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Type 2 Leg Cramps

Terrytiddy

Well-Known Member
Messages
835
Location
Grimsby. N E Lincolnshire
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi all started LCHF 3 weeks ago and its going great with just one slight drawback I'm getting leg cramps. My hamstrings feel like I have run a marathon, now and again cramp in calf. Also backs of knees ache.
I'm on 18/6 fasting no food between 20.00 and 14.00 next day only black tea or coffee, water and vitamin water during fast. Aim for >20% carbs. My Bs have come down from 16.6 to average 5.8 with some 4.5 to 5.5 readings in last week.
I've cut back drastically on my alcohol intake and upped my water intake. I'm on 2x500 gm Metformin and 2x80gm Glicazade twice a day. I know a side effect of Metformin can be leg cramps but been on this dose for years with no problems.
I do not add any salt to my food but have started to have a couple of glasses of salt water to see if this helps with the cramps and aches.
I understand that my body needs to get use to the changes, but its making walking my dog a little unpleasant with the aches.
Any Ideas peeps?
 
Take magnesium supplements and salt!
 
I had terrible cramps in my legs 2/3 years ago, my Doc. suggested Quinine tablets (200mg) each day, It did help for a time, then my Doc. put it up to 2/ 200mg a day and that stopped it thank goodness.
 
Hi I had cramps too when fasting especially and found salt and magnesium works for me. I also found a good and cheap way to take magnesium is via Epsom salts added to bath or foot bath. You can also buy magnesium oil which you can rub in when get a cramp. I switched to to pink Himalayan salt and added a pinch of this too to my coffee when fasting.
 
I’m with @shelley262, I got terrible cramps in my ankles at night when I first started low carbing. I started using pink Himalayan salt in place of regular salt in my low carb coconut ‘porridge’ each morning. For a while I also applied magnesium oil spray to the affected areas at night. I read that magnesium is absorbed better via your skin than orally. Anyway it worked for me. I no longer need the spray, I just use the pink salt.
 
Agree with others - magnesium citrate supplements and make sure you have enough salt and stay hydrated.
 
Another huge fan of Himalayan salt ... straight on the tongue
 
My leg cramps are due to dehydration - I keep a bottle of water or very dilute squash by the bed and take a drink if I wake with cramps. I find that trying to stretch the cramped muscle bruises it, which leads to aches next day, but getting a drink releases the tightness in under a minute.
 
I make sure that I drink plenty of fluids and keep up my salt, potassium and magnesium intake, as these can be lost from our body in our urine - we tend to wee more on a low carb diet due to our kidneys flushig out more fluid,

I just eat more (mainly green) vegetables that are high in these minerals and that works for me.

Robbity
 
Metformin is also knowen to cause problems with B12 deficiencies. Which can cause muscle pain.
Maybe get some blood tests done to rule it out if adding salt and magnesium doesn’t help.
 
Morning all thanks for the advice. I'm taking plenty of water on board also some glasses of salt water. I will get some extra veg and see how things go. Thanks again guy's.
 
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