Type 2 diabetes and pain on exercising

[Panache]

Hi can anyone relate to lactic acid build up whilst exercising. I get terrible pain in my calfs and hips when walking a short distance. Is this related to the condition and is there any help for this?

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi can anyone relate to lactic acid build up whilst exercising. I get terrible pain in my calfs and hips when walking a short distance. Is this related to the condition and is there any help for this?

It may very well have nothing to do with it, but check out https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/claudication/symptoms-causes/syc-20370952 and certainly talk to your doc.

I've got it. Having T2D is a big risk factor for it.

If you have it, generally the main things are (a) if you're a smoker, give it up (b) walk as much as you can. Pushing yourself to walk a little bit more each day really makes a big difference. When I was diagnosed in March last year walking 500m could be a challenge; now I walk 9-10km+ most days and it's not a big issue any more.

 

[Greymouser]

Very good advice Eddy, whatever the cause. 🙂

 

[Panache]

It may very well have nothing to do with it, but check out https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/claudication/symptoms-causes/syc-20370952 and certainly talk to your doc.

I've got it. Having T2D is a big risk factor for it.

If you have it, generally the main things are (a) if you're a smoker, give it up (b) walk as much as you can. Pushing yourself to walk a little bit more each day really makes a big difference. When I was diagnosed in March last year walking 500m could be a challenge; now I walk 9-10km+ most days and it's not a big issue any more.

 

[Panache]

Thank you for your advice. I thought this maybe the case. I was diagnosed 2 years ago, but have had this problem longer. Misdiagnosed for some years by my Gp practice so I'm not sure how long I have had diabetes. I do take Rovustatin but only 5mg daily at present as have had terrible side effects from previous Statins, so just trialling this one for the last 6 months. So far so good. Due for a cholesterol check in October. I feel like I have run a marathon after only walking for 10 mins. I do push myself though but don't get any relief until I have rested for 10 mins or so.

 

[Panache]

I have managed to get my diabetes under the diabetic range. Hba1c 47 last check. Age 58 but feel like 78 when exercising. Non smoker for the last 6 years.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Thank you for your advice. I thought this maybe the case. I was diagnosed 2 years ago, but have had this problem longer. Misdiagnosed for some years by my Gp practice so I'm not sure how long I have had diabetes. I do take Rovustatin but only 5mg daily at present as have had terrible side effects from previous Statins, so just trialling this one for the last 6 months. So far so good. Due for a cholesterol check in October. I feel like I have run a marathon after only walking for 10 mins. I do push myself though but don't get any relief until I have rested for 10 mins or so.

I would push to get word from yr doc on whether you do actually have intermittent claudication caused by "peripheral artery disease". If you do have PAD, from my reading it can be a big reason for taking cardiovascular risks very seriously and either seeing if you can tolerate a big Rosusvastatin increase or finding some other lipid-lowering meds. It's really not dependent on what your cholesterol levels are - the goal is to reduce LDL as much as possible no matter what the starting point (while also getting yr BG and BP under control if not already).

Obviously, that's advice that only yr doc is qualified to give, but IMO if it is PAD, it'd be worth going through this recent study with him/her: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/max-dosage-statin-important-for-pad.82935/

 

[Panache]

I have managed to get my diabetes under the diabetic range. Hba1c 47 last check. Age 58 but feel like 78 when exercising. Non smoker for the last 6 years.

 

[Panache]

Thank you for this information Eddie. I will be booking an appointment to see my Gp. I'm not sure whether she will want a cholesterol check first to see if the small dose of Rosuvastatin has lowered my LDL. However I feel more positive about increasing it if it is beneficial to my health and stops these terrible pains.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Thank you for this information Eddie. I will be booking an appointment to see my Gp. I'm not sure whether she will want a cholesterol check first to see if the small dose of Rosuvastatin has lowered my LDL. However I feel more positive about increasing it if it is beneficial to my health and stops these terrible pains.

Good you're seeing yr doc. Yr probs might have nothing at all to do with PAD. If they do, then working on gradually increasing your walking is always said to be the main treatment - bunch of benefits, including muscles working more efficiently so less lactic acid etc buildup, and development of "collateral" blood vessels, bypassing any blockage or narrowing in yr leg arteries, improving blood flow so oxygen delivery to yr muscles and also flushing away lactic acid etc. It works! (anyway, it has so far for me).

 

[Panache]

Hi Eddy did your doc send you for a duplex scan to diagnose PAD.? If so was this just on the symptoms of lactic acid build up when exercising?

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi Eddy did your doc send you for a duplex scan to diagnose PAD.? If so was this just on the symptoms of lactic acid build up when exercising?

Yes, duplex ultrasound, based on cramping when walking & recovering on resting.

 

[Drummer]

I had dreadful pains in my joints and muscles, but they faded away when I gave up the statins.
Still rather weak when going up stairs, but I am recovering very slowly.
For older people higher LDL was associated with longer life - there is an article on the BMJ Open site.

 

[Panache]

Yes, duplex ultrasound, based on cramping when walking & recovering on resting.

Thank you once again.