My aunt has been taking Metformin for the last 4 to 5 years, and she has been able to maintain normal blood sugar levels, but her haemoglobin level has been falling from the last eight months, from 11 to 8. What can be the reason?
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment/advice by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Metformin belongs to a class of medications called Biguanides, which falls under the category of antidiabetics. It helps in lowering blood sugar by decreasing the production of sugar in the liver, which further delays the process of absorption of sugar in the intestine and increases insulin sensitivity in our body.
According to a recent study conducted on some patients, Metformin may decrease the amount of Vitamin B 12. Vitamin B12 is one of the factors responsible for the production of red blood cells; it contains haemoglobin(a red colour pigment). So, there might be a probability that it may be responsible for decreasing haemoglobin levels.
I would recommend visiting your local physician with all previous medical records and getting your aunt examined properly to find the exact root cause of the fall in haemoglobin levels. In case, Metformin is responsible for the same; the physician may change the medication or add supplements.
There are a variety of replacements available for it. Please don’t panic and get your aunt examined well.
Source-
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7065694
Read more about managing diabetes.