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Did a blood test and my vitamine b12 values came back higher than the normal range for the first time (1100 pg/ml). Could it be linked to diabetes?

L

low808

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I'm T1 diabetic, I haven't tested b12 every year, but in the last 3 blood tests it's been normal. I haven't changed my diet and my blood count and liver function are normal. Hb1ac is not very different to the usual...
has anyone been in a situation where all of a sudden b12 levels were higher? I find it mysterious and would be very happy to share views! thanks
 
Welcome @low808 🙂 I’ve never heard of that linked to diabetes before. I don’t think mine has ever been tested. Is there a reason why they’re testing it? Did they also test your folate? And is your B12 higher than the lab range or just at the high end of their normal range?
 
hi thanks for your reply. I've changed doctors few years ago and since then they just have added it to my regular check up...folates too which are in the normal range.
the b12 is higher than the lab range (being 197 - 883 pg/ml). i just find it mysterious as all i can find online is quite scary (and does not match my other results in fact)
 
The scary reasons are rare @low808 They’d also probably affect other test results. If your doctor is happy with it, I wouldn’t worry. If it keeps bugging you, you could ask why it might be a bit higher. I’m sure I read that circulating levels could vary a fair bit and that was why they didn’t rely on the basic blood test as definitive.
 
low808 said:
I've changed doctors few years ago and since then they just have added it to my regular check up
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I wonder if it's just because it's a cheap test so why not? Or (a bit more likely) they do it for all people with diabetes because lowering B12 is a known side effect of metformin (which is a common Type 2 medication)?
 
If you’ve checked the results in the NHS app then it will give you the doctors plan as well as the result. Does it say normal or no further action or that it needs investigation?
 
Hi are you on metformin, apparently it can cause your B12 levels to drop and you would require injections to raise it again. Haven’t heard about anything raising b12 levels.
 
hi all, thanks for the answers, my doctor couldn't quite find the cause of it and was surprised since the rest of the results was normal. and no i'm not taking metformin. still a mystery then... hopefully nothing to worry about.
 
It is probably nothing to worry about but worth speaking to your GP as it is showing up as an abnormal result. Having a repeat test to double check would be a good plan.
Normally the kidneys will remove excess Vit B12 so worth getting a kidney function test if you haven't had that recently.
 
Leadinglights said:
It is probably nothing to worry about but worth speaking to your GP as it is showing up as an abnormal result. Having a repeat test to double check would be a good plan.
Normally the kidneys will remove excess Vit B12 so worth getting a kidney function test if you haven't had that recently.
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thanks, kidney function test was all normal (done the same day as the vit b12), GP suggested testing again in a while...as said, hopefully not serious, but unexpected certainly.
 
Low VitB12 does seem more common than elevated B12 @low808

Glad to hear all your other results were in good shape.
 
I seem to recall on my last lot of blood tests that my B12 was at the higher end of normal but kidney function and other tests OK so no further action required.
 
When I had low B12, it was suggested I could have pernicious anaemia.
It is an autoimmune condition like Type 1 diabetes. I don’t know why (or if anyone knows why) but it is not uncommon for someone to have multiple autoimmune conditions. Hence, low B12 being “associated with” Type 1 diabetes.
Low B12 can also be “caused by” metformin.

I have never heard about high B12 being associated with diabetes of any type.

(It was finally decided I did not have pernicious anaemia and, as I have never taken Metformin, I just tweaked my diet.)
 
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