DIABETES DRUG AND VITAMIN B
ANCHOR LEAD: DOES THE MOST POPULAR ORAL MEDICATION FOR DIABETES COMPROMISE VITAMIN B? ELIZABETH TRACEY REPORTS
Metformin is the generic name for the oral medication of choice for people whose type 2 diabetes doesn’t respond completely to changes in diet, exercise and weight loss. It’s been around for many years and has a long track record, but now a study reported at the American Diabetes Association meeting found it may compromise vitamin B12 levels in a sizeable number of patients. Redonda Miller an internal medicine expert at Johns Hopkins, comments.
MILLER: It is our first line therapy. Almost all of my type 2 diabetics are on it, it’s an excellent drug , it results in weight loss rather than weight gain, it’s very safe and it’s in a once a day formulation now, so it’s an easy drug to give to our patients, but this is going to change my practice. My patients who are on it for a long time, meaning three or more years, I probably will start checking vitamin B12 levels intermittently. :25
Miller says she would try vitamin supplements first before switching diabetes drugs. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.
