Examine the nutritional data on the backs of all your favorite grocery store products and you might be shocked at just how much sugar is in everything we eat.
Here in New Mexico, over 200,000 people—about 12.3 percent of the population—have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Those suffering from diabetes are unable to produce enough insulin or their cells no longer respond to it.
According to the CDC, this type makes up 5 to 10 percent of all diabetes cases in the U.S.
It’s usually found in adults, although childhood Type 2 is on a marked rise in recent years.
While there is yet to be any research supporting the idea that cannabis can treat diabetes, it’s known to help mitigate many of the symptoms associated with the disease in other contexts.
According to a 2013 study published in The American Journal of Medicine, participants who were current cannabis users had 16 percent lower fasting insulin levels and 17 percent lower measures of insulin resistance than non-users following an overnight fast.
Jon Simms is an Albuquerque resident who is curious about using marijuana to treat himself after recently being diagnosed with diabetes.
And yes there are, but they are few and far between.” Even savory cannabis edibles can have high sugar content or be loaded with carbohydrates .
Considering the high rate of diabetes in New Mexico, it appears that this lack of sugar-free options might be a serious blind spot for local manufacturers.
But a cursory search of Albuquerque’s medical cannabis dispensaries only turned up a small handful of sugar-free chocolates, candy and crackers .