Cannabis use may spike risk of diabetes by 4-fold: Study

People using cannabis may be four times more at risk of developing diabetes, according to a large study of over four million adults on Monday. Cannabis use is increasing globally, with an estimated 219 million users (4.3 per cent of the global adult population) in 2021, but its long-term metabolic effects remain unknown.

While some studies have suggested potential anti-inflammatory or weight management properties, others have raised concerns regarding glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, and the magnitude of the risk of developing diabetes hasn't been clear. The research showed that new cases of diabetes were significantly higher in the cannabis group (2.2 per cent) compared to the healthy group (0.6 per cent), with statistical analysis showing cannabis users at nearly four times the risk of developing diabetes compared to non-users.

"As cannabis becomes more widely available and socially accepted and legalised in various jurisdictions, it is essential to understand its potential health risks," said lead author Dr Ibrahim Kamel from the Boston Medical Center, US.

For the study, the researchers analysed electronic health records from 54 health care organisations across the US and Europe to identify 96,795 outpatients (aged between 18 and 50 years, 52.5 per cent female) with cannabis-related diagnoses (ranging from occasional use to dependence, including cases of intoxication and withdrawal) between 2010 and 2018.