found this in todays Times newspaper

[Hedgehogs15]

Vitamin B12 deficiency is underdiagnosed — here’s what to look for

July 17 2023, The Times

The last thing a beleaguered NHS needs is more custom, but that’s not the responsibilty of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and is unlikely to hold much sway as the organisation finalises its first ever formal guidance on diagnosing and treating vitamin B12 deficiency. Put simply, B12 deficiency is both common and underdiagnosed and the new Nice guidelines (which are still in draft form) are likely to lead to far more people being tested and treated for the condition. Might you be one of them?

B12 is essential for the production of red blood cells and normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. Deficiency can cause numerous symptoms (see more below) ranging from lack of energy, memory issues, a sore tongue, weakness and pins and needles, to anaemia, breathlessness, confusion and, rarely, even paralysis and death. It is easily missed because it tends to develop slowly over a few years, and the signs may not show up in routine blood tests which don’t check levels of the vitamin unless specifically requested.

it’s a lengthy article but very interesting.

Take care everyone x

[Nackapan]

Thanks 😊

Is it in July 19 Times newspaper UK?

[Hedgehogs15 in reply to Nackapan]

morning Nackapan I have the Times online so yes it’s todays edition. You can find it online rather than buying the newspaper if this helps

[Nackapan in reply to Hedgehogs15]

I tried online but it wouldn't open without a subscription

[Hedgehogs15 in reply to Nackapan]

I don’t subscribe Nackapan but for some reason it lets me read articles. It took me a few attempts. I’ve added the full article here but sorry it’s a bit disjointed.

[Hedgehogs15 in reply to Nackapan]

I’ve got it on email too so if there is a way I can send it let me know

[Technoid]

The signs might not show up in a vitamin B12 serum test either. 😜 As many of us discovered to our cost.

[Midnight_Voice]

Those of us who subscribe to The Times can read an online edition, in which we often get the right to reply, on subjects that aren’t too controversial.

I’ve sprinkled the replies to this article with a few comments of my own, and it will be interesting to see if Dr Mark Porter replies to any of them, as he had done to earlier posting in the thread.

But here’s my main reply - carefully worded in certain areas you will note 😛:-

“The draft guidelines put a toe in the water of considering self-administration of parenteral hydroxycobalamin, as a topic for further research, but curiously consider only intramuscular as the alternative to oral, and not subcutaneous.

For those of us who find the two-monthly and three-monthly IM injection frequencies, unchanged in the new draft guidance, woefully inadequate, and can’t obtain the ampoules to self-administer in the UK, it would seem that SubCut, as is sanctioned for those with Type 1 diabetes, would be a perfect halfway house for self-administration, between the IM that is nowhere sanctioned outside of a clinical setting, and the oral that doesn’t work.

We are disappointed on both counts, as we see allowing those with PA to inject as often as they themselves feel they require as a necessary goal here, and SC as the pathway to this with the best precedents, and thus likely to raise the least objections.”

[Hedgehogs15 in reply to Midnight_Voice]

thank you midnight voice. Like you say carefully worded but still hopes it helps us

[rogergee]

Thank you Hedgehogs15

[Hedgehogs15]

pleasure. Hope you find it useful rogergee