[PhoenixFire]

:devil:
I sometimes get cramps in my calves and feet during the night. The calves do much worse cramps than the feet and sometimes they repeatedly cramp up to six times. It's a teeth gritting, I want to curse loudly, kind of pain. Sometimes getting up and walking helps but not always. Is this related to diabetes? Or is it because I sat too much during the day and didn't exercise enough either? Things improved when I went for a daily walk and took some magnesium every day but occasionally, I'll still get cramps in a calf or my feet will do strange crampy things. I try a calf stretch for 20 seconds each leg before I go to bed.

 

[itissteve]

My wife has these sometimes; she's not diabetic. But I believe I've read here that other posters have this problem; I hope they read this and post a reply.

 

[VeeJay]

Leg cramps can often be eliminated (or greatly reduced) by supplementing with magnesium.

My leg and foot cramps stem from a pinched nerve in my lower back (L4/L5), and are the result of sitting or lying in a position it doesn't like (although it seldom tells me what that is).

 

[mbuster]

I haven't been plagued with calf cramps since high school football. The one place I have cramped at that I thought was as bad most of my adult life is that little spot under your jaws between your chin and your throat. All it would take was a yawn to make me look like I was suddenly trying to poke a hole under my tongue when rubbing the cramped muscle to loosen up the tightness.

Mayo Clinic post says several different things could be causing it. Overexertion, underuse, mineral depletion, and other things.

I try to drink lots of fluids and supplement electrolytes. My wife has had luck sipping some tonic water, the kind with quinine in it, when she gets cramps in her feet or toes.

 

[ulf]

Hi PhoenixFire --- being a Type 2 diabetic for more than 20 years now, I just want to share my experience regarding calf cramps. I experience these terrible, painful, nocturnal cramps in the calves whenever my post prandial blood sugar exceeds 180 mg/dl (post dinner). I believe dehydration occurs when your blood sugar is high causing a depletion in the electrolyte levels in your body that eventually trigger the painful cramps in your calves. To relieve the teeth gritting pain, I resort to calf stretches by point my toes towards my head while lying in bed and this has been very effective for me (never, never attempt to stand up since this will only increase the pain).

That's why if ever my evening post prandial blood sugar level is high, I inject myself with insulin (in addition to my metformin nightly dosage) and drink lots of water before going to bed to counter possible dehydration due to high blood sugar. This routine helped a lot in eliminating these "evil nightly cramps" for me. Just my two cents worth. Peace and advanced Happy New Year!

 

[PhoenixFire]

Hi PhoenixFire --- being a Type 2 diabetic for more than 20 years now, I just want to share my experience regarding calf cramps. I experience these terrible, painful, nocturnal cramps in the calves whenever my post prandial blood sugar exceeds 180 mg/dl (post dinner). I believe dehydration occurs when your blood sugar is high causing a depletion in the electrolyte levels in your body that eventually trigger the painful cramps in your calves. To relieve the teeth gritting pain, I resort to calf stretches by point my toes towards my head while lying in bed and this has been very effective for me (never, never attempt to stand up since this will only increase the pain).

That's why if ever my evening post prandial blood sugar level is high, I inject myself with insulin (in addition to my metformin nightly dosage) and drink lots of water before going to bed to counter possible dehydration due to high blood sugar. This routine helped a lot in eliminating these "evil nightly cramps" for me. Just my two cents worth. Peace and advanced Happy New Year!

Ah this sheds some light on things. Thanks for commenting.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Leg cramps can often be eliminated (or greatly reduced) by supplementing with magnesium.

My leg and foot cramps stem from a pinched nerve in my lower back (L4/L5), and are the result of sitting or lying in a position it doesn't like (although it seldom tells me what that is).

I found a good magnesium powder (berry flavoured!) that I pour hot water on and then drink. Still, if I sit too much during the day, I'll still get the calf cramps.

 

[VeeJay]

I'd be leary of anything that makes a drink - could be full of sugar to make it taste good. I just take capsules. Although I'm not taking it for cramps (as I mentioned, the source of those is the pinched nerve) - I take magnesium because if I don't I get headaches.

Have you ever discussed the leg cramps with your doctor?

 

[PhoenixFire]

I'd be leary of anything that makes a drink - could be full of sugar to make it taste good. I just take capsules. Although I'm not taking it for cramps (as I mentioned, the source of those is the pinched nerve) - I take magnesium because if I don't I get headaches.

Have you ever discussed the leg cramps with your doctor?

I have a very sensitive gag reflex and have trouble swallowing pills. All my vitamins are gummies. The drink tastes disgusting. It's not that sweet at all but I'll check the label...

 

[Squawkx]

Try a light dose of salt water, that works for me. I have maddening cramps in my hands, and every time I use a bit of salt water, they subside and disappear.

Don't get carried away with the amount of salt, it can blast your kidneys if you use too much.

 

[PhoenixFire]

I looked at the ingredients list on my tub of magnesium powder. It uses Stevia. Yay!

 

[Hooglet]

always worth checking for neuropathy with a Diabetic Toes test

 

[Cricket]

I realize it sounds strange but pickle juice takes care of this for me.

 

[Squawkx]

I realize it sounds strange but pickle juice takes care of this for me.

Do you think that it is the sodium in it; or do you accept it as a gift, and go on with life? {I drink it myself, I like it.}

 

[Cricket]

Do you think that it is the sodium in it; or do you accept it as a gift, and go on with life? {I drink it myself, I like it.}

I am honestly not sure, I only know that it works for me. My leg/feet cramps are normally at night as well, and usually, happen when I am low on potassium or magnesium. It may very well be the salt though.

 

[Nemo]

I take 500 mg of magnesium every night. I don't have any leg or feet cramps. Mostly I think it helps me sleep.

 

[xring]

I'm 66. I've only had nightly calf cramps twice. Once when I was 30 & was 405 lbs. I thought it was too much standing & walking at the county fair that day. Maybe my weight had something to do with it.

The second time was when I was 45 & it was really bad - I woke up swearing. And I couldn't walk right for the whole day.

I've never had a bad one since. I do occasionally get the beginning of a cramp but it's not nearly as severe & it only lasts a few seconds. I immediately get up & walk around. I don't stretch my calf before bed & I exercise 3 times/week. Since I'm at a normal weight, maybe that's why.

 

[kyteflyer]

Any other ex-smokers here? I was a very heavy smoker for 30 years and noticed back then, that the circulation in my legs was going "off". (Didnt need to shave legs anymore, really cold feet, and foot cramps) Then, I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes and everyone wanted to blame the diabetes for it, but it was never that (it hasnt helped of course). I get horrendous foot cramps, sometimes leg, arm, fingers, often chest wall or back. But I am always going to have issues because I also have to take lasix so I can pee out the edema around my heart and lungs. Swings and roundabouts.

I take daily magnesium and multi vitamins, and at times of extreme cramp or spasms, I have a jar of Eno on hand. I tried the sugar free tonic water but I liked it too much! :biggrin:

 

[Cassie2922]

When my diabetes was out of control last year, I had terrible calf and foot cramp. They subsided when I got the bg in control.

 

[Nemo]

I spoke too soon! :surprise:
I had a leg cramp in my calf last night. Hadn't had one in ages. I get up and stand on it and it goes away.
I too, am an ex-smoker. :cheer2:Smoked for almost 40 years.