Leg and Feet Cramps

[Phranp]

I have suffered from cramps in my leg and feet from time to time since before I was diagnosed with diabetes ... much of the problem had to do with my back ... had surgery but still suffer but not nearly as often. Last night a close friend's 11 year old daughter (Krislynn), who was diagnosed Type1 about 4 months ago, woke up in the night screaming in pain from leg and feet cramps (been there, done that). She had walked about 3 miles that afternoon after school.

I would love to hear suggestions on how to avoid/relieve these leg/feet cramps. I know how painful they are and it broke my heart to hear that Krislynn was suffering.

[princesslinda]

I had a lot of leg/foot cramping prior to diagnosis....it would literally wake me out of a sound sleep and i'd jump to my feet to try and relieve the pain. Since my blood sugars have been better controlled, this hasn't been as bad...though when I went on a diuretic for BP recently, they recurred for a short while. Some people find relief by stretching the foot/leg during the cramp.

Also, believe it or not, I've heard a few people mention that putting an unwrapped bar of ivory soap in your bed at night can help this. Not sure I believe this, but many of the odd advice works, and when you hurt, you'll try anything (i've not had problems since I learned of this but will definitely try if I do in the future). Even snope's marks this one as "undetermined instead of false."

I've heard potassium deficiency can cause this as well. The docs I work with tell people who suffer from this to try 1 tsp of salt substitute mixed in orange juice (i've used it in s/f kool aid myself) to get more potassium.

I hope the little girl's leg cramps go away as her blood sugars get lower. Horrible to think of a young child in pain.

[shockme]

i've been getting them off and on for months....i was told i may have buerger's disease-a circulaotory problem caused by smoking....getting ultrasounds of my legs next month,,,,but-b4 i go to bed,i streatch my feet and lowere legs and that seems to help...i tried tonic water-the quinine in it's supposed to help. it's nasty and did no good....i've also read that putting a bar of soap under the sheets helps....dunno why or how,tho....good luck- i know how bad thay can be.....also-they can be caused by electrolye [potassium,magnesuim...] imbalances-so maybe start with your dr....trish

[Olidus]

Prior to DX I was getting them all the time in my sleep - got them in my calves. Some people call them Charlie horses and man ohh man do they ever hurt. Its when your muscles tighten right up and the pain is TO THE MAX!
At the time people were telling me ohh eat more bananas ( I eat one a day) Drink more water, This was pre DX and was drinking Wayyyy too much water at the time.

I later on found out that this can be cause by a build up of sugar in the blood in muscle areas. For me was the back of my legs.

Some pregnant women get them, and they can be caused by dehydration as well.

[56sushi]

Please understand that my son's experience is NOT typical but everyone dismissed his symptoms out of hand, so I am passing it on as a possibility.
My son was dx with Type 1 in Jan. of 07. He had some leg and foot pain prior to diagnosis. About 2 weeks into insulin treatment he began to have severe leg and foot pain. His symptoms progressed to the point that he could not walk AT ALL and was bedridden for several months. At this writing he needs a cane to get around.
In his case, his symptoms were the result of a fairly rare complication called insulin neuritis. The pain was severe and dibilitating. Insulin neuritis was caused in his case. by bringing blood sugars under control too quickly.
This is likely NOT the cause of your friend's child's problem but since it is so rare I thought I would toss it out there in case that was a factor for her. A lot of my son's misery and fear could have been alliveated if someone acknowledged his condition earlier.

[KickStart101]

This is probably not her case but I used to
get severe pains in my calves when I was a
Kid that used to wake me up at night.

It wasn't cramps just pure pain. My Dr. just
said it was from high sugars and sure enough
when Mom checked my urine the colour came
back orange...the highest colour. That hurt.

[Mich]

I've had very good luck with taking an ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) supplement each day as per Bernstein's recommendation. When I can't get the time-release 300 mg ones, I just space out three 100 mg capsules from Trader Joe's.

They have helped my neuropathic leg pain caused by walking, having too high or up and down sugars, and also by autoimmune neuropathy, usually in my thighs--which was the most painful.

ALA is an anti-oxidant. Can't hurt to give it a try. :dontknow: Mich

[pdxdennisj]

Diagnose-Me: Condition: Leg Cramps At Night (http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C466614.html)

Many web sites and medical references cite drinking 8 oz. of tonic water every night for the quinine in it as a preventative. For many years I have taken 750 mg Magnesium and 1200 mg Calcium which works like a charm - I only get cramps when I forget my night meds.

[Phranp]

Princess: your symptoms sound exactly like mine ... jumping out of bed ... diuretic for BP, etc. thanks for the info I'll use it and also pass it on as well

Shockme: I will recommend (and try myself) the tonic water

Olidus, KickStart101: Krislynn must have appeared to be doing well without much supervision (she is one of 4 children); her mother is very busy. But, I think that I will remind her mom to keep a closer watch on Krislynn's numbers. Good advice.

56sushi: While your son's situation may not be typical, it is something to keep and eye on and I will recommend to my girlfriend that she do so.

dennisj, mich: I will recommend these supplement and pick up some for myself as well.

Thank you everyone ... this forum is the best!

[Staceyy]

My dh has been bothered by this. His symptoms were alleviated by taking alpha lipoic acid, grape seed extract, and taking a supplement containing calcium, magnesium and potassium along with drinking lots of water.

[EasyType2]

I've suffered cramps in the calf muscles for over 40 years, both before and after D Dx. My doc suggested low potassium levels and recommended bananas or orange juice.

I eat a banana a day. If I fail to have one for 4 or 5 days, I have cramps, so I'm convinced.

[mike9876]

Cramps are often caused by a lack of magnesium the mucsle cells need magnesum to fuction properly and a sign of a lack of magnesium it muscle cramps , especially in the calfs. I had this problem and went to the doctor who suggested magnesium and after taking magnesium for a while no more muscle cramps in my calfs. I had to jump out of bed at night and i could be jumping out of bed 2 or 3 times a night. Cramp in the calfs leaves the muscle feeling bruised and sore.

[volleyball]

Kids get what they call "growing pains". This was the docs diagnosis. My daughter had it for years. and she doesn't have diabetes. Multivitamins with potassium did not seem to help.

[BriOnH]

There is a direct connection between leg cramps (namely calf cramps) in diabetics. I don't know what it is yet but am positive of the diabetic population who experiences calf and toe cramps to that of non d's is greatly higher. It seems to be in both type 1 and 2 as well and usually occurs during exercise with type ones and in sleep with type 2's - from my mental notes.

[cuori]

i know this sounds kinda silly but it really does work. when i first was diagnosed i suffered terrible with leg cramps. my dr tried and assortment of medications to try to fix it nothing happened. then one day while i was waiting to see my dr again i had a terrible cramp was in tears in the dr's office and a lady beside me told me to pinch my upper lip right below the nose. i thought she was nuts but in enough pain to try any thing. well in seconds the pain was gone and i didnt even get the usual tenderness i usually got after cramps.

my oldest is now going through "growing pains" was suffering terrible, i suggested he try it and he hasnt suffered from the pain since. his teacher is a bit worried about his fingers in his mouth all the time but who cares if he's not hurting

good luck on the pain ending