[flsun01]

please bear with me on this ,as I may be way off base. The reason for my alarm is that I was diagnosed diabetic March 1 and found myself attacked by toe to head neuropathy four days after I started Glucovance which is a Biguanide and is known to deplete b12. Every study I have seen suggests Hypoxsia as a contributing factor to DPN. So my logic ( I hope ) says that I could use all the red blood cells I can get a hold of. It may be screwy thinking though. It wouldn't be the first time for me! thanx..

[dahlek]

IS with your doc/docs and staffs...but If it were me? I'd politely ask them to take a MINUTE? and look at the bloodwork results and ask for extra insight...Stating clearly that YOU understand that they systems' muck ups made life more difficult, BUT you feel like crap and that you really don't feel you had as thorough a look-over as you thought you might have? Polite/assertive/positive attitude gets you, as does 'honey', whole lots further than vinegar and tantrums?
Put far more bluntly? A POLITE temper tantrum can get more results than a mere tantrum? Re-state politely, that you have concerns and that you would like to see a MD/professional to address these? Get and keep an 'agenda' and a checklist...keep looking at it 1-5 times daily and I bet your priorities will change...FOCUS on the TOP 3! Then for later work your way down the list[s]. While a person has to be 'assertive' any positive assertiveness is far better than any negative [i.e. YOU DON"T TO SPIT FOR ME BECAUSE....] Rather: YOu've done x, y and z for me, but...I've these constant, or increasing or recurring issues...and dum...can you help me? with them? That way, YOU open the DOOR for them to do their hopefully best/better thing? Keep the rest to straight info...such as keeping the 'old' diary...I have to tell you that after YEARS...I only track my 'mental diary' thru my doc appointments? HEY, you got a 'shuffle'! Because STUFF happened stuff well beyond your control...now, turn it all....that STUFF to your advantage? Worth a shot and w/HMO's worth more than a shot...find, call a 'customer service rep'? Tho they really serve the HMO...they will work with you to get stuff done IF you are nice to them and that you can convince this person to HELP you thru the whole morass-ness. Nothing ventured? Nothing Gained...yes, it gets squirrelley...but, if you've a beaurocrat on your side, well things can get really easy in the long term....Hope this helps? - j

[mrsD]

Originally Posted by flsun01

please bear with me on this ,as I may be way off base. The reason for my alarm is that I was diagnosed diabetic March 1 and found myself attacked by toe to head neuropathy four days after I started Glucovance which is a Biguanide and is known to deplete b12. Every study I have seen suggests Hypoxsia as a contributing factor to DPN. So my logic ( I hope ) says that I could use all the red blood cells I can get a hold of. It may be screwy thinking though. It wouldn't be the first time for me! thanx..

4 days is not a realistic expectation for the effects of B12 lowering due to metformin (which is one ingredient in Glucovance--the other is glipizide).

Only about 30% experience B12 issues on metformin over time, and it has been shown that calcium supplements can help prevent this. It takes many months/years to manifest low B12 on the drug. If you are very low to begin with of course, that is different.

People however on the road to diabetes, can have PN before the diabetes is diagnosed. We have seen many posts here on this topic. So it just might be a coincidence of timing for your issues.

Anyone intolerant of sulfonamides cannot take glypizide safely. So if you think you are having allergic symptoms, you can ask your doctor to change you. If you are mild in presentation, metformin alone may be enough, for you.

[MelodyL]

Well, that explains why the Methyl B-12 helped me.

I was on metformin for more than 8 years before I went to Cornell. Then they combined it and I was on Glucovance. Never took any B-12.

Then I went to Cornell, they put me on Lantus and halved my oral meds. Then they took me off oral meds altogether. I then developed PN.

Then, a few months ago, I began the Methyl B-12. And the rest is history.

I must be an odd case (of Methyl B-12 helping my body so fast).

I never knew that Metformin depleted B-12. My god, and the fact that I haven't eaten beef in 20 years, well, I'm sure that didn't help any.

Still don't eat beef, but I most certainly take my Methyl B-12 every day.

Mel

[rose]

Some degree of B12 malabsorption becomes very common as the decades accumulate , so a very significant percentage of us would malabsorb from food anyway.

And, many go on to malabsorb even from the usual supplements.

So, just a note to those who do not take any drug or do anything else that is known to interfere with B12, it is a very good thing to cover when symptoms exist or a person has reached 50 without symptoms.

rose