Leg Cramps

Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi all I too suffer from terrible leg cramps and (funnily enough) it has only started since I started taking Simvastatin. I come in from work and try to relax by putting my feet up and then fall asleep. When I do get up the pain is terrible and makes me want to scream. Finding all the information you have put on here has been really useful and I will be going out to buy some tonic water tomorrow as I don't know how much more of this I can take. I have to say though when I go to bed I don't tend to suffer but it could be because I lie on my side and because I suffer from sciatica too, use a pillow to lean on so I don't lean on the sciatic nerve so maybe that is why I don't suffer at night-time
I am delighted that I am not being a hypochondriac.I also take Atorvastin and suffer horrendous pains in my legs, which is quite debilitating, I may have to look at stopping the statins.
 
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alliebee

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,486
I got bad restless leg syndrome whilst on statins. They don't suit everyone. Some people come off them because of bad leg pains...
 
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alliebee

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,486
The dr can prescribe quinnine tablets for cramp. They work really well also don't cut salt out. We need salt in our diet
 
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ph1

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,
I have been diabetic for 14 years. I had two SVT attacks in 2011 and 2012(Google it) - not related to my diabetes - but in the process I found out why and alsofound out why I've been getting leg cramps.
The leg vramps may be related to methformin in you rcase but for me I had an electrolyte imbalance (sodium, magnesium, pottasium, calcium etc).
For me it seemed to be a lack of magnesium.
I used to suffer leg cramps at least 3 or 4 times a week especially when in bed. Since taking a magnesium tablet every day I haven't had the cramps. I also have half a banana with porridge every day for breakfast for soidum and pottasium etc.

It worked for me and I haven't had a single cramp in over 2 years. Worth a try, 30 magnesium tablets are around £2, or less, in supermarkets.
BTW when people say take salt when you've been sweating to stop cramps it's because soidum is an electrolyte and the sweating causes your body to lose electrolytes. There are many ways yor body cal lose electrolytes abd you don' have to sweat to lose them.

Hope this helps - Paul
 

shezy

Member
Messages
22
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Had a really bad night with leg pain. Have been looking on forum as I have already been changed to Atorvastin. But this morning my GP has organised another blood test and told me not to take any more Atorvastin (I've not taken any for a few days because of the pains). I've read that Metformin can do this too by depleting Vit B12. But while the GP checks out the statins I'm going to get some tonic water. My Type 2 was only diagnosed when I went to the surgery about something else and I was pain free before I started on the meds. I'm only in my early 60s and I feel like 90!
 

Diamattic

Well-Known Member
Messages
678
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Being 46 posts long I am sure there are lots of great responses, but i just came in to post my experience..

Before i was diagnosed T1D I was experiencing leg cramps, that lasted 2-3 months prior diagnoses. At the time i was a vegetarian, i was very active, in the gym, or out cycling almost every day. I was eating well and in fact training for some races coming up, but the leg cramps persisted.

When i was hospitalized i was diagnosed and told i also had DKA, and was immediately put on iv fluids to clear it up. I was told the leg cramps were a symptom of high sugars, ketones, and imbalanced electrolytes.

It may be possible that your high sugars are generating ketones and they are messing with your electrolyte balance. You would think just drinking Gatorade or something would fix this, but it wont unless you bring your sugars down as well.
 

shezy

Member
Messages
22
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Being 46 posts long I am sure there are lots of great responses, but i just came in to post my experience..

Before i was diagnosed T1D I was experiencing leg cramps, that lasted 2-3 months prior diagnoses. At the time i was a vegetarian, i was very active, in the gym, or out cycling almost every day. I was eating well and in fact training for some races coming up, but the leg cramps persisted.

When i was hospitalized i was diagnosed and told i also had DKA, and was immediately put on iv fluids to clear it up. I was told the leg cramps were a symptom of high sugars, ketones, and imbalanced electrolytes.

It may be possible that your high sugars are generating ketones and they are messing with your electrolyte balance. You would think just drinking Gatorade or something would fix this, but it wont unless you bring your sugars down as well.



My sugars are down. I was 17.7 at my first visit to the Diabetic Nurse (no wonder they wanted me back at the surgery). But now I'm averaging mid 7s sometimes up in the 8s or down to 6s while I test which foods spike my blood sugar levels. Porridge cooked in water results in 14.
 

Brunneria

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
21,889
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I've recently started supplementing magnesium.
Only a few days, but I'm sure my muscles are feeling easier.

I'll be very interested to see what happens during the next month...
 
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Bouncer

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I'm so very pleased to have found this thread. I too suffer from chronic sciatica and frozen shoulders. Very, very painful and debilitating. I'm type 2 diet controlled. My BS, BP & cholesterol are under control. If only I could cure this pain!
Thanks for all your suggestions and I will try them all. It's reassuring to know that you are out there withall your experience.
 

annelise

Well-Known Member
Messages
234
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Unfriendly and bigotted persons; i.e. persons who do not have an open or enquiring mind - but all within reason - persons may have a reason to appear as such - we will never know their backgrounds or where they come from ...
I've recently started supplementing magnesium.
Only a few days, but I'm sure my muscles are feeling easier.

I'll be very interested to see what happens during the next month...
I have also recently started taking magnesium as an extra supplement - and never had a leg cramp since then.

- In addition - since my salt balance seems somewhat out of whack, i.e. on the very low side bordering on lack of salt, I have been freely salting my foods (low salt levels can be another causator of leg cramps, I have read). Anyhow, there is no common agreement in the medical/scientific circles as to whether there is a correlation or causation between salt intake and high blood pressure.

annelise
 

Bouncer

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I have also recently started taking magnesium as an extra supplement - and never had a leg cramp since then.

- In addition - since my salt balance seems somewhat out of whack, i.e. on the very low side bordering on lack of salt, I have been freely salting my foods (low salt levels can be another causator of leg cramps, I have read). Anyhow, there is no common agreement in the medical/scientific circles as to whether there is a correlation or causation between salt intake and high blood pressure.

annelise
Thanks annelise i have just taken my first magnesium tablet so we star on a journey together. I'm about to have my lunch so I will add extra salt.
Also I have ordered some Celtic Sea salt from Amazon as I am told that table salt has had most of the vitamins removed. I'll try anything to get rid of these pains.
 
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annelise

Well-Known Member
Messages
234
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Unfriendly and bigotted persons; i.e. persons who do not have an open or enquiring mind - but all within reason - persons may have a reason to appear as such - we will never know their backgrounds or where they come from ...
Thanks annelise i have just taken my first magnesium tablet so we star on a journey together. I'm about to have my lunch so I will add extra salt.
Also I have ordered some Celtic Sea salt from Amazon as I am told that table salt has had most of the vitamins removed. I'll try anything to get rid of these pains.

Bouncer, I think that what is removed in refined table salt are not vitamins, but rather minerals. I do, in fact, myself buy Maldon Sea Salt, English! (and somewhat expensive in my neck of the woods - being Denmark).

Mind you, I use 'ordinary' salt when cooking (otherwise too expensive with e.g. veggies where you will mostly discard the water anyway)., and then use the Maldon Sea Salt as a 'finger salt ' - great taste and flaky.

Please keep us posted, Bouncer, as to whether you will find relief from your leg cramps.

annelise
 

Bouncer

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Thanks for the correction, Annelise and I will take you advice regarding salt.
I've just realised that my GP has perscribed with Naproxen which contains Magnesium so I do not have a Magnesium deficiency issue.
I must give my GP a hard time to find an answer.
 

Bouncer

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Went to see the top man at my local surgery this morning.
Firstly he reviewed my BS scores that I had taken at home.
He stated that a score under 10 was fine. This will upset many of the contributers to this Foram, but that is honestly what he said!!!!
BTW my own fasting BS this AM was 5.8.
As to my aching problems he was very dimissive that there was any connection with Sciatica or Diabetes.
I have too see a nurse tomorrow for yet more blood tests. They have more of my blood up there than I do!!!!
I believe that he suspects that I have some form of arthritis.
I have to go back to him next week to review the results
Wish me well.
 

Bouncer

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Went to see the top man at my local surgery this morning.
Firstly he reviewed my BS scores that I had taken at home.
He stated that a score under 10 was fine. This will upset many of the contributors to this Forum, but that is honestly what he said!!!!
BTW my own fasting BS this AM was 5.8.
As to my aching problems he was very dismissive that there was any connection with Sciatica or Diabetes.
I have too see a nurse tomorrow for yet more blood tests. They have more of my blood up there than I do!!!!
I believe that he suspects that I have some form of arthritis.
I have to go back to him next week to review the results
Wish me well.
Just back from seeing my GP and was told that my blood test showed no sign of arthritis or any of it's derivatives. In a way I should be pleased but I wish they would find something so that by the prescribing a pill I would be able to run a four minute mile.
He said at my age (69) I must expect a few aches and pains and prescribed Co-codamol.
.
 

Lenny3

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,007
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
not much
I used to get calf cramps almost weekly. I also had bad knee pain and lower back pain. For the knees and back I was on Naproxen and Co codamol daily. I started low carbing and gradually the knee and back pain went along with some weight. And now I rarely get cramp. If I feel the muscles tightening I eat some extra bacon.
 

Bouncer

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I used to get calf cramps almost weekly. I also had bad knee pain and lower back pain. For the knees and back I was on Naproxen and Co codamol daily. I started low carbing and gradually the knee and back pain went along with some weight. And now I rarely get cramp. If I feel the muscles tightening I eat some extra bacon.
Thanks for the advice Lenny. I'll give that a try, in fact I'll try anything to get rid of this pain.
 

Etty

Well-Known Member
Messages
367
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Magnesium and extra sea salt appear to have worked for my occasional leg cramps in the middle of the night.
There was one occasion where I felt a cramp coming on, and dabbed some salt straight on my tongue. The oncoming pain subsided! I don't know what to think of that, but would like to hear if anyone else tries the experiment, how it goes.
 

missourisusan

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi
yea ive just started getting leg cramps recently like 1 or 2 a night - absoluetly kills :cry:
isn't excersice meant to help? and a low salt diet? by doctor has just told me to do this but i dont want to if it means ill carry on getting leg cramps. sounds stupid but i found for the last couple of nights if i curl my legs up when i sleep and not stretch them out i dont have any cramps, because i can tell if im about to get a cramp if i stretch my legs out when sleeping so try not to at all.

Dannii
My leg cramps come and go but when I get them-whew! Wrap your leg LOOSELY in kitchen type plastic wrap. It acts just like a heating pad but no electricity. Stops the really horrid cramps in under a minute and I can go back to sleep. My favorite wrap is the thicker one. I fold the edge back so I can pull it off easily in the morning.