thirst, sweet taste, urinating more frequently, ravenous appetite, fatigue, blurred vision, or even dizziness. There is no known cause as to why or what causes this condition, however once again scientists that have done studies believe Type 2 diabetes can be caused by genes, environmental factors such as being overweight and sedative, or a poor diet can be contributing factors. Treatment for Type 2 diabetes typically consists of self-care such as diet, exercise and healthy habits, medications like Metformin.

While the problems of diabetes may seem short term, like hypoglycemia, or hyperglycemia, but there are complications more long-term that are very severe that many diabetics suffer through such as retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, skin conditions, nephropathy, neuropathy and macrovascular problems. This is all due to damage to the large and small blood vessels and excessive high blood sugar over periods of time.

So how does CBD help Diabetics? How exactly can CBD help reduce blood sugar?

The endocannabinoid system is involved in metabolic processes which lead to the development of diabetes, and it may even be involved in the numerous complications associated with this disease, include damage to the nervous system, kidney tissues, cardiovascular disease and issues arising within the eyes.

Cannabidiol is a very relevant cannabinoid for regulating the pancreas and reducing insulin resistance. While no trials have been conducted testing humans for the potential for CBD to lower blood pressure, a study in the journal Autoimmunity found nonobese diabetic mice had a significantly lower chance of developing diabetes when treated with CBD. It is also impossible to ignore that insulin levels and insulin resistance in cannabis users is lower. Users of CBD oil have reported having their blood sugar levels more stable after regularly taking the product for a couple of months.

CBD is a very powerful anti-inflammatory. More powerful than Aspirin. Autoimmune disorders have been linked to chronic inflammation. Diabetes has an autoimmunity link in type 1 and chronic inflammation in both types 1 and 2. CBD, being the very powerful anti-inflammatory that it is, helps to reduce that inflammation. High glucose levels can cause severe inflammation and studies have shown CBD to tackle that destructive inflammation, relieving severe pain associated with it.

Once again, we’ve studied on rats and found CBD helped reduce inflammation and nerve pain associated with osteoarthritis. Rats were studied on again and found CBD effective in suppressing chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain in rodents.

Diabetes complications affected organs. Diabetes affects nerves, kidneys, eyes, vessels, heart, brain and skin. Round info graphic.ÿ

CBD also has been shown to reduce cardiovascular issues, opening the vessels allowing more blood to flow through. CBD also has immune modulating actions which are significant given that diabetes is considered an autoimmune disorder.

While CBD has not been proven to be effective in treating diabetes or even lowering blood sugar in humans, it is worth studying more how cannabidiol and even other cannabinoids and terpenes can aid in regulating insulin, regulating glucose levels. We know a healthy cannabinoid system promotes homeostasis through mood regulation, appetite, hormone regulation, and temperature regulation. Through regulating our hormones, it would seem insulin levels would also be regulated. However, CBD certainly is beneficial to treating the symptoms associated with diabetes. That’s nothing to scoff about.

CBD + Thyroid Imbalance

Posted on by Mary Anderlik

The Relation Between Thyroid Issues + Our ECS and Receptors

Our endocannabinoid system is without a doubt a very important modulatory system in the function of our brain, endocrine, and immune tissues. It is responsible for regulatory roles in secretions of hormones. It has many other functions throughout our body and is a very vital unit of our homeostasis, our regulatory center.

There are endocannabinoid receptors within regions of the brain, which send signals to the thyroid gland, indicating the possibility of CBD and other cannabinoids influence on the health and performance of our thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a very important organ found within the endocrine system. It makes and releases two hormones that control the body’s metabolism, which is important for regulating mood, weight, and physical energy levels. It also controls the pace of body temperature and heart rate. It helps convert food into energy, which helps maintain proper cellular function. Controlling the body’s metabolism is crucial for regulating weight, physical and mental energy levels, mood, temperature, and temperament.
•

Thyroid Imbalances- What Is the Cause?
•
There are a number of reasons why your body could produce too little or too much of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which is what stimulates the release of thyroxin and triiodothyronine, which stimulate the metabolic rate in cells. Numbers of the issues surrounding the imbalance of these hormones are due to abnormal production of hormones. However, each individual who suffers from a form of thyroid disease or disorder has unique causes and diagnoses.
•
•
Our endocannabinoid systems are partly responsible for regulating our thyroid glands. This suggests that the use of cannabinoids could greatly affect thyroid regulation. Cannabinoid receptors have been discovered in thyroid cells and are also present in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of the brain which sends messages to the thyroid gland, stimulating activity.
•

More Common Than You Think?
•
Millions of people, an estimated 20 million in the US alone, have some type of thyroid imbalance. Over 50% of these 20 million or so people are totally unaware that they have an imbalance with their thyroid hormones. Out of these 20 million people primarily women and including myself, suffer from this imbalance of hormones, being five to eight times more likely than men to experience thyroid complications.

When we have too little thyroid hormone, hypothyroidism, the symptoms are very troublesome and include lethargy, fatigue, low mood and libido, hair loss, nail weakness, sensitivity to cold and hot temperatures, inability to regulate body temperature, dry and chapped skin. When we have too much TSH, hyperthyroidism, the symptoms are just as problematic including anxiety, panic, paranoia, and nervousness, manic, sleep disturbances, insomnia, rapid heart rate, and palpitations, sensitivity to the heat, bulging eyes and even irregular periods.
•

When Pharmaceutical Treatment Doesn’t Work

Thyroid imbalances are so common and pharmaceutical medications are often prescribed, but if you’re one of the many people like myself, then this is not an option for you. The medication I was taking was Levothyroxine. I started with Synthroid but the side effects were too severe that I ended up switching to Levothyroxine, which I didn’t stand much longer before taking to Google and researching holistic approaches at combating my hypothyroidism. For me, it was as simple as implementing more leafy greens, seafood, and iodized salt into my diet. I hadn’t eaten shrimp in a while and was only cooking with sea salt so that made sense to me. I still get my thyroid tested but have been off prescription medications for my thyroid issues for six years now. Sometimes I feel like my levels are imbalanced and I reach for CBD to help with those symptoms, especially since my lab reports keep coming back normal as I’m also one of the many people whose levels fluctuate and can become imbalanced within a matter of months, or even weeks. Learning about why I have this condition, what causes it and what can help treat it is fascinating to me and I hope that I can share some useful information with those dealing with this condition on a regular basis.

CBD Can Offer Relief for Thyroid Imbalances


Studies have shown that CB1 receptors directly influence neurons which exert both excitability and inhibitory control over the thyroid. Animal studies have shown these receptors to regulate the release of thyroxine and triiodothyronine from the thyroid, including circumstances where cannabinoids are interacting with the cannabinoid receptors.
•
•
CBD can help manage the painful and frustrating symptoms associated with thyroid imbalances including pain, nausea, dry skin, low mood, and even insomnia. CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory and also anti-emetic. CBD also delivers anti-bacterial, anti-cancer and anti-anxiety properties which help treat some of the underlying symptoms that are commonly associated with thyroid imbalances. With some thyroid imbalances being autoimmune, CBD and its immunomodulatory properties appear to be useful. CBD also helps regulate our ECS which when imbalanced is a potential cause of such autoimmune disorders. And if you’re like me and you are problematic for getting dry patches or external skin issues as a result of thyroid imbalances, CBD topicals like a full spectrum salve or cream work wonders!!
•
•
For more information visit steelcitycbd.net