Muscle cramping is a relatively common manifestation of DM. It can be the result of electrolyte imbalances, hypoglycemia, peripheral vascular disease with arterial insufficiency, and/or peripheral neuropathies. The cramps tend to be more common in the lower extremities and may be seen more commonly at night.
Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) often suffer from muscle cramps of varying severity.
Apply heat or cold.
Use a warm towel or heating pad on tense or tight muscles. Taking a warm bath or directing the stream of a hot shower onto the cramped muscle also can help. Rubbing the sore muscle with ice also might relieve pain.
Drink plenty of fluids. You can also drink an electrolyte replacement drink or sports drink, such as Gatorade, after exercise. Walk around, or jiggle your leg. Stretch your calf muscles.
Bananas: A Time-Tested Treatment
You probably know that bananas are a good source of potassium. But they'll also give you magnesium and calcium. That's three out of four nutrients you need to ease muscle cramps tucked under that yellow peel.
Dehydration and imbalances in electrolytes like potassium and magnesium can contribute to muscle cramps. Some brands of tonic water contain small amounts of these electrolytes, which might explain why some individuals experience relief from leg cramps after drinking it.
Too little potassium, calcium or magnesium in the diet can cause leg cramps. Medicines often prescribed for high blood pressure can cause increased urination, which may drain the body of these minerals.
If too much salt is lost, the level of fluid in the blood will drop. Hyponatremia is a condition that occurs when the sodium in your blood falls below the normal range of 135–145 mEq/L. In severe cases, low sodium levels in the body can lead to muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
Dark, Leafy Greens
Greens are among the more unexpected foods that deliver minerals that might help with muscle cramps. These are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium that can help replenish low levels of these minerals. Hunnes adds that they can also help with hydration since they're also full of water.
But when it comes to leg pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the damage is usually permanent and irreversible. This is why blood sugar control, weight management, and other preventative treatment is so important.
Among patients taking both statins and metformin, just 35% reported muscle cramps and 40% reported leg or calf pain while walking. Researchers gauged a 23% reduced risk for muscle cramps and a 29% reduced risk for leg and calf pain during walking with the addition of metformin.
Your feet and legs are often affected first, followed by your hands and arms. Possible signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include: Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes, especially in your feet and toes. A tingling or burning feeling.
Medicines containing guanidine, such as metformin and phenformin, were developed to treat diabetes. But they fell out of favor due to serious side effects caused by phenformin, and by the discovery of insulin.
Acetic acid is postulated to mitigate cramping by decreasing alpha motor neuron activity through oropharyngeal stimulation and inhibitory neurotransmitter production, while aiding in the role acetylcholine plays in muscle contraction and relaxation.
You should seek immediate medical help if: The cramps last longer than 10 minutes and fail to improve, despite exercise.
Calcium-rich foods
Another mineral that is needed for muscle health is calcium. Dairy products, fish, leafy greens and nuts are all abundant in calcium and therefore work wonders when one is suffering from muscle cramps. Almonds, yoghurt and cheese have the highest concentration of calcium.
But if your symptoms persist even after at-home remedies, it could be more than just leg pain—it could be your heart. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that is marked by limited blood flow to the limbs, particularly your legs, as a result of plaque buildup in your arteries.
In general, they're likely the result of tired muscles and nerve problems. The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant people also are more likely to have night leg cramps. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage and problems with blood flow are known to cause night leg cramps.
Leg pain and cramping is common and often due to muscle spasms. While this pain can feel severe, it is usually not serious. But, sometimes, what feels like a leg cramp may actually be something more serious: a blood clot in your leg, also called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
It appears that 325 milligrams of quinine taken by mouth at bedtime typically relieves nocturnal leg cramps, but lower starting doses are appropriate for senior citizens and individuals with impaired renal function.
Over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen can help manage the pain of cramps. Other options include muscle relaxers for leg cramps and hormonal treatment for menstrual cramps.