It may seem insane to think that marijuana – the drug known for causing the munchies – would actually be good for diabetics; but the truth will leave you rather surprised. There have been multiple studies done now that have given us information that no one would believe otherwise.

<strong>Cannabis Users actually have a Lower BMI than Non-Users</strong>

The first surprise is that people who smoke weed actually tend to have a lower BMI (body-mass index) than those who no longer smoke or never have. The most recent study proving this finding was done by <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2015/08/20/marijuana-fights-diabetes-another-study-confirms/">Canadian researchers observing an Inuit community</a> of which more than half of the individuals smoke marijuana.

<strong>Marijuana Leads to Better Metabolism and Lower Insulin Levels</strong>

The statistics showed that individuals who smoked not only had a lower BMI than that of non-users, but they also had a lower fasting insulin and had better insulin resistance.

<em>“Even after these adjustments, the current marijuana users showed fasting insulin levels that were 16% lower than those of former or never users, along with a 17% reduction in another measure of insulin resistance as well. Higher levels on both tests are associated with Type 2 diabetes, which is linked with obesity.” – </em><a href="http://healthland.time.com/2013/05/21/marijuana-the-next-diabetes-drug/"><em>Time</em></a>

The reason for this? Well simply put, marijuana actually promotes a healthier carbohydrate metabolism. Since the body would be more easily able to break down carbohydrates it would not store the carbs as fat, leading to a lower BMI and better insulin levels regardless of appetite (as long as the individual has the proper amount of physical activity for their food consumption).

<strong>Medical Marijuana Helps Diabetics in Even More Ways</strong>

Along with promoting lower insulin levels, better insulin resistance and a lower BMI but it can also be helpful to relieve symptoms that develop due to diabetes. Thanks to the plants anti-inflammatory properties it helps to reduce arterial inflammation and is also a neuroprotective (which means that cannabis protects nerves from inflammatory attack causing neuropathy.

Marijuana can also help to keep blood vessels open, improving blood flow and circulation throughout the body – another common issue among diabetics. It has also been observed to lower blood pressure over time – it does not work well enough to make ACE inhibitors obsolete, but it does make a noticeable difference.

It has been noted that using cannabis infused edibles is one of the best ways for a diabetic to benefit from medical marijuana. Using cannabutter (cannabis infused butter) rather than regular butter is an easy way to implement the medicine into the diet and it provides long lasting relief.

Anyone living with diabetes should consider medical marijuana as a treatment option if it is available. It is safer than many alternative drugs and it is extremely effective when it comes to regulating insulin levels and providing relief to certain symptoms.