Jacquihogan
Newbie
- Messages
- 3
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
I'm in the UK , on 3x 850p of Metforming for over 5 years, and have never ever been offered a B12 check.
Because the NHS don't give a ....My diet and lifestyle are both healthy, my T2 is well-controlled and yet I’ve just been diagnosed with pernicious anaemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Until now (after consulting Dr Google), I had no idea that this is a well-known side effect of long term use of metformin. I’m lucky but for those people who don’t get diagnosed in time, the effects of pernicious anaemia can be horrid.
If deficiencies are found early enough, we can easily boost our diets with B12 supplements to keep our levels healthy - and help keep NHS costs lower. But now, I’ve got to have B12 injections for the rest of my life.
Why isn’t B12 a standard check during our annual diabetes reviews?
Why aren’t we advised by our care teams to take B12 supplements?
Why don’t the makers of metformin do something?
It is but they wouldn't bother until you had systems and check it thenI think that sue-marie is right. There should be a routine test of B12 levels in any patient taking metformin. I would be angry if it was me or anyone I know in this position. Does anyone know if B12 levels are routinely checked in other countries ?
I think this is an important issue.
My diet and lifestyle are both healthy, my T2 is well-controlled and yet I’ve just been diagnosed with pernicious anaemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Until now (after consulting Dr Google), I had no idea that this is a well-known side effect of long term use of metformin. I’m lucky but for those people who don’t get diagnosed in time, the effects of pernicious anaemia can be horrid.
If deficiencies are found early enough, we can easily boost our diets with B12 supplements to keep our levels healthy - and help keep NHS costs lower. But now, I’ve got to have B12 injections for the rest of my life.
Why isn’t B12 a standard check during our annual diabetes reviews?
Why aren’t we advised by our care teams to take B12 supplements?
Why don’t the makers of metformin do something?
This is from Jenny Ruhl's website :
"Metformin May Deplete Vitamin B-12 and Folate
Metformin has one more significant side effect. It may deplete Vitamin B-12 because it may alter the ability of the body to absorb vitamin B-12 from the gut. If this is the case, oral supplementation will not help. You would need to have Vitamin B-12 shots to address this deficiency.
"Why is Methylcobalamin best option to treat Diabetic neuropathy?
Cyanocobalamin, Methylcobalamin, and Hydroxocobalamin are the three therapeutic agents of vitamin B12,
but Methylcobalamin is best in comparison to other generic forms.
Cyanocobalamin is inactive and needs to convert in Methylcobalamin and also not readily absorbable in the cellular structures.
Whereas, Hydroxocobalamin is a bioactive form, but cannot be given orally and Hydroxocobalamin injections are painful.
A clinical review report showed that among other vitamin B 12 analogs,
Methylcobalamin is best to treat vitamin B12 deficiency.
After oral administration of Methylcobalamin, sufficient amount of this active component is available in the blood in comparison with Cyanocobalamine.
Just a slight side note.
i have a few older blood tests that i printed out, current information format from the doctors website style leaves a lot of data out.
I wonder if anyone can answer the question....
Would the test state.."B12" or would i be looking for the B12 value in my blood under another title (IF i was done, of course)
My thoughts exactly! A year into metformin and I was having all the typical symptoms of B12 deficiency. The doctor tested me and after a round of bi-weekly injections (totally 6 injections ), I was told all was good. I asked what if the deficiency came back after some time since I was also a vegetarian, and there was no reply. I read online and now take sublingual b12 everyday. I have also started taking B complex every alternate day. Even if the system does not have compulsory b12 monitoring for metformin users, the doctors can and should take it upon themselves to do so. Totally disappointed!
Hi there, I'm deficient too, injections every 3 months didnt work so they now do them every 8 weeks. Theresa May does them as it's easier to get an appointment with her than a nurse. I'm reading some theories that they don't do anything. Google it.B12 tests are always labelled B12 levels,
The reference range changes now and then, but the label is still the same.
Best wishes
Hi there, I'm deficient too, injections every 3 months didnt work so they now do them every 8 weeks. Theresa May does them as it's easier to get an appointment with her than a nurse. I'm reading some theories that they don't do anything. Google it.
Anyone else have anything to share? Kind regards, Q
Hi Simon hope you're doing well today. Thanks for the reply too.Agree about getting appointments with nurse, so I do the jabs myself - initially used upper arms, but a bit fiddly and I was using probably the same spot, so now use anterolateral thigh - bigger area to hit.
May I ask how you knew that 3 monthly wasn't working? I have seen a few folk who feel very tired etc for the days/week before the jab is due.
Not sure if the "theories that they don't do anything" relates to B12 jabs or nurses?
Best wishes
Hi Simon hope you're doing well today. Thanks for the reply too.
I called it that 3 months wasn't doing anything and asked if they could pull it forward to two months. All I want to do is sleep.
The theories that they do nothing much for you are there on the web if you search for it. I hear there are tablets you can take but I'm unsure if they're better or worse.
I have mine in the deltoids and quite painful if my arm muscles haven't fully relaxed before they call me.
In the early days when I was having the loading dose and then the first 3 month jab I felt the lift but since, I feel no different for having a dose.
You must be a medic? As they won't let me administer.
Do the injections do anything for you interested to know.
Warm regards, Q.
Thanks for the reply, if the hydroxycobalamin isn't working at 8 week intervals would the sublingual option be better for me taking in to account IF?