B12

[AloeSvea]

Just to mention - in above both picograms and picomoles are being used to measure B12.
picograms is the pg/ml, and picomoles is pmol/l. They are not the same unit at all.

When I was last at my countryside medical centre getting my latest HBA1c, I asked for a B12 test, so I can track my B12 status on metformin. (As stated above, is supposed to be par for the course in diabetic tests in my country, NZ, when patient is on metformin, as B12 deficiency is a known drug-mugging side effect of metformin.) My practice nurse argued with me that my reading was within normal limits. I said, well, it is only two digits off being borderline, so... anyhow, I got the B12 test. It has gone up only 20 digits with all the B12 pill popping, but at least it is up, and not down... (is now 192 pmol/L.)

Practice nurse made me reassure her the measurement I was discussing, as in my medical notes, was in fact pmol/L, not picograms. I am very sorry we folks with diabetes have to be arguing and defending and having these convos in medical practices at all. It's just because I am highly health literate that I knew the difference between these two measurements and so was able to insist. Thank you city lab for putting a reasonable range on a copy of my lab results from yesteryear. Otherwise, I would not know how close to too low for such an important vitamin I was getting.

 

[colinwolfendalediabetes]

I ended up in hospital after a massive b12 deficiency caused by Metformin and now have to have regular injections to replace my b12..has anyone else suffered this ??

Yes, but not hospitalised - found by blood tests and needed a 'loading dose' of five B12 injections again recently. First given two and a half years ago and not monitored by Doctors as promised!! I now have to have another injection every three months. Metformin has been mentioned but still on it alongside Gliclazide...

 

[amicipat]

I started on 2000mg Metformin per day as advised and my B12 levels plummeted from medium high to almost deficient within 2 months. I paid for my own spray supplement and with the agreement of my doctor halved the dose of Metformin. My B12 levels improved and when the dose of Metformin halved again and was then abandoned, regained their previous levels.
The leaflet now clearly states that anyone taking Metformin should have their B12 levels monitored routinely.

If only the GP’s took any notice!!

 

[AloeSvea]

Just an update on my B12 when taking metformin - it was getting close to borderline deficient before buying and taking the tablets.There was some improvement but not a lot with the next blood test (To 195). I changed over to a liquid B12, 0.5 ml was 500 micrograms of B12, hydroxocobalamin. I took about 1000 micrograms every few days or so (ie when I rembered to take it). Seems to have done the trick - it's now higher than when I began metformin. It went from 195 pmol/L to 307 in five months. I'm very happy with that.

To me, It's shows the importance of having this vitamin tracked. And that supplements can be very helpful when deficient/lacking.

 

[Dawn3010]

Just to remind everyone when you have 1 auto immune condition you are more likely to develop another. I had Pernicious anaemia first along with thyroid, then diabetes last. It does not have to be the metaformin causing the B12 deficiency. With b12 deficiency you can also have iron anaemia.

 

[AloeSvea]

Just to remind everyone when you have 1 auto immune condition you are more likely to develop another. I had Pernicious anaemia first along with thyroid, then diabetes last. It does not have to be the metaformin causing the B12 deficiency. With b12 deficiency you can also have iron anaemia.

Hi there Dawn. I hear you re auto-immune diabetes, aka type 1, and a B12 deficiency coming along for the ride, as it were. Always interesting to hear what it's like for the other type.

 

[Albie1]

Lack of vitamin B12 in your diet is the primary cause of B12 deficiency

 

[AloeSvea]

Um. Metformin is a known 'drug mugger' of B12. To such an extent good primary health practitioners do B12 tests as a matter of course. It is quite common for folks with T2D to go on metformin, and then start presenting with a B12 reduction and/or deficiency.

 

[HSSS]

Lack of vitamin B12 in your diet is the primary cause of B12 deficiency

Alongside Metformin, ppi and malabsorption issues. And they are before we consider pernicious anemia.

Honestly the diet one is the easiest one to solve so long as you’re willing to eat meat and dairy.

 

[Oldvatr]

Lack of vitamin B12 in your diet is the primary cause of B12 deficiency

Partially, but not the complete picture. We need to also take Vitamin C and Folate (B9) to make haemaglobin and without these the red blood cells do not form properly and the iron is also not absorbed.

It should be noted that most OTC vitamin supplements do not contain B12 and those folk following a vegetarian or vegan diet are more at risk of B12 deficiency since it is normally only found in animal based foods or a specialist microbe culture. Even Brewers Yeast is B12 deficient.

Most UK bread or flour based products are required by law to be Folate fortified so those of us here avoiding these commercial products will be missing out.

 

[Dawn3010]

Hi there Dawn. I hear you re auto-immune diabetes, aka type 1, and a B12 deficiency coming along for the ride, as it were. Always interesting to hear what it's like for the other type.

Hi there Aloe, type 1 was the final straw after being ill for many years with various auto immune diseases. I'm over it now and deal with it all every day. I live life not the other way around . It is a constant battle but we all get there. Type 2 is very hard especially if control by diet unless you have amazing willpower.

 

[AloeSvea]

I don't have amazing willpower, but I am mildly OCD. And because of that I keep great records, one of the records I have been tracking (and insisting on having tested first and foremost) - was my B12. I had a fabulous doc who started that ball rolling many years prior to my taking metformin. So I really do have a great record. And my B12 reduction on taking metformin (in the context of a very protein-rich animal-product-rich diet) was swift and clearly apparent. As is the improvement on taking liquid oral supplement.