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Metformin and anaemia

M

Michael A Powell

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
My A1C levels are now 47 but my WBC’s are elevated and my RBC is much lower than it should be and I am easily tired after any exercise. Does anyone have a similar problem and how are you managing. I am taking B12 and iron tablets which seem to help.
 
Hi my bs finally under control… normal consistently since adding Ceylon cinnamon 1200mg 2 capsules morning and evening plus 1 berberine. I was almost needing to be put on insulin prior. I don’t even follow a rigid diet just eat sensible. Since this has helped me I thought I’d share.
 
Yes similar problem.
My GP phoned to say my folate was low. When I googled it I realised I had all the symptoms so I take a supplement for folate and now B12. I’m on a high dose of metformin and read this was usually the cause of B vitamin deficiency.
 
on metformin and have to have iron infusions
 
Was on Metformin and having B12 injections quarterly. Then I ended up in hospital as an emergency with pernicious anaemia and had to have 4 litres of blood.

Now on Rybelsus (semaglutide), with daily iron supplements and B12 tablets. Much better.
 
Michael A Powell said:
My A1C levels are now 47 but my WBC’s are elevated and my RBC is much lower than it should be and I am easily tired after any exercise. Does anyone have a similar problem and how are you managing. I am taking B12 and iron tablets which seem to help.
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Me too, I looked it up and metformin was causing my b12 to be dangerously low. When I spoke to my gp about it I wasn’t believed until I sent the article on the nhs web site about the link between metformin and b12.
I am completely off metformin now and b12 is normal.
My iron levels were also low apparently so I have requested a blood test now that I am not taking metformin. It will be interesting to see if they are higher too.
 
jonesy1969 said:
I'm on Metformin and I have a couple of Guinness which has b12 and other vitamins and is proven good for the heart
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Untrue. According to an article from the Institute of Brewing, a pint of Guinness is full of nutrients, including all the B vitamins, except B12.
 
I never knew this was a thing ! But explains a lot, am T1 and on insulin and metformin and became quite unwell last year and diagnosed with severe anaemia - been on iron tablets since and all symptoms have improved but none of my medical team mentioned it could be because of the metformin ?
 
Mmmmm, I was on Metformin and had aneamia for 12 months. Had iron I fusions as tablets and liquid upset my stomach. Came off Metformin and my iron levels have risen.
 
I was on metformin and became critically anaemic and I had to have iron transfusions stopped taking Metformin and switched to insulin when they realised I was actually T1 not T2, typical GP making assumptions
 
I've been on metformin for many years and haven't noticed any side effects, but I take B12 from British Supplements just as a matter of course. I've been under the doctor and many other health care professionals over the last 6 months as I developed an infected blister and had to have my little toe removed and a small part of my foot, no one ever mentioned anything relevant to a B12 deficiency. Would my bloods have been checked for such?
 
I am in a similar situation. Hospital for blood transfusion and iron infusion. I have CLL and Lung cancer so they think I'm bleeding internally. Will tell my haematologist about this!
 
Maz-L said:
I never knew this was a thing ! But explains a lot, am T1 and on insulin and metformin and became quite unwell last year and diagnosed with severe anaemia - been on iron tablets since and all symptoms have improved but none of my medical team mentioned it could be because of the metformin ?
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I'm type1 and have been taking just insulin for more than 50 years, my iron levels are also low.
 
I’ve been on Metformin for over 10 years and had low iron for about half of that time, becoming anaemic at one point. I’ve been on and off iron tablets during this period, but every time my ferritin levels returned to normal and I came off the tablets then eventually my iron would gradually go down again and the doctor didn’t understand why it kept happening. I was advised to make various dietary changes (iron rich foods) and prescribed iron tablets each time it occurred, which I now take continuously. I had no idea Metformin could possibly be the culprit. I’ve got an appointment coming up soon so we’ll have more to talk about than I first thought!
 
I have just realised I am anaemic.I have Type 2 and have been on Metformin for 8 years.I am taking Solgar liquid B12 and Iron tablets
Also Bury Company Black pudding very tasty and very high in Iron !
 
andi51 said:
I'm type1 and have been taking just insulin for more than 50 years, my iron levels are also low.
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I’m Type one for 38 years, insulin only. I checked my iron levels at home due to symptoms and the home test indicates I’m low , so started an iron with vit c supplement, I checked my last blood test and my iron then was on low end but nothing said I don’t think. I have stopped eating raw cacao since then which is high in iron (due to cortisol issues) and my symptoms started then, just physical fatigue walking uphill when I know I’m very capable.
 
Yes it’s a thing! My B12 dropped so low it was hard to function. They don’t test for it routinely which they should do for anyone on Metformin. I had to ask for them to test it. My GP now has it was a regular test on their annual review for anyone on metformin.
 
Hello. My doctor picked up the low B12 as part of a battery of blood tests looking for causes of cramp and fatigue. I've been on Metformin for more than 20 years and it's an absorbtion problem so taking in more B12 rich foods doesn't really solve it. For me taking a B12 tablet every couple of days keeps it within the range. The iron is less easy to solve. Tablets stop working after a while and it goes down again but the hospital refused to do an infusion because the level, which does fluctuate a bit, was just into the acceptable range that day.
 
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