The Metabolic Classroom with Dr. Ben Bikman

What Migraine Sufferers Need to Know About Metabolism & Insulin Resistance

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Aug 25, 2025

Explore the unexpected link between migraines and metabolic health. Discover how insulin resistance and energy dysregulation can trigger these debilitating headaches. Dr. Bikman discusses the role of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in severity and frequency. Learn about common triggers like glucose spikes and inflammation. The lecture highlights the ketogenic diet's potential as a game-changer, offering a cleaner fuel alternative for the insulin-resistant brain and promising relief from migraines.

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INSIGHT

Migraines Reflect Brain Energy Failure

Migraines are complex neurological events tied to brain energy supply, not just headaches.
Metabolic health underpins brain function and can explain many psychiatric and neurologic conditions.

INSIGHT

GLUT4 Links Insulin To Neuronal Fuel

Certain neurons rely on the insulin-dependent GLUT4 transporter for glucose uptake.
Insulin resistance can cause erratic glucose delivery and neuronal misfiring that lowers the migraine threshold.

ADVICE

Check Insulin When Migraines Recur

Test for insulin resistance if you have recurrent migraines by getting fasting insulin or HOMA scores.
Improving insulin sensitivity lowers brain energy deficits and raises the attack threshold.

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This week’s Metabolic Classroom lecture is a deep dive into the metabolic roots of migraines—a condition that affects millions but is rarely discussed through the lens of insulin resistance and energy dysregulation.

Dr. Bikman explains that migraines are more than just headaches; they’re complex neurological events often triggered by disruptions in how the brain accesses and uses energy. When the brain becomes insulin resistant, its ability to efficiently metabolize glucose falters, increasing susceptibility to migraines due to energy shortfalls and inflammation.

Ben outlines how factors like mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and low serotonin—often seen in people with poor metabolic health—are strongly associated with migraine onset. He highlights how common triggers such as glucose spikes, hormonal fluctuations, and inflammation are not just surface-level issues but symptoms of deeper metabolic dysfunction.

The lecture also presents a compelling case for ketogenic diets and ketone supplementation as therapeutic strategies. Drawing from both historical and modern clinical studies, Dr. Bikman shows how ketones can bypass the broken glucose pathways in the insulin-resistant brain, offering a cleaner fuel that improves cellular energy and reduces inflammation. Ultimately, the lecture emphasizes the need to address the root metabolic imbalances to reduce both the frequency and severity of migraines.

Show Notes/References:

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