Use of marijuana linked to a much higher risk of diabetes in a new study

Adults who consume cannabis are almost four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who do not, according to a new study.

Researchers led by Dr. Ibrahim Kamel of the Boston Medical Center of Massachusetts analyzed the medical records of 54 health care organizations across the United States and Europe using Tennetx Research Network.

They compared around 96,800 people with cannabis diagnoses, occasional users to those who have dependence, more than 4.16 million people who did not have a drug consumption or chronic disease.

The study of diabetes reveals a diagnostic difference affecting millions of people

Over a five-year period, 2.2% of cannabis users developed type 2 diabetes, compared to only 0.6% of non-users.

Even after adjustment for other health risks such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and alcohol or cocaine consumption, marijuana consumers were still faced with a higher risk.

Over five years, almost quadruple the number of cannabis users has developed type 2 diabetes compared to the control group. (istock)

Experts say that possible explanation is that marijuana affects appetite, metabolism and insulin resistance. Cannabis consumption is often associated with bad eating habits, which can contribute to the increase in blood sugar over time.

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Given the growing legalization of marijuana, it is often considered an alternative to alcohol or tobacco, but research suggests that its long -term risks could be more serious than many do not think so.

“While cannabis becomes more widely available and socially accepted and legalized in various jurisdictions, it is essential to understand its potential health risks,” Kamel said in a press release.

Researchers say that clinicians should talk to patients about cannabis consumption so that they can understand the potential need for metabolic surveillance. (istock)

The study has certain limits, recognized the researchers. Its design is retrospective, which means that it has looked at patients’ files rather than following new cases over time. This makes it difficult to prove that marijuana directly causes diabetes.

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In addition, someone who sometimes uses it may not face the same risks as someone who consumes it daily.

As the researchers highlighted, the study has the potential of bias, because it counted on people to self -assess their consumption of cannabis – even in places where it was illegal – and did not measure exactly how much they used.

One possible explanation of the results is the effects of marijuana on appetite, metabolism and resistance to insulin. (istock)

Doctors may soon need to “regularly talk to patients about the use of cannabis so that they can understand their overall risk of diabetes and their potential need for metabolic surveillance”, according to Kamel.

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“These new sites from reliable and real evidence highlights the importance of the integration of awareness of the risk of diabetes in the treatment and advice of substance consumption disorders,” he added.

Fox News Digital has contacted cannabis industry organizations asking for comments.