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Bad leg cramsps at night

Europa

Europa

Active Member
Messages
26
Location
Paris
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi everyone,

This is my first post ! I've just reconciled myself with the fact that I have Diabetes 2 (bad BG for 3-4 years now, measured it last Sunday and it was at 160 mg/dL (8.9 mmol/L) on rising :(. The penny has finally dropped that I need to take myself in hand.

So I started a low carb diet a week ago (100 gr a day of carb) and everything is going fine, not hungry, except for really bad leg cramps at night. Last night I had to get up at least 5 times and walk around to get them to go away.

Has anyone here ever had this problem, and if so, diid you manage to get them to go away?

Thanks for any feedback you have,

Europa
 
Europa said:
Hi everyone,

This is my first post ! I've just reconciled myself with the fact that I have Diabetes 2 (bad BG for 3-4 years now, measured it last Sunday and it was at 160 mg/dL (8.9 mmol/L) on rising :(. The penny has finally dropped that I need to take myself in hand.

So I started a low carb diet a week ago (100 gr a day of carb) and everything is going fine, not hungry, except for really bad leg cramps at night. Last night I had to get up at least 5 times and walk around to get them to go away.

Has anyone here ever had this problem, and if so, diid you manage to get them to go away?

Thanks for any feedback you have,

Europa
Click to expand...

had leg cramps before i knew i was diabetic, mine got better by swimming
 
My mother (a nurse during WW2) always told me that leg cramps at night could be helped by increasing salt intake in your diet. I know that too much salt is a no-no but as with all things, if you have cut out salt entirely, this may be a causative factor. Also, as it can be quite hot at night at the moment, you will be sweating out salt from your body, and this needs to be replaced.
 
Yes I have terrible leg cramps.
A lick of salt and a dash of Tequila helps I find ... even if it is 3am.
You have to have something to wash the salt down.
 
Thanks etippelt, it's true I've been careful with salt lately because I also high blood pressure, but then going on just 3 hours sleep a night is also reaally bad for you. Will give it a try

Should go back to swimming as well, can't do my any bad...

Have a great weekend,

Europa
 
Hi
Ask yr GP to do a vitamin D bloodtest as you may possibly be deficient and if so, you can have a vit D injection. Leg cramp is usually caused by a reason so get it investigated by a GP

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Electrolytes - sodium, magnesium and potassium can all be a cause of muscle cramps if deficient in the body. Just make sure you're keeping your levels topped up. Both magnesium and potassium are found in high levels in spinach.:D
 
It's potassium with me. Whenever the weather gets hotter, I wake up with brutal leg cramps.
A tablet of potassium supplement (cheap as chips from that well known high street health food store), and the problem disappears.

Seems to be hereditary, since my mother experiences exactly the same. She adds salt to her food. Lots of salt. :***:
 
Thank you all I've been taking more magnesium in the evening and it's already better. Will buy the potassium soon (rather, have them bought over from the UK as I live in France).
 
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