Migraines

[linda-amici]

I’m pre- diabetic and wanted to ask if any one can advise me about Migraine? I started to follow a low carb diet 3 weeks ago when my HbA1C went up to 47. My weight has gone down a few pounds but this week I started to have bad migraines with aura- I’ve had one on 4 days and feel awful. I’m drinking plenty but wonder if it’s due to my blood glucose being lower than usual( was 5 this morning) Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[rebrascora]

My acute migraines stopped the moment I went low carb and I had suffered them for more than 20 years and they had built up to a frequency of about once a month, where I was vomiting and diarrhoea and occasionally passing out, as well as losing most of a day in bed in a dark room. It is one of the things which keeps me on the low carb path, so I am afraid I am probably not of much help to you in your situation.
Did you suffer migraines before or is this totally new to you? Is there something you are eating more of like cheese perhaps which could be triggering them? Thankfully cheese has never been a trigger for me.

 

[linda-amici]

My acute migraines stopped the moment I went low carb and I had suffered them for more than 20 years and they had built up to a frequency of about once a month, where I was vomiting and diarrhoea and occasionally passing out, as well as losing most of a day in bed in a dark room. It is one of the things which keeps me on the low carb path, so I am afraid I am probably not of much help to you in your situation.
Did you suffer migraines before or is this totally new to you? Is there something you are eating more of like cheese perhaps which could be triggering them? Thankfully cheese has never been a trigger for me.

Thank you for replying, it’s helpful to share a problem. It seems a lot of people have found their migraines improved with a low carb diet.
I ‘ve just spoken to the local Pharmacist and she thinks it’s probably just my body adjusting to a lower blood glucose level. I hope so! I do have migraines usually around every 3 or 4 months ,
many thanks rebrascora.

 

[rebrascora]

Really hope you get some relief soon.
Our gut and our brain are very closely linked and I wonder if a probiotic or eating/drinking foods conducive to better gut health might help. Things like Kefir/Kombucha/Kimchi/Saurkraut etc

 

[Deb_l]

I don’t think it will help you but going low carb didn’t really make much difference to my migraine patterns. For the last few years I don’t have much of a regular pattern at all to be honest. Cheese and chocolate are triggers for me so I’m having to watch my cheese intake now.

I do however take a migraine preventative and have done for 15 plus years now so my attacks are barely noticeable these days compared to being debilitating before.

 

[debinfrance]

When I first did very low carb I seem to remember that if you get very headachey at the beginning to add a little salt to your diet -obviously goes against the general advice for those with blood pressure issues but it did work for me and once I got used to the low carb, probably 7 to 10 days, I didn’t need it anymore. I know migraine is not just a headache. I think it takes our bodies a bit of time to adjust to any new eating regime. Hope your migraines settle soon

 

[Inka]

Thank you for replying, it’s helpful to share a problem. It seems a lot of people have found their migraines improved with a low carb diet.
I ‘ve just spoken to the local Pharmacist and she thinks it’s probably just my body adjusting to a lower blood glucose level. I hope so! I do have migraines usually around every 3 or 4 months ,
many thanks rebrascora.

I got more migraines as I entered perimenopause - I don’t know if that applies to you @linda-amici ? Also, have you tested for ketones? And do you have a Libre so you can check if you’re dipping too low overnight. That can cause migraines too.

I find diet doesn’t affect mine, but missing meals or becoming dehydrated does.