Migraines are less common in people with diabetes

Two large studies have established that if you have diabetes you are less likely to suffer from migraines.

The first study was done on the entire population of Norway. The authors concluded that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are significantly associated with a decreased risk of migraine.

The second study involved 74,247 French women. The researchers discovered that there was a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in women with active migraine. They also found that migraine was less common even prior to the development of diabetes.

Being overweight increases the frequency of migraines. Losing weight by any method, including bariatric surgery, improves migraines. There have been no studies of diabetes drugs in the treatment of migraines.

However, I do prescribe a diabetes drug metformin to migraine patients who are overweight or develop migraines when they are hungry. Metformin helps lose weight by maintaining a steady level of blood sugar. It does this by regulating the release of glucose from the liver. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Another diabetes drug, semaglutide in injections (Wegovy and Ozempic) and tablets (Rybelsus) is even more effective for weight reduction than metformin. Semaglutide, unlike metformin, is approved by the FDA for weight loss even in the absence of diabetes.

It is possible that the treatment of diabetes reduces the risk of developing migraines. The French study, however, suggests that other factors could play a role as well.