Leg cramps

[Bobbylove]

My partner has been diagnosed with type 2 and has started oral medication. Both the diabetic nurse and the GP insist that self monitoring of the blood sugar is not necessary and my partner has the 6 monthly HbA1c only. (one test done so far)

Advice on diet has been "Eat healthily". :shock:

We are watching the carbohydrate intake and have cut all obvious sugar from the diet.

My partner suffers dreadfully with leg cramps and noticed today that an hour or so after eating potatoes the cramps came on. Previously, when the carbohydrate eaten was noodles/pasta/bread/cereal the leg cramps didn't seem to be a problem.

My question is ..... could it be that the potatoes exacerbated the leg cramps?

Without self-testing we've no way of knowing what effect the diet is having on the blood sugar so it's all just hit and miss at the moment. :cry:

 

[daisy1]

Hi Bobbylove.
For your partner:
I would encourage you to start testing in spite of what your health team says. Only then can you see what you can and can't eat. On the board index page is a competition to win a free meter. (everyone seems to win one!) and you can get strips cheaper off ebay. If you phone manufacturers of meters they will often send you a free one. They want you to use their strips! Not testing is like walking in the dark. You are right to cut down on the carbs. I expect someone will be along soon to give you advice on the leg cramps as I don't know what to say there in relation to potatoes. All I know is that magnesium can often help. Good luck to you in your health management

 

[Bobbylove]

Thanks for that Daisy.

 

[hanadr]

I get tterrible leg cramps. a cardiologist friend said to take a teaspoonful of salt in water to kill the attack. It works and i don't have painful muscles the next day.
hana

 

[DeafDiabetic]

I used to suffer from the almighty leg cramps terribly. Tried several meds OTC but none seemed to work. Then, just like the cowboy doctors standing at the end of his wagon shouting his (dubious) wares I thought up a non NHS cure..... Listening?

Well, folks, this is what I did, picked up a banana, chopped it all up into tiny pieces. Squeezed it all into a drinking glass. Poured in just enough tonic water to make it wet and drinkable. Stirred well up. Counted one, two, three (cos it sure tastes goddam horrible) and gulped the whole lot down....

Result? Cartwheels-a-plenty!

(bananas contain potassisum, tonic water contains quinine)

Roll up! Roll up! A dime a time.....

<spits into dust, saunters over to bonfire for can o' baked beans>

("Rawhide" music playing in background......)

Cut!

 

[foxglove]

I have this problem from time to time and I always eat bananas at least one a day which has never stopped them.
I read an article that it can happen when there is not enough exercise and when the legs are relaxed. Don't know how you would combat that. Being disabled the first part is somewhat true but very strange how to deal with the other.

 

[jaykay]

I used to suffer from horrible leg cramps after walking. I would be screaming in pain :cry: Magnesium tablets helped sometimes but since I've been exercising 3/4 times per week since being diagnosed T2, haven't had any at all! Don't know why the difference between walking OUCH!!!!! and exercising ( stretching, running and dancing)...no ouchies at all, but there you go.

 

[NorthCountryMaid]

Well, folks, this is what I did, picked up a banana, chopped it all up into tiny pieces. Squeezed it all into a drinking glass. Poured in just enough tonic water to make it wet and drinkable. Stirred well up. Counted one, two, three (cos it sure tastes goddam horrible) and gulped the whole lot down....

(bananas contain potassisum, tonic water contains quinine)

My GP and a couple of web sources all say that the amount of quinine found in modern tonic water is minimal - unlike the amount of sugar in the non-diet variety. This is a shame, as I found comfort in the notion that I was drinking something that was genuinely good for me.

However, if it is true, then maybe you could replace your rather vile-sounding cocktail with a simple mashed banana. Though if you hate the taste of bananas this might not help very much

 

[anniep]

I have been suffering dreadful leg cramp since starting statins. I was at the point of giving them up, when somebody on the forum said they used co-enzime Q10 - it worked! it took a week for them to tail off but now they are all but gone. Doctor hasn't heard of taking it before for cramps, but says if it works, don't knock it!

 

[daisy1]

I haven't have leg cramps (in my case restless legs) since I have been taking co-enzyme-Q10 although hadn't realised as I was taking it for other reasons. Good to know - another reason for taking it.