{"id":626604,"date":"2024-02-07T09:30:32","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T14:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626604"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:10:35","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:10:35","slug":"diabetes-dizziness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/diabetes-dizziness\/","title":{"rendered":"Does diabetes cause dizziness?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Feeling unsteady or off-balance can be scary, especially if the sensation comes on suddenly. If you’ve been diagnosed with <\/span>diabetes mellitus<\/span><\/a>, dizziness may be an uncomfortably familiar experience. That’s because <\/span>diabetes can cause<\/span><\/a> blood sugar swings and dehydration—common causes of dizziness or lightheadedness. Untreated or poorly managed diabetes can also lead to complications such as vestibular dysfunction, which makes you feel unsteady on your feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have diabetes and are feeling dizzy, it’s important to tell your healthcare provider. A healthcare provider can help pinpoint the exact cause of your dizziness and advise you on the best treatment. <\/span><\/p>\n

Can diabetes cause dizziness?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many reasons a person with diabetes might experience dizziness. <\/span><\/p>\n

“The most common reason why someone with diabetes would experience dizziness would be due to low blood sugar, [which] should be considered an emergency and should be treated immediately,” says <\/span>Blair Gingerich<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D., BCMTMS, a clinical care and retail pharmacist and diabetes educator in northern Indiana. She adds that dehydration and low blood pressure may also cause dizziness, though these conditions can affect anyone with or without diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are experiencing sudden dizziness from diabetes, the first step is to check your blood sugar levels. Short-term dizziness from high or low blood sugar can and should be treated immediately. If you are experiencing dizzy spells even when your blood sugar is stable, the cause might be linked to dehydration or a more systemic condition such as medication side effects and vestibular dysfunction, a condition diagnosed by a neurologist or an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT).<\/span><\/p>\n

Low blood sugar<\/span><\/h3>\n

In many cases, dizziness is caused by a lack of sugar in the bloodstream. Low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, is defined as <\/span>a blood glucose reading below 70 milligrams per deciliter<\/span><\/a> (mg\/dL).<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that is not reporting low blood sugar, Dr. Gingerich says to use a finger stick and glucometer to verify the reading. “If there is a discrepancy between the glucometer and continuous glucose monitor, treatment should be based on the glucometer results,” she emphasizes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glucose in the blood gives your body energy. When blood sugar is low, the body must conserve energy for the most important organs and functions. This can make you feel lightheaded and dizzy. “The likelihood of experiencing dizziness tends to be higher when blood sugar levels drop suddenly,” says <\/span>Amy Offutt, MD<\/span><\/a>, the founder of Heart & Soul Integrative Medicine in Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other <\/span>symptoms of hypoglycemia<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n