Hair Loss May Be Due to Diabetes

Diabetes is a very prevalent disease these days. Both diabetes type 1 and type 2 have become an endemic part of the society. Diabetes is an ongoing problem which asks for lifestyle adjustments in order to cope with the condition.

In diabetes, your body either stops or decreases the production of a hormone called insulin. This hormone is necessary for glucose metabolism in your body and its absence or deficiency leads to increased amount of glucose in the blood.

The increased amount of sugar in blood is destructive. It is the mechanism involved behind complications caused by diabetes. These complications include eye problems, kidney failure, nerve issues, and many more. This is why, it is important to control the amount of sugar in your blood.

How Does A Normal Hair Cycle Work?

A hair has different growth phases during its life time. First phase is active growth. During this phase, hair grows 1 to 2 cm every month. This phase lasts for 2 years or sometimes more. Then a hair may go into a resting phase that lasts for more than 3 months. During this phase a hair can fall off.

How Diabetes Causes Hair Loss?

Diabetes can damage every cell of your body. It can damage the cells of your blood vessels that leads to interrupted blood supply to your scalp and hair. As blood is necessary for the nourishment, this decreased blood flow leads to interruption of normal hair growth cycle and hence leads to hair fall.

People who suffer from diabetes face hair loss more than an average person. Also, when their hair grow back, the rate of growth is slower than normal. Hair loss not only occurs on head but it involves legs, arms, and other areas as well.

Diabetic people have higher tendencies of autoimmune diseases so they often suffer from alopecia areata, a condition where hair loss occurs on a particular patch usually on scalp. This too is of autoimmune cause where your immune cell attack your normal body cells.

Diabetes is a chronic disease so stress related to it can also lead to hair loss.

How To Prevent Hair Loss In Diabetes?

Diabetes is an ongoing disease and you cannot cure it. All you can do is control it. Therefore, you cannot expect that diabetes will go away and so will the hair fall. You will have to take a few steps in order to control your hair fall problem.

  • Control your diabetes! It is the most important and most basic step. If your blood sugar levels are normal, none of the above described things will occur and hence you will be saved from hair fall. Check our blood sugar level regularly and if you find out that it is uncontrolled, contact your doctor. Your doctor will change your medication or adjust the dose of insulin.
  • Improve your diet. A good diet is very important for healthy and strong hair.
  • Oil and massage your scalp. Massaging will increase the blood flow in your scalp and will prevent hair fall. Make sure that you don’t massage too vigorously as it will lead to hair breakage.
  • See a dermatologist if your hair loss issue is getting out of control. A dermatologist will suggest you drugs that have the ability to help grow hair back. These drugs include steroids and Minoxidil etc. Some hormonal drugs are often prescribed to men but they are not suitable for women.
  • Use biotin. Biotin is a vitamin which is found in different foods such as peanuts, eggs, potatoes, oats, and onions. Increase the intake of biotin containing foods. However, taking biotin through the diet may not be enough at times and you may need some biotin containing supplements. Contact your doctor and he or she will prescribe you a proper dose of biotin that will slow down the rate of hair fall.
  • The last resort for the hair loss issue is wigs! If you have tried every method and they are not working or you don’t want to use these methods and medications, simply opt for a wig. There are many natural hair wigs available out there in the market that you can use without giving a fake effect.