Whether you’re planning a psilocybin retreat, attending a guided session, or simply curious about how hallucinogenic mushrooms might affect your body, this guide will walk you through everything people with diabetes should consider before embarking on a psychedelic experience.

How Can Psilocybin Affect Blood Glucose Levels During a Trip?

When it comes to blood sugar, the effects of psilocybin mushrooms are still not well understood. Anecdotal reports from online communities suggest that blood glucose can drop during a trip. However, one animal study from 1963 found the opposite—that psilocybin may increase blood sugar.

Because research is limited, it’s helpful to think of a psilocybin trip like a physical workout. Like exercise, the effect on blood glucose varies from person to person. Some people go low after a workout, others spike high—and this may be due to hormonal responses triggered by the physical or emotional intensity of the experience.

A psilocybin ceremony could be thought of as “exercise for the mind”—and just like with workouts, the biological changes it induces might affect your glucose levels in unpredictable ways.

It’s also worth noting that some psilocybin protocols suggest fasting beforehand, and that during a trip, people often experience reduced appetite. If you’re eating less than usual, you may need to adjust your insulin doses. Not sure how? Ask your doctor about insulin adjustments on low-appetite days—you can use that guidance to help stay safe during your trip.

What Should I Do Before Going on a Psilocybin Retreat or Guided Session?

 Bring a blood glucose meter

Even if you wear a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), it’s essential to bring a standard glucose meter. CGMs can become inaccurate or fail unexpectedly, and a traditional meter provides exact readings when you need them most.

 Talk to your facilitator or guide ahead of time

Let your guide, facilitator, or trip sitter know that you have diabetes and may need to check your blood sugar or respond to CGM alarms. Show them how your devices work—especially how to use your glucose meter—so they’re prepared to help if needed.

 Prepare your insulin pump (if you use one)

Make sure your insulin pump is fully charged and has enough insulin to last the full day. A psilocybin session typically lasts around 6 hours, but it can go longer. You don’t want to have to manage pump maintenance mid-trip and afterwards you may feel like napping, so being prepared for a full day will give you plenty of leeway.

 Pack low blood glucose remedies

Bring fast-acting glucose options, ideally in liquid or gel form. A juice box is a great choice—especially because appetite and taste can be affected by psychedelics, and you might not feel like chewing or eating solids.

Other options:

• Glucose gel. Easy to swallow and fast-acting. You can likely find this at your pharmacy’s diabetes section, or online at Amazon.
• Glucose gummies or fruit snacks. A better option over glucose tablets, because tablets can have a chalky unpleasant texture. Welch’s Fruit Snacks are my favorite.

 Bring snacks for after

At the end of the session, your appetite may return suddenly. Having snacks ready—especially ones that are easy on your blood sugar—can be a lifesaver. Personally, I like these almond flour brownies: they’re low in carbs, smooth in texture, and don’t require much insulin.

What to Know about Oregon Law

I reached out to Heidi Venture of Vital Reset, who shared the following helpful information:

In Oregon, licensed psilocybin facilitators are not permitted to assist with medical devices, including glucose monitors or insulin pumps. If you’re using medical technology, we recommend having a support person present who can assist—especially since during a journey, even familiar devices can become confusing.

It’s also helpful to know that psilocybin can significantly increase glucose consumption in the brain and body. For people who experience blood sugar fluctuations, pre-session and even mid-session nutrition may need to be adjusted. At Vital Reset, we typically ask clients to arrive with an empty or very light stomach (like a banana). But for those with glucose challenges, a slightly more substantial breakfast may be appropriate, though it could delay the onset of effects.

Oregon and Colorado are currently the only places in the world with legal, regulated psilocybin services. Oregon’s program launched in mid-2023, and Colorado’s centers are just opening  in summer 2025.

What Do People with Diabetes Say About Their Experiences with Psilocybin Ceremonies?

People with diabetes who’ve used psilocybin mushrooms say they prefer to let their blood sugar run slightly higher than usual during the experience. The main reason? To avoid hypoglycemia, which can be dangerous—and disorienting—during a trip.

They don’t want diabetes to interrupt a transformative experience, and they take steps to prevent that by monitoring frequently and staying a little bit higher than usual.

The common themes in these personal stories are:

• Staying safe by planning ahead
• Running a little high rather than risking a low
• Having someone nearby who understands diabetes management
• Using CGMs with alarms, but also backing them up with a glucose meter

If you’re considering a psilocybin retreat, ceremony, or therapy session, know that it’s possible to have a safe and meaningful experience while living with diabetes—as long as you prepare thoughtfully.

Do Psilocybin Mushrooms Improve Diabetes?

There’s a new research paper out “The Impact of Psilocybin on High Glucose/Lipid-Induced Changes in INS-1 Cell Viability and Dedifferentiation” (2024, Gojani et al) on the effect of psilocybin on Beta cells, which are the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. The study showed that psilocybin mitigated HG-HL-induced apoptosis (cell death) of the beta cells, which is a promising finding and should hopefully encourage more research.

As I write this in April of 2025, there are currently no human studies about psilocybin improving diabetes, either in the short term by improving insulin sensitivity or over the long term. If you’re interested in the possibility of mushrooms improving diabetes, check out my other article on mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms which analyzes the evidence for other mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Reishi, and Chaga, which have been well studied.

References

Oregon Psilocybin Services – Physical impacts of Psilocybin and Potential Implications

Shroomery Message Board: Type 1 Diabetes and Shrooms

Reddit: Scientists investigate whether a compound found in magic mushrooms could play a role in combating diabetes

Bluelight Focus Forums: psilocybin & diabetes?

The Impact of Psilocybin on High Glucose/Lipid-Induced Changes in INS-1 Cell Viability and Dedifferentiation

Want to Talk with a Facilitator?
At Vital Reset, we’ve supported clients with diabetes—both Type 1 and Type 2—and we understand the extra preparation that goes into creating a safe, empowering session. We have two facilitators with medical licenses, an MD and an RN. While they cannot provide non-emergency care during a session, they can help in an emergency situation. Our service center is served by the Hood River Fire Department’s EMTs, and they can typically be here within 3-5 minutes. We have yet to need to call them for help, and with proper preparation, we expect your psilocybin journey will not include an emergency blood sugar event.

If you’re wondering whether a psilocybin journey might support your emotional or physical well-being, we invite you to connect.

Use our contact form or call us directly at 541-645-4485 to set up a free consultation.