Nearly 425 million people are battling against diabetes at the time of writing this post.
As you may already know, diabetes is of two types viz. Type 1 and Type 2. Roughly 95% of the patients diagnosed with the condition fall in the Type-2 category. Although the latter category is milder than its former counterpart, it can still lead to major health complications, such as blindness, kidney failure and heart disease besides other ailments.
Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which is usually ‘juvenile on-set’, Type 2 can be prevented by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. And some scientific research suggests that even cannabis can help in the treatment of the same, not through widely used cannabinoids CBD or THC but via tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV).
Studies backing THCV’s effect on insulin levels
A 2013 study that looked at how tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) affected insulin levels and insulin resistance in mice found that the cannabinoid could improve glucose tolerance and reduce insulin signaling. “Based on the evidence, it can be suggested that THCV may be useful for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes), either alone or in combination with existing treatments.”
Another study, from the same year, carried out by Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, which looked at 4,657 male subjects also drew similar inferences. “Subjects who reported using marijuana in the past month had lower levels of fasting insulin and HOMA-IR [insulin resistance], as well as smaller waist circumference and higher levels of HDL-C (‘good’ cholesterol).”
THCV could help suppress appetite
Following a poor diet or overeating can lead to obesity, which is the primary culprit in many cases of type 2 diabetes. Hence, THCV’s appetite-suppressing properties may serve as a boon for many.
The existing research suggests that tetrahydrocannabivarin blocks the cravings of eating unhealthy food, which may per se explain why marijuana consumers are on average slimmer than non-users.
THCV may motivate a person to exercise
The psychoactive effects brought about by strains rich in THCV are often described as ‘clear-headed’, ‘energizing’ and of course ‘euphoric’. These traits are enough to inspire an individual to indulge in increased physical activity.
Since the effects of THCV-rich strains do not last as long as those bestowed by THC-rich strains, microdosing throughout the day should hold the key.
A few THCV-rich strains are:
- Jack The Ripper
- Durban Poison
- Dutch Treat
- Doug’s Treat
- Skunk #1
- Pineapple Purps
Note: High levels of THCV are sometimes linked with energetic psychoactivity that comes on too quickly
Conclusion
So there you have it, folks! There’s more to the cannabis plant than just CBD and THC. As more and more research comes up with each passing day, we are pretty sure that the cannabis plant will act no less than a panacea in the future.
