ResearchPublications

Letter. “While the use of cannabis by people with diabetes is slightly lower than national estimates of the general U.S. population (~13.9%–15.9%) (4), people with diabetes may be at heightened risk for potential harms associated with cannabis use. Concerningly, among individuals with diabetes who used cannabis, we found a higher prevalence of the use of other psychoactive substances. While we cannot determine if these substances were used concurrently, these results suggest there may be a population of adults with diabetes who engage in unsafe polysubstance use. Furthermore, in addition to cannabis, use of some substances, including tobacco and excess alcohol use, are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease and could impact glucose metabolism. Additionally, cannabis may complicate diabetes management, adversely affecting glycemic control and self-management behaviors (5). Our results emphasize the importance of comprehensive substance use screenings in diabetes care, with a specific focus on cannabis.” (p. e67).