TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: (THE VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY DURING METFORMIN THERAPY)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on metformin therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross sectional descriptive study of six was conducted at Liaquat university hospital Hyderabad & Govt. Lyari general hospital Karachi. The inclusion criteria of the study were diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients of ≥01 year duration, already on metformin therapy, of 35-60 years of age, both gender regardless on treatment and their glycemic status. All the diabetic individuals were further evaluated for vitamin B12 deficiency. The data of all patients was analyzed in SPSS version 16.00. The frequency and percentage (%) will be calculated for vitamin B12 deficiency in type 2 diabetes mellitus on metform therapy. The mean and standard deviation (SD) will be calculated for age, duration of diabetes mellitus and vitamin B12 level. RESULTS: During six months study period total one hundred diabetic patients on metformin therapy were evaluated for vitaminB12 deficiency. The mean ± SD for age, fasting and random blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C and vitamin B12 level for overall population was 52.87±6.87, 159.74±6.96 and 266.32±8.92, 9.08±2.74 and 85.23±72.54 respectively. The vitamin B12 deficiency was observed in 61% with male gender predominance (63%). The hemoglobin A1c was raised in 47 (68.1%) vitamin B12 deficient individuals. CONCLUSION: Type 2 diabetics on metformin therapy were observed to have low vitamin B12 level Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Vitamin B12, and Metformin