Exploring Hypovitaminosis B12 in New Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Prediabetes

Diabetics often develop vitamin B12 deficiencies, which are crucial for blood, nerve, cognitive, and cardiovascular functions. The impact of metformin on vitamin B12 levels, leading to complications such as peripheral neuropathy and anemia, is well-known; yet no studies focus on deficiency status at diabetes diagnosis or the start of treatment.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at 2 tertiary care institutions in India, Command Hospital (Western Command), Haryana, and Civil Hospital in Sirsi, Karnataka, from July 2022 to November 2023. The study included 326 newly diagnosed type II diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and prediabetes individuals attending outpatient and inpatient departments, collecting data on substance use, dietary practices, fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar, HbA1c, and vitamin B12 levels (CLIA method).

The study population of 326 individuals showed significant regional differences in mean age, gender distribution, and dietary preferences. Vitamin B12 deficiency (<200 pg/mL) was prevalent in 43.4% of prediabetic and 51.9% of type II DM patients. Significant differences in fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, and HbA1c levels were observed between regions. However, no significant correlation was found between vitamin B12 levels and HbA1c, age, or fasting glucose levels. Vegetarian individuals exhibited significantly higher vitamin B12 deficiency.

This study revealed a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in newly diagnosed diabetes patients, emphasizing the need for early identification and treatment to prevent complications such as neuropathy. The study recommends incorporating initial vitamin B12 assessment into the diagnosis protocol for newly detected diabetes patients to improve patient care and prevent complications in the Indian population.