Doctor why do you keep supplementing me with Vit B12??
Asked a curious middle aged vegetarian Diabetes patient who apparently complained of leg numbness and his love for whisky was well known to me.
So here is answer to the question for everyone to know.
Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Vit B12 is generally not present in plant foods hence we commonly see the deficiency symptoms in vegetarians.
Diabetes mellitus can increase your risk of having a Vit B12 deficiency because it may be a side effect of metformin, a common used medication in treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metformin causes malabsorption of Vit B12 hence the deficiency.
A 2009 study found that 22 percent of people with type 2 diabetes were low in Vit B12 and it was due to Metformin use.
Other medications which may cause Vit B 12 deficiency are …
Long standing use of Antacids like pantoprazole, omeprazole.
Certain antibiotics and Anti Epilepsy medication also aggravate Vit B12 deficiency.
Chronic Alcohol consumption can lead to malabsorption of Vit B12 and deficiency.
Some serious side effects of this deficiency is Peripheral neuropathy ( nerve damage) presenting as numbness of feet, imbalance on walking and eventually there is degeneration of spinal cord.
Uncontrolled Diabetes causes nerve damage and Vit B12 deficiency along with diabetes may lead to fast progression of this nerve damage.
Diabetes and low levels of vitamin B12 patients are likely to experience cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN).
CAN occurs when nerve damage affects the heart, which can be caused by prolonged high sugars.
CAN can lead to heart attack, heart failure and Rhythm disturbances of heart.
Vit B12 helps the body in forming healthy Red blood cell and hence deficiency may lead to severe Anemia.
Hence adequately treating Vit B12 deficiency is mandatory in any diabetic with correct doses.
Recommended Daily allowance (RDA) for adults is 2.4 mcg of Vit B-12 daily.
If there is very low Vit B12 level in any patient specially with Diabetes then it should be treated by higher doses of oral Vit B12 medications or injections depending on your doctors advise.
So don’t forget to ask your doctor about your need for supplementation!
