Blood Glucose & Vestibular Migraine

On this episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore the emerging—and deeply relatable—connection between blood glucose regulation and vestibular migraine, a topic gaining attention across migraine, neurology, and nutrition research. Joining us are Dr. Kyle Bills, co-author of a recent paper examining glucose dynamics in vestibular migraine, and Rachel Weaver, author of Dizzy: A Memoir, who brings her lived experience perspective to the conversation. Together, we unpack how brain energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity, genetic links to glycemic traits, and everyday factors like diet and lifestyle may influence migraine biology—especially for people whose symptoms include dizziness and balance disruption. This discussion bridges cutting-edge science with real-world insight, offering listeners a clearer understanding of why blood sugar stability may matter in vestibular migraine and how this knowledge could shape more personalized management strategies.Guest BiosRachel Weaver’s novel Point of Direction was named a Top Ten Book To Pick Up Now by Oprah Magazine and won the Willa Cather Award for Fiction. Rachel’s newest book, Dizzy, an “arresting new memoir” according to Maureen Corrigan on NPR’s Fresh Air, published in February of 2026. Her second novel The Last Run, is forthcoming in June 2026 with Lake Union Publishing. Prior to earning her MFA in Writing and Poetics at Naropa University, Rachel worked for the Forest Service in Alaska studying bears, raptors and songbirds. She teaches at Wilkes University and Lighthouse Writers Workshop and holds a CPA in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University. For twenty years, Rachel has lived with vestibular migraine. For more information visit https://rachelweaver.net/.Dr. Kyle Bills is a neurologist and headache specialist with a clinical and research interest in vestibular migraine and the role of metabolism in migraine disorders. He is a co-author of a recent study examining glucose dynamics in vestibular migraine, contributing to a growing body of research exploring how blood sugar regulation, brain energy metabolism, and lifestyle factors may influence migraine symptoms. Through his work, Dr. Bills seeks to better understand the biological mechanisms underlying vestibular migraine and how this knowledge can improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for patients living with dizziness and migraine. You can find Dr. Bill's most recent paper on Glucose dysregulation and glycemic phenotyping in chronic migraine here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1719724/full.