Medical cannabis for diabetes, updated research insights for 2026

No, but research and real patient experiences are showing that when medical cannabis is added as one part of a holistic approach to diabetes treatment, it can help quiet that burden placed by the secondary symptoms.

Here, we take a fresh look at what the 2026 research is now showing and how the specialists and support staff that make up our world-class clinical team approach treatment decisions.

What is diabetes, and how do type 1 and type 2 differ?

Diabetes is an umbrella term for two conditions that both disrupt how our bodies manage glucose levels in our blood, but the underlying mechanics are totally different. 

Type 1 diabetes is the less common form of the disease, only affecting around 8% of people who have been diagnosed with diabetes. It results from an autoimmune reaction that attacks the cells in the pancreas which make insulin. This may be triggered by a virus or other environmental factors. It can also come down to genetics, with some people more prone to the disease than others. There’s currently no cure for type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is far more common. This condition doesn't stop the body from producing insulin, but instead gradually causes our cells to become less responsive to it - i.e. insulin resistance. This resistance builds over time, often influenced by a mix of genetics, ageing, long term stress on the pancreas, and other health factors. 

Not all type 2 diabetes sufferers need medication, at least at first. Some are able to manage it through sustained, long term changes to their diet, activity levels, and through weight management, while others will need pharmaceutical intervention early on. 

What both types share is the potential for longer term effects that can influence comfort, mobility, sleep, overall wellbeing, and quality of life. That's where medical cannabis for diabetes steps into the conversation, not as a cure, but as a supportive treatment option.

How diabetes complications affect daily life

When your blood glucose levels run high for extended periods, it places a decent amount of stress on both the nerves and blood vessels. This can lead to those classic diabetes symptoms that most of us have heard of, even if we don't deal with diabetes ourselves: 

• Tingling/burning sensations running down our arms or legs (or both) and intensifying in the extremities
• Patches of numbness that can pop up almost anywhere in the body
• Unexpected swings in the body's temperature and sensitivity
• Bouts of overwhelming fatigue
• The feeling that your legs are too heavy to move at all

The fatigue isn’t just brought on due to the blood glucose shifts. It comes from the chain reaction that is set off when blood glucose levels are too high for an extended period. When your nerves are irritated, when circulation slows, when inflammation builds, and when your body has to work harder than it should just to keep things steady, the effort takes its toll. 

Even on days when your numbers look fine, you might still feel super drained.

Sleep can also unravel. Battling the symptoms listed above, along with nighttime glucose changes, more bathroom trips than normal, and that underlying neuropathic pain can make sleep quite hard to come by. And we all know that a disrupted sleep pattern (no matter if it is caused by diabetes issues or simple personal choices) is a recipe for disaster. Concentration and motivation, which have probably already taken a hit, slip even further. 

How does the endocannabinoid system relate to diabetes symptoms?

There are two types of cannabinoids - endocannabinoids produced by our bodies as part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), and phytocannabinoids which are produced by plants (mostly from the Cannabis sativa L. genus) that have the ability to interact with our endocannabinoid system receptors, along with a range of other signalling pathways.

The ECS is the largest network of receptors and signalling chemicals spread all over the body. Only discovered in the late 1980s, medical researchers now believe that the ECS plays the role of plays a broad regulatory role, maintaining homeostasis and balance throughout the body.

There are two main endocannabinoid receptors in the ECS:

• CB1 receptors, which are mostly found in the central nervous system
• CB2 receptors, which are concentrated in the peripheral nervous system, especially immune cells

THC, the main psychoactive compound produced by cannabis (that also offers a very wide range of potential therapeutic applications), is able to bind directly to CB1 and CB2 receptors. CBD interacts with the ECS differently, influencing these receptors indirectly and shaping the way the system responds rather than activating it outright.

How ECS signalling overlaps with diabetes-related symptoms

We have already mentioned that when your blood glucose levels stay above the normal healthy range for extended periods, the knock on effects can be quite horrible. What we didn't yet mention is that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in regulating most of the process that start to misfire. 

The ECS helps regulate our sleep cycles, inflammatory response, appetite, temperature, and the way we interpret pain and discomfort. These are the same areas that often take the brunt of long term high glucose levels.

When that nerve irritation starts to really become noticeable, when you feel your inflammation getting a bit out of hand, when you lose all interest in food, or when you unexpectantly find it next to impossible to get to sleep, the ECS is one of the main systems working in overdrive to get everything back on track. 

What does current research say about cannabis and diabetes?

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, there are no clinical studies involving human participants that look directly at how medical cannabis affects diabetes itself. The focus instead sits on how medical cannabis may be able to reduce the heavy symptoms that build after months or years of living with abnormally high blood glucose levels. 

The majority of the detailed analysis comes from laboratory and animal studies. 

• One of the more recent studies, titled “The Role of Endocannabinoids in Physiological Processes and Disease Pathology: A Comprehensive Review” from 2025 found that when the CB1 receptors are over-activated, it sets off a chain reaction where the inflammatory response ramps up, neuropathic (nerve) pathways become much more sensitive, and blood vessels are put under greater strain than usual. Certain cannabinoids (in this case, CBD and THCV) were found to interact with CB1 signalling in a way that softened this over active response. 
• A small randomised control study from 2016 also looked at the potential of CBD and THCV for diabetics.THCV produced several measurable changes, including lower fasting glucose and signs of improved β-cell function. These findings drew interest, although the study groups were small and the results have not been repeated in larger trials. CBD did not improve glucose control in this study. While these outcomes help explain why researchers continue to study the ECS in diabetes, they do not translate into clinical recommendations or changes to how diabetes is treated in day to day practice.
• There is also some evidence that CBD may help to reduce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the main mechanism that causes the disease to progress, so reducing it may help people with type 2 diabetes live healthier lives for longer. What’s more, a 2012 study published in BMJ Open found people who had taken cannabis had 58% less chance of developing diabetes in the first place.
• Studies have indicated that people suffering from type 2 diabetes who use CBD may fix an endocannabinoid imbalance that makes it harder for them to lose weight. This is critical as obesity can make the symptoms of the disease a lot more severe and accelerate the progression of the condition.

Again, it is important to point out that there really is a lack of gold standard clinical trials involving human participants, but hopefully by the time w ccome back to update this blog next, that will have changed. 

Can medical cannabis help with diabetic neuropathy?

Medical cannabis treatment for neuropathic pain is actually one of the areas where we do have decently strong data involving humans. For diabetics, neuropathic pain (or neuropathy/nerve pain) sets is when glucose levels peak in the blood for long periods which places heavy stress on the nerves, which makes them more sensitive and much less able to transmit signals smoothly. The results can be mild tingling, cold or hot sensations, a burning sensation, and even horribly sharp pains usually in either the legs and feet, or arms and hands, or both.

Medical cannabis options seem to offer a high level of support for these issues. 

The most obvious single study to highlight here was published in 2020, titled “The Effectiveness of Topical Cannabidiol Oil in Symptomatic Relief of Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Extremities”. 29 patients with symptomatic peripheral neuropathy were recruited for a double blind study, with one group CBD oil that was applied topically (to the skin), and the other a placebo. 

There was a statistically significant reduction in intense pain, sharp pain, cold and itchy sensations in the CBD group when compared to the placebo group, with no adverse events being reported.

And newer research backs this up. 

A systematic review published in 2024, titled “The Use of Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy and Neuropathic Pain”, analysed a total of 14 RCT studies which all focused on medical cannabis as a treatment for neuropathy. A whopping 13 of the 14 reported a meaningful reduction in neuropathic pain after taking a cannabinoid compared with placebo. The authors also highlighted the side benefits that cannabis treatment offered, which included improvements in sleep, sensory symptoms, and day to day quality of life.

What risks and considerations apply to people with diabetes using medical cannabis?

One of the big plusses that medical cannabis offers patients is that it is generally well tolerated, and the few side effects that can come along for the ride are mostly mild, and easily managed through changes in dose, timing, or formulation. That said, diabetes adds a few extra considerations that are worth thinking through carefully with a specialist clinician who understands both medical cannabis and how to effectively prescribe it for diabetics

Some cannabis based medicines can affect appetite, alertness, and coordination. For people living with diabetes, changes in appetite or eating patterns need closer monitoring, particularly if blood glucose levels are sensitive to missed meals or late eating. Some patients also find that medical cannabis products containing THC cause higher levels of fatigue, which again, is something that must be closely monitored for people with diabetes.

Medication interactions are another issues that need to be addressed. Diabetics are often prescribed a range of conventional pharmaceuticals, and some of them may negatively interact with some medical cannabis treatment options. This is one of the main reasons why diabetics should never self-medicate with medical cannabis, and always reach out to a specialist for guidance. 

FAQs on medical cannabis for diabetes

Can diabetics get a medical cannabis card in the UK?

Yes, all Releaf patients receive their own UK medical cannabis card, which is sent to their delivery address automatically when they pay for their first prescription. This card was designed with support by the UK police, and has everything you need to easily identify yourself as a legal medical cannabis patient with Releaf.

Does cannabis lower blood sugar?

At this time, there is no clear evidence that medical cannabis is able to lower blood sugar levels. A small number of studies have started to investigate different cannabinoids for this purpose, and THCV is showing promising signs, but it is still to early in the research to make any concrete claims.

Is cannabis good for diabetes?

Medical cannabis may bring diabetics some relief from some of the secondary symptoms related to diabetes, but it is not a cure for diabetes. 

Can medical cannabis help diabetic neuropathy?

Yes, this is one area of research that is showing clear signs. Medical cannabis has been shown to offer relief from all types of neuropathy, but results vary dependent on a wide range of factors. 

Can cannabis cure diabetes?

No, medical cannabis cannot cure either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

How do people with diabetes access legal medical cannabis treatment in the UK?

Simple. Head to Releaf’s medical cannabis eligibility checker to get the ball rolling. 

While the NHS does offer medical cannabis (on paper, at least), they do so only for three specific health concerns, and diabetes is not on that list. But there is another route. Medical cannabis clinics like Releaf are legally allowed to offer patients prescriptions, as long as the patient meets the clinical criteria. This includes having tried two or more conventional treatment options without full success or symptom control, being aged 18 and above, and having no personal or close family history of conditions such as psychosis that would make treatment unsuitable.

If you are unsure whether you meet these criteria, the first step is to try Releaf’s medical cannabis eligibility checker. It is free, takes less than 20 seconds to complete, and gives you a clear indication of whether a specialist consultation may be appropriate. From there, any decision about treatment is made by a specialist, based on your symptoms, medical history, and overall health needs and goals