Hypoglycemia(low blood sugar) can cause and worsen headaches. A hypoglycemic headache can feel like dull throbbing in the temples. If you get migraines, low blood sugar may trigger amigraineepisode.
This article discusses why low blood sugar can cause headaches and migraines, as well as how you can prevent and treat them.
Why Does Low Blood Sugar Cause Headaches?
You may get a headache when your body’sglucose (or sugar) levels dropbelow 70 mg/dL—the benchmark for hypoglycemia.
Headaches from blood sugar this low are usually described as a dull, throbbing feeling in the temples. The pain can occur with other hypoglycemic symptoms, like blurry vision, increased heart rate, nervousness, fatigue, irritability, and confusion.
If your glucose levels are not brought back up to a level between 70 to 100 mg/dL quickly, then symptoms can worsen to include numbness, poor concentration, poor coordination, passing out, and even coma.
Migraine Headaches
Hypoglycemia can also trigger a migraine headache. In fact, some people who get migraines report craving carbohydrates before the migraine hits, which may be the body’s way of regulating blood sugar and attempting toprevent the headache.
Hypoglycemia is also common in people withdiabetesand may occur when someone takes too much insulin or diabetes medicine, takes the medicine at a different time than usual, waits too long to eat or doesn’t eat enough, exercises at a different time of day, or drinks alcohol.
An Overview of Hypoglycemia
Preventing Hypoglycemia-Induced Headaches
To prevent your hypoglycemia-induced headache, it’s best to prevent your blood sugars from dropping.
Manage Your Diabetes
Be sure to check in regularly with your healthcare provider so they can monitor you for any changes that may affect your treatment plan.
Lifestyle and Diet Changes
Hypoglycemia-induced headaches can occur when you are fasting. This is because your body isn’t able to maintain its glucose levels if you’re not eating anything.
Healthcare providers generally suggest that people who have hypoglycemia eat smaller, more frequent meals and snacks throughout the day.In addition, it’s advised to go no more than three hours between eating meals.
A well-balanced diet rich in protein and fiber will also help maintain your blood sugar levels.Excessive alcohol and sugar consumption can cause hypoglycemia, so sugar and alcohol should be limited, especially on an empty stomach.
Regular physical activity is another important management technique.
Manage Chronic Illness
If you have any of these conditions, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options that may help improve your condition and prevent hypoglycemic headaches.
What Is a Hunger Headache?
Treating a Hypoglycemia-Induced Headache
It’s important for people with hypoglycemia to have their blood sugar monitor and a snack with them at all times. If your blood sugar dips, you need to get your glucose level back up between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL as quickly as possible.
If you are hypoglycemic, or think you might be, follow the 15/15 rule to feel better fast:Consume 15 grams of carbohydrates and then wait 15 minutes. Then:
If things don’t improve, call 911.
You need to choose a food that is nearly pure carbohydrate. The protein in peanut butter crackers, for example, will slow the quick absorption of carbohydrate that you need when hypoglycemic.
Good options include:
Sometimes, hypoglycemia will cause a person to pass out or lose consciousness. Be sure to not try to feed an unconscious person with hypoglycemia, as this can cause choking.
You may also take OTC Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) if the pain doesn’t subside right away.
If you are concerned about your symptoms or the headaches don’t subside with one of the quick fixes above, consult with your healthcare provider and get a ride to the hospital. It is very important not to drive yourself when having a hypoglycemic episode. If there is no one who can drive you,call 911.
Keep your friends and family informed about ways they can act quickly to help you with a hypoglycemic episode.
Summary
Hypoglycemia can cause a dull, throbbing headache in your temples. These headaches often occur alongside other symptoms like blurry vision, fatigue, and confusion.
When you get a hypoglycemic headache, the most important thing to do is get your blood sugar back under control. If eating carbohydrates doesn’t help, seek medical attention right away.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Diabetes Association.Understanding and managing low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
Di Lorenzo C, Ballerini G, Barbanti P, et al.Applications of ketogenic diets in patients with headache: clinical recommendations.Nutrients. 2021;13(7):2307. doi:10.3390/nu13072307
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Carb choices.
Candan FU. EHMTI-0229.A case of migraine like headache with postprandial hypoglycemia treated with lifestyle.J Headache Pan. 2014;15(Suppl 1):G39. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-S1-G39
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