Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert

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Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that results in blood sugar, or glucose, abnormalities. This causes a host of symptoms and related complications, some of which can be life-threatening. A common symptom of high or low blood glucose is a headache.

Hyperglycaemia means high blood glucose with symptoms not usually occurring until glucose is above 200 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL).

Many people don’t feel any symptoms even at higher blood sugar levels.

A headache from high blood glucose generally takes several days to develop.

As a result, the symptoms are often slow to appear.

For others with diabetes, headaches typically develop because of changes in blood sugar levels, said Medical News Today.

The health site continued: “A headache can indicate that blood sugar levels are too high, which doctors call hyperglycaemia.

“Alternatively, blood sugar levels may be too low, which doctors call hypoglycaemia.

“The higher the fluctuations in blood glucose levels, the more likely it is that a person with diabetes will experience headaches.”

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Other signs of hyperglycaemia include:

• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Excessive thirst and dehydration
• Increased urination
• Excessive hunger
• Sores that won’t heal

Sugar is a vital component of the body’s chemistry. Too much or too little sugar can cause problems, including headaches.

This is because sugar has a direct effect on the brain and the nervous system.

It is vital for a person to maintain a proper level of sugar in their diet as it may prevent future headaches.

The Migraine Trust added: “Headaches produced from going without food are often quite severe and accompanied by mild nausea.

“There is also a similarity between some of the symptoms of missing a meal and the early warnings of a migraine attack such as yawning, pallor, sweating and craving for sweet things.”

People who are prone to migraines are more likely to suffer more severe headaches associated with hyperglycaemia, however, an excess or deficiency in blood glucose alone won’t typically cause a migraine in someone who has never had one.

Sugar-heavy foods or heavily processed foods have been known to cause spikes in blood sugar levels, which can cause headaches.

Sugar-related headaches are not uncommon, and this is why health experts advise cutting down on the amount of sugar in your diet to help treat type 2 diabetes symptoms.
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