Oral Diabetes Drug Metformin and Risk For Vitamin B12 Deficiency

[keep_it_real]

Metformin (brand names Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Fortamet, Riomet, Glumetza, and others) is a popular and highly effective oral diabetes drug used to help manage Type 2 diabetes. This drug works by lowering the amount of glucose made by the liver and by making the body’s cells more sensitive to insulin.

In recent years, there’s been some concern over the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency in people who take metformin.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency include certain types of anemia, neuropathy, memory loss, confusion, and even dementia.

Much more here:
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/Blog/Amy-Campbell/metformin_and_risk_for_vitamin_b12_deficiency/

[old mark]

1. I take the maximum dose of Metformin, have for several years.

Doesn't work much for me - I was just put on an additional med, proibably will be on insulin by January.
BUT I was recently told to take a vitamin D suplement every day.

mark

[lonestarnot]

2. Seems every man-made thing has side affects that are undesirable.

No rain yet.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Oh even "natural Things" have side effects

nothing funnier, NOT than overdoses from certain natural remedies. Licorice comes to mind... oh the memories.

[julialnyc]

3. I take this

I am prescribed this for PCOS, not diabetes and my doc told me to supplement with a Super B vitamin

[keep_it_real]

4. Good, your doc is on top of it

[johnaries]

5. I've been wondering about this a lot lately. I started taking

a B-complex to get my HDL's higher. I got my HDL and LDL levels under control, but them my sugar levels started fluctuating. Not diabetes yet, but my doc was afraid it could lead to diabetes, so she started me on Metformin as a precaution. I have wondered if the higher sugar levels might be because of the B supplements. I do have to mention that I am overweight and it is much more likely that would be the cause, but no one in my family has had diabetes, and my father was overweight as well.

So, I have been wondering if there is a connection and if the B supplement and Metformin are simply "fighting each other". I plan on talking to my doc about that when I see her again in 6 weeks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. And it may be adult metabolic syndrome

and obesity leads many time to insulin resistance, which is not full blown diabetes, but to put it bluntly, your body cannot process sugars as well.

Talk to your doctor, definitely.

[johnaries]

8. Thanks! and after doing a little more research it seems that B-complex

is supposed to LOWER sugar levels. I was thinking it helped break down food into sugar but apparently it breaks down the sugars themselves. I will definitely check inot the metabolic syndrome, because that could also explain some other things.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I need to talk to mine since I do take metmorfin

and we know I do have one of the side effects...