Diabetes Warrior and Cannabis Advocate Jamie Dodd shares how a new sugar-free edible from BeneLeaves called “Chew & Chill” is helping her manage her condition. Early research into the benefits of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the disease is still in its early stages, but some studies show promise in preventing and managing diabetes. It’s thought that cannabis may be able to help with managing blood sugar levels and improve insulin resistance with type 2 diabetes.
A Diabetic’s Dilemma
A typical morning for Jamie: “Waking up on a cold winter day, or any day for that matter, to a daunting and draining morning routine is that much harder when you have diabetes. I wake up, reach for the glucometer. Check my blood sugar… then take a gummy.”
The pain from Jamie’s neuropathy is relentless. The THC gummies that she took were the only thing that seem to be helping her work against the agonizing pain she experienced every morning.
“But these gummies spike my blood sugar, sometimes within the half hour, and sometimes hours later,” she said.
Jamie isn’t alone. A 2020 study on glycemic outcomes found that both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics can spike their blood sugar using edible cannabis products. This can lead to dangerous diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening.
Over 30 million Americans suffer from either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Jamie sees this statistic and can’t help but ask the question when evaluating which medical marijuana products to buy: “If I am a patient, why am I not being offered any nutritional value on the medication I am taking?”
Typically, diabetic patients have dietary restrictions, food allergies and sensitivities, or simply prefer to monitor their nutritional intake for a healthier lifestyle. And unfortunately, medical marijuana dispensaries currently offer little to no nutritional information about the products on their menus. “It is not only a disservice to our patients that our products lack this value, but it is also extremely dangerous for them, as well,” Dodd said.
Finding a Solution for Diabetics who Love Gummies
That’s when Dodd met someone who felt just as passionate about this problem as she did. Chew & Chill CEO Michael Krause is waging a war against sugar, and for many patients like Jamie, he makes the fight feel like a war that can be won. Produced in partnership with standalone processor BeneLeaves located just on the west side of Columbus, this line of entirely sugar-free gummies is one of the only products in the Ohio medical program to toss out toxic, unnatural and downright unhealthy ingredients for the sake of the patients.
Krause wants to help people and spread happiness through his sugar free edibles. “Being 33 years old and in the cannabis space for three years, in 20 markets currently where Chew & Chill is sold, I’ve come to the realization that medicine provides a great sense of gratitude for me. If i can’t personally help people with my presence, I want my gummies to. Being sugar free, gluten free, and keto-friendly speaks volumes to all people whether their age or condition. Chew & Chill is for the people.”
Chew & Chill Gummies Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, and Keto-Friendly
Offering a variety of flavors, Chew & Chill gummies are not only sugar-free, but gluten-free, vegan, and keto-friendly. Chew & Chill falls in line with the Beneleaves mission of providing quality medication at an affordable price for Ohio patients. Flavors available (pictured above) include Sour Blue Razzberry, Mango Tango, and Sour Apple.
Krause’s passion for the patients is evident when hearing him speak of his brand and the adversity that sugar brings to diabetic patients like Jamie and so many others. He says: “I’m hoping patients get to reap the benefits of the first and only gummy of its kind. If this gummy makes them feel better and not have to feel guilty about eating candy, then this is a win for the entire community and is the whole initiative behind Chew & Chill.”
Chew and Chill: A Brand on a Mission
Chew and Chill stands out as more than just a brand seeking to make a profit, according to Jamie. Chew and Chill is a mission, a testimony, and a road map to a healthier lifestyle and a better quality of life, she says.
“I have pondered to myself what could possibly be the solution to this problem that I have faced for so long within this program, and have always felt like no matter how many times I have voiced my opinion or desperation, my voice has never been heard. For so long, we have begged for a product that keeps people like ‘us’ in mind, people who are looking for a medication that is truly that: a medication. Michael has heard us, and he has delivered. Long gone are the days of playing the guessing game of dosing insulin just to take the medicine that allows me to have a normal day. And for myself, and the countless other patients just like me, this is more than a war won. It is life-changing.”
Find Chew & Chill products in your favorite Ohio dispensary by searching Leaflink, IHeartJane or Dutchie menus. Questions? Reach out to BeneLeaves at info@beneleaves.com.
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