I have a question....

[Linda_in_Maine]

Since being dx with t2 I have been having cramps in my feet and toes.It only happens at night while watching tv. Please don't say its the TV!! :bawling: Does this have anything to do with diabetes at all? Just wondering cause I get/do screwy things!!:dontknow:
And while I'm here and asking, has anyone had seizure like activity and fainting spells?
I might add that I also have PTC (pseudotumor cerebri ie. false brain tumor)That is, I believe a central nervous system disease or neuorlogical or both! I've had PTC since 1988 but didn't start the passing out/seizure like activity till May of 2006 and dx t2 in Oct or Nov of 2006.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thank You,

[princesslinda]

Hey Linda:
I had severe "charley-horse" pain in my legs at night right before my diagnosis, so severe, I'd wake up yelling in pain. These have not happened since my diagnosis.

I know that generally speaking, low potassium can cause leg cramps....I figured since I was urinating so frequently, I was losing potassium and that may have been the cause.

Do you take a good multivitamin? When I mentioned the cramps at work, one of my co-works said she had been told to use 1 tsp of salt-substitute (which is potassium) in a glass of juice 1-2 times a week when she was troubled by these cramps. Now we couldn't use juice, but perhaps you could check with someone medical and see if you could do that in perhaps s/f lemonade or something.

This could, however, be related to the other neurological problems you've had.

I sympathize with you, I know how painful these can be.

Take care,
The other Linda

[rzrbks]

Linda,

Another good "help" would be to include bananas into your diet. That's what Dr. recommended for my wife when she was having troubles similar to yours.

Bananas = good source of potassium

[minermom]

Cantaloupe is a good source of potassium and can be added to a diabetic diet. I use that when I'm having leg cramps.

minermom

[June]

Amazing! I was gonna ask the question to the forum TODAY!! I have terrible cramps at nite that go anywhere from the feet up the leg to the groin. They don't travel so if its a "feet" nite it just happens in the feet, if its a calf nite it just happens in the calves. And, it only happens at nite when I'm asleep and relaxed--never during the day. I have heard to drink more water, potassium, magnesium, bananas etc. I have found that tonic water with quinine works--I may run out of all kinds of things but NEVER out of tonic water in the house! I have also gotten quinine pills at the health food store but they don't seem to work as quickly or as well as the tonic water.
Any other solutions that have worked for anyone else? I don't know whether its diabetic related or not. June

[sweetcheeks]

these are generally caused by a lack of potassium or so my doctor told me, to either eat more potassium or take potassium supplements... when i started taking the potassium supplements i felt like i was gaining some weight back ... so i stopped taking them

[Holly In RI]

I have had those same cramps in my toes and feet. I have only noticed it since being diagnosed too.

It is very painful though.

I am going to have to start eating bananas or try the tonic water...

I also notice its only at night time too. When I am relaxed usually...or sometimes its in the morning when I wake up...but in bed & relaxed.

[June]

OOoops! I forgot to say to be sure you get "diet" tonic water. I found tonic water is the quickest acting--in the middle of the nite when I want the pain to stop and want to go back to sleep--I want something to work "right now". Bananas are high glycemic index so I eat them "some".

[mg_2204]

Something that really helps when you have a cramp in your leg at night : straighten your leg, heel on the bed, toes facing towards the ceiling. Gently bring your toes towards your knee. Stretch as much as you can but without your heel leaving its position. If the cramp is bad stretch more! As if you'd want your toes to touch your tibia...! This little technique helps and cramps last a lot less longer.

[Dan Gato]

Linda in Maine, It's the TV, lol :dontknow:

[hannahanne]

Before I was diagnosed, I had a lot of legs cramps almost always at night. I remember waking up with severe cramps in both legs. Since I've gotten my blood sugar under control, they are very rare. Before I was diagnosed, I mentioned to my gynecologist that I was having legs cramps, and he suggest drinking tonic water.

[Linda_in_Maine]

Thanks Dan, I knew someone would mention the tv!! :eek:
I do eat bananas and drink lots of water. I should have thought of this problem before! When first being dx with PTC I had spinal taps every month for 18months then was put on 160mgs of furosimide (water pill) and the doc gave my special vitamin K tablets. Duh! I never remember anything!!!!
Grocery day I will pick up some multivitamins and quinine water. Thanks everyone!!

[rwmetcalf]

Brocolli is a decent source of potassium and has a low glycemic index value. I love brocolli, but some people can't stand it. It's also a good source of fiber...

Speaking of cramps, I used to get cramps all the time before diagnosis. In fact, most of my adult life I used to get cramps in my feet, calves and leg biceps (back of the thighs), ate lots of bananas to help avoid them. Since diagnosis, they've gone away (I'm 43, dx'd 5 months ago) and I no longer eat bananas. Makes me wonder how many years we really spend developing this disease....

Regards,
Roger

[tina222]

Hi. Go on line and research your medications, if any, and discuss any possible interactions. I have numbness and tingling in my feet and toes and hands and arms from diabetes (It's called diabetic neuropathy), it's a nerve damage problem. There is no cure but there is treatment which may cause more problems so I don't take anything.

[mzizgayle]

I also had the leg cramps very severe to the point of being sore for days right before diagnosis...they said the muscles were storing sugar which created the cramping... It is much better but every so often the toes will cramp at night, I do have neuropathy in them. My husband will laugh since the big toe actually will curl upward, as if to point to the ceiling....and yes that is painfull and hard to make it stop at times.

[DebJ]

Dear Linda,
I've read through all the posts... and even though what you are describing isn't exactly the same thing, there is a disorder called Restless Legs Syndrome... I'm not sure if cramping is a major component, but I do know that having to 'move' your legs around, discomfort in the feet, and it only happens when one is trying to relax (usually at bedtime, and yes, probably when a lot of us are watching TV!) I have RLS and it drives me crazy at times, but have not tried the med, Requip... I take too many meds as it is!
Since you are also suffering from some other neurological problems, you might want to discuss it with your neurologist to see if he/she has any ideas.

[jvetter18]

Cramping is also a sign of dehydration. Make sure you're drinking enough fluids throughout the day. It's hard to catch up, if you haven't had enough to drink, by nighttime.

Potassium too....but sometimes water + electrolytes are all that's needed. I drink SmartWater sometimes....(sorry for the plug).

[Linda_in_Maine]

I did go to my dr and she gave me meds for restless legs although she did say my valium that I take at night should have been helping that. So I went a week on the new meds and no cramping!! But it's back now.... **sigh**
Tina222 mentioned something about numbness in legs and more. I have had that too. The only difference is that sometimes when my lower legs and feet go numb.....I faint! Never fainted in my life until now.( started fainting in May of 2006 ) I thought it had something to do with having IIH/PTC or my LP shunt. I give up.......to many things going on to be specific. I've seen 5 heart specialist (had surgery for caroid endarterectomy ) seen 4 neuro's and no one has a clue... it is very discouraging sometime.
Thank you all for posting