charlie horse cramps

JuneR · #1 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 01:15 PM

Lately,I have been experiencing charlies in my feet at night and when my feet get cold. My feet have cramped up so tight that I had to go on crutches for a week. Is this common for diabetics or do I need to do more investigating. Am travelling right now and won't see the doc until March.

xMenace · #2 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 01:24 PM

If your BGs are high and you're getting dehydrated, yes it's plausible. Poor circulation, a nasty long term diabetic complication, can lead to them too.

Alice · #3 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 01:50 PM

A sodium deficiency can cause cramping also. (Rare, these days with all the sodium in food).

You might try drinking some Gatorade (sugar-free?) and see if that helps your electrolytes.

EasyType2 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 04:05 PM

Potassium shortage can also cause cramps. I've been bothered by that for about 40 years - beginning long long before I was a diabetic. Bananas and OJ are good preventatives.

BlueSky · #5 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuneR

Lately,I have been experiencing charlies in my feet at night and when my feet get cold. My feet have cramped up so tight that I had to go on crutches for a week. ....

Are you taking a statin to reduce cholesterol? They often have this effect.

dgrilli · #6 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 05:24 PM

I was plagued with cramps and charlie horses and in my waking hours and out of my sleep.

Also had most of my muscles twitching and crawling and activating them selves over and over again. My stomach was a mess digestive system.

I tried some time release magnesium. I used the Jigsaw Brand SRT.

Things got better after about a week.

Just Google

Jigsaw Magnesium SRT

wiseguy · #7 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSky

Are you taking a statin to reduce cholesterol? They often have this effect.

That's interesting. I started having night time foot cramps about a week after starting Lipitor (taken at bedtime). I never really put the two together. Is there a way to avoid or lessen this side effect?

owlyn · #8 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 05:45 PM

I get foot cramps. Here's what works for me: As soon as I feel it coming on, I stand on my toes. It hurts for a few seconds but then the cramp goes away completely.

pdxdennisj · #9 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 05:59 AM

Had them for many years - might be the statins I have been on. There are a couple of solution: I take 1000mg of calcium with 750mg of magnesium before bedtime. A glass of tonic water (for the quinine it contains) before bedtime is also suggested on the medical sites.