Metabolic panel
Vitamin B12
Measured in pg/mL
What it measures
Circulating vitamin B12, essential for red cell formation and nerve function.
Why it is tracked
Long-term metformin use is associated with reduced B12 absorption, so it is monitored in anyone on sustained metabolic therapy. Deficiency causes fatigue and neuropathy.
What a provider considers
- Reduced by long-term metformin and by acid-suppressing medication
- Deficiency can present before anaemia appears
- Monitored during long-term metformin therapy
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and a single result rarely means much on its own. Interpretation depends on your symptoms, your other markers and the trend over time — which is what your provider reviews.