Diabetes

[jacquelyne]

I dont know how true this is but i have heard that people with diabetes should not smoke cigarettes as it stops the circulation from flowing as well to the hands and feet.

jacquelyne Reviewed by jacquelyne on 06-22-2005. Diabetes Does anyone on this board have any personal experience with how smoking marijuana affects diabetes? I have not known anyone who suffered from that horrible disease who was also a smoker until just recently. If you know of any side effects or things to beware of, please forward that to me. Thanks! Onward Rating: 5

[Atma]

A boy i knew from school smoked green everyday and he was diabetic. (Also tried Shrooms and Ritalin) Seemed fine.

[samiam]

I have been diabetic for a good part of 2 decades now (Jeuvenile) and have been a smoker of finer herbals for about as long. Aside from the "munchies" there have been no real adverse side-effects of smoking. Although it is not proven I suspect that some strains of smoke actually serve to lower the blood sugar. I did test this out once upon a time (when I actually gave a shit) and it did lower my sugar by about 20. Whoever posted that Diabetics should not smoke is correct. Smoking restricts the small blood vessels and ironically, diabetes does the same thing so, in essence you are doing a double-whammy by having diabetes and smoking. I am also a smoker, regretfully and have experienced some adverse effects from it but am trying to quit. If smoking Marijuana actually serves to restrict the small blood vessels (and I am not aware of this fact) then I would have to saY that, aside from using a vaporizer, that Diabetics should avoid it altogether. Nuf said!

[del...]

it's on "the list" of ailments for getting the state license for med use in nevada so it must have some benefit for those suffering with diabetes...i know of 2 personally with it that my dr. has signed the forms for but haven't asked yet what it does for them but i'll be taking another person to him soon and i'll get more specific answers for you...but i am sure it causes no harm for those with diabetes and lowers the blood pressure of many people (raises it in others) so watch your bp.

[Beeblebrox.420]

Some of the systemic ailments and symptoms induced by diabetes include:

nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, fecal incontinence and feeling of incomplete defecation are often encountered in patients with diabetes (Camilleri, 1996; Nompleggi et al., 1989; Schvarcz et al., 1996; Spångýus et al., 1999). In studies of this phenomena, the prevalence of such symptoms varied from 22.1% to 76% (Enck et al., 1994; Feldman and Schiller, 1983).

Marijuana can effectively treat some of these problems, particularly the nausea and vomiting, as well as the abdominal pain.

[xminer]

thank u but i realy have got too stop smoking

[nR.]

I have type 1 diabetes, and have had since I was 11 - so a good 7 years now. I smoke cannabis pretty much every day, and it doesn't really affect my diabetes in any way that is uncontrollable.

I always test my blood sugar before going out to get stoned, if I am low I will eat some carbohydrates before I go out and make sure I take dextrose (Energy tablets) out with me in case of a dip. If my blood sugar is high, I will take a few clicks of insulin.

Sometimes when I'm stoned, it's hard to differentiate the feelings of being hypo/hyper to the feelings of being stoned - so I find by doing my blood sugar before I go out, I have an idea of what's going on with my blood levels.

Obviously the 'munchies' can have a big affect on your diabetes blood sugar levels, quite a few times I've found myself tucking into a 200g bar of chocolate, or £5 worth of pick and mix sweets etc. Which really isn't good. If this happens I try and use up some energy, playing a sport - football or basketball.

I am certain that smoking cannabis solely doesn't affect your blood glucose levels, but the effects from being stoned can. If you do get stoned while you're out, it's best to make sure you are with someone who knows you're diabetic, can spot when you have a hypo and know what to do under those circumstances.

Smoking cigarettes on the other hand is really bad for diabetes. My doctor told me quite bluntly, smoking 10 ciggies a day will mean having no fingers in 10 years!

That's enough from me now anyway, have to go inject some insulin and grab a snack *rolls eyes*

[birdgirl73]

Hey, nR, welcome to the boards.

I'm curious. Does your doc know you smoke weed daily? And about how much do you smoke daily? I'm just interested to know, if you've told your endocrinologist (or general practitioner/internist), that is, what he said strictly from a circulatory standpoint. Everything I've read has pretty well convinced me there's an increased risk of cardiac irritability and potential for negative circulatory effects, at least within the first one to two hours after smoking, which I believe is really more from the smoking itself than the active compounds in cannabis. I'd just be interested to know if you've been up front with him about the fact that you are a daily weed smoker.

My respect goes to anyone who deals with either type I or II diabetes. Not a fun condition to have to deal with, although I know people get very good at doing so. Take good care of yourself!

[fikusroot]

Ill bet hospitals get a lot of diabetics on Halloween because they're all eating candy.

[birdgirl73]

When I worked as a paramedic, we generally chauffeured at least two--and often several more--diabetics to the emergency room on Halloween night. They were often children or adults who hadn't yet been officially diagnosed. Generally the diabetics, at least the compliant ones, who're already aware they have that condition know to be extra careful with all the sugar that's around on candy-laden holidays.

Choking is also a particular risk on Halloween. Little kids and hard candies are sometimes a bad combination. All parents need to learn the Heimlich maneuver!