Cannabis does not treat diabetes
No cannabis product lowers blood glucose or replaces insulin. The American Diabetes Association diet for diabetes limits added sugar, refined grains, and sodium. A cannabis recipe for diabetes must follow the same rules. The cannabis adds THC or CBD. The food base must be low in carbohydrate and sugar.
cannabis diabetic diet recipes
How cannabis affects blood glucose
THC can change appetite and digestion. A 2013 study in The American Journal of Medicine found that cannabis users had lower fasting insulin and lower insulin resistance than non-users. The study did not prove cause. CBD does not lower blood glucose in human trials. The FDA has not approved CBD for diabetes.
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- THC may cause hunger, which can raise food intake.
- THC may hide signs of low blood sugar, such as shakiness or confusion.
- Edibles with sugar or flour can raise blood glucose for hours.
Edible dosing rules for diabetes
Start with 1 mg THC. Wait 2 hours. Check blood glucose before and after. Do not take a second dose in that window. Use a tincture or oil with a known milligram amount per drop or per milliliter. A kitchen scale measures grams, not milligrams. Labels on legal products in the US state THC content per serving.
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- Measure blood glucose.
- Eat 1 mg THC with a meal that has protein and fat.
- Wait 2 hours. Measure again.
- Record the result. Adjust the next dose with a doctor.
Low-carb cannabis recipes
Cannabis olive oil vinaigrette
Mix 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, and 1 mg THC tincture. Stir. Pour over 2 cups spinach and 1/2 cup cucumber. Serves 2. Each serving has 1 mg THC and 2 g carbohydrate.
Almond flour crackers with cannabutter
Combine 1 cup almond flour, 1 egg, 1/4 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp cannabutter. The cannabutter has 5 mg THC per tbsp. Press into a 6 by 6 inch pan. Bake at 325 F for 12 minutes. Cut into 20 squares. Each square has 0.5 mg THC and 1 g carbohydrate.
Sugar-free cannabis fat bombs
Melt 1/2 cup coconut oil with 10 mg THC. Add 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 tbsp erythritol. Stir. Pour into 10 small cups. Chill for 30 minutes. Each piece has 1 mg THC and 1 g carbohydrate.
What to avoid
- Recipes with honey, maple syrup, or cane sugar.
- Store-bought gummies with 10 mg or more THC per piece.
- Recipes with white flour, white rice, or potato starch.
- Alcohol tinctures if you take insulin or sulfonylureas.
Monitoring and medical advice
Check blood glucose at 1 hour and 2 hours after an edible. Keep glucose tablets or 15 g fast carbohydrate nearby. Tell your doctor about cannabis use. Some drugs for diabetes interact with cannabis. The evidence on long-term cannabis and diabetes is not complete. More research is needed.