More than 4.9 million people in the UK have diabetes, with an estimated 5.5 million of the population having the disease by 2030, according to Diabetes UK. But many people miss the early warning signs, which can lead to serious complications.
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Diabetes and headaches
Diabetes is a condition whereby people are unable to control blood glucose through the hormone insulin.
If the level of sugar/glucose in the blood is not properly controlled, the disease can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications, such as heart disease and kidney failure.
Headaches can be a manifestation of poor blood sugar control, and recognizing this could be a useful first step to preventing more severe health problems.
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Causes
Diabetes-related headaches could be brought on by:
- Hyperglycaemia: This is when one’s blood sugar is high due to a break in medication, consuming more carbohydrates than recommended and stress, among others. Hyperglycaemia can result in headaches, blurred vision, fatigue, increased thirst and frequent urination
- Hypoglycaemia: On the other hand, sometimes a diabetic could have a significant drop in blood sugar levels due to not eating enough, taking too much insulin medication or drinking alcohol. Hypoglycaemia can result in sweating, shakiness, dizziness, headaches, hunger and irritability.
- High blood pressure: More than half of people with diabetes have high blood pressure. Although this condition may not present with symptoms, it if it remains high for a prolonged period of time, high blood pressure can result in headaches.
Headaches related to blood sugar levels can be managed through lifestyle changes to correct the underlying causal factors. Avoiding hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia is the best way to reduce headaches and other diabetes symptoms, as well as more severe complications. However, if they persist, you should talk to a doctor about it.
