It is normal to expect that when people eat sugar, their blood sugar levels rise. However, migraineurs tend to be more sensitive than most to changes in blood sugar. This rapid change may trigger migraine, but it can be avoided by limiting intake of refined sugars. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a potential migraine trigger for children and adolescents in particular. There appears to be a correlation between low blood sugar and more intense migraine. Some migraineurs benefit from a small amount of sugary drink at the onset of a headache or migraine because it quickly raises the blood sugar. If sugar sensitivity seems to be a migraine trigger, consult a dietician or nutritionist to plan out a detailed meal schedule.

Artificial sweeteners can also be a culprit. Staying within one's ideal weight range contributes to overall fitness and well-being. For many people, reducing sweets and fatty foods is an integral part of a diet plan. Fried foods can be substituted with baked, and sweets are often traded for foods made with artificial sweeteners that have far fewer calories than sugar.

Aspartame is a chemical compound that consists of two different amino acids — aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It is sold as a sweetener, and is also used as an ingredient in numerous sugar-free, diet, and low-calorie foods and drinks.

Several studies have shown a link between aspartame and migraine. Aspartame appears to lower levels of serotonin in the body; this change in regulation can be enough to either trigger a migraine, or worsen an existing headache. Migraineurs who are sensitive to aspartame should avoid foods and beverages with Equal, Nutra-Sweet, Canderel, or any other sweeteners that list aspartame among their ingredients.

There are many types of artificial sweeteners other than aspartame. Saccharine (Sweet'n Low) is one of the oldest available sweeteners; and while it's been linked to health issues, migraine is not among them. Sucralose is a newer sweetener that is sold under the brand name Splenda and is found in many foods and beverages. While it is not a frequent trigger for migraine, there are several published case reports of migraine triggered by sucralose in the medical literature. If you notice a sensitivity to sucralose, place it on the elimination list and see if migraines are reduced in frequency or intensity.