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Type 1 Cramp in my leg

S

Samanthakate

Member
Messages
22
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi everyone, before I was diagnosed with type 1 I was waking up every morning from the most horrific cramp in my calf muscle that took a while to go away and often left me with a sore leg for the rest of the day!

Since I started my insulin it had sorted itself out but recently It has come back again,

Has anyone else experienced this or does anyone have any ideas on what it could be?

Thank you!
 
hi @Samanthakate

Is it possible that you could be a bit dehydrated? Other things that could cause it are low salt, magnesium or potassium levels, so might be worth getting those checked.
 
I very occasionally wake up in the middle of the night with cramp and experience a sore leg for the rest of the day.
Typically, this coincides with a high but unexplained BG.
I am not sure which is the cause and which is the effect - does a high BG cause cramp or does the "stress" of cramp cause a my body to release extra sugar?
Whichever, I try to remember to take a BG reading after I have finished jumping around the bedroom on one leg in the middle of the night and make a correction if necessary.
 
I suffer with terrible cramps and have done for years. It may not be diabetes related I don't know. My initial thoughts when reading your question was either dehydration, insufficient salt in the system, same with potassium. I haven't got an answer for you, except go to your gp, don't be embarrassed. The cramping I used to get in my calf would cause an ache that would last for days, I can honestly say I have had cramping in virtually every muscle in my body. So go and get it checked out.
 
Oh when I spoke with my gp and this was for me only, he was going to prescribe a drug to help, but because of other drugs I take I couldn't have it. He therefore suggested quinine and told me to drink tonic water. Tonic water contains a small amount compared to levels in the past, but I do drink it. I try to get a flavoured version, which doesn't really change the taste, just makes it more bearable. If I were you, I would go to your gp, as you don't know how things are being affected within your system. Good luck
 
I often get this problem too if my BG has been high and the pain is excruciating!! had one just the other day in fact... it is also very similar to pain I used get when exercising a lot. I play a lot of sport and find that muscle fatigue is a big problem, this can lead to a lactic acid build up in the muscle which causes the cramps. I reckon it is to do with the amount of oxygen the blood is able to get to the muscle. This would of course be affected by a high blood glucose reading.
 
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