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Many people have both migraine and diabetes mellitus (often called diabetes). If you have both conditions, you may wonder if they’re connected.
Migraine is a neurological condition that affects the brain and can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and sound. Diabetes is a metabolic condition that affects how your body manages blood sugar.
The brain uses blood sugar for energy, so diabetes may affect brain function and migraine attacks. Large swings in blood sugar levels may trigger or worsen migraine. Both conditions have been linked to higher levels of inflammation, according to a study in The Journal of Headache and Pain.
Although migraine and diabetes share some factors, having one of these conditions doesn’t mean you’ll develop the other. In some cases, the opposite may be true.
Diabetes is a long-term health condition that affects how your body uses sugar. The main sugar in your blood is called glucose, which your body uses for energy, especially in the brain and muscles.
Glucose comes from the food you eat. Your body uses a hormone called insulin to move glucose from your blood into your cells.
In diabetes, this process doesn’t work correctly. Your body may not make enough insulin, or it may not use insulin effectively. When cells don’t respond properly to insulin, it’s called insulin resistance.
As a result, glucose can build up in the blood instead of entering the cells. Over time, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can damage different parts of the body and cause inflammation, raising the risk of other health problems.
There are two main types of diabetes — types 1 and 2.
Type 1 diabetes often starts in childhood or early adulthood and is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system attacks cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. As a result, people with type 1 diabetes can’t make insulin naturally. They need daily insulin treatment to maintain safe blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is more common, especially in adults, and develops over time when the body doesn’t use insulin well or doesn’t make enough. Lifestyle factors and genetics make some people more likely to get type 2 diabetes.
Common symptoms of diabetes include:
Some people don’t notice symptoms at first, especially with type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes (early signs of the condition) can go unnoticed. Over time, type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), vision loss, kidney disease, and infections.
Managing diabetes is a balancing act that often involves healthy eating, regular physical activity, frequent blood sugar checks, and sometimes medication.
Large studies have looked at whether having migraine raises the risk of diabetes and vice versa, but results are mixed, and more research is needed.
There’s some evidence that a history of migraine is linked to a higher risk of diabetes. However, some findings suggest that people who develop diabetes first (especially type 1 diabetes) have a lower risk of migraine later. Possible reasons may include certain diabetes medications.
Some researchers also suggest nerve damage may play a role, although this is not fully understood.
Blood sugar swings can make migraine harder to manage. Some members of MyMigraineTeam have reported hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as a migraine trigger.
“A week ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. The medicine I am taking to regulate my sugar is causing me to have low blood sugar episodes with horrible headaches,” one member said.
“I have low blood sugar, and I can tell when it’s low or getting low because I will have a bad headache,” shared another member. “After I get it up, I feel a lot better.”
Another possible link involves inflammation. Both migraine and diabetes are associated with higher levels of inflammation in the body, which may play a role in how the two conditions are connected.
Managing both diabetes and migraine can be challenging, but it is possible. Many of the same lifestyle changes that help keep blood sugar steady may also lower the risk of migraine attacks.
Keeping a regular routine can help. Eating meals at regular times can help prevent blood sugar from dropping too low or rising too high. Skipping or postponing meals may trigger blood sugar problems and migraine attacks in some people.
Aim for a balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates to support steady energy levels. Limiting alcohol and highly processed or sugary foods may also help. If you have type 2 diabetes, weight loss may help reduce your risk of complications and make migraine medications more effective.
Dehydration can trigger migraine and may affect blood sugar control. Keep a water bottle handy, and try to drink water regularly throughout the day.
Stick to your treatment plan for both conditions. Taking insulin, oral diabetes medications, or migraine treatments as prescribed helps prevent sudden changes that may lead to blood sugar problems or migraine. Setting reminders can help you stay on track and manage your medication schedule.
Sleep and stress management are two important but sometimes underrated factors that can have an impact on both diabetes and migraine. Irregular sleep patterns and high stress levels can affect blood sugar and raise migraine risk. Try to keep a regular sleep schedule and make time for stress-relief moments, such as walking, stretching, or daily quiet time.
Tracking your symptoms can be useful. Noticing patterns between blood sugar levels and migraine attacks can help you and your healthcare provider adjust your plan. Managing these two conditions requires consistent routines and careful attention to your body’s signals.
If your headaches are becoming more frequent or begin to feel different, it’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional. Get medical help right away if you have new symptoms such as confusion, vision changes, or trouble speaking.
Unexplained changes in blood sugar also need attention. Tracking blood sugar levels and migraine patterns can help you and your doctor better understand what’s going on.
Some migraine symptoms — such as fatigue, trouble focusing, mood changes, thirst, and frequent urination — can feel like hypoglycemia. If you’re unsure, checking your blood sugar can help you decide what to do next.
Mild low blood sugar can often be treated at home by drinking juice or having a snack. Work with your doctor to develop an emergency plan for diabetes care so you know what to do if your blood sugar drops too low.
Seek urgent care if you have very low blood sugar, ongoing vomiting, signs of dehydration, or a sudden, severe headache that feels unlike any you’ve had before.
On MyMigraineTeam, people share their experiences with migraine, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Do you think there’s a connection between migraine and diabetes? Let others know in the comments below.
Are your headaches a symptom of migraine? Get a quick assessment.
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