Diabetic Headache When Become Hungry

Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc

Hi Narendra,

I understand your concern. A headache when you are hungry can happen in people with diabetes, but we should not automatically assume the cause without checking your blood sugar at that exact moment.

Could This Be Low Blood Sugar?

Yes, it could be. Low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia, can cause hunger, headache, shakiness, sweating, weakness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, dizziness, or confusion.

This is more likely if you skip meals, delay meals, eat too little carbohydrate, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol without food, or take insulin or medicines such as glipizide, glyburide, gliclazide, or glimepiride.

You can read more here: causes of low blood glucose.

What Should You Do When the Headache Starts?

When the headache starts, check your blood sugar if you can.

• If it is below 70 mg/dL / 3.9 mmol/L, treat it as low blood sugar.


• Take about 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets, regular juice, or regular soda.


• Recheck your blood sugar after 15 minutes.


• If it is still low, repeat the treatment.


• After it improves, eat a balanced meal or snack if your next meal is not soon.

You may also find this helpful: is my blood sugar too high or too low?

Could It Be Thirst or Acidity?

Yes, thirst or dehydration may contribute to headache, especially if your blood sugar has been high, you are sweating, or you are not drinking enough water.

Acidity or gastritis may also cause discomfort when the stomach is empty, but acidity usually causes burning, sour taste, nausea, or upper stomach discomfort rather than only a middle-head headache.

Because several causes are possible, checking blood sugar during symptoms is important.

How to Prevent Hunger Headaches

• Do not skip meals.


• Eat meals at regular times when possible.


• Include protein, fiber, and healthy fat with meals to help you stay full longer.


• Carry a small diabetes-safe snack when you are away from home.


• Carry fast-acting carbohydrate if you are at risk of low blood sugar.


• Drink water regularly unless your doctor has restricted fluids.


• Keep a record of the time of headache, blood sugar reading, food, exercise, and medicine timing.

For snack ideas, see: snacks for diabetics.

Ask Your Doctor About Your Medicines

If these headaches happen often, especially with low blood sugar readings, your doctor may need to review your diabetes medicines, meal timing, and activity pattern.

Do not reduce, stop, or change diabetes medicines by yourself. The goal is to prevent low blood sugar without allowing high blood sugar to become uncontrolled.

You can use this page to track patterns: blood sugar log sheet.

Related Questions

• What causes low blood glucose?


• What does blood sugar 45–69 mg/dL mean?


• Is my blood sugar too high or too low?


• What snacks are good for diabetics?


• How do I make a diabetic meal plan?


• How can I use a blood sugar log sheet?