Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms Why Does Diabetes Cause Nausea and Vomiting? By Cory Martin Cory Martin Facebook LinkedIn Cory Martin is the author of seven books including "Love Sick" a memoir about dating, life in Hollywood and dealing with MS. Her essays have appeared online with CNN, HuffPost, Everyday Health, Psychology Today, Folks, The Mighty, and more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 19, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Danielle Weiss, MD Medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD LinkedIn Dr. Danielle Weiss is the founder of the Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being, a personalized, proactive, patient-centered medical practice with a unique focus on integrative endocrinology. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Experiencing nausea and vomiting with diabetes may be related to blood sugar, treatments for diabetes, or an effect of complications associated with diabetes. While these symptoms are common and can be managed once their cause is discovered, sometimes they are an indication of a serious condition associated with your diabetes. Nausea and vomiting can be caused by different effects diabetes has on your body. Experiencing low and high blood sugars, diabetic ketoacidosis, pancreatitis, gastroparesis, low blood pressure, and bezoars can all cause you to feel nauseous or vomit. Even some diabetes medications can have these same effects. Most of these conditions can be managed with self-monitoring or guidance from your healthcare provider. However, some conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis or extremely low blood sugar that is untreated can lead to hospitalization. Understanding how each of these syndromes occurs with diabetes can help you gain better control of your symptoms and help you treat and manage nausea and vomiting. Low or High Blood Sugar Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) occurs when your blood glucose drops below your target range. This usually happens at less than 70 mg/dl, but everyone’s range is different. It is best to talk to your healthcare provider about what is healthy for you. Often, when you experience low blood sugar, you will need to take action to fix it quickly. Causes Low blood sugar can be caused by too much insulin, food (not eating enough carbohydrates or eating fewer carbs than usual but not adjusting the amount of insulin), and physical activity. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) occurs when your blood glucose elevates higher than your target range. This usually happens when the body has too little insulin or can’t use the insulin properly. Other factors can affect your blood sugar as well. If you eat more than planned or exercise less, or experience stress or an illness, your blood sugar may rise. Other Symptoms When you experience low or high blood sugar, you may also have the following symptoms, along with nausea or vomiting. Low blood sugar symptoms: Feeling shakySweating, clamminessFast heartbeatFeeling lightheadedBlurred visionHeadachesSeizures High blood sugar symptoms: Frequent urinationIncreased thirst Treatment To treat low blood sugar, it is recommended to follow the 15-15 rule: Have 15 grams of simple carbohydrates like a tablespoon of sugar or 4 ounces of juice to raise your blood sugar.Wait 15 minutes to recheck your levels.If your blood sugar is still below 70 mg/dl, have another serving and wait 15 minutes more.Repeat these steps until your blood sugar reaches 70 mg/dl. Although you may be tempted to eat as much as you can until you feel better, try to resist as this can cause your blood sugar to elevate too high. Artificial Sweetener Warning While sugar-free products may seem like a good substitution for sugar if you have diabetes, studies have noted that long-term use of products containing artificial sweeteners can be harmful.Xylitol and other artificial sweeteners can cause nausea and other gastric symptoms like diarrhea. These symptoms may be amplified with increased consumption. To treat high blood sugar, exercise can help. However, if your blood sugar is above 240 mg/dl, you need to check your urine for ketones. If ketones are present, do not exercise, as this can make your blood sugar rise even higher. If your blood sugar remains high, ketones are present, and you are experiencing nausea or vomiting, you may have entered a state of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a serious condition. Diabetic Ketoacidosis Left untreated, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can lead to coma or death. DKA occurs when your cells can no longer get the glucose they need for energy and your body begins to burn fat instead. This process produces ketones, which build up in the blood and make it more acidic. High levels of ketones can poison the body. Most healthcare providers recommend you check for ketones if your blood sugar is higher than 240 mg/dl. Symptoms The warning signs of ketoacidosis are similar to those of high blood sugar: ThirstFrequent urinationElevated blood sugar When ketoacidosis progresses, you may experience: NauseaVomitingAbdominal painDifficulty breathingFruity odor on breathA hard time paying attentionDry or flushed skin Treatment Treating diabetic ketoacidosis usually requires a trip to the hospital and careful monitoring by medical professionals. However, you can help prevent DKA by learning the warning signs, checking your blood sugars regularly, and managing your diabetes as instructed. When to Seek Help Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition. If you have high blood sugar, ketones in your urine, and you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately or go to the emergency room. Pancreatitis Having diabetes puts you more at risk for pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas’ function is to make insulin and digestive enzymes, which help you digest food. Symptoms Pancreatitis can begin with pain in your upper abdomen that might spread to the back. This can be mild or severe and cause nausea and vomiting. Most people who experience pancreatitis will look and feel very sick and need to see a healthcare provider right away. Treatment Treatment for pancreatitis depends on severity. For mild acute pancreatitis, rest and treatment with IV fluids or antibiotics can get you back to feeling normal within a few days. For more severe pancreatitis, you may need surgery to remove your gallbladder or relieve pressure in the pancreatic duct. To help prevent pancreatitis, avoid heavy drinking and smoking. Eat a healthy diet that focuses on low-fat, high-protein foods rich in vitamins and minerals, and remain active. Diabetes Medication Some prescription medications, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists like Trulicity (dulaglutide), cause nausea or vomiting. This may be due in part to a delay in gastric emptying. Other injectable medications like Byetta (exenatide) may also cause nausea or vomiting. This usually occurs when you first begin the drug but will decrease as your body gets used to it. With some medications, you may also experience diarrhea. If you experience vomiting, you may need to check your blood sugar more often to ensure that you are taking the proper doses of your medication. To manage nausea or vomiting caused by medication, your healthcare provider may start you on a low dose and gradually increase it. Do not discontinue your medication without speaking to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider has determined that the benefits of your medication outweigh the side effects. However, if you have any concerns, talk to your healthcare provider or diabetes care team. Gastroparesis Diabetic gastroparesis is a severe complication of diabetes that can cause nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Gastroparesis is a delayed gastric emptying, which means the time it takes for your food to move from the stomach to the small intestine is slower. Symptoms Food that sits in your stomach longer than it’s supposed to can cause nausea. Gastroparesis can cause other symptoms as well such as: Feeling full after starting a mealFeeling full long after eating a mealBloatingBelchingPoor appetite Management To manage gastroparesis, you may try eating five or six small meals a day instead of three large ones. Avoid alcohol and carbonated beverages, and try not to lay down for two hours after a meal. Be sure to continue to manage your blood sugars, as hyperglycemia can cause a further delay of stomach emptying and more nausea. For more serious cases of gastroparesis, such as those with diabetic gastroparesis, surgery to relieve pressure in your stomach may be recommended. Low Blood Pressure When blood sugar decreases, you can experience low blood pressure. Low blood pressure occurs when your blood moves through your veins and arteries at lower than normal pressures. Symptoms Low blood pressure can cause nausea as well as other symptoms such as: ConfusionA feeling of lightheadednessHeadacheBlurry vision Management To manage low blood pressure, check your blood glucose. If your numbers are off, you may need to raise or lower your blood sugar either through food or medication. Bezoars A bezoar is a mass of indigestible materials that accumulates and forms in the stomach. These masses occur with high-fiber vegetable diets and certain medications. They also occur more frequently in patients with gastroparesis or delayed stomach emptying. Since diabetes can cause gastroparesis, you are more at risk for a bezoar. Symptoms The most common symptoms of a bezoar are nausea and vomiting, but can also include: Abdominal painWeight lossIndigestion Treatment Often bezoars will pass through the digestive tract on their own with time. However, you may need further treatment. Initial efforts involve trying to dissolve the bezoar with treatments like Coca-Cola irrigations and enzymes. Your healthcare provider may also perform an endoscopy where they can biopsy the bezoar or take parts of it out. With large bezoar formations, surgery may be recommended to remove them. A Word From Verywell If you live with diabetes, it is important to follow your healthcare provider’s and healthcare team’s recommendations to control your disease and enjoy better overall health. By managing your blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol, you can reduce the disease’s effects on your body. Managing your diabetes can help keep symptoms like nausea and vomiting under control. While nausea with diabetes is common, it is important not to ignore symptoms, and to speak to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing extreme high or low blood sugars or any of the conditions listed above. When it comes to living with diabetes, remember that you are the most important member of your diabetes care team, and knowing the signs and symptoms of more serious complications of diabetes keeps you in control of your health. Following your diabetes meal plan, staying active, and taking your medications as directed can help you better control your condition. Frequently Asked Questions Is nausea after eating sugar a sign of diabetes? Nausea may be a sign of type 1 diabetes in children. It's usually associated with complications of type 2 diabetes and, if it comes on, it may develop after other signs have already appeared such as unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, excessive thirst, hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, and wounds that don’t heal. Learn More: Warning Signs of Type 1 Diabetes in Toddlers Can high blood sugar make you throw up? Yes. Hyperglycemia, high blood sugar, can cause nausea. It's likely to occur when you eat more than usual, after exercise, or first thing in the morning. If you don’t get your blood sugar under control, your body will begin to produce ketones, waste products that circulate in the body. This can also cause nausea and vomiting along with other symptoms. Learn More: How to Test for Ketones Is throwing up when your pregnant a sign of diabetes? Gestational diabetes doesn’t usually cause noticeable symptoms. Nausea, fatigue, and a need to pee more often could be caused by it, but these all also commonly occur in healthy pregnancies. If you're having trouble with vomiting, talk to your healthcare provider. A glucose test can confirm whether you have gestational diabetes so you can get proper treatment. Learn More: Symptoms and Treatment for Gestational Diabetes Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! We know healthy eating is key to help manage diabetes, but that doesn't make it easy. Our free nutrition guide is here to help. Sign up and receive your free copy! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 21 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Diabetes Association. Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). American Diabetes Association. Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose). Sharma A, Amarnath S, Thulasimani M, Ramaswamy S. Artificial sweeteners as a sugar substitute: Are they really safe? Indian J Pharmacol. 2016;48(3):237-240. doi:10.4103/0253-7613.182888 Mäkinen KK. Gastrointestinal disturbances associated with the consumption of sugar alcohols with special consideration of xylitol: Scientific review and instructions for dentists and other health-care professionals. Int J Dent. 2016;2016:5967907. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907 American Diabetes Association. DKA (ketoaciddosis) & ketones. Lai SW, Muo CH, Liao KF, Sung FC, Chen PC. Risk of acute pancreatitis in type 2 diabetes and risk reduction on anti-diabetic drugs: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011;106(9):1697-704. doi:10.1038/ajg.2011.155 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Definition & facts for pancreatitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & causes of pancreatitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Treatment for pancreatitis. Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. How to Lower Your Risk of Future Pancreatitis Attacks. Shiomi M, Takada T, Tanaka Y, et al. Clinical factors associated with the occurrence of nausea and vomiting in type 2 diabetes patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. J Diabetes Investig. 2019;10(2):408-417. doi:10.1111/jdi.12900 Ridge T, Moretto T, MacConell L, et al. Comparison of safety and tolerability with continuous (exenatide once weekly) or intermittent (exenatide twice daily) GLP-1 receptor agonism in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2012;14(12):1097-1103. doi:10.1111/j.1463-1326.2012.01639.x Krishnasamy S, Abell TL. Diabetic gastroparesis: Principles and current trends in management. Diabetes Ther. 2018;9(Suppl 1):1-42. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0454-9 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & causes of gastroparesis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Treatment for gastroparesis. Frier BM, Schernthaner G, Heller SR. Hypoglycemia and cardiovascular risks. Diabetes Care. 2011;34 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S132-S137. doi:10.2337/dc11-s220 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Low blood pressure. Khan S, Jiang K, Zhu LP, et al. Upper gastrointestinal manifestation of bezoars and the etiological factors: A literature review. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2019;2019:5698532. doi:10.1155/2019/5698532 Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes Symptoms. American Diabetes Association. Hyperglycemia (High Blood Glucose). American Academy of Family Physicians. Gestational Diabetes. Additional Reading National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. What is Diabetes?