Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found a significant increase in cannabis use among adults with diabetes in the United States, raising concerns about the potential impact on their health outcomes. The new study, which analyzed nationally representative data from the 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), estimated that 9.0 percent of adults with diabetes used cannabis in the past month, with a 33.7 percent increase in prevalence—from 7.7 percent to 10.3 percent—between 2021 and 2022.

The findings raise concerns about the health consequences of cannabis use among people with diabetes. Previous studies have found cannabis use to be associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, to which people with diabetes are already vulnerable.

The researchers note that the use of cannabis among adults with diabetes may be driven by its perceived therapeutic benefits, including insomnia and pain relief for neuropathy. Additionally, the legalization of cannabis in multiple states has resulted in increased access to cannabis products, leading many people with chronic illnesses to turn to cannabis as an alternative means to manage their symptoms.