Diabetes Talking

Question:

…Darla – how does it compare to shin splits? …

Well, I wish I could tell you, Mookie, but I have no clue what "shin splints" are!  It seems there are many and conflicting and overlapping colloquial names for various ailments, and I am not conversant with most of them. What I can say about this particular incident is that I have *never* been awakened out of a sound sleep by pain so sharp and fierce, nor have I ever had a pain like that in the *front* of my leg.  It took my breath away— literally.  I have upped my potassium intake since then, and have had, so far, no repeat occurrences.  Thank heaven! Darla — T2/10 yrs

Response:

Mookie writes:

<< … The only time I have woken up out of a sound sleep because leg pain was when it was in the calves. My guess is dehydration, electrolyte balance … probably low potassium. ACE inihibitors are support to help prevent that – and can, in fact, cause a potassium excess. And dehydration can indicate failure to rehydrate yourself appropriately – or it can indicate less-than-excellent glucose levels. Susie

Response:

Yeah, duuuh on my part…if you knew what a shin split/splint was, then you wouldn’t have said you’ve never felt it in the front of your leg. I used to get them when I was in track in high school after walking the requisite x number of miles. I am stumped, but if the potassium works for you, halleluia!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – …Darla – how does it compare to shin splits? … Well, I wish I could tell you, Mookie, but I have no clue what "shin splints" are!  It seems there are many and conflicting and overlapping colloquial names for various ailments, and I am not conversant with most of them. What I can say about this particular incident is that I have *never* been awakened out of a sound sleep by pain so sharp and fierce, nor have I ever had a pain like that in the *front* of my leg.  It took my breath away— literally.  I have upped my potassium intake since then, and have had, so far, no repeat occurrences.  Thank heaven! Darla — T2/10 yrs

Response:

I’ve had night cramps in the front and the back of my legs.  They’re nothing at all like shin splints. — #include <standard.disclaimer  _ Kevin D Quitt  USA 91351-4454           96.37% of all statistics are made up Per the FCA, this email address may not be added to any commercial mail list

Response:

Someday I’d like to find out how it works.  It is *way* too fast for the potassium to circulate to the muscles – the cramps are gone in two or three seconds.  There has to be some kind of neural thing going on, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it might be.

We scuba types depend on K (potassium) to avoid cramps. Bananas are preferred over orange juice because the bananas don’t cause reflux. The normall level of K in the body is a few micrograms. Much above the "normal" level is simply excreted. When you get low on K, it only takes a very tiny bit to get you back into the normal range (which I have somewhere and can’t find right now). Have never tried KCl on the tongue, but not at all surprised that it works quickly. regards m

Response:

Have never tried KCl on the tongue, but not at all surprised that it works quickly.

Fine, but how does it *get* from my tongue to my calf in under a second? — #include <standard.disclaimer  _ Kevin D Quitt  USA 91351-4454           96.37% of all statistics are made up Per the FCA, this email address may not be added to any commercial mail list

Response:

   sleep. Does anyone out there have a clue what might have caused    this?  Since I don’t know, I am petrified it might happen again.    The calf-muscle cramps always happened when I inadvertently    stretched too energetically in the morning before getting out of    bed.  I have never been awakened from a sound sleep by something    like this! I have… Sounds like good old Charlie’s Horse to me. Rule number 1 for diabetics, When anything strange happens (Like this) TEST BG (in this case I suspect you would not have had any surprises) but test anyway (Better to be safe, ect) Second, This type of cramping is often caused by "UM" imbalance.  What’s "UM" imbalance  Usually not enough CalciUM or potassiUM or one of those UM things But in any case… If it happens again… <insert standard "medical advice" here  What’s "Standard "medical advice""?  Why "Talk to your doctor about it" of course…. The only MEDICAL advice (other than test, test, test) that us non-doctor types are allowed to give. (Note testing = not treatment and thus is safe advice) "Nothing adds excitement like something that is none of your business" Using a Java script enabled browser go to:  http://go.compuserve.com/diabetes Anyone can read, Members can post, If you join Compuserve mention 73455,43 Also visit http://members.tripod.com/diabetics_world/ for still more info. Lab Rats -R- Us Net-Tamer V 1.11.2 – Registered

Response:

Charley’s Horse, eh?  Then is this similar to shin splints or shin splits or whatever it’s called?  That’s the only pain I know that I’ve had in the front of my legs.  Darla – how does it compare to shin splits? The only time I have woken up out of a sound sleep because leg pain was when it was in the calves. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –    sleep. Does anyone out there have a clue what might have caused    this?  Since I don’t know, I am petrified it might happen again.    The calf-muscle cramps always happened when I inadvertently    stretched too energetically in the morning before getting out of    bed.  I have never been awakened from a sound sleep by something    like this! I have… Sounds like good old Charlie’s Horse to me. Rule number 1 for diabetics, When anything strange happens (Like this) TEST BG (in this case I suspect you would not have had any surprises) but test anyway (Better to be safe, ect) Second, This type of cramping is often caused by "UM" imbalance.  What’s "UM" imbalance  Usually not enough CalciUM or potassiUM or one of those UM things But in any case… If it happens again… <insert standard "medical advice" here  What’s "Standard "medical advice""?  Why "Talk to your doctor about it" of course…. The only MEDICAL advice (other than test, test, test) that us non-doctor types are allowed to give. (Note testing = not treatment and thus is safe advice) "Nothing adds excitement like something that is none of your business" Using a Java script enabled browser go to:

http://go.compuserve.com/diabetes – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone can read, Members can post, If you join Compuserve mention 73455,43 Also visit http://members.tripod.com/diabetics_world/ for still more info. Lab Rats -R- Us Net-Tamer V 1.11.2 – Registered

Response:

For the life of me, I cannot remember what the unit of measurement of K in the body is, and I’ve been hospitalized with kypokalemia twice in the last ten years. I do know that in the ER my levels were around 2.4. I was released when they were over 3.0 for a day or more. I know K is fast acting, but it isn’t instant. On days when I felt hypo and before becoming a T2, I could drink OJ or grapefruit juice all morning and not feel like my limbs were returning to normal until late afternoon. As always, YMMV. -jpg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Someday I’d like to find out how it works.  It is *way* too fast for the potassium to circulate to the muscles – the cramps are gone in two or three seconds.  There has to be some kind of neural thing going on, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it might be. We scuba types depend on K (potassium) to avoid cramps. Bananas are preferred over orange juice because the bananas don’t cause reflux. The normall level of K in the body is a few micrograms. Much above the "normal" level is simply excreted. When you get low on K, it only takes a very tiny bit to get you back into the normal range (which I have somewhere and can’t find right now). Have never tried KCl on the tongue, but not at all surprised that it works quickly. The RDA of K is 3400 milligrams, or 3.4 grams. That’s the amount recommended for ingestion. What are the upper/lower body levels in stasis? I am probably wrong that it’s micrograms. regards m

Response:

Someday I’d like to find out how it works.  It is *way* too fast for the potassium to circulate to the muscles – the cramps are gone in two or three seconds.  There has to be some kind of neural thing going on, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it might be. We scuba types depend on K (potassium) to avoid cramps. Bananas are preferred over orange juice because the bananas don’t cause reflux. The normall level of K in the body is a few micrograms. Much above the "normal" level is simply excreted. When you get low on K, it only takes a very tiny bit to get you back into the normal range (which I have somewhere and can’t find right now). Have never tried KCl on the tongue, but not at all surprised that it works quickly.

The RDA of K is 3400 milligrams, or 3.4 grams.  This exceeds the amount of Na usually given in a recommended diet (2500 mg), although the number of atoms (85 meq versus 109) is less.  The blood level can increase substantially before excretion of the excess, and hyperkalemia (too much) and hypokalemia (too little) are both medical conditions requiring treatment.  The last time I had a carton of orange juice at a restaurant, the amount listed on it was 550 mg. — This address is for information only.  I do not claim that these views are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University. Herman Rubin, Dept. of Statistics, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN47907-1399

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Someday I’d like to find out how it works.  It is *way* too fast for the potassium to circulate to the muscles – the cramps are gone in two or three seconds.  There has to be some kind of neural thing going on, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it might be. We scuba types depend on K (potassium) to avoid cramps. Bananas are preferred over orange juice because the bananas don’t cause reflux. The normall level of K in the body is a few micrograms. Much above the "normal" level is simply excreted. When you get low on K, it only takes a very tiny bit to get you back into the normal range (which I have somewhere and can’t find right now). Have never tried KCl on the tongue, but not at all surprised that it works quickly. The RDA of K is 3400 milligrams, or 3.4 grams.

That’s the amount recommended for ingestion. What are the upper/lower body levels in stasis? I am probably wrong that it’s micrograms. regards m

Response:

According to my last lab report, the normal range of K in the plasma is 3.5-5.3 mEq/L. FWIW, Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For the life of me, I cannot remember what the unit of measurement of K in the body is, and I’ve been hospitalized with kypokalemia twice in the last ten years. I do know that in the ER my levels were around 2.4. I was released when they were over 3.0 for a day or more.

Response:

It’s thought to be a potassium/calcium imbalance, usually too little potassium. I keep a container of salt-substitute (potassium chloride) by my bed.  When a cramp starts, a very small sprinkle on the tongue and the cramps are gone in two or three seconds.  YMMV — #include <standard.disclaimer  _ Kevin D Quitt  USA 91351-4454           96.37% of all statistics are made up Per the FCA, this email address may not be added to any commercial mail list

Response:

It’s thought to be a potassium/calcium imbalance, usually too little potassium. I keep a container of salt-substitute (potassium chloride) by my bed. When a cramp starts, a very small sprinkle on the tongue and the cramps are gone in two or three seconds.  YMMV

Thanks, Kevin— I’ll do it.  It couldn’t hurt— and those cramps sure do! Darla

Response:

I have made this recommendation since I stumbled over it quite a few years ago. There was one person it didn’t help, and there was one occasion when it didn’t work for me (maybe I was low on calcium?).  But everyone else I’ve told has thanked me. Someday I’d like to find out how it works.  It is *way* too fast for the potassium to circulate to the muscles – the cramps are gone in two or three seconds.  There has to be some kind of neural thing going on, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it might be. — #include <standard.disclaimer  _ Kevin D Quitt  USA 91351-4454           96.37% of all statistics are made up Per the FCA, this email address may not be added to any commercial mail list

Response:

Check your sleep-time glucose levels to be sure you are not having a "low." Cramps can be caused by lows in a diabetic.  Also, make sure you are getting enough potassium in your diet.  This can cause cramps too.  Diet tonic water contains quinine and can eliminate cramps during the night.  hope this helps. Good luck and share your knowledge.

Response:

DARLA: Sounds like neuropathy to me.  Have you ever tried taking Neurontin???                                                                  DAVID PS  Congratulations!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hiya folks! I haven’t been posting for a while because I was busy getting ready to and then getting married.  Thank you, thank you.  It was great— everything turned out perfectly, and yes, I did eat *real* wedding cake. Last night I experienced something *very* weird.  No, my new husband didn’t come out of the bathroom wearing "Touch of Satan" lipstick and one of my fishnet teddies. At 3:22AM, I was awakened from a deep sleep by the most unbelievable pain in my left leg, between my knee and my ankle.  I was SO asleep that it took a few moments for my brain to register the fact that the *front* of my leg was cramping very badly.  SO badly that I couldn’t even feel the lower part of my leg!  I made myself sit up and then try to stand.  The pain was really staggering— I started hot flashing and gallons of sweat poured off me as I panicked and thought the pain would never stop.  Suddenly, I remembered that there is a cramping pressure point above one’s upper lip.  (I’d had a bout with calf-muscle leg cramps several years ago)  I pressed the side of my forefinger *hard* against the area between the bottom of my nose and the top of my upper lip, and in a few endless moments, the pain subsided and then wore away.  I gingerly laid back down, and eventually fell back to sleep. Does anyone out there have a clue what might have caused this?  Since I don’t know, I am petrified it might happen again.  The calf-muscle cramps always happened when I inadvertently stretched too energetically in the morning before getting out of bed.  I have never been awakened from a sound sleep by something like this!  And I’ve never even heard of muscle cramping in the front of the leg. Any thoughts on this phenom would be most appreciated! Thanks— Darla T2/10yrs — The final sign of the approach of Armageddon: The popular acceptance of male synchronized swimmers.

Response:

Hiya folks! I haven’t been posting for a while because I was busy getting ready to and then getting married.  Thank you, thank you.  It was great— everything turned out perfectly, and yes, I did eat *real* wedding cake. Last night I experienced something *very* weird.  No, my new husband didn’t come out of the bathroom wearing "Touch of Satan" lipstick and one of my fishnet teddies. At 3:22AM, I was awakened from a deep sleep by the most unbelievable pain in my left leg, between my knee and my ankle.  I was SO asleep that it took a few moments for my brain to register the fact that the *front* of my leg was cramping very badly.  SO badly that I couldn’t even feel the lower part of my leg!  I made myself sit up and then try to stand.  The pain was really staggering— I started hot flashing and gallons of sweat poured off me as I panicked and thought the pain would never stop.  Suddenly, I remembered that there is a cramping pressure point above one’s upper lip.  (I’d had a bout with calf-muscle leg cramps several years ago)  I pressed the side of my forefinger *hard* against the area between the bottom of my nose and the top of my upper lip, and in a few endless moments, the pain subsided and then wore away.  I gingerly laid back down, and eventually fell back to sleep. Does anyone out there have a clue what might have caused this?  Since I don’t know, I am petrified it might happen again.  The calf-muscle cramps always happened when I inadvertently stretched too energetically in the morning before getting out of bed.  I have never been awakened from a sound sleep by something like this!  And I’ve never even heard of muscle cramping in the front of the leg. Any thoughts on this phenom would be most appreciated! Thanks— Darla T2/10yrs — The final sign of the approach of Armageddon: The popular acceptance of male synchronized swimmers.

Response: