Constatnt Pain in Back of Head. Is it Diabets related?

[jfox]

I have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabets for approximately four years.  Within the last 10 months I have had constent pain on the bach left side of my head that goes from the crown to my left ear and down in my neck.  It is uncomfortable to touch and if rubbed hard can cause shooting pains.  This remains constant.
About once a month the whole side of my left head going all the way across my face down my neck and clear to top of head, goes completely numb and is very uncomfortable to touch.  This always takes at least 3 whole days to go away.  
Is this Diabetec related?  Is there anything I need to do to correct this?  The episodes seem to be getting worse each time.
It makes for a very unpleasant time when it happens.

Thank you for any info that I might receive.

[JDRF-Team-cg]

Jfox,
I am only a volunteer and not a doctor so I cannot give medical advise. This is not a condition I am familiar with. I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 30 years but again I am not an expert. My suggestion is you see your doctor right away. Especially since you are uncomfortable, pain is generally a warning sign. I am sorry I could not give you more insight. Take care of yourself.
Carolyn

[Metcalf]

Hi J.

First I am not a Doctor so my comment is purely my opinion.
I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for nearly 30 years...from what you are writing, it sounds like neuropathy or possibly a low blood sugar

Neuropathy is when an area of your body goes numb and/or hurts to touch, even the slightest touch hurts. Unfortunatley it is somewhat commom for diabetics.
I myself suffer from similiar pains, but mostly in my arms.

Best advice is to check with your Primary Care Physician or your Endocrinologist.  Keep a log of your blood sugars for about 2 weeks and see if there is any correlation with the pain and what your blood sugar is...my blood sugar is low when I get neuropathic pains or numbness...

Are your blood sugars all over the place or are they typically in the same range, low or high?

I think you shoud really see your endocrinologist, the sooner the better, they may suggest keeping a log of your blood sugars as well

[JDRF Team SGG]

If I were you, I would immediately see a doctor about this... head pains can be symptoms of dangerous conditions, and pain in the head is NOT a TYPICAL symptom of hypoglycemia or of neuropathy. Usually, neuropathy first affects the nerves in the limbs or possibly the digestive tract, but you are not mentioning any tingling in fingers or feet (which would be more typical of neuropathy), nor are you mentioning other classic symptoms of hypoglycemia such as sweats, shakiness, hunger, weakness, confusion, etc. Head pain itself is not a typical symptom of anything that is diabetic-related that I personally am aware of, although a headache can happen if glucose levels drop too low.

If you are a type 2 diabetic, you should be testing your glucose levels, and if you are not suffering from low glucose levels when you have these symptoms (head pain), then I would encourage you to get to your doctor very quickly to try to find out what the real cause is. We do wish you the best.

[jfox]

The you all for your thoughts.  I am going to make an appt with my Doctor.

[26YRDiabetic]

I have in the past had similar experience, and my pain showed no relation to neither high nor low blood sugars. After much patient to doctor complaints, my doctor told me to stop using artificial sweetners and caffeine products.  This lessened the pain, but did not get rid of it.  In the past three years I have not had any of this pain, though.  I can only attribute this to the fact that I am seeing an highly trained  Atlas Orthoganal Chiropractor who suggested that the pain was being caused by nerve interference.  After three months of twice-a-week visits to this professional ...(Yes, very time consuming and expensive,yet covered by my insurance)...I have never experienced this same pain.  I was also educated on the importance of keeping my nervous system in good health.  It has made a great difference in my diabetic care.

Hope that gives you some encouragement.

26YRDiabetic