Metformin/B12 deficiency

[Bamboo71]

Hi, Looking for help for a friend. Her husband is diabetic and on Metformin. He’s getting worse with lots of symptoms and the GP says it’s his diabetes.

I’m still quite new to my own PA diagnosis but this sounds more B12 related that diabetes related? He currently gets a B12 injection every 12 weeks.

Below is the msg from my friend when I asked her Husband’s symptoms......

His worst problem is burning pain in his feet and hands. Can not grasp anything. Pain seems to be spreading all over his body. Painkillers do not work. Terrible at managing to get his words out. Knows what he wants to say but can't get it out. Memory problems. Itching on joints. It goes on and on. He is getting increasingly upset and angry by it all and about the fact that no doctor is listening to him.😰🥶🤬

Any advice appreciated

[fbirder]

He needs to see a neurologist, an expert who can tell the difference between the symptoms of diabetes and a B12 deficiency.

He also needs to be tested as described in the British National Formulary - injections every 2 months.

[Bamboo71 in reply to fbirder]

Thank you

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Unfortunately there is a huge overlap between the symptoms of diabetes and those of B12 deficiency which is one reason why B12 absorption caused by metformin is often missed.

It may also help to keep a symptoms diary to present to the GP to demonstrate that the symptoms are alleviated by a B12 shot and then come back before the next shot.

If your friends husband has any degree of kidney disease as a result of diabetes then that is going to distort any serum B12 tests. Such tests are unlikely to be useful if on regular injections anyway.

[Bamboo71 in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you

[Penni]

Like Gambit62 says alot of symptoms do overlap. I was diganosed with PA in Jan 2010 and type 2 Diabetes in Dec 2020 so still getting used to it. I understands how he feels about Doctors, I've been there. Looking back I was showing signs of PA since I was 14 and was finally diganosed at 29 when my blodd count was so low my skin was green and my GP said 'she'd seen more colour in a corpse'. I found this funny as I've always worked hard to keep my skin white and pastey.

I already had issues with my hands and feet before the diabetes so I now keep a much better eye on my feet and have them checked every 6-8 weeks. My surgery have been great and are there if I have any issues. They know that I self inject my b12 and are happy for me to do so.

Since I started taking Metformin I've been doing my injections every six weeks, which has helped alot.

Good luck with everything

[Bamboo71 in reply to Penni]

Thank you