Headaches and diff BG levels

[mg_2204]

Let's talk about headaches again...

It seems I'm more sensitive to BG fluctuations than ever before. My comfort zone is between 5.5 and 7 mmol/L. It is rare I have headaches now because I can keep within my 'comfort zone'.

Now I have headaches at night. They wake me up. A pounding pain. Very frustrating. Hard to do anything about this though. Any ideas??! Did it ever happen to you? I'm mostly under 7 mmol/L when I wake up in the morning.

I could just :banghead:

Advice? Suggestions? Perhaps it happened to you at some point?

Many thanks!

[seacomp]

I don't have your problem so I can't be a direct help. But perhaps you are going way low over night. Next time you are wakened with a headache, could you test
and check your bg?

[Georgia]

Sorry to hear that, Marie. I tend to get headaches when my bs is running a bit high - what's your bs whan you get the headaches at night?

[Cinnabon]

Marie,

Testing could REALLY rule out it having anything to do with you blood sugar. I dont have them that bad, but they could very well be, stress, certain foods, time of the month, your vision. A lot of different things could contribute to this.

[rzrbks]

seacomp

I don't have your problem so I can't be a direct help. But perhaps you are going way low over night. Next time you are wakened with a headache, could you test
and check your bg?

That would be my suggestion as well. Next time you're awakened with headaches, check your B/G. That way, you either find that B/G is the cause, or, you rule it out, for now.

[mg_2204]

Thank you for your feedback everyone! :)

Yes I have tested. Always between 5 and 6 mmol/L, so perhaps a bit lower than my usual comfort zone (during the day).

I still have the odd mornings with high fasting BG (8.2 mmol/L for example) but usually I am under 7 (my target). Once or twice only did I wake up with fasting sugars of 4.9 mmol/L and yes I had a terrible headache that night. Now that I think about it, I never have headaches at night when I wake up high.

I will continue to test and see what numbers are like.

What should I do now, if it's because I'm running lower than my comfort zone? Eat something and then go back to bed??!

Thanks guys!

[JediSkipdogg]

It is definitely because your norm in your body is pretty high. So you are running lower than it and it feels awkward to your body. Over time your body will adjust to it, probably about a month or so of running a new BG level. I think if you stay close to 7 you should be fine so if you need to eat something to do so, then eat a small snack.

[mg_2204]

Thanks! :thumbsup:

[Peter Lee]

I haven't had an uncontrollably bad headache since my sugar came down below 15 (270) so I can't help you there but......

If you are looking for a good analgesic, since you are also in the UK I can recommend co-codamol. You don't need a prescription and they are £1.15 for 30.

For me, one tablet kills a moderate ache and two knock out a bad one - and I don't feel dopy on them. They were recommended by my pharmacist who is very cautious about what diabetics can take by way of 'treatments'.

[KickStart101]

Hi Marie::hello: I very rarely have headaches unless I have a rare bad
reaction during the night or a flu. That's why I'm not thinking your
bad headaches are from Diabetes, all the time. Didn't you have bad
headaches some time ago off and on?
If your sugars are in that good range you mentioned most of the time,
(good for you by the way) you should be fine headache-wise. How is
your blood pressure? Have you had a cat scan done in the time period
that you were having the headaches? I'm sure if you had migranes, you
would have been dxd.
There are so many reasons for getting headaches. Even the after effects
sometimes of having an Epileptic Seizure. Found that one out many years
ago. I sure hope that you find out what's causing the pain, Marie. I'm
sure it's no fun. Good Luck and Take Care. :)
Hey, how has your Son been doing? Do you hear from him often?

[mg_2204]

I'm guilty! I often put the blame on diabetes for all my aches and pains. Well diabetes is a big meanie, it can take it :smartass:

Yes I have good control lately, I am quite pleased with my numbers. I don't suffer from migraines. It is seldom I have a headache in fact. It seems that ever since I've been put on meds I have become far more sensitive to BG fluctuations. It's a pain!! Grrrrrr

Blood pressure is very good lately too. Usually around 124/80. I used to be much higher but in the last 10 months or so it has gone down quite a lot. Am pleased about that too!

Could be stress too, who knows?

But at night it's the same dull pain I have experienced a while ago during the day, when I wasn't quite used to new BG levels.

I am mostly annoyed about these headaches because my sleep is precious. I MUST get at least 8 hours.

*****************************

My son's doing well, thank you for asking! He's in Scotland, doing some recruiting now. He visits often. He will come for yet another visit (and raid the fridge) in April. Can't wait!!! Take care.

[JMaldo]

I new here and just found out i am type 2. But i can tell you one thing, when my bs is over 220 i have headaches. At 300 they are very painful. Its seems the feeling of thrist and the headaches is what tip me off about my problem. I too now question every time i feel something if its the diabeties, but i never use to get headaches-Hope this helps.

[mg_2204]

JMaldo, unfortunately I get headaches whether I'm low or high it seems. My meds were changed to the slow release ones and headaches disappeared but now they seem to come back. I could just cry...

[JMaldo]

JMaldo, unfortunately I get headaches whether I'm low or high it seems. My meds were changed to the slow release ones and headaches disappeared but now they seem to come back. I could just cry...

Yeah for the first time last night i was around 174, but still had a headache. I was hoping they would go away the closer i got to a normal reading.

[mg_2204]

JMaldo, could it be that you get these headaches because you have to get used to new sugar levels??!

I don't know if you are on any medication.

From http://www.drugs.com/ the more common side effects of Metformin :

Anxiety; blurred vision; chills; cold sweats; coma; confusion; cool pale skin; cough; depression; dizziness; fast heartbeat; fever; headache; increased hunger; nausea; nervousness; nightmares; seizures; shakiness; slurred speech; sneezing; sore throat; unusual tiredness or weakness.

I was headache free for a long while though, when I was switched from Metformin to Metformin slow release. I just don't know anymore. I guess I'm stuck with that problem. Again.

[JMaldo]

JMaldo, could it be that you get these headaches because you have to get used to new sugar levels??!

I don't know if you are on any medication.

From http://www.drugs.com/ the more common side effects of Metformin :

Anxiety; blurred vision; chills; cold sweats; coma; confusion; cool pale skin; cough; depression; dizziness; fast heartbeat; fever; headache; increased hunger; nausea; nervousness; nightmares; seizures; shakiness; slurred speech; sneezing; sore throat; unusual tiredness or weakness.

I was headache free for a long while though, when I was switched from Metformin to Metformin slow release. I just don't know anymore. I guess I'm stuck with that problem. Again.

Im taking Metformin 850mg twice a day only my 3rd full day taking it, Headaches, nausea, and deff fast heartbeats. Also taking Avandia 4mg once a day. My stomach has been given me the most issues with the meds so far, but maybe its just the fact i know im diabetic.

[mg_2204]

... I really feel for you. I know what you mean, I've been there. The first few weeks (2-3 weeks) I kept kneeling in front of the white porcelain. :thumpdown I was so sick! But I am really stubborn too. Side effects subsided during the 3rd week and meds started to really kick in the 6th week.

I'm on Metformin 500mg twice a day.

I found that dairy products and fatty foods gave me a really hard time when I first started on Metformin. You might want to avoid these for the mean time perhaps?

I hope you feel better soon! And take good care.

[JMaldo]

... I really feel for you. I know what you mean, I've been there. The first few weeks (2-3 weeks) I kept kneeling in front of the white porcelain. :thumpdown I was so sick! But I am really stubborn too. Side effects subsided during the 3rd week and meds started to really kick in the 6th week.

I'm on Metformin 500mg twice a day.

I found that dairy products and fatty foods gave me a really hard time when I first started on Metformin. You might want to avoid these for the mean time perhaps?

I hope you feel better soon! And take good care.

Good info, i will pay more attention to that.

I have totally changed my diet in the past 5 days, with that and the meds, my bs level was 110 2hrs after lunch :adore: , but still the darn headaches.

[sydneya]

Marie,

Testing could REALLY rule out it having anything to do with you blood sugar. I dont have them that bad, but they could very well be, stress, certain foods, time of the month, your vision. A lot of different things could contribute to this.

...even proper ventilation or congestion. Good luck--headaches are miserable.