Comments on: Deeper into Migraine, Glucose and Insulin…

By: Garry

Garry — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:30:12 +0000

I usually get migraines every 1-2 weeks. I’ve tried vitamin D3 and Magnesium. They have taken the edge off much of my anxiety and depression associated with the migraines (my auras). I once tried a low carb diet for 3 weeks. No migraines. I now use Topamax. Migraines have gone for good. It must work because of how it affects the GABA levels. I am currently back on that low carb diet thanks to the topamax because all of my sugar cravings have gone too. Miracle drug.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:20:57 +0000

I also get migraines due to the heat, so I can’t do garden work or have to be very cautious not to get overheated and after some research found out that blood sugar drops when you are overheated. I notice that after I eat, if I get very sleepy, the next day I will have a migraine, even if it was just a salad and not a high carb meal. Very frustrating trying to figure it out.
If I load up on magnesium at the start, I can reduce a 3 day migraine into 1. I have also noticed that my bowel movements have an offensive odor during the migraine, which leads me to think there is problem digesting something so it just sits there fermenting in my gut and hence causes me constipation. My first clue I’m going to get a migraine are muscle spasms or I’m constipated. I”ve just started keeping a food diary.

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:34:43 +0000

Hi Tammy,

My 19 year old daughter has had a low grade daily chronic migraine every day since February, 2010. She started on Topamax in July and gradually increased up to 125 mg over 2.5 months. Over the last month her headaches increased in intensity with earlier onset, and the headaches spike 45 minutes to one hour after eating, no matter what she eats and no matter how little she eats. I have read that Topamax increases sensitivity to insulin. Her neurologist does not believe she is having blood sugar issues, but it sure looks like it. I was wondering how you are doing off of the Topamax?

By: Shalom

Shalom — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:49:10 +0000

Many years ago I read a book written by a medical professional with lots of great research and charts in it which really helped my migraine but I lent it to a friend and forgot the title. It talked about the relationship between gluten intolerance, glycemic index, insulin, blood sugar and migraine. The summary of it is don’t spike the blood sugar level too high and then go too low. This triggers migraines hours later.

For instance, don’t drink on an empty stomach or drink too much alcohol if you’re going to go for hours later without eating, which is most likely the case if you got drunk.

If you sleep a lot and the time between your first real meal and your last is more than 12 hours don’t take something sweet or high in glycemic index when you wake. Many cereals and processed foods (crackers, biscuits, white rice) contain a lot of sugar, including milk and juices. General rule : don’t take sweet things when you’re feeling VERY hungry. Try drinking a glass of warm water before.

Don’t go without food for more than 6 hours unless you have moved to all low glycemic index food for some time and done detox to restore liver and pancreas function. When you do eat stay away from highly processed, deep-fried, sweetened food even though you’re most likely tempted to eat those types of food.

Eat small regular meals. Make sure you have something healthy to standby for breakfast.

By: Shalom

Shalom — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:41:04 +0000

I’m the opposite. If I have a long fasting period (more than 10 hours) or if I’ve had a smallish dinner and I take something sweet in the morning I’m a goner in approximately 4-6 hours and the migraine will last for the next 48 to 72 hours.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:54:44 +0000

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.

By: James

James — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:38:45 +0000

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.

By: Leslee

Leslee — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:37:53 +0000

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.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:08:00 +0000

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!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:16:32 +0000

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.