B12 and Diabeties

[Hackneybob]

Can B12 deficiancy have any effect on sugar levels?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

have tried researching this a couple of time - seems to be some evidence that it can - will try to look out some of the links - though most of what I found was around the presentation of ketoacidosis in patients with problems with B12 in the absence of diabetes.

Reason for looking is my mother who is a MODY diabetic and had huge problems with erratic blood sugar levels last year whilst her B12 levels were falling. However, she also has a long history of problems controlling her blood sugar levels so two may not be entirely connected in her case (and could be more down to the fact that despite being MODY she has always had treatment appropriate for a type 2 diabetic - focusing on insulin resistance - when the problem for her MODY variant is actually impaired insulin production. My brother managed to get his GP to switch from a type 2 regime and his severe problems controlling his blood sugar levels all but disappeared!

[Hackneybob in reply to Gambit62]

Thankyou

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Gambit62]

some of articles

ajcn.nutrition.org/content/...

- B12 and metabolisation of carbohydrates

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

B12 deficiency presenting as ketoacidosis

jdmdonline.biomedcentral.co...

more about the incidence of B12 deficiency in diabetic patients

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

B12 and diabetic neuropathy

[fbirder]

I've found a few sources that suggest that raised B12 can be associated with lowered blood sugar. But nothing decisive and nothing that suggests cause and effect either way. And nothing to suggest that low B12 can raise blood sugar.

If there is any effect it seems to be very small.

[Hackneybob in reply to fbirder]

Thankyou

[mislauren]

Good question and I'm sorry I do not know the answer. As an insulin dependent diabetic for 35 years, Past 2 years I go through periods of low sugar for no apparent reason sometimes lasting 4-5 days and then shooting extremely high as if suddenly reacting to my attempts at raising it. I never thought to link it to B12 deficiency as that was only recently discovered with the low folate. Definitely going to look into it. Will let you know.