How to Manage Diabetes and Hair Loss - What You Can Do
10 / 10 / 18

How to Manage Diabetes and Hair Loss - What You Can Do

While the link between diabetes and hair loss has been known for some time, the underlying factors that lead to diabetic hair loss can vary greatly. The good news is diabetes-related hair loss is usually not permanent.

To understand diabetes and how it affects hair loss, and the solutions you can do to treat it, we first need to understand the relationship between insulin, diabetes and hair growth.

Insulin: The Underlying Cause of Diabetic Hair Loss

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps metabolize glucose (sugars) found in carbohydrate foods. During the digestive process, carbohydrate sugars convert into glucose and are absorbed and carried through the bloodstream to cells to either use as energy or store. The release of glucose triggers insulin production in the pancreas to control the flow of glucose levels through the bloodstream. When the body doesn't produce enough insulin (type-1 diabetes) or the insulin isn't effective at controlling glucose levels (type-2 diabetes), glucose sugars build up and store in blood cells. High blood sugar levels can cause damage to key body organs, blood vessels and nerves. Blood vessel damage can interfere with circulation, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching vital organs and tissues in the body, including hair follicles. This can impact healthy hair follicle production and growth.

Contributing Factors to Diabetic Hair Loss

There are several diabetes-related health factors that contribute to hair loss, including:

  • Chronic Stress: Chronic conditions like diabetes can lead to chronic stress. Studies have shown a link between chronic psycho-emotional stress and alopecia areata, a condition that causes hair loss patches.
  • Hormonal Imbalances: Uncontrolled diabetes can cause hormone imbalances that interfere with healthy hair follicle regeneration which leads to hair thinning and loss.
  • Immune Deficiencies: Diabetes and other auto-immune deficiencies result from the immune system attacking healthy tissues it misinterprets as a threat of foreign invasion. Damage caused to otherwise healthy tissue cells makes them more vulnerable to infections they are less able to fend off. Infections can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, causing hair loss.
  • Medications: A number of prescription medications used to treat diabetes-related conditions can trigger hair loss, including cholesterol, weight-loss and thyroid medications, certain antibiotics and some antidepressants. It's important to discuss concerns about medications that cause hair loss with your doctor to determine the best treatment options.
  • Poor Circulation: Oxygen and vital nutrients carried through blood circulation to hair follicles determine the health and growth of hair. Poor circulation can disrupt delivery of oxygen and proper nutrient absorption, reducing healthy hair follicle regrowth which leads to hair thinning and loss. 

How to Treat Diabetic Hair Loss

Dealing with hair loss isn't easy, whether it's caused by diabetes, heredity, or other health factors. Luckily, diabetes-related hair loss is not only treatable, it's often temporary and can easily be reversed or prevented by taking certain steps:

A Nutrient-Rich Diet: Just as depriving the body of the right nutrients can lead to hair loss, supplying the body with the right nutrients can greatly improve healthy hair growth. Eating a balanced diet with enough vital nutrients, like protein and iron needed to nourish the body not only helps prevent and reverse hair loss but increases healthy hair growth.

Regular Exercise: Regular exercise increases weight loss and helps restore hormonal balance, resulting in less hair loss. Getting enough exercise can lower blood sugar levels by increasing blood circulation, allowing enough oxygen and nutrients to reach cell bodies. When hair follicle cells receive enough oxygen and vital nutrients to promote healthy hair and growth, it works to prevent or reverse unhealthy hair loss.

How New Image Hair Clinic Can Help

Sometimes damage from diabetes-related conditions can trigger more severe or permanent hair loss. When this happens, there are still a number of cosmetic techniques and hair treatments options that can restore the natural look and function of your hair. For a full list of the most innovative techniques and up-to-date restorative treatment options available through New Image Hair Clinic, visit us online today.

At New Image Hair Clinic, we are committed to providing our clients the satisfaction and happiness they deserve with our personalized treatment options and dedication to excellence. Through ongoing investment in training our staff and use of the most current, proven hair restoration technologies, we are able to work with clients to determine the best hair care solutions to meet their needs. Take the first step and call us for an appointment. One of our knowledgeable and experienced consultants will guide you through all the options available to find the best approach that will work for you. Contact Us today!