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Can diabetes cause hair loss?

There are several causes of hair loss, from genetic pattern baldness to conditions such as alopecia. These are commonly known in society, but one you may not have realised is the condition of diabetes. For women who are unaware they have diabetes, hair loss can be one of the first signs that they have the condition.

What is diabetes and how does it affect you?

Diabetes is when your body is unable to produce enough insulin, cannot use the insulin production efficiently, or sometimes both.

Insulin is the hormone in your body that transfers the sugars from the food you consume from the bloodstream into the cells. This process happens so that the sugars can be stored for when the body needs energy resources.

Diabetes can create a sugar build up in the blood that affects organs around the body; it can also damage your blood vessels whose role is to carry oxygen around the body to nourish all your organs and tissues.

What do I do if I’m losing my hair because of diabetes?

The first key advice to follow is to seek medical advice to discuss the symptoms of your diabetes. The doctor may recommend adjustments in lifestyle, including your diet, as well as the medications you use to help your blood sugar levels and help alleviate this symptom.

If diabetes is the only reason for the hair loss, this symptom is more than likely going to be a temporary problem, once your hormones readjust after medication. Although, it is possible that the hair growth rate will be slightly slower than what is normal.

Diabetes and hair loss
Diabetes and hair loss

Why does diabetes cause hair loss?

Hair growth normally goes through the following process:

Active growing stage:

During this stage, which generally lasts for two years or more, hair will grow at a monthly rate of 1 to 2cm.

Resting stage:

The next stage is called the ‘resting phase’; this can last anywhere around 100 days. Once the stage is complete, some of the resting hair can fall out.

If your blood vessels are damaged, your body may not be able to deliver enough oxygen to nurture your hair follicles, therefore affecting the natural hair growth cycle outlined above.

When you have diabetes, your body affects this natural hair process resulting in your overall hair growth. The condition can also cause you to lose more hair than usual after the resting stage. Additionally, when the hair re-grows, it can grow at a slower-pace than normal.

Infections, due to the high blood sugar levels, can also affect the immune system, thus leaving people suffering with diabetes susceptible to infections and leaving their bodies to struggle to fight it off. Some infections can have the ability to disrupt healthy hair growth.

People with diabetes are more than likely to suffer with a condition called alopecia areata, particularly when they are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes; this is where the immune system attacks the hair follicles and can result in hair loss across many areas of the body. Other conditions related to diabetes can also be the determining factor in hair loss; this includes stress from living with the chronic illness, side effects from the medicine used to treat diabetes or thyroid disease, that some people with diabetes can develop alongside the condition.

How do people overcome hair loss from diabetes?

Experiencing excessive hair loss can be a stressful time and can cause a lot of anxiety for the person involved. Generally, hair loss can be dealt with in several ways, and some cases can be temporary, so seeking medical advice is essential to determine the cause of your hair loss. If you have alopecia areata, your hair may be able to grow back with the help of a specialist.

Exercise is often recommended for a lot of sufferers as completing exercise can decrease the high levels of blood sugars in the system. In addition, exercise can help the body deliver oxygen to all of the body’s cells, including the hair follicles.

Ensure that your body is kept highly nourished from your diet. Nutritional foods such as fruits, vegetables and grains can help you have healthy-looking hair and hair that is more resilient against the factors that cause hair loss.

Remember to not over style your hair every day, as this can put your hair under a lot of pressure. People with diabetes can often have thinner hair, so it’s essential to not continually put your hair follicles under harsh conditions, such as colouring and styling.

High or low blood systems can cause issues for the cardiovascular system, so ensuring you control your blood sugars can prevent the onset of hair loss. If the blood is unable to reach the hair follicles, the hair will be weak and brittle that can increase the chances of damage. If poor circulation issues continue the hair will die due to lack of nutrients, and this will result in balding.

These processes will take time to see results, but you will see benefits from them in the long-run.

What instant fixes are there for my hair loss?

If your hair is falling out because of diabetes, or for any other reason, there are many solutions to help you conceal the issue. Managing your hair loss can be an upsetting experience, but with our easy-to-use hair thickener, you can see an instant result for hair loss. Our products are designed to naturally conceal any problem areas to help you feel more confident day-to-day.

If you would like to discuss more about our instant balding fixes, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.