Managing diabetes

A person's blood sugar levels may get excessively high if their diabetes is uncontrolled or mistreated. Blood sugar levels that are consistently high can harm the body's tissues, organs, and blood vessels.

Blood flow restrictions caused by blood vessel damage can deprive some cells of the oxygen and nutrients they require. The regular hair follicle development cycle may be adversely affected by this deficit, which may result in hair loss.


How diabetes can affect the hair growth cycle:

Four stages are typically experienced by hair.

A minimum of two years pass during the active growth phase. Hair grows 1 centimeter (cm) of it each month. Hair enters a resting phase after a phase of transformation. Up to four months pass during this. Some resting hair eventually falls out at this stage.

This process may be interrupted by diabetes, which will impede hair growth. You may lose more hair than usual if you have diabetes.

That hair loss is not limited to the scalp. The hair on your arms, legs, and other body parts might fall out too. The pace at which the hair comes back is less quickly than typical.

People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have a condition called alopecia areata. The immune system destroys the hair follicles in alopecia areata, which results in patches of hair loss on the head and other regions of the body.

Additional possible factors for hair loss include:

  • The pressure of having a chronic illness like diabetes
  • Thyroid disorder, which is prevalent in certain diabetics and can cause hair loss
  • Medicine side effects for diabetes


Is diabetes-related hair loss curable?

Hair loss can sometimes be reversed. There are several treatments, some of which are different for men and women. Even said, the majority of hair loss treatments are temporary fixes that only work while a person is utilizing them.

Diabetes-related hair loss can be slowed or stopped by some people. Keeping stress under control and keeping blood sugar levels under excellent control are the two most effective ways to do this.


Here are some other strategies for making up for hair loss brought on by diabetes:


Medications

If you have alopecia, your doctor may recommend steroid medications to treat the inflammation.

A dermatologist or other skin care professional could suggest a topical medication like minoxidil (Rogaine). You apply it to your scalp and any other locations where you're losing hair.

Finasteride (Propecia), a medication, is another option for those born with a male gender preference to regrow their hair. Finasteride has not been approved for use by those who were assigned female gender at birth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Biotin

Natural sources of biotin, often known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H, include:

  • Sweet potatoes
  • Eggs
  • Onions
  • Oats
  • Liver and kidney
  • Nuts, including almonds, walnuts, and peanuts
  • Salmon
  • Avocado
  • Cauliflower
  • Yeast

There is some proof that biotin supplementation may prevent hair loss in persons who are deficient in the vitamin. However, before using biotin supplements, see your physician.

Massage your scalp regularly


Managing diabetes

Regular scalp massages will improve blood flow and may even strengthen your hair follicles. However, be careful not to massage too hard and instead be gentle. Your hair may break as a result. In the event that you massaged your scalp with oil, be sure to rinse it off within an hour.

Life-Style Changes

Exercise can help the body in maintaining healthy blood circulation, even though it may not be able to  stop hair loss. The blood flow to the upper and lower extremities as well as the hair follicles can be increased by regular exercise. Additionally, it can help with blood sugar management.

A healthy, balanced diet is another crucial component in managing diabetes. Blood sugar levels can be better controlled with diets heavy in lean meats, vegetables, and fruits as well as high fiber meals.

Hormonal imbalances, Blood sugar levels, Mental and physical stress are the main reasons of hair loss in diabetics.

It may be possible to stop or lessen the symptoms of hair loss by controlling blood sugar levels with medication and lifestyle changes. There are also certain drugs that may be used to treat hair loss, albeit their effects might not last very long.