Leg Cramps On Waking Up

[hankjam]

Before I was diagnosed T2 I used to get leg cramps and put these down to statins. I stopped taking them about two years ago but recently muscle cramps in my shins and or calf have got me up and out of bed in a blink, which has not been good when it is still dark.
Did some trawling of old threads and came across this one.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/how-do-you-prevent-leg-cramps.74918/page-2
It mentions a soap/potato down the bed is meant to help, which was interesting as my physio also suggested the soap treatment.
It also mentioned metal ion deficiency.
After one particularly bad event and looked through my pills and potion box and saw I had some Centrum Advance 50+, so I took one with water. I have to say the effect was pretty rapid. Usually after a bad attack my muscles are trashed for the rest of the day... and yet there was a rapid relaxation of my legs...
taken one every day since and not experienced any cramps for the last two weeks.

My worry is that if I do have a deficiency this supplement is making good, what is it? I eat LCHF, with a lot of veg...
I'm thinking K+ as I don't do tatties or bananas anymore.....

Long may the cramps be gone.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

You have my sympathy. I recently got cramps after upping my water intake to keep my kidneys happy. I found a mug of veg stock before bed cured it. I think drinking so much water was washing out my salts and causing the cramps. Someone clever will be along soon to suggest what the deficiency is. All the best.

 

[Bluetit1802]

It could be too little salt (a common mistake on LCHF), or a deficiency in magnesium, potassium or calcium.

I did suffer from mild cramps in bed - brief episodes easily sorted with a stretch, but after adding salt to my daily tomatoes they disappeared.