In the past few days, my husband and I have both been having our sleep disturbed by charley horses in the calves. I know that sometimes low potassium levels can cause this, and medically what we have in common is that we are both diabetic. Could there be something lacking in our diet? Are there other possible explanations?

[Onward2wards]

I have been having the same issues waking up in the morning. I am not diabetic, but I think I have let my diet get too unhealthy lately, and I have had a lot to do and also drinking a bit too much caffeine. In my case it probably is potassium getting a bit low.

[Miracle1986]

Not drinking enough water can cause leg cramps.

[ECHOES]

I most definitely have trouble with leg cramps when I am not drinking enough water and if I'm sitting too much.

Hubby definitely drinks enough water, but further research shoes that the statin he is on for cholesterol might contribute. I wonder if dehydration could still be a factor, though. He sweats so much at night that he keeps several bottles of water at his bedside to drink whenever he wakes up uncomfortable. My blood sugar has been out of control the last couple of days, which causes dehydration and could explain my leg cramps.

The thing is, I don't know whether my blood sugar is high because I don't feel good, or I don't feel good because my blood sugar is high. Both can happen.

[Indie'sOK]

I'm glad you posted this thread because I too wondered what causes this...that is by far one of the worst pains in the world...it wakes me up from the deepest of sleep, and any little movement I make in my leg throws my calf into shock. I hope you find a way to deal with this

[ECHOES]

I did also have a reaction to a statin that I was on. I don't remember what it was, but it was switched to simvastatin and I've been okay since, except when I get dehydrated and have spent too much of the day sitting.