Diabetes and B12
Metformin and Vitamin B12: What to Know About Tingling
Metformin may significantly lower vitamin B12 levels, and low B12 can cause numbness and tingling that look a lot like diabetic neuropathy. Keep taking metformin as prescribed, and ask your doctor whether a B12 test makes sense for you. Nerve Savior contains some B12, but its amount is not printed and it is not a diabetes product.
Written by the Nerve Savior editorial teamUpdated · 8 min read
The link
Does metformin lower vitamin B12?
It can. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says metformin may significantly lower blood levels of vitamin B12 (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12).
The word "may" matters. Not every person on metformin runs low, and you cannot tell by how you feel alone. A blood test is the way to find out.
Low B12 can cause numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, sometimes without anemia (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12). For someone with diabetes, those are also the classic signs of diabetic neuropathy. Two very different causes can feel the same.
Important
Should you stop metformin if you have tingling?
A possible B12 effect is a reason to talk with your doctor, not to change your diabetes medicine on your own. Your doctor can check your B12 and decide on any next step while your blood sugar stays protected.
Two causes
Is it diabetic neuropathy or low B12?
The symptoms overlap, so only testing and an exam can tell them apart.
| Question | Diabetic neuropathy | Low vitamin B12 |
|---|---|---|
| How common? | About one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy | 3% to 43% of older adults living at home, by definition used |
| Typical symptoms | Tingling, pain, numbness or weakness, usually in the feet and legs | Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet |
| Linked to metformin? | No, it is linked to diabetes itself | Yes, metformin may lower B12 |
| Main defense | Keeping blood glucose on target, plus daily foot care | Finding the low level and treating it |
| How it is found | A doctor's exam, including a yearly complete foot exam | A blood test your doctor orders |
A person can have both at once. That is why a B12 result does not replace foot exams, and good glucose numbers do not rule out a low B12.
Who should ask
Who on metformin should ask about a B12 test?
Anyone on metformin who notices new tingling or numbness has a clear reason to ask. A few other situations add to the case.
- You are an older adult, a group where low B12 is common (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
- You also take a proton pump inhibitor or an H2 blocker for heartburn, which can interfere with absorbing B12 from food (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
- Your numbness is spreading or getting worse
Who should be tested, and how often, is your doctor's call. The guide to B12 testing lists the wider risk groups.
At the visit
What should you ask your doctor about metformin and B12?
Should my B12 be checked?
Mention how long you have taken metformin, any acid reducers, and where you feel tingling.
What else could it be?
Ask about blood sugar, thyroid, kidney function, alcohol and other medicines, all known causes of nerve symptoms (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms).
Is my supplement a fit?
Bring every bottle. Ask whether the B6, B12 and herbs in it suit your health and medicines.
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Can you take Nerve Savior with metformin?
Ask your doctor first. Here is what the label tells you, and what it does not.
| B12 | Ninth in a 600 mg blend as a 1% mix: at most about 667 mcg per serving. No amount printed. |
|---|---|
| B6 | Seventh in the blend: at most about 86 mg. Too much B6 over time can itself cause nerve damage. |
| Cinnamon | Second in the blend. NCCIH says it is unclear whether cinnamon helps diabetes. |
| Diabetes claims | None on the bottle. It is a dietary supplement, not a drug, and FDA does not approve supplements. |
| Suggested use | 2 capsules daily between meals, per the label. A brand graphic says after a meal, but the bottle label takes priority. |
The bottle says "Advanced Nerve Support," but no trial of the formula exists. If a test shows low B12, your doctor will suggest a B12 dose you can count, which a hidden blend cannot offer. More on the cinnamon in the cinnamon and pink salt profile, and on fit in who Nerve Savior is for.
Every day
What daily habits protect nerves when you have diabetes?
The basics do the heavy lifting. The dial shows where each one fits in a day.
- Mid-morning, about 10:30
2 capsules between breakfast and lunch, with water.
- Evening foot check
Look for cuts, blisters or redness every day, especially with diabetes.
- A walk
Regular walking is part of standard nerve care.
- Sleep
Rest, and keep alcohol low: heavy drinking damages nerves.
Foot care (CDC, Diabetes and Your Feet), exercise (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment), alcohol (MedlinePlus, Alcoholic Neuropathy).
The American Diabetes Association calls keeping blood glucose on target the best line of defense against neuropathy, and says neuropathy is not inevitable (American Diabetes Association, Neuropathy). CDC advises checking your feet every day, never going barefoot and getting a complete foot exam at least once a year (CDC, Diabetes and Your Feet). Full steps are in foot care for diabetic neuropathy.
Bottom line
Metformin and B12: what is the takeaway?
Keep your metformin
Any change to diabetes medicine is a decision for you and your doctor together.
Ask about B12
New tingling while on metformin is a good reason to request a test.
Count what you take
Know the B6 and B12 in every supplement before adding another one.
FAQ
Metformin and vitamin B12 FAQ
Does metformin deplete vitamin B12?
It can. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says metformin may significantly lower blood levels of vitamin B12. It does not mean everyone on metformin is low. A blood test ordered by your doctor is the only way to know where you stand, so ask about it if you notice tingling or numbness.
Can metformin cause tingling in the feet?
It can happen indirectly: metformin may lower B12, and low B12 can bring numbness and tingling. Diabetes itself is also the leading cause of nerve damage. Because the two look alike, tell your doctor about any new tingling and ask whether testing makes sense.
Should I stop metformin if my B12 is low?
Do not stop or change metformin on your own. Your doctor can explain the options for raising B12 while your diabetes stays treated. Share your result, ask what treatment is suggested, and agree on when to recheck. Your blood sugar control matters for your nerves too.
How often should B12 be checked on metformin?
There is no single answer that fits everyone, so ask your doctor. Things that may shape the plan include how long you have taken metformin, your age, whether you also take an acid reducer, and whether you have numbness or tingling. Write the plan down after the visit.
Can I add Nerve Savior to my metformin routine?
Ask your doctor before combining them. No interaction between Nerve Savior and metformin is listed in the sources we use, but the label hides its B6 and B12 amounts and includes cinnamon, ginkgo and green tea extract. Bring the bottle so your doctor can review every ingredient.
Does Nerve Savior help with diabetic neuropathy?
No study shows that. Nerve Savior is a dietary supplement with no published trial, and it makes no diabetes claim. Guideline care for painful diabetic neuropathy relies on prescription medicines, blood sugar control and foot care. B12 helps only when a test shows a deficiency.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the label, the sales listing and linked public health sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Thenervesavior, a U.S. stocking partner, not by the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Nerve Savior
B12 and tingling
Low B12 is a common, treatable cause of tingling. Who should ask for a test, and what to bring.
Read moreVitamin B12
The B12 in Nerve Savior: the most a serving could hold, who runs low, and why testing comes first.
Read moreFoot care for diabetic neuropathy
The daily foot checks CDC and Mayo Clinic advise for diabetic neuropathy, and the warning signs that need a doctor.
Read moreU.S. stocking partner for Nerve Savior
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