Wellness

[Moonchilde]

From Diabetes Daily -

A recent study looked at links between muscle cramp frequency and severity and nerve fiber measures in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Persons with type 1 and 2 diabetes as well as healthy controls were given an evaluation and their large and small nerve fibers were assessed. Details about their muscle cramps were noted. There were 37 control subjects, 51 patients with type 1 diabetes and 69 with type 2 diabetes.

Muscle Cramps a Diabetes Complication?

The researchers state in their study paper that “Muscle cramps were the most frequent symptom captured by the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (TCNS) in all groups, up to 78% in patients with [type 2 diabetes].” They also explained that in only those with type 1 diabetes, muscle cramp frequency and severity was tied to clinical, large, and small nerve fiber measures.

They concluded that muscle cramps are common diabetes and are associated with clinical and both small and large nerve fiber measures in type 1 diabetes, “suggesting that their origin and propagation might extend beyond the motor nerve,” wrote the study authors.

For the study, those with type 2 diabetes were older and had more muscle cramps, more severe cramps, and worse clinical and small and large nerve fiber measures when compared with those with type 1 diabetes. They also had worse nerve function, but this could have been due to the patients with type 1 diabetes being younger than those with type 2 in the study.

Researchers added that “These findings are in line with previous studies, describing muscle cramps in a large spectrum of polyneuropathies, including sensory and small fiber polyneuropathies (Lopate et al., 2013; Maxwell et al., 2014; Abraham et al., 2016), suggesting that the cause of muscle cramps may extend beyond the motor nerve.”

All I can say to this is that I (Type 2) have a lot of muscle and nerve issues that are not the expected or typical. Maybe it’s not so much what I’m doing or not doing, but something I have no control over.

Thought it would interest people.

[Love my grandkids]

I'm a type 2 and fortunately have no muscle cramps. The article is very interesting.

[Moonchilde]

@Love my grandkids, I’m Type 2, and I do have muscle issues, which is why the article caught my eye. I take calcium and magnesium and other supplements for muscles, bones & nerves and yet have stuff that seems to be chronic now that even Phys Therapy can’t get rid of. So I read this and I’m “Hmm. Maybe it’s NOT me...” and I’m under good control, no huge BG swings or highs.

[ID2]

I've been a type 1 for the past 40 years and never have leg cramps of any sort. 

[cherry]

I am blessed not to have leg cramps, but I feel very sorry for the people who do have them

Diabetes is so unfair. You can do everything right ,and still have problems

I know @Moonchilde  is very careful with her diet, and excercises when she is able. It's so unfair

[IMW]

I am a type II with severe muscle cramps, have hypothyroidism which also causes muscle cramps.

Take muscle relaxers 4x daily and medical marijuana, quinine and magnesium and still have spasms, just not as bad.

I wish you health, it is very difficult to accept that you are not responsible for what goes on in your body, I know, it has taken me years. I have bad neuropathy and am tightly controlled, A1c usually around 5.8 or so.

[Trinity11]

Thanks @Moonchilde for the most informative study. Nothing surprises me anymore about diabetes and I think in years to come a lot more will be attributed to this wretched illness. What bothers me most is when a diabetic is "blamed" for their health. Clearly, there are many symptoms having nothing to do with how we eat or how much exercise we get.

My only question would be the effect of statins on diabetics. I gave mine up because of deep muscle pain and weakness. It has made the world of difference. I am back to being able to move.

[HerRoyaLioness]

Interesting study, thanks! 

I'm just throwing this out there, it's not scientific or anything, but was recommended by my doctor for something else and it seems to be helping me with muscle cramps. I used to get the most severe cramps you could imagine, it just wouldn't let go and would hurt for days afterward.

He suggested I take a Vit B Complex supplement daily, I take Andrew Lessmans.  My oncologist (smart, smart, good dr) originally suggested it when I was undergoing chemo to keep my "nerves healthy" (my lay words not his!), as chemo can cause neuropathy. Try going through a full round of chemo plus radiation being Type 2 - not fun, but they were just trying to keep me alive at that point, and did a pretty good job, I have to say!!

I also believe calcium and magnesium help, I do take more of Andrew's vitamins.  But this Vit B Complex has really seemed to do the trick for my muscle cramps as I have not had any for some time now.  ETA - I do get some weird ones in my feet/toes from time to time - very annoying!

I am progressively getting neuopathy in my toes, but that is definitely from Type 2 now, as I am 5 yrs out from chemo.

Anyway, just a thought and my experience, but if it helps anyone that would be great.  Diabetes is a beast and most people just don't understand what it is like.

[Goodie2shoes]

@Moonchilde, thanks for the information, I am a retired nurse, type 2 diabetic under control, A1C below 7 and I also have muscle spasms in my legs on occasion. My Dr. told me to take magnesium and it  has helped a lot.  Interesting article

[Moonchilde]

It’s very interesting to read everyone’s comments (and your support) - thanks!

I used to have plain old leg/foot cramps that I threw magnesium at which helped some. I had some neuropathy - annoying but not incapacitating. Then I had some muscle atrophy due to a forced inactivity, and my muscles and nerves in my lower back and legs just never “bounced back.”

I now take B-12, vit D, calcium/magnesium/zinc, R-ALA and acetyl l-carnitine daily. This has seriously vanished my neuropathy and most of the foot/leg cramps, but I still have issues with muscles, tendons & nerves that aren’t “cramps” but just chronically “pulled”/tender areas. I’ve had multiple rounds of physical therapy and it’s better for 24 hrs and then it’s still there, underlying.

Getting to the point where everything than I can do, I’m doing it (and have lost weight) and still have these issues. So reading the article, if diabetes acts on the muscles and nerves in some patients, maybe it’s contributing.

I use cannabis as well for insomnia, arthritis and musculoskeletal pain. It actually in general works better for my pain than opiates.