Knowledge and Practice of Physicians About Vitamin B12 deficiency among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives:

To assess knowledge and practice of physicians regarding Vitamin B12 Screening among Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and assess knowledge of physicians about recent American diabetic association (ADA) guidelines updates.

Methods:

A cross sectional study was conducted at Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in Buraidah, Qassim from January to April 2022. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire which was based on ADA guidelines among all physicians of PHCs. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used for analysis. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables and means with standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables.

Results:

About 135 (72.2%) physicians would test T2DM patients who are on metformin for Vitamin B12, and only 65 (34.8) would test them annually. Early signs of Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) are pain, burning sensation, tangling sensation, numbness and loss of protective sensation (LOPS). Only 23 (12.3%) of them knew the all five symptoms. Forty-five (45.5%) of participants would not treat DPN with B12 supplementation. Only (57.2%) order Vit B12 testing for DM2 who are on metformin, and (49.2%), (29.4%) would order them if the patient has neuropathy and on annual basis respectively. Majority of physicians (70.6%) give Vit B12 supplements as treatment of DPN.

Conclusions:

There is poor knowledge and practices related to B12 deficiency among primary care physicians. This calls for training and educating primary care physicians regarding B12 deficiency screening, neuropathy and their management. There is also need for providing sufficient resources in order to ensure B12 screening in high risk diabetic patients.