There’s a lot of talk about migraine and sugar levels. At one time or another, it seems everyone suspects there’s a strong relationship. So it really is surprising how little we talk about it, and how little research has come out to explain it.
One little study coming out of Austria published this month in the journal Cephalalgia is getting the conversation going again. The study set out to investigate things like glucose, insulin, and something known as "nitric oxide stress" in migraineurs.
Now there’s a lot to explain here, so stay with me and I’ll try to give you a simple overview.
All three of these things – glucose, insulin, and nitric oxide, are interrelated. It’s common for people with diabetes, for example, to have impaired nitric oxide (NO) pathways. Too much or too little NO in your body can cause problems.
Now NO has an amazing influence on all kinds of things in your body. It has to do with regulating blood flow in your blood vessels (through smooth muscle function). It plays a role in inflammation. Proper levels in your body may help prevent heart disease, influence how you feel pain, and even impact your memory. You can already see how a migraineur may be interested in research related to nitric oxide.
 |
But when there are problems with NO production or elimination, this can lead to too much insulin in the body (hyperinsulinemia). Hyperinsulinemia may actually have no symptoms on its own, but it could lead to things like low blood sugar, and may lead to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. And this brings us back to questions of carbohydrates and glucose and the glycaemic index and all those things that have to do with blood sugar levels, diabetes and hypoglycemia.
Back to our study. Using various parameters and tests on 48 migraineurs and 72 non-migraineurs, the researchers found that migraineurs were significantly more likely to have hyperinsulinaemia (hyperinsulinemia), and so showed signs of increased nitric oxide stress.
I hope you’ve followed me so far, and see the value of the study. What we’re looking for is evidence that can be tested that migraine patients do have insulin related problems. This gives us a glimpse into a web of related functions in the body – nitric oxide pathways, insulin production, glucose, and so on, and how these things may not be functioning properly in the person with migraine disease.
Not only is it a step into a new world of treatment, it’s also another confirmation of what we already knew – there is a relation between migraine and blood sugar levels.
Because of this, two things. First, the way we eat and the way we exercise can make a difference in our symptoms, and this gives us a clue of how to think about it. Second, just eating differently and exercising may not be enough for many of us. The research needs to continue to see why the body is not functioning the way it should be.
Summary of the study: Hyperinsulinaemia in migraineurs is associated with nitric oxide stress.
Another study currently in process related to nitric oxide stress and insulin
Popularity: unranked [?]
Loading ...
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
One thing I have noticed over the years (I have had migraines since age 9) is that I can eat things early in the day with no problem, but IF I eat the same things late in the day they will trigger a migraine. Wonder if this relates to the above?
This is something that I have also noticed but my migraines do not occur until the next day when I wake up. Could there be a connection?
That’s interesting – I’m not sure how different times of the day would relate, but I’m sure it would. There could be other reasons as well why eating something later could have an impact – for example, a build-up of other triggers.
Certainly many people have reported a significant “delayed reaction” when it comes to food triggers.
The “smertesykepleier” literally pain nurse in English explained to me of the idea of strengthening my migraine threshold by not eating the triggers and attacking the attack early on; I understand now that it also works the same with my food allergies—some days I can tolerate eating prawns without taking antihistamine. Then one day, wham! I get thick lips and swollen ears. The bathtub is full, James. But one thing’s sure for me, the day after I have eaten hotdogs, I get an attack. I saw the pattern in my diary.
Hot dogs and all packaged lunch meat are a definite no-no for me. I’ve also noticed the sugar connection. I love my sweets. I can usually tollerate them early in the day, but I try hard not to eat anything after dinner. I do so much better if I go to bed on an empty stomach. When I’ve had food, especially something sweet before bed, I can feel the pressure behind my eyes when I wake up. Usually a cup of coffee shakes it out, but sometimes not, and I’m uncomfortable for the most of the morning.
I notice that when I have a migraine, I usually crave high carb foods. If I eat pasta and have a soda the pain usually eases up.
I used to love pepperoni pizza, but would always get a killer migraine two days later. It took me awhile to notice the connection since it was that delayed, but once I did, I realized that it happened every time. Now I rarely eat pizza, and if I do, I definitely leave off the pepperoni. Certainly not worth the day (or more) in pain!
My migraines with visual aura have been ocurring mostly midmorning when I am hungry. I have long suspected a drop in blood sugar as being the trigger.
Thanks for your examples. Yes, processed meats are generally a trigger – and probably not all that good for you anyway!
One other challenge is that cravings are sometimes mistaken for triggers when they’re not. Of course, eating a food you crave may be a trigger, but sometimes the migraine attack causes you to crave something before the attack is in full swing.
For many people, this may be the case with chocolate – not a trigger for you, but you tend to crave it early in the attack.
I have suffered from migraines for ten years and currently take high doses of topamax to manage them and imitrex several times a week to manage the attack. I have always suffered with my headaches when I wake up at 4 – 5 in the morning. By then it’s too late for preventive medicine and usually have to take a shot. Recently, I was trying to lose a few lbs (from preganancy) and do some healthy detox and started fasting alternate days. I immediately noticed on the days that I didn’t eat dinner, I didn’t have a migraine. I was totally surprised because I had done always thought the opposite. So I tried to eat some small portions and healthy foods on the alternate days….didn’t work, I still got a headache…..not a migraine. Definitely different! Can’t remember the last time I just had a headache. Anyway, Over the past few weeks, I have stopped eating dinner and it has been amazing….I can’t tell you the difference. I don’t have diabetes but wonder if I do have some type of insulin problem. I do have hashimoto thyroiditis and take supplement for that. I’m 5′8″ and now weigh 125 lbs. Never been over weight just a heavy migraine sufferer trying to figure out how to find a cure! Thought someone else should try this because after ten years this is working for me. I’m going to try to start taking myself off of the topamax if this continues to work for me. I have also started taking a natural progesterone too.