The last time I awoke with severe muscle cramps, I was low (52 mg/dl) and dropping.
This morning I awoke with severe muscle cramps and I was at 212 mg/dl.
Have y’all experienced severe muscle cramps in your sleep? Mine are usually in my inner thigh and extremely painful, lasting from five to fifteen minutes. By the time they “let go” I’m good and AWAKE from all the pain/adrenaline. Sometimes they feel so strong that I’m afraid I’m going to tear something. Sometimes I get them in my feet or my lower back, too. I’ve been dealing with these for about ten years; they started right around the time I was diagnosed with type 2.
Do you find that anything helps to make them better – or worse. Less frequent – or more frequent?
Do you think they’re diabetes related – or unrelated?
I’ve found that being cool makes them worse; I have to wear sweat-pants to bed now, even in the summer. I usually take calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. I also use a potassium-sodium blend in place of regular table salt. I ran out of the calcium/magnesium and will definitely get more tomorrow.
What has been your experience with muscle cramps in the night? Any suggestions?
Have your potassium level checked, when mine was low, I had leg cramps at night. A round of the huge potassium tablets solved the problem within 4-5 days.
Hi and thanks – no Zocor or other cholesterol meds. I am using the potassium salts almost daily, but I’ve never had my levels checked. Thanks for the suggestion, Brunetta.
I get them occasionally in my calf when I have high blood sugar during the night. I had horrible cramps before I was diagnosed and they said it was a potassium deficiency.
When I am low, my legs often go numb. I was told this is “normal”.
I used to get pretty bad muscle cramps in my feet, and always when I was sleeping. It would wake me up and be very painful. I still get them occasionally but nowhere near as much. I had no idea what caused them, but I decided a little while ago that it must have been from wearing heels everyday. I used to wear them to work everyday. I was laid off about a year ago and stopped wearing heels very much, and the cramps got better. I am hopeful that I will get another job soon. When I do I will probably start wearing heels again. If the cramps come back then I’ll know that that’s what caused them!
I had some vicious cramps in my calves when I was running, particularly during the few long runs I went on right after my 1/2 marathon binge last year. I got these compression sleeves that go on my calves and they are great for running and post-running cramping and tightness. Here’s a link to a review.
Thanks! I forgot about the tonic water thing. I just got some new bottles of calcium citrate and magnesium aspartate (supposedly easier to digest and absorb) but I love my diet tonic water. I’ll have some tonight with a splash of lime bitters. ;0)
Thanks for the link. These are weird as I get them in my feet (occasionally) but almost never (years go by) in my calves.
My target of choice for self-torture are the muscles of my inner thighs. And no, I’m I don’t ride horses, zebras, camels or bears. I’ve never understood why I get them there.
I am a programmer, so perhaps it’s from “riding” desk chairs too much? Hmmmmm…
So I’ve been leaving this info on other threads - cramping is documented in insulin lit. But very little about how to prevent the problem! Maybe if the caregivers had these cramps themselves they would understand how terrible the pain can be…so my pump nurse suggested first that I cover potassium and potential anemia with a good multivitamin with iron. That did provide a little relief. This last visit she had done some research as she had a type two patient now taking insulin boulus who had the same severe cramps as me. She thinks the action of insulin at the cell level causes rapid movement of potassium which might be causing the cramps. At her suggestion I’ve added 3 - 4 ounces of a sugar free electrolite drink (I’m using propel zero - ick) whenever I bolus which has eliminated the problem. Good luck - hope this helps
