Severe cramps in feet - Diabetes Message Board

Liz1965 · 05-11-2008, 06:45 PM

I've been having a problem with severe cramping in my feet. It was so bad last night (usually happens when I'm in bed) that I could barely walk or flex my ankle joints. I just started taking Metformin about a week ago and I'm wondering if it could be a side effect of that (although I don't see that mentioned anywhere). Does anyone else have this, and should I be concerned since it is yet another new symptom? I should mention that I was recently diagnosed as being diabetic and have serious swings in blood sugar whenever I eat carbohydrates, but I do watch my diet closely. Thus, at the point, my blood sugar is fairly well controlled.

nana59 · 05-19-2008, 04:36 AM

Hi, I had sever cramps and was given quine pills untill they took them off the market. My bg was'nt in control. I had to go in the hospital due to high bg and when I came home the cramps were gone. You can also try quine water and see if that works. Lynne

LauraBow · 05-19-2008, 07:34 PM

I get foot cramps at night if I don't take my calcium and magnesium supplements. If I even miss a couple days, I start getting cramps again.

Mazea · 06-24-2008, 08:57 PM

When I started taking insulin 2 months ago, I had pain in my feet. The pain got worse after standing for a long period of time or exercise. I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the sole. If you exercise a lot and have uncontrolled blood sugar levels for a while it can cause this.

coffeefetcher · 07-03-2008, 08:40 AM

Hi,

I was diagnosed Type II last August and for the first few weeks of managing my diet correctly, i suffered nightly cramps in my feet and frequently had cramps in my hands during the day.

These gradually faded away and then some months later, i started Metformin. By that time i had settled into a diet and exercise regime and have rarely had cramps since.

Interestingly, yesterday i had a 'low' during the morning at work (3.9) and it took AGES to feel back to normal. That night, i once again experienced the hand cramps. I put that down to the after effects of the earlier low.

It could be that your body is struggling to stabilise itself now you're on Metformin but if you just increase your fluid intake, i think you should be OK. I'd hesitate to increase your salt intake because modern diets are already quite laden with salt.

And as an aside, in the 11 months since diagnosis, i have lost more than four and a half stone, look and feel fitter than i have for YEARS and feel so much better all round. My BP, which was high on diagnosis, is now averaging 116/72, my cholesterol and liver and kidney functions are better than that of 'the average person' and my two HBa1Cs were 5.6 and 5.4 respectively.

I still hate diabetes and wish and wish i had looked after myself better before i succumbed to this but you cant turn the clock back - however, i can make sure the clock doesnt run too fast from now on!

Good luck with your own journey in this!

coffeefetcher