Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Hair Loss?Is Hair Loss a Symptom of Diabetes?Treatment and Management of Hair LossWhen to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Hair Loss?
Is Hair Loss a Symptom of Diabetes?
Treatment and Management of Hair Loss
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
This article will explore whether hair loss could be a symptom of diabetes, potential causes of hair loss, and treatment options.
Chalisa Thammapatanakul / EyeEm / Getty Images
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the average human normally sheds about 50 to 100 hairs per day.Losing hair is part of the hair lifecycle. As one hair is shed, another replaces it.
Excessive hair shedding can occur during times of stress or after pregnancy.However, this is not the same ashair loss. Hair loss, referred to as alopecia, occurs when something stops the hair from regrowing.
Hair can fall out in patches on your scalp or on other parts of your body; it may fall out in a single episode or stop and start over time, and it may not grow back until the cause is identified and treated.
Hair loss can be a symptom of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is an autoimmune condition in which thepancreasdoes not make anyinsulin. In type 2, the most common form of diabetes, the body makes insulin but doesn’t use it properly; this is calledinsulin resistance.
Insulin is an important hormone that helps the cells use blood sugar for energy. When it is not being made or used properly, it leads to high blood sugar, which, in turn, can result in numerous serious complications throughout the body if not properly controlled.
There are thought to be three main causes of hair loss in diabetes:
Immune System Disorders
People with type 1 diabetes are at increased risk of developing other autoimmune disorders. One of the most common is alopecia areata. This occurs when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to patches of hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia(elevated blood sugar) occurs when sugar remains in the blood and cannot be taken into the cells for energy. This can occur because of lack of insulin, insulin resistance, or a combination of both. Over time, damage to the microvascular (smaller) and macrovascular (larger) vessels can occur.
For example, if blood vessels in the legs are damaged, hair follicles below the knees can also be damaged due to a lack of blood flow, which disrupts the flow of oxygen and nutrients and, as a result, affects the hair growth cycle.
Hypergylcemia can also cause hair thinning, hair fragility, spareness of hair, or decreased speed of hair growth.Insulin resistance could produce microvascular impairment, thus playing a role in the pathophysiology of a hereditary cause of hair loss calledandrogenic alopecia.
A 2019 study found that type 2 diabetes was associated with an increased risk of severe central scalp hair loss in Black women. Researchers concluded that Black women with type 2 diabetes should be followed closely for central scalp hair loss so that appropriate treatment can be offered.
Hormonal Imbalances
Diabetes is closely associated withthyroid disorders.Disruptions in thyroid hormone levels can affect the natural hair cycle.
Levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) are also known to be high in those with diabetes, increasing insulin resistance.Excess cortisol can disrupt the hair follicle, leading to hair growth disorders such as androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, andtelogen effluvium.
What Is Prediabetes?
It is important to note that no single treatment works for everyone. Treatment options will depend on the reason for hair loss and the type of hair loss you are experiencing. In many instances, hair can grow back once the intervention is started.
Managing Blood Sugar
Because elevated blood sugar is associated with vascular disruption, poor circulation, and hormonal imbalances, maintaining your blood sugars within your normal range may help prevent hair loss.
Your normal blood sugar range will depend on your age, if you experience hypoglycemia often, and how long you have had diabetes.
Typically, blood sugars should be 80-130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) after fasting for eight or more hours and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after a meal.These targets should be individualized with the help of your healthcare provider.
Medication
Certain medications are known to help treat hair loss and help hair regrow. The American Academy of Dermatology lists medicines that can help with different types of hair loss. The type of medication prescribed will depend on your age and the risks of side effects:
If your hair loss has impacted your daily life and affected your self-esteem, you may want to consider getting a wig, at least until your hair grows back. Some dermatologists may recommend a hair prosthesis, a wig that is custom made to ensure a perfect fit. There are many options to choose from.
If your blood sugars are at goal and you are reaching your target numbers that you have created with your healthcare team, yet you are still losing your hair, contact your provider. There could be a different medical or nutritional reason as to why you are losing hair.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Dealing with diabetes requires daily self-management and can be tiring. Adding hair loss to your diagnosis may feel overwhelming, but rest assured, there are ways to slow down hair loss, prevent it, and stimulate hair growth.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Associtation.Do you have hair loss or hair shedding.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss - who gets and causes.Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R.Hair loss: common causes and treatment.Am Fam Physician. PMID: 28925637.American Diabetes Association.About diabetes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss types: alopecia areata diagnosis and treatment.Miranda JJ, Taype-Rondan A, Tapia JC, Gastanadui-Gonzalez MG, Roman-Carpio R.Hair follicle characteristics as early marker of type 2 diabetes.Med Hypotheses. 2016;95:39-44. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.08.009Coogan PF, Bethea TN, Cozier YC, et al.Association of type 2 diabetes with central-scalp hair loss in a large cohort study of African American women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019;5(4):261-266. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.05.010Biondi B, Kahaly GJ, Robertson RP.Thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus: Two closely associated disorders.Endocr Rev.2019 Jun 1;40(3):789-824. doi:10.1210/er.2018-00163Geer EB, Islam J, Buettner C.Mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance: focus on adipose tissue function and lipid metabolism.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2014 Mar;43(1):75-102. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2013.10.005Erling T.Stress and the hair growth cycle: cortisol-induced hair growth disruption.Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2016;15(8):1001-1004.American Diabetes Association.The big picture: Checking you blood glucose.American Diabetes Association. 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S17-S38. doi:10.2337/dc22-S002
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Associtation.Do you have hair loss or hair shedding.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss - who gets and causes.Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R.Hair loss: common causes and treatment.Am Fam Physician. PMID: 28925637.American Diabetes Association.About diabetes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss types: alopecia areata diagnosis and treatment.Miranda JJ, Taype-Rondan A, Tapia JC, Gastanadui-Gonzalez MG, Roman-Carpio R.Hair follicle characteristics as early marker of type 2 diabetes.Med Hypotheses. 2016;95:39-44. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.08.009Coogan PF, Bethea TN, Cozier YC, et al.Association of type 2 diabetes with central-scalp hair loss in a large cohort study of African American women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019;5(4):261-266. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.05.010Biondi B, Kahaly GJ, Robertson RP.Thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus: Two closely associated disorders.Endocr Rev.2019 Jun 1;40(3):789-824. doi:10.1210/er.2018-00163Geer EB, Islam J, Buettner C.Mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance: focus on adipose tissue function and lipid metabolism.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2014 Mar;43(1):75-102. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2013.10.005Erling T.Stress and the hair growth cycle: cortisol-induced hair growth disruption.Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2016;15(8):1001-1004.American Diabetes Association.The big picture: Checking you blood glucose.American Diabetes Association. 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S17-S38. doi:10.2337/dc22-S002
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology Associtation.Do you have hair loss or hair shedding.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss - who gets and causes.Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R.Hair loss: common causes and treatment.Am Fam Physician. PMID: 28925637.American Diabetes Association.About diabetes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss types: alopecia areata diagnosis and treatment.Miranda JJ, Taype-Rondan A, Tapia JC, Gastanadui-Gonzalez MG, Roman-Carpio R.Hair follicle characteristics as early marker of type 2 diabetes.Med Hypotheses. 2016;95:39-44. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.08.009Coogan PF, Bethea TN, Cozier YC, et al.Association of type 2 diabetes with central-scalp hair loss in a large cohort study of African American women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019;5(4):261-266. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.05.010Biondi B, Kahaly GJ, Robertson RP.Thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus: Two closely associated disorders.Endocr Rev.2019 Jun 1;40(3):789-824. doi:10.1210/er.2018-00163Geer EB, Islam J, Buettner C.Mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance: focus on adipose tissue function and lipid metabolism.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2014 Mar;43(1):75-102. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2013.10.005Erling T.Stress and the hair growth cycle: cortisol-induced hair growth disruption.Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2016;15(8):1001-1004.American Diabetes Association.The big picture: Checking you blood glucose.American Diabetes Association. 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S17-S38. doi:10.2337/dc22-S002
American Academy of Dermatology Associtation.Do you have hair loss or hair shedding.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss - who gets and causes.
Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R.Hair loss: common causes and treatment.Am Fam Physician. PMID: 28925637.
American Diabetes Association.About diabetes.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss types: alopecia areata diagnosis and treatment.
Miranda JJ, Taype-Rondan A, Tapia JC, Gastanadui-Gonzalez MG, Roman-Carpio R.Hair follicle characteristics as early marker of type 2 diabetes.Med Hypotheses. 2016;95:39-44. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.08.009
Coogan PF, Bethea TN, Cozier YC, et al.Association of type 2 diabetes with central-scalp hair loss in a large cohort study of African American women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019;5(4):261-266. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.05.010
Biondi B, Kahaly GJ, Robertson RP.Thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus: Two closely associated disorders.Endocr Rev.2019 Jun 1;40(3):789-824. doi:10.1210/er.2018-00163
Geer EB, Islam J, Buettner C.Mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance: focus on adipose tissue function and lipid metabolism.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2014 Mar;43(1):75-102. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2013.10.005
Erling T.Stress and the hair growth cycle: cortisol-induced hair growth disruption.Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2016;15(8):1001-1004.
American Diabetes Association.The big picture: Checking you blood glucose.
American Diabetes Association. 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S17-S38. doi:10.2337/dc22-S002
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