Does high blood sugar cause leg cramps?

by Debbie Smith
(Upland, ca)




Question from Debbie Smith:


I have had blood sugar readings over 300 mg/dL for more than a month. It was 600 on Saturday. I take Humalog 50/50, 70 units three times a day.


While driving, I had severe pain in my foot near the ankle. By the time I walked into the store, the pain was 9 out of 10 and I could not walk. The foot later improved, but it was still a little swollen, red in areas, and painful with movement.


Could this be a wake-up call that I need better blood sugar control, or is it not related?




Quick Answer


Yes, high blood sugar can contribute to leg cramps, foot pain, nerve pain, dehydration, poor circulation, and slow healing. But your symptoms sound more serious than a simple leg cramp.


A blood sugar of 600 mg/dL, repeated readings above 300 mg/dL, and a painful, red, swollen foot need urgent medical evaluation.


This could be related to diabetes, infection, circulation problems, gout, injury, inflammation, Charcot foot, or another foot problem. Please contact your doctor urgently or seek emergency care.



Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc


Hi Debbie,


Thank you for sharing your concern. I want to be very clear: blood sugar around 600 mg/dL is very high, especially when you are already using insulin. Together with severe foot pain, swelling, and redness, this should be checked urgently.


Can High Blood Sugar Cause Leg Cramps?


Yes. High blood sugar can contribute to leg cramps and pain by causing dehydration, electrolyte changes, nerve irritation, poor circulation, and increased infection risk. Long-term high glucose can also damage nerves, causing burning, tingling, sharp pain, numbness, or cramps in the legs and feet.


Read more here: diabetic nerve pain and diabetes leg pain.


Why Your Foot Needs to Be Checked


Sudden severe foot or ankle pain with swelling and redness should not be assumed to be only a cramp. In a person with diabetes, possible causes include foot infection, poor blood flow, gout, a small fracture, tendon injury, Charcot foot, neuropathy, or a vascular problem.


Because the pain was severe and you could not walk, you may need a foot exam, pulse check, nerve exam, infection check, blood tests, ketone testing, and possibly an X-ray or other imaging.


Read more here: diabetes and feet.


Blood Sugar of 600 mg/dL Is Dangerous


A reading of 600 mg/dL can lead to severe dehydration and diabetes emergencies, especially if it stays high or comes with infection, vomiting, confusion, weakness, breathing difficulty, or ketones.


Since your glucose has been above 300 mg/dL for more than a month despite insulin, your insulin plan, injection technique, insulin storage, meal plan, and possible infection need urgent review.


Read more here: dangerous blood sugar levels.


What You Should Do Now



  • Contact your doctor urgently or go to urgent care/emergency care.

  • Check your blood sugar again and follow your written correction plan if you have one.

  • Check ketones if advised, especially with readings above 250 mg/dL or if you feel sick.

  • Do not drive yourself if you feel weak, confused, dizzy, or in severe pain.

  • Do not change insulin dose on your own unless you are following a written plan from your doctor.



Urgent Safety Note


Seek emergency help if blood sugar stays very high or you have vomiting, dehydration, confusion, severe weakness, fast or deep breathing, chest pain, fruity-smelling breath, moderate or large ketones, or fever.


Also seek urgent care for a foot that is red, swollen, hot, very painful, numb, blue, black, draining pus, or difficult to walk on.




Doctor’s Note


Debbie, this is a medical warning sign. High blood sugar for a month, a reading of 600 mg/dL, and a painful red swollen foot should be reviewed urgently. Better blood sugar control is important, but the foot also needs examination.




Educational safety note: This answer is for general diabetes education only. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not change insulin or diabetes medication without speaking with your healthcare provider, unless you are following a written correction plan already given to you.



Related Questions



Comments for Does high blood sugar cause leg cramps?

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Nov 04, 2013
 Please!!
by: Doreen

I've been living with High numbers for over 6 months and just started exersising and taking medication.

I had lost feeling in my feet due to nerve damage and it's just starting to come back. I've gone from 220 lbs to 196 in a couple months.

I feel so good these days. Blurry vision has cleared up, skin problems cleared up and a candida issue cleared up.

Change your lifestyle dear heart. Value your life and be clear that you can heal yourself with diet, exercise and proper medication.

Go see a pro-active health care professional to set you on the right course. Life is so precious and you can live a wonderful pain free life!

Good luck to you.
May 31, 2016
 See a good doctor imeditaly
by: Anonymous

She needs to see a good endocrinologist as soon as possible. Glucose levels of 300 are unacceptable.I was over 800 when I was diagnosed 25 years ago.
I was treated by a General Practitioner my family doctor with not much help. After I went from 220lbs to 135lbs in 2 months I was sent to an endocrinologist. My A1C has been in the 6 to 8 range for 25 years now with an average of 145mdgl blood glucose. If this woman does not get proper medical treatment soon she will be dead. There are still some doctors that ave diabetics only counting sugars, instead of crbs. this is really outdated. She needs to count carbs and take the proper amount of insulin for the carb intake. The only way taking the same amount of insulin daily is if you eat the same thing and same amounts every time you eat. You need to take the proper amount of insulin for your carb intake. If this is done your sugar levels should be closer to normal 71-120 mdgl.
Dec 16, 2018
 does high blood sugar cause leg cramps?
by: Robert Hardin

Hoping this helps someone else: Food heavy with sugar can be counted on to bring me painful cramps and numbness in my foot and ankle area--and tonight I paid the price of forgetting that. After enjoying a big slice of birthday cake laden with icing and sweet stuff, the pain waking me up from a nap a few hours hours later was excruciating. I immediately knew the cause. If I forget that my system won't tolerate much sugar, my penalty is invariably a cramp in one foot & ankle segueing into numbness making my legs no longer weight-bearing. The solution: Flooding my body with drinking water will allow me to walk, and fortunately I keep a large water bottle at bedside. Mercifully, that can make me ambulatory enough in the next five or fewer minutes to go for more water. I read of various symptoms and advice, but reducing sugar intake to a bare minimum is the basic answer for me, and has saved me a lot of time and wasted conferences from about age 40 to now 85. I just have to remember not to forget, no sweets. Robert Hardin, Panama. #

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