marijuana and diabetis

[empcons]

I am an occasional pot smoker. I was just diagnosed with diabetis (270). I am now learning more about my current situation but trying to overcome the shock.

I have been reading mixed reviews on pot and diabeties. I smoke about a quarter of a joint a day. It helps me relex and after a long day at work allows me to get my mind of work.

I need to know if I need to stop as a result of my new diagnosis.

Any input is much appreciated.

Thanks
JM

[NaNaS15]

i have type 1 and its ma 1st time what should i do will it kill me or make me go in a koma or cause to were i got to go to the hospital what will happen plz tell im gonna do it tomorrow  

[kagee]

there is a correction to the above comments.....I am interested and now looking for a group that may be studying or researching whether marijuana is lowering blood sugars.  the corrected sentance is, " I am now intered in finding a group that may be studying this for research.

thanks

[kagee]

I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic a little over a year ago now.  At the time I was not smoking pot.  I monitored my blood sugar twice daily and I was having difficulty keep my levels below 185.  Mostly they stayed in the range between 185 and 193.  I walked and I watched what I ate.  I kept a daily record.  I started smoking pot with a friend of mine in the evenings, somewhere about September.  From September to December I noticed my blood sugars dropped considerably.  I never had a reading over 97 and usually the readings were between 83 and 93.  I kept the same records I was keeping prior to the smoking of pot.  I feel very assured that the pot was making the difference.  I am not interested in finding a group that may be studying this for research.  Right now I am doing my own research and I have been without pot again since December.  My levels have gone up and are once again in the 180-210 range.  Interestingly, when I was smoking over the holidays I was eating more sweets than I normally do and still the ranges were lower.  I will again try the pot in a couple of months to make sure I'm getting a good result.  Mild exercise is involved on a regular routine.  But I had used that before the pot also.  It did bring my levels down to around 180 from 230 or there abouts.  But the pot pushed the levels way down.

I'm a believer.

[rootsluv]

I have been doing some research on marijuana and diabetes and they are actulally saying it is very helpful in keeping bs at normal ranges. My b/f is type one diabetic and it seems to help lower his bs without taking a shot.

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Hello JM,
As you may know, we are volunteers here and not medical professionals.  One thing that's very important for all of us diabetics is to work with an endocrinologist, particularly one with which we can discuss all aspects of our disease.  I hope that you develop this trust in your new medical team, and will tap into their collective expertise on the subject of pot and diabetes.

I was diagnosed as a teen, "discovered" pot in college and enjoyed it on & off for about 10 years.  Because of my own lessons learned the hard way, I don't recommend following my path.  Pot, by itself, didn't seem to affect my blood sugar.  However, it materially affected my abiity to use good judgment and to maintain the essential self-control with respect to food and beverage choices.  As a result, I endured blood-sugar fluctuations that did take a toll on me, tho' I am generally quite healthy now.

My advice is to use your diabetes diagnosis to discover other, more healthful ways to unwind -- particular during the initial few years of learning (there is SO much to learn) about how your body endures this disease.  

I cannot tell from your msg if you were diagnosed with Type 1 (the auto-immune disease we focus on here) or Type 2.  If you have Type 1 and are learning to manage insulin with food & beverages and exercise and stress, you are already experiencing the relentless balancing act that entails.  If you were dx'd with Type 2, then you likely were also told to aim for weight loss.  That guideline also works against smoking pot.

Consider taking a yoga or dance class (don't laugh, it is WONderful :-)  ), or some other fitness or martial arts activity that will engage you physically (important for Type 1 and Type 2) and will provide an amazing outlet for decompressing after work.

While I enjoyed my pot-smoking days "at the time," I'm much more able to manage life and my diabetes without it. While the transition can seem difficult, the result is terrific and long-lasting -- unlike the high.