Leg and Feet Cramps and Blood Sugar Levels

Ok, I am 3 years out...and I am having the worst!!!! leg and feet cramps every night!!!  I have gotten back to drinking my water like I'm supposed to.  Tonite I stopped by the grocery to pick up bananas, because the water is keeping me trotting to the bathroom..Didn't know if that was a sign of losing too much potassium or dehydration....I know both can give leg cramps...any other suggestions. 

While I am at it....Does anyone this far out have problems with keeping their blood sugar levels....level?  Mine will spike and then plummet...I get the sweats and shakes and just all over crazy feelings ever so often... Why and what do I do about that?
Gina

Have you told your M.D. about these symptoms?  Your M.D. needs to know about this ASAP for this can be life threatening!  If your POTASSIUM levels are off - either high or low - it can be a dangerous situation for you.

HYPOKALEMIA - Low Potassium Levels:
Your blood potassium level is normally 3.6 to 4.8 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Having a very low potassium level (less than 2.5 mEq/L) can be life-threatening and requires emergency medical attention.

Low potassium symptoms include:

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Muscle cramps
• Constipation
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)

Low potassium is usually discovered by your doctor as a blood test result.
Low potassium (hypokalemia) has many causes. The most common cause of low potassium is excessive potassium loss in urine or from the digestive tract such as due to:

• Certain diuretics — water pills
• Diarrhea
• Eating disorders
• Excessive use of laxatives
• Kidney failure, chronic
• Primary aldosteronism
• Vomiting

HYPERKALEMIA - High Potassium Levels
The most common cause of high potassium (hyperkalemia) is impaired kidney function, such as due to acute or chronic kidney failure. Other causes of hyperkalemia include:

• Certain medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Hormone deficiencies, including adrenal failure (Addison's disease)
• Destruction of red blood cells due to severe injury or burns
• Excessive use of potassium supplements
• Alcoholism or heavy drug use that causes rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle fibers that results in the release of potassium into the bloodstream

Most of the potassium in your body is within your cells. As a result, the amount of potassium in your red blood cells is much greater than in the liquid part of your blood (plasma or serum). Your kidneys control the excretion of potassium in your urine.

True hyperkalemia is a serious and potentially life-threatening disorder. It can cause:

• Muscle fatigue
• Weakness
• Paralysis
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Nausea

Sometimes a report of high blood potassium isn't true hyperkalemia. Instead it may be caused by the rupture of red blood cells in the blood sample during or shortly after drawing the sample. The ruptured cells leak their potassium into the serum. This falsely elevates the amount of potassium in the blood sample, even though the potassium level in your body is actually normal. When this is suspected, a repeat blood sample is obtained.

As far as the BS dropping and spiking...I would also tell the M.D. as well.
Please don't let a day go by without calling your M.D. regarding these things though...this is very important to let him/her know about!

Best Wishes,
Jackie

Gina
Lots of gastric folks have leg and or feet  cramps. Mine were horrible , wasnt potassium although that is the first thing we think of ,
Brocalli had way more than a banana though,,,however, my Dr said to go to Wal mart or somewhere and get some Magnesium 250 mg.  ( A  VITAMIN) Take one at night before bed , you might need 2 but start with one as it also helps out if someone has constipation..  Worked like a charm ofr me and boy did i suffer with cramps before in calves and feet EVERY NIGHT ,,
Good luck
Shirley