Does Diabetes Cause Hair Loss?
Diabetes and hair loss
If you are looking for an answer whether diabetes can cause thinning or hair fall then the answer is yes, it can. Hair fall is like a cycle when one hair falls it is replaced with a new hair in many cases this may be delayed or decline with age.
The growth of hair can be affected by a lot of reasons like age, hormones, stress, medication or in case of an underlying medical issue one like diabetes.
As, we mentioned that diabetes can cause hair fall, with that it can also:
- Diabetes can lead to impairing hair growth
- Diabetes can cause an excessive increase in hair growth
- Diabetes can stop new hair follicles from forming
How does diabetes cause thinning of hair?
1) High blood sugar levels
Diabetes is directly linked to the high level of blood sugar in our body, this has a direct impact on thinning or hair fall. A common symptom associated with diabetes is insulin resistance which is the main factor in excessive hair fall during diabetes.
Not only do we see thinning of hair during this chronic disease but we can also see the growth levels of hair decreasing day by day.
- Telogen effluvium is another way to explain the thinning of hair during diabetes, this is a reaction to our body’s incapability to produce insulin and keep the blood flow.
- Many people with Type 1 diabetes have reported alopecia areata.
- This is a condition wherein our immune system can attack the hair on our scalp or any body part causing hair fall, however, these conditions are curable with the right medication and guidance.
2) Medication
Another reason for thinning of hair during diabetes can be due to the medication prescribed to you, researchers found out that high levels of carcinogen N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), in Metformin which is given to patients to treat type 2 diabetes can lead to a deficiency in vitamin B12, which can lead to hair fall.
So, it is highly recommended that patients dealing with diabetes carefully choose their medication.
How can a diabetic patient monitor hair fall?
Here are some methods that can be used by a diabetic patient to eliminate the risk of hair fall.
1) Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels:
Keeping a regular check on your blood sugar levels can ease out the risk of hair fall or thinning of hair. If you are a diabetes patient then you must buy a glucose monitor to keep a check on your levels.
2) Do Not Take Stress:
Stress is one of the major reasons for hair fall and if you are a diabetic then it is even more essential for you to keep your stress under control. To keep your stress under control you can try meditation, yoga, therapy or aromatherapy. Taking a brisk walk early in the morning can also release stress levels, stay grounded and work on mindfulness.
3) Micronutrients:
Micronutrients like Vitamin B12, B3, Vitamin D, E are essential for the body and can help in balancing the deficiency in the body which often lead to hair fall. Biotin is also an essential vitamin for the body, however, we would suggest you consult your doctor before taking any supplements.
4) Balanced Diet:
You can obtain the essential micronutrients by eating a healthy balanced diet. Three healthy meals a day can do the magic, if you don't believe us then try it for yourself you will see a visible difference within a month. A diet enriched with the right amount of vitamins, minerals and protein can prevent hair fall and sustain a healthy lifestyle.
Treatments for hair loss
Treatments for hair loss include topical solutions and medications which give the best results. You can check out our amazing products to help you take care of your hair at Mars by GHC website.
