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Night cramp

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happydog

happydog

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I am getting really painful cramps in my calf muscles at night. I have always had the odd bout but this is every night and two or three times per night. Legs are really sore the next day. Could it be related to diabetes? I know what to do to ease the pain but not how to prevent it. Any suggestions? I asked the doctor last time I was there and she just shrugged and said "Some people get it others don't, there is no cure". :confused:
 
Ask your Dr for quinine sulphate tablets (300mg). You take one each night and they really do work. In my case I took them for about 6 months and then found could leave off taking them. Now I just take them for about a week if I get another episode of more than 3 nights.
Some people take a small bottle of tonic water instead but don't know if there is a non sugar version.
 
The problem with cramps are that there is no single cause and GPs are not that helpful because of that (they simply don't have the time to work it out)!

I went through periods when the cramps were as bad as yours every night too, but it was worst when I was losing weight and exercising quite a lot. I also experienced really bad cramps after indulging in some naughty carb infested food not too long before bed-time (that doesn't happen any more!).

I used to find that getting out of bed after a bad cramp and having a large cup of lemon green tea seemed to settle my legs down to allow some further sleep.

My partner also suggested drinking more milk (not necessarily on its own, but with other things). Apparently, the calcium is beneficial for some reason. I can't nay-say this idea, because since I've been with her, I don't have so many cramps.

Anyway, my only other suggestion is to get a list of all the things which can cause cramps and work down it until you find the one that most affects you and do something to correct it.

Good luck,

Andy 🙂
 
Cramp is caused by uric acid building up in your muscles, it becomes too concentrated and you get ctamp. It happens when you are not drinking enough water or fluid, especially if you are exercising or dieting as both can dehydrate you. Also if bs is on a high again this leads to dehydration and cramp. I take quinine sulphate 300mg tablets every night (best taken at night time) and also drink slimline tonic water if it is really bad. I get cramps from kidneys not working and not getting rid of uric acid from my body.
 
HERE TINTIN said:
Cramp is caused by uric acid building up in your muscles, it becomes too concentrated and you get ctamp. It happens when you are not drinking enough water or fluid, especially if you are exercising or dieting as both can dehydrate you. Also if bs is on a high again this leads to dehydration and cramp. I take quinine sulphate 300mg tablets every night (best taken at night time) and also drink slimline tonic water if it is really bad. I get cramps from kidneys not working and not getting rid of uric acid from my body.
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Careful! That's one of the reasons for cramp, but it isn't necessarily the only reason.

Andy 🙂

p.s. Just looked up for a suitable link ..... http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/legcrampsunknowncause/Pages/Causes.aspx
 
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I used to have bad night cramps and restless legs until my blood sugar levels came down. Once that happened they went away and I haven't had a problem now for over a year. I have a hot pad which I used to put under the affected leg and it did help ease the muscles, a warm bath helped as well.
 
HERE TINTIN said:
Sorry didnt mean to give out wrong advice, I didnt mean to imply cramps just come from kidney failure ,just that that was one cause and dehydration another.Will be more careful in future 😱
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No worries! :D

I'm being corrected all the time and quite rightly.

Andy 🙂
 
Thank you for your helpful suggestions. I have asked about quinine at the doctors in the past and they told me that they no longer prescribe it, so I'll try the tonic water. last HbA1c was 36 which I though was not too bad. I test about three days a week now and have an average of 5.3. Not brilliant but the best I seem able to achieve at the moment. Maybe I need to try harder to get it lower? I am using D&E. I'll try the warmth too. Thank you all, this forum is so good 🙂.
 
happydog said:
Thank you for your helpful suggestions. I have asked about quinine at the doctors in the past and they told me that they no longer prescribe it, so I'll try the tonic water. last HbA1c was 36 which I though was not too bad. I test about three days a week now and have an average of 5.3. Not brilliant but the best I seem able to achieve at the moment. Maybe I need to try harder to get it lower? I am using D&E. I'll try the warmth too. Thank you all, this forum is so good 🙂.
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Not brilliant? I beg to differ, it's fantastic! :D No, you don't need to try harder!
 
Northerner said:
Not brilliant? I beg to differ, it's fantastic! :D No, you don't need to try harder!
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Just what I was thinking. I'd be doing a virtual jig if I got an HbA like that.
 
36 is better then mine! I'd be very happy with that and would actually let myself a bit of slack.
 
I have tried really hard and can't now think of what else to do now to get it any lower, so I am relieved that experienced people think that I am doing alright 🙂 The night cramps are a pain in every sense but I will try what has been suggested and see if it makes a difference. Thank you 🙂
 
happydog said:
I have tried really hard and can't now think of what else to do now to get it any lower, so I am relieved that experienced people think that I am doing alright 🙂 The night cramps are a pain in every sense but I will try what has been suggested and see if it makes a difference. Thank you 🙂
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I hope you can find a solution that works well for you 🙂
 
I also suffer from night cramps, and have found the following technique very helpful in relieving them, without having to get up: at the first twinges grasp the area just above your top lip firmly and squeeze hard. I don't think it works for everyone, possibly depends why you get them, and not 100% successful for me, but probably 90 - 95%, so well worth trying!
It seems very similar to using a twitch on a horse to calm it when shoeing etc - not sure what the medical reason might be, or whether just a distraction technique.
 
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