Inhaled Cannabis for Diabetic Nerve Pain: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study

52 patients with painful diabetic neuropathy who had failed at least three prior pain medications used inhaled medical cannabis (20% THC) as add-on therapy for five years. Pain severity scores dropped from 9.0 to 2.0 on a 10-point scale. The study also observed improved glycemic control and opioid-sparing effects, with a favorable safety profile throughout.

Prospective observational study at a single clinic. 52 patients with confirmed painful diabetic neuropathy, unresponsive to at least three prior analgesics plus non-pharmacological interventions, were followed for 5 years. After a 1-month washout, patients initiated inhaled medical-grade cannabis (20% THC). Pain measured using the Brief Pain Inventory.

Diabetic neuropathy affects up to 50% of long-term diabetes patients, and conventional treatments often provide limited relief with significant side effects. This is one of the longest follow-up periods for cannabis pain research, providing rare data on sustained effects.

Long-term data on cannabis for chronic pain remains scarce. While this study suggests sustained benefits over five years without tolerance development, the observational design means these improvements could reflect other factors. Randomized controlled trials would help clarify the role of cannabis in neuropathic pain management.

Single-center observational study with no control group. Small sample size (n=52). No blinding or placebo comparison. Cannot rule out placebo effects, natural disease progression, or other confounding factors. Associative findings only.