CBD Oil for Diabetic Neuropathy: What the Research Shows Us

Diabetes harm your nerves, and the damage caused is known as neuropathy. It is a complication in both type one and types two diabetes. Mostly it is caused by long-term high blood sugar levels. This guide helps you understand more about diabetic neuropathy, what research says concerning CBD oil for diabetic neuropathy, Relevant CBD studies, and what to know before purchasing CBD oil for diabetic neuropathy.

Most individuals are turning to CBD since it helps treat various chronic conditions; diabetic neuropathy is one of them. CBD is believed to restore balance and well-being, according to various research. CBD is a treatment for diabetic neuropathy. CBD, a plant-based cannabinoid, is growing in popularity because of its benefits. It stands out from tetrahydro cannabidiol (THC) since it does not have psychoactive effects. Research is still ongoing to confirm whether this compound helps treat diabetic nerve pain, alleviate inflammation, and regulate blood sugar levels.

Understanding Diabetic Neuropathy

According to Feldman et al. (2019), diabetic neuropathy is a form of nerve damage due to diabetes. High glucose in the body may injure nerves in your body. Diabetic neuropathy normally damages the nerves in the legs. Some symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include; pain in the legs, hands, and feet. One may also experience numbness. It may also lead to problems with the gut, blood vessels, and heart. The symptoms may be mild for some and disabling for others.

Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy exists in four types:

Mononeuropathy

Anand et al. (2018) suggested that mononeuropathy affects only one body part. Mostly it affects the legs and feet by causing sharp pains.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Juster et al. (2016) noted that peripheral neuropathy normally affects the lower body parts like legs and feet. Like mononeuropathy, it causes sharp pains and permanent numbness in these areas.

Diabetic Amyotrophy

Diabetic amyotrophy is normally experienced by Diabetes type 2 patients. According to Llewelyn et al. (2019), it severely affects their buttocks, thighs, and legs. Some symptoms of diabetic amyotrophy include; weight loss, swelling, and amyotrophic foot muscle.

Autonomic Neuropathy

Autonomic neuropathy normally affects critical body parts like the stomach and heart. It may also cause increased heart rates, blindness, and erectile dysfunction.

Factors Associated With Diabetic Neuropathy

The following may increase one's likelihood of having diabetic neuropathy:

• Smoking: One major cause of arteriosclerosis, which is the hardening of arteries, is smoking. This condition reduces blood flow towards the feet and legs.
• Inadequate regulation of blood sugar levels
• Increased body mass index(BMI)
• The severity of one's condition: If you have had diabetes for quite some time, you are at a high risk of developing diabetic neuropathy.

What Research Says Concerning CBD Oil for Diabetic Neuropathy

No clinical trials are done about CBD oil's effects on diabetic neuropathy. No definitive conclusions can be made if CBD effectively treats it. However, evidence that arises is from speculative research carried out on animals. CBD analgesic properties are well documented. The US government has a patent on CBD products used for neuroprotectants application. For example, it reduces neurological damage in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Liu (2019) revealed that CBD is advantageous since it is not toxic and can not cause mind-altering results. However, more research is needed to confirm or deny that speculation.

Relevant CBD Studies

Liktor-Busa et al. (2021) noted that CBD oil reduces neuropathy-induced pian since it is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. The study above observed CBD effects on pain management in rat nerve cells. It was concluded that CBD acted as a pain reliever which helped alleviate neuropathy-related pain and did not cause analgesic tolerance in these animals. This study proved that CBD oil alleviated neuropathy pain and did not lead to drug tolerance like other drugs like opioids.

Forouzanfar, F., & Hosseinzadeh (2018) showed that that CBD oil had an analgesic effect on neuropathic pain in rats. The study above showed that when CBD is mixed with other cannabinoids, it is more effective in relieving pain than when it works alone. Full spectrum CBD is a good example since it has other cannabinoids like terpenes and flavonoids; hence, the entourage effect provides maximum benefits.

According to Verma et al. (2014), CBD receptors have therapeutic effects on neuropathic pain. This study concluded that cannabinoid receptors have a therapeutic value against inflammatory pains. It was also noted that the antagonists were unresponsive to therapy.

What to Know Before Purchasing CBD Oil for Diabetic Neuropathy

Since CBD oil works differently for everyone, you should consider the following first:

Talk to Your Doctor

Clear with your medical professional first, most likely if you are under any other medication since CBD interferes with various medications before incorporating CBD oil into your daily routine.

Do Your Research

Since the FDA does not yet approve CBD, it is not regulated; you should only purchase from trusted brands. It would be best if you always asked for proof of third-party lab test results to confirm their quality and safety. Also, they should provide a certificate of analysis since it shows the content levels of the cannabinoids and the presence of harmful materials like heavy metals.

Type of CBD

CBD oil is available in three types. It would be best if you considered purchasing the full spectrum CBD oil since it has most cannabinoids, which provide the full entourage effect, maximizing its benefits. Other types include isolate and broad spectrum. CBD isolate only has the CBD compound, while the broad spectrum has most compounds except THC.

Experience With Dosage

CBD oil newbies should also start with a lower amount of CBD oil and work your way up until you find your desired effect. It will help you monitor how your body responds to it.

Conclusion

No specific clinical trials have shown that CBD oil can treat diabetic neuropathy. However, various studies suggest that CBD is a neuroprotectant that helps manage neuropathy pain. However, more clinical trials are required to support these claims. Dies CBD oil treats diabetic neuropathy, and can it help ease nerve-relayed pain? There is no clinical evidence to support the claims, although CBD oil can help prevent the degeneration of nerve cells and can not be ignored. Research also shows that CBD contains analgesic properties that help relieve nerve-related pain. However, if you may be considering CBD oil for diabetes neuropathy, you should first communicate with a medical professional to see whether it works.

References

Anand, G., Vasallo, G., Spanou, M., Thomas, S., Pike, M., Kariyawasam, D. S., ... & Halliday, D. (2018). Diagnosis Of Sporadic Neurofibromatosis Type 2 In The Paediatric Population. Archives Of Disease In Childhood, 103(5), 463-469.

Feldman, E. L., Callaghan, B. C., Pop-Busui, R., Zochodne, D. W., Wright, D. E., Bennett, D. L., ... & Viswanathan, V. (2019). Diabetic Neuropathy. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 5(1), 1-18.

Forouzanfar, F., & Hosseinzadeh, H. (2018). Medicinal Herbs In The Treatment Of Neuropathic Pain: A Review. Iranian Journal Of Basic Medical Sciences, 21(4), 347.

Juster-Switlyk, K., & Smith, A. G. (2016). Updates In Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. F1000Research, 5.

Liktor-Busa, E., Keresztes, A., Lavigne, J., Streicher, J. M., & Largent-Milnes, T. M. (2021). Analgesic Potential Of Terpenes Derived From Cannabis Sativa. Pharmacological Reviews, 73(4), 98-126.

Liu, T. (2019). What Is CBD Oil? Learn The Facts: Uses, Benefits, And Side Effects.

Llewelyn, D., & Llewelyn, J. G. (2019). Diabetic Amyotrophy: A Painful Radiculoplexus Neuropathy. Practical Neurology, 19(2), 164-167.

Verma, V., Singh, N., & Singh Jaggi, A. (2014). Pregabalin In Neuropathic Pain: Evidence And Possible Mechanisms. Current Neuropharmacology, 12(1), 44-56.