In a small RCT of 50 type 2 diabetes patients, 8 weeks of a CBD-dominant sublingual spray (10:1 CBD:THC) significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL, and HbA1c compared to placebo with no serious adverse effects.
Endocrinologists, diabetes researchers, and clinicians interested in cannabinoid metabolic effects.
Significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL, and HbA1c vs. placebo
What the researchers found
After 8 weeks, the CBD/THC spray significantly reduced total cholesterol (treatment difference -19.73 mg/dL), LDL cholesterol, and HbA1c compared to placebo. The treatment was well-tolerated with no serious or severe adverse effects.
Why it matters
Type 2 diabetes often involves lipid abnormalities alongside blood sugar problems. A well-tolerated cannabinoid adjunctive therapy addressing both simultaneously could fill a treatment gap.
The numbers in context
Patients: 50 (25 per group). Duration: 8 weeks. CBD:THC ratio: 10:1. Dose: 2 puffs twice daily. Total cholesterol treatment difference: -19.73 mg/dL. No serious adverse effects.
How the study worked
Phase I randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 50 diabetic patients randomized 1:1 to receive CBDEX10 spray (100 ug CBD + 10 ug THC per puff, two puffs twice daily) or placebo for 8 weeks.
What this study cannot tell us
Very small sample (n=50). Phase I study primarily designed for safety. Short 8-week duration. Single-center. Low cannabinoid doses. Abstract truncated, limiting full data assessment.
How to read the evidence
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design is a strength, but very small sample and short duration limit conclusions.
When this study was published
Published in 2022.
The bigger picture
While very preliminary, this is one of few RCTs examining cannabinoids specifically for metabolic parameters in diabetes, a growing area of interest given the endocannabinoid system's role in metabolism.
Questions still open
- Would higher doses produce greater metabolic effects? Do these improvements persist beyond 8 weeks? What is the mechanism linking CBD to improved lipid profiles?
Common questions
Can CBD help with diabetes?
Was the treatment safe?
Read the original research
A Phase I Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study on Efficacy and Safety Profile of a Sublingually Administered Cannabidiol /Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabidiol (10: 1) Regimen in Diabetes Type 2 Patients.
Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR, 21(1), e132647
Citation
Afshar, Shima; Khalili, Shayesteh; Amin, Gholamreza; Abbasinazari, Mohammad. (2022). A Phase I Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study on Efficacy and Safety Profile of a Sublingually Administered Cannabidiol /Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabidiol (10: 1) Regimen in Diabetes Type 2 Patients.. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR, 21(1), e132647. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijpr-132647
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