Signs Of A High Blood Sugar Emergency
If high levels of blood sugar arent treated, you can develop a life-threatening complication called diabetic ketoacidosis . The conditionwhich is more common in type 1 diabetescan cause a build-up of ketone, a type of acid, in your blood.
Sometimes, DKA can be the first sign of diabetes for those who have not yet been diagnosed.
DKA can develop slowly at first, with its initial symptoms including:
- Muscle aches and stiffness
Left untreated DKA, can result in coma or death.
High blood sugar levels mixed with dehydration can also lead to hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state . HHS is more common among people with type 2 diabetes who have had an infection of some kind, such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection.
HHS can present as extremely high blood sugars with fever, confusion, or weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. Immediate treatment is necessary to prevent serious consequences.
How Do You Feel When Your Blood Sugar Is Too High
Blood sugar can be defined as the amount of sugar in the blood. It is measured in milligrams per deciliters of blood . The normal range of the blood sugar should be between 80 mg/dl and 120 mg/dl. In this range, the body feels the best. If the level of the blood sugar is higher than the normal range, it is called hyperglycemia. The blood sugar level which is lower than the normal range is called hypoglycemia. This is very dangerous for diabetic patients. If sugar level is too low, then patient may become unconscious or lose muscle coordination or may feel cold. One of the most common symptoms of low blood sugar is dizziness. If you feel some of this symptoms, you should check your blood sugar level immediately..
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Diabetic Nerve Pain In Ankle Feet And Legs
Diabetic neuropathy is a condition that results from damage to the nerves due to high blood sugar levels and nerve damage can cause a wide range of symptoms including pain, numbness, tingling, burning sensations, and weakness. In some cases, diabetic neuropathy can lead to serious complications such as diabetic foot ulcers.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Hyperglycemia
Its especially important to know the early signs of hyperglycemia if you have type 1 diabetes. If hyperglycemia is left untreated in people with type 1 diabetes, it can develop into ketoacidosis, where ketones, which are toxic acids, build up in the blood. This condition is an emergency situation that can lead to coma or death.
Early symptoms of hyperglycemia include:
- High blood sugar.
- Unusual fruity smell on the breath.
- Deep labored breathing or hyperventilation.
- Rapid heartbeat.
Does Gabapentin Cause Weight Gain Learn More About The Side Effects
Gabapentin is a prescription drug that is used to treat various medical conditions such as seizures, restless legs syndrome, and nerve pain and it belongs to a class of anticonvulsant medication. Gabapentin works by decreasing the number of seizures you have, relieving pain, and improving your sleep among several other benefits. If you take gabapentin you also may experience weight gain as a side effect. In this article, we will discuss how gabapentin causes weight gain, how to stop it, and other potential risks associated with taking this medication.
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Prediabetes Symptoms Causes Treatment Options
Prediabetes is a condition that affects millions of people in the United States and it is defined as having a blood sugar level that is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. When you have prediabetes, it often leads to type 2 diabetes if it is not treated. In this article, we will discuss what prediabetes is, the symptoms of prediabetes, the causes of prediabetes, and the treatment options for prediabetes among other topics.
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What Are The Complications Of Diabetes
If your blood glucose level remains high over a long period of time, your bodys tissues and organs can be seriously damaged. Some complications can be life-threatening over time.
Complications include:
- Dental problems.
Complications of gestational diabetes:
In the mother:Preeclampsia , risk of gestational diabetes during future pregnancies and risk of diabetes later in life.
In the newborn: Higher-than-normal birth weight, low blood sugar , higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes over time and death shortly after birth.
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If You Have High Blood Pressure
Considering that nearly two-thirds of people with diabetes struggle with high blood pressure, its very likely contributing to your headaches. This is especially important to discuss with your doctor because very few people with high blood pressure actually have symptoms.
High blood pressure can easily go undiagnosed and untreated. Consequences of long-term high blood pressure include:
- Severe damage to your heart
- Severe damage to your arteries
- Increased risk of stroke and blood clots
- Difficulty sleeping
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How Do You Get Rid Of A Diabetic Headache
A headache is one of the most common symptoms of diabetes . It may be the result of several things: 1. Hypoglycemia if you have diabetes, you might experience low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. When your blood sugar level gets unusually low, your brain may not be receiving enough nutrients. This can trigger a diabetic headache. 2. Hyperglycemia if your blood sugar level remains high for a prolonged period of time, your cells may become dehydrated. If this happens, your brain cells may become dehydrated and send a signal to your brain that you are having a headache. However, this type of diabetic headache is more common in the elderly. 3. Other causes a lack of sleep, a lack of exercise, stress, and even sinus problems can cause diabetic headaches. If you are having a diabetic headache, you should drink a tall glass of water or Gatorade. Make sure to eat a healthy meal. You can also try taking an aspirin or ibuprofen. Try to go to bed and relax. If you are still experiencing a headache after using one of these methods, you should call a doctor..
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Food And Eating Habits
Despite the constant recommendations to eat healthfully when you have diabetes, its not necessarily easy to change your eating habits. No one is perfect! But when it comes to your food choices or how and when you eat, its worthwhile to focus on a) trying to get into an eating routine and b) making healthful food decisions most of the time. Youll reap a host of benefits by doing so, including more stable blood glucose levels, reaching and staying at a healthy weight, a lower risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, and, yes, fewer headaches. What and how you eat can be directly responsible for headaches, especially migraines. Typical triggers for migraines include:
Too much or too little caffeine Alcohol, especially red wine, whiskey, Scotch, and champagne Aged cheeses Nitrates and nitrites, found in cold cuts, hot dogs, sausage, and bacon Monosodium glutamate Foods or drinks containing aspartame, a nonnutritive sweetener Citrus fruits
Other culprits: skipping or delaying meals, and not drinking enough fluids.
Hyperglycemia Triggering A Headache
Hyperglycemia is a condition caused by high sugar levels in our blood stream, as the body loses its capability to break down glucose by insulin. In such a scenario, your blood sugar level might even topple over 180-200 mg/dL. High blood sugar or hyperglycemia too can result in frequent bursts of headaches. Such headaches may be mild in nature initially and keep on worsening with the blood sugar level reaching dangerous heights. Some other hyperglycemia symptoms are blurred vision, frequent thirst, fatigue and frequent urination. Headaches from blood sugar fluctuations can be dangerous in cases of hypoglycemia too.
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What Is Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects up to 10%¹ of pregnant women in the US each year. It is often diagnosed during the second or third trimester in women who didnât have diabetes before becoming pregnant. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after the baby is born and a womanâs blood sugar levels return to normal.
Without proper treatment, gestational diabetes can cause severe headaches, and it can be dangerous for your unborn babyâs health as well as your own.
During pregnancy, a womanâs body creates extra hormones to support the development of a baby. Although scientists donât know exactly why, sometimes a womanâs placenta makes hormones that cause problems with insulin production, and her body is unable to use that insulin effectively. When this happens, sugar canât enter cells to be converted into energy.
This leads to insulin resistance, and if left untreated, it can cause severe headaches.
Gestational diabetes can also cause glucose to build up in your bloodstream, leading to hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. Without treatment, gestational diabetes can lead to all kinds of health problems for you and your unborn baby, such as:
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Large babies at birth, weighing over 9 pounds
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An increased risk of C-section
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Increased chance of type 2 diabetes later in life for mother and baby
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Increased chance of obesity for the baby later in life
Toomuch Sugar Can Cause Low Sugar
When you eat carbohydrates, your body converts the carbs to glucose, which is the medical term for sugar. Glucose travels through your body to be used as energy.
“High glucose itself is not the problem,” says Michael Doerrler, DO, assistant professor of neurology and a headache specialist at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. “When you load up on sugar, your body produces more insulin to use up the sugar. Your blood sugar can drop rapidly. This is called reactive hypoglycemia.”
As he explains, “anything that upsets the delicate balance of the brain can trigger a headache and other low-sugar symptoms.”
Low sugar can cause a migraine headache, and it also may be why some people with migraines crave sugar just before or during a migraine attack, according to The Migraine Trust. Migraine headache symptoms include intense and throbbing pain on one side of the head along with nausea and vomiting, according to Harvard Medical School.
For people who don’t get migraines, a low-blood-sugar headache can cause a dull, throbbing headache on both sides of the head over the temples, according to the National Headache Foundation.
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Healthy Diet And Headaches
Although more research is needed to show that eating a healthy diet can help prevent headaches, some studies have found that dietary intervention can be a helpful tool for those who suffer from regular headaches or migraines because a healthy diet can help mitigate certain chronic diseases that can lead to these conditions.
How Can I Test Myself For Diabetes
Home testing follows these general steps:
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How To Get Relief
If you get a headache from diabetes, it is important to first check and treat blood sugar imbalances. If head pain persists, over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can provide relief. People who have kidney problems should not take ibuprofen unless directed by their medical provider.
In addition to OTC pain medication, headaches may respond to home care such as:
If You Do Have A Headache In Relation To Sugar What Suggestions Do You Have For Relief
If youre experiencing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels, and its not related to an illness like diabetes, symptoms can be treated by consuming 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, or cabs easily converted sugar like gel, juice, soft drinks and sugary candy.
Dr. Patel was quoted as saying:Hypoglycemic attacks mostly occur in diabetics. If you think youre experiencing a hypoglycemic attack, you should go to the doctor immediately. Those with diabetes or hormone deficiencies should consult their physicians about long-term symptom relief plans, which generally include a structured diet.
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Why Does Sweetness Cause Such Pain
Shakespeare probably pondered this as he was writing Romeo and Juliet. And just as he was perplexed by the joyous agony of true love, we wanna know why sugar is such a wiley b*tch sometimes.
First of all, when we say sugar as in, Good god, this sugar headache makes me regret my choice to eat a sleeve of Oreos in one sitting were talking about added sugar. Added sugar is just what it sounds like, its sugar thats added to foods.
Why does this matter? Well, many foods have naturally occurring sugars, like fruits and dairy. When you eat a piece of fruit or some plain Greek yogurt, youre getting some sugar, but the fiber or protein in the food helps balance the effects of the glucose.
When you eat something with lots of added sugar , the lack of fiber, protein, or other good stuff with nutritional value means the sugar hits your bloodstream, causes a spike in glucose, also known as blood sugar, and off you go to headache town.
Radical dips and spikes in blood sugar are the main cause of sugar headaches. Your body actually runs, not on Dunkin, but on sugar .
We need a steady supply of glucose for energy and our brains in particular need glucose to make sure the body can function. When theres a sudden change in glucose levels, our brains are the first to feel the effects.
When To Seek Medical Attention For Headaches
If you have diabetes and experience headaches often, see your medical provider. Your medication or treatment plan may need to be adjusted.
If you experience headaches and have not been diagnosed with diabetes, you should see a medical provider if you have frequent headaches that recur, are worsening, are interfering with your daily life, or are accompanied by other symptoms such as vision changes or nausea.
Get immediate medical care at an emergency room if you experience any of the following:
- A sudden headache that is severe
- Problems speaking, walking, or remembering
- A severe headache that occurs within 1 week after a head injury or fall
- Repeated vomiting along with a headache
- Change in mental status or level of consciousness with a headache
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When Should I See A Doctor
Headaches aren’t always a warning sign that your body isn’t well, but they should always be taken seriously especially during pregnancy. If you’re having frequent headaches, let your doctor know at your next scheduled prenatal appointment. They will listen to your concerns and ask about other symptoms that may point to gestational diabetes or other pregnancy-related issues.
If you’re experiencing severe headaches during pregnancy, it’s okay to ask to be seen before your next scheduled visit. Gestational diabetes can be serious if it’s left untreated, and it’s always better to err on the side of caution during pregnancy.
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Frequent trips to the bathroom
It’s also important to let your doctor know if you’ve got a family history of diabetes and if you have any risk factors such as a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar, or if you’ve had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy. Additionally, call your doctor if you experience headaches and you have PCOS, or are pregnant with multiple babies.
Your doctor and nurses are available to answer questions and listen to your concerns, and they’re dedicated to making sure your pregnancy is healthy from start to finish.
Can Too Much Sugar Or Not Enough Sugar Cause Headaches
Both too much sugar and not enough sugar can cause headaches.
Dr. Patel was quoted as saying:Sugar-related headaches come from a rapid swing in your blood sugar level. So its not actually the sugar itself that causes the headache, but the quick change in consumption. Glucose level fluctuations affect your brain more than any other organ.
Sugar causes hormonal changes, specifically with epinephrine and norepinephrine. Those shifts change blood vessel behavior in the brain, causing a headache.
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Who Is Prone To Sugar Headaches
Migraine Sufferers
Not all migraine sufferers have the same triggers. However, one common trigger of migraines is sugar. And its not just sugar that is a trigger for these intense headaches, but also sweeteners like sucralose. That means your Splenda could be a potential trigger for a migraine attack.
People With Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cannot use it correctly. This causes blood sugar levels to rise in the blood. Continuously having high or low blood sugar levels can lead to many life-threatening conditions. It can also lead to headaches.
Not everyone with diabetes will experience headaches however, those who have trouble managing their fluctuating blood sugar levels may develop headaches. The more the blood sugar levels fluctuate, the more likely these headaches will occur.
Depending on whether the headache was caused by too much blood sugar or too low , there are different ways to treat the headache. For example, if your blood test confirms too low of blood sugar, eating a small amount of simple carbohydrates may help. Speak with your doctor or pain clinic specialist for more specific information on treating your headaches.
People Who Consume Too Much Sugar
Finding Help with Your Headaches