Migraines are painful headaches that trigger many difficult symptoms. In addition to throbbing pain usually on one side of the head, you may also experience nausea, vomiting, neck pain, and sensitivity to bright lights or loud sounds. Risk factors for this condition include:
- Age, with migraines typically beginning at puberty but peaking when you're in your early 30s
- Gender, with females most commonly experiencing the condition compared to males
- Family history, with parents and other relatives experiencing migraines, too
- Other medical conditions, such as anxiety, sleep disorders, and epilepsy, that act as triggers
Are There Any Positive Benefits for Migraine Sufferers?
Migraine headaches are typically strong and painful and are rarely — if ever — considered positive or beneficial. But a recent French research study found that women who have an active migraine diagnosis have a lower documented risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
The study followed more than 75,000 women for 10 years. The ones who suffered from migraines were 20% to 30% less likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Ironically, the risk of developing this form of diabetes increased sharply among those who reported having minimal to no migraines.
How Do Migraines Affect Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is the most common form of this disease and keeps your body from processing insulin the way it should. This can lead to hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, as well as other types of blood sugar-related events.
Over the years, many doctors who treat migraine sufferers have noted that these patients didn't develop diabetes as often as others, but the correlation was typically unclear. One possible explanation is that those who experience migraines often are more likely to have hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
By contrast, those who suffer from Type 2 diabetes experience complications due to high blood sugar. In these cases, the goal of treatment is usually to lower blood sugar levels.
It's believed that having low blood sugar is what prevents the adverse effects that cause the development of Type 2 diabetes. That's why research indicates that the risk of developing the disease is much lower among migraine sufferers.
