Study: Cannabis users, quadruple risk of developing diabetes

Cannabis users are almost four times more likely than non-users to develop type 2 diabetes, according to a study presented at the meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, held in Vienna, Reuters reports.

The researchers used electronic records from 54 health organizations in Europe and the United States, comparing 86,414 patients with a diagnosis related to cannabis use - from occasional use to dependence - with the same number of non-users, carefully matched for baseline factors. During the five-year follow-up period, a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was made in 2.2% of cannabis users and 0.6% of non-users.

• Increased Risk

Even after accounting for lifestyle and other medical factors, the researchers concluded that cannabis users had a nearly fourfold increased risk of developing diabetes. However, the study cannot prove a direct causal relationship. There is a lack of precise data on the amount and frequency of use, how it is reported in medical records, and possible associated factors, such as the higher consumption of sweets, which is often found in cannabis users.

• Recommendations for patients and doctors

"The findings highlight the importance of integrating information about diabetes risk into treatment and counseling for substance use disorders,” said Dr. Ibrahim Kamel, the study's lead author at Boston Medical Center. He stressed the need for discussions with patients to include the metabolic risks associated with cannabis use, in order to better monitor their health.