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Cramp?

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georgenfrances

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I was diagnosed Type 2 a month ago. I have had night cramps in my toes on and off for many years but today the whole of my toes on my right foot, apart from the big one, all curled up in a cramp spasm and the pain was unbelievable. Does anyone know if this is another symptom of diabetes?
 
Can't help you I am afraid, but there's lots of folk here who might. Hi to forum
 
Hi there it's an interesting question and one I've been wondering about too, I notice I get numbness in a couple of my toes not all the time but I would say about once or twice a month. I just can't move them I don't experience pain but they bend over then after a couple of mins the feeling comes back, I was wondering if it was just me or if it's a symptom of diabetes?
 
Are you on a statin. I'm on atorvastatin and I believe cramps may be caused by that.
 
I've just started on Atorvastatin and the nurse did warn me that if leg cramps started then statins weren't for me. I have to ring her this week as my left leg has started in the calf not bad but enough to think should I be taking these.
 
Hi, do you test your blood sugars at all? I occasionally get terrible lower leg cramps during the night when my blood sugars are very high and I'm dehydrated. It appears to be a relatively common symptom of high blood sugar. That being said, it could also be down to the statins. Have you noticed the cramps have only started since taking the statins?
 
I never had foot cramp until I started developing diabetes. Then I had consistent night foot cramps until I was diagnosed, and got my sugars under control Haven't had it since! I put it down to the dehydration I suffered when my body was trying to excrete all the excess sugar.
 
I asked my consultant this question. he said it's nothing to do with diabetes. More probably dehydration.

Tho' it's strange several of us seem to have the same symptoms.
 
pottersusan said:
I asked my consultant this question. he said it's nothing to do with diabetes. More probably dehydration.

Tho' it's strange several of us seem to have the same symptoms.
Click to expand...

Your consultant is mistaken. 🙂

Anyway, cramps can be caused by all sorts of situations. Diabetes most definitely does exacerbate the problem, especially when blood glucose levels are high.

I get really bad cramps if I happen to eat too many carbs late in the day. I also suffer greatly after alcohol (when, what your consultant says is probably the cause).

One can also get cramps after exercise (lack of salt because it's been lost due to sweating).

I also had a very bad leg cramping episode when I ate some bad mussels. In that case I got leg cramps in both the front and back of the leg at the same time. I put the leg in one position to relieve the front of the leg and the back then cramped up. I modified the leg position and the situation was reversed! In the end my brain decided that it had had enough and I started to pass out with the pain!! That and having the urge to be sick (up to that point I hadn't, so dehydration was not yet an issue!) meant it was quite the awful experience!! Things only started to right themselves when I finally was sick! It was almost a relief. Sorry, tmi. :(

My usual treatment, with just straight forward leg cramping, is to get up and have a fruity or mint tea (no caffeine in those .... caffeine can also be a cause).

Some people also swear by quinnine (tonic water), but there is no evidence that this actually has any real benefits. But, on the other hand, if it works for them, then why not? 🙂
 
pottersusan said:
I asked my consultant this question. he said it's nothing to do with diabetes. More probably dehydration.

Tho' it's strange several of us seem to have the same symptoms.
Click to expand...

If you Google it (not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to the "other" website?) loads of information comes up about diabetes and cramps/leg pain. Your consultant should know better!
 
Ralph-YK said:
Are you on a statin. I'm on atorvastatin and I believe cramps may be caused by that.
Click to expand...
No I've managed to avoid statins at the moment, but come to think about it I do seem to get it if my glucose levels have been high.
 
Well I'd never had cramp until the twelve months leading up to the diabetes diagnosis, not once. Then every night I had excruciating foot cramp. I also had a b12 deficiency, which can cause muscle spasms but as soon as I started insulin they vanished never to be heard of again (well after my potassium had plummeted and I'd be pumped full of potassium on a drip and force fed potassium drinks for five days 😉). I was told it was low potassium caused by the extreme dehydration caused by erratic blood sugar. So diabetes might not cause it directly, but since it causes the dehydration it could be your culprit.
 
I have suffered from leg cramps most of my life, and since being diagnosed it seems to be a nightly occurrence. I have had quinine tablets and tried all sorts of remedies including drinking large quantities of water all to no avail. As they are more frequent now I think that there may well be a link. Have asked the Dr who said "We don't really know what causes cramps and I don't know what to suggest. Try stretching your calf muscles before getting into bed". Often my legs are sore the next day from the cramps. If anyone knows of any other solutions please tell us. Hope you get relief soon georgenfrances and welcome to this brilliant forum. 🙂
 
Andy HB said:
Your consultant is mistaken. 🙂
Click to expand...

I had my suspicions! For a young consultant he's unusual in thinking of himself as a god who knows all.

I'd very rarely had cramp before diabetes became part of my life. I don't get it so often these days, but when I do it's excruciating.
 
georgenfrances said:
I was diagnosed Type 2 a month ago. I have had night cramps in my toes on and off for many years but today the whole of my toes on my right foot, apart from the big one, all curled up in a cramp spasm and the pain was unbelievable. Does anyone know if this is another symptom of diabetes?
Click to expand...
Dehydration ! Check but I drink Diet Tonic water with a hint of Lemon. Really cheap & nice 🙂
 
HOBIE said:
Dehydration ! Check but I drink Diet Tonic water with a hint of Lemon. Really cheap & nice 🙂
Click to expand...
This is just a dose of quinine, which may or may not help. But also contains water and a nice bit of vitamin C. Very nice. 🙂
 
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