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Diabetes & Hair Loss

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AidanD1812

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Ok so for about 2 and a half to 3 years now (19 at the moment) I've been suffering with the front of my hair slowly withering :cry: Recently it got more serious so we checked with the doctor to see if it was thyroid related, as that's what my mother has. Apparently that was fine :?

Then I got diagnosed with the Type 1 around 3/4 weeks ago and apparently that is related to hair loss :( so my question is that if I start to stabilize my levels and take all the necessary medication when needed and sort out eating habits, will it start to/ever grow back again?

Cheers :D
 
Who said it was related to type 1?! I have heard just about everything being (often wrongly) attributed to diabetes but that's a first.
I've been up to my eyes in diabetes books over the last few weeks (I'm a student) and not come across anything like that. I would guess you've just got ordinary hair loss... my ex started to go bald at 19. It happens.
 
Ps I've just re-read my post and I sounded a bit dismissive, I'm sorry if I came across like that. I'm just tired of doctors saying EVERYTHING is to do with diabetes, like they can't be bothered to think of any other reasons.

:?
 
I wa losing quite a lot of hair prior to diagnosis,not in a specific place but what seemed like handfuls when I combed and washed my hair. This stopped and my hair is now as thick as it was before,
There have been others this has happened to. Here's one.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10657&p=122761&hilit=hair+loss#p122761
I also remember a very young type 1 member was worried about it on diagnosis but didn't mention it later.
I'd keep an eye on it and ask my doctor but it maybe because your body was going through tremendous stresses (and of course a lack of energy to the cells ) prior to diagnosis,
 
I don't think you can dismiss hair loss as not being connected to Diabetes. There are many links available on the net which suggest and explain the reasons why it can be connected. Obviously there are many other causes as well, just don't think there isn't some connection.

Here is the result of just one quick search:
http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt= ... e_uk&rd=r2

Some are obviously just designed to part you from your money and get you into expensive treatments. However there are other sites if you dig a little deeper with very convincing explanations as to what can happen, in particular in relation to circulation and blood flow. Mention is also made of autoimmune disorders (Type 1). So, I have an open mind on this one. I wouldn't rubbish it or anybody who suggests there may be a connection. Of course it could all be due to stress or hereditary........

Ken
 
cugila/ken,

totally fair enough and I felt bad after I'd posted. It was late and I was stressed after dealing with doctors who can't be bothered to think of any other causes for anything once they hear you are diabetic.

I'll shut up now and go back to worrying about everything else :|
 
Hey,

I have been Type 1 for 20 years. In the last 2 months, my hair has started falling out. Not in clumps but all over. My hair is now so thin I am embarrassed. I am so upset about this and GP not being particularly helpful.

I have been very stressed lately with problems at home etc, but sugars have not been too bad.

Is this really linked to Diabetes??

G :(
 
It could be the stress. I'm not Type1 but my hair went quite thin during a period of intense stress. Glad to say that it has thickened up again now.
 
Snodger said:
cugila/ken,

totally fair enough and I felt bad after I'd posted. It was late and I was stressed after dealing with doctors who can't be bothered to think of any other causes for anything once they hear you are diabetic.

I'll shut up now and go back to worrying about everything else :|
Click to expand...


Snodger.
No probs........just be careful .......you might lose your hair....... :lol:

On a serious note....I agree, too many HCP's seem to think that everything is down to Diabetes. We like to think that this Forum might just educate a few of them, even if it is only anecdotal. :D

Ken
 
Hey snodger
Dont shut up its good that you put your input into the forum.We need people like you who put their opinions but are not afraid to admit that other people may have a different view that may be more appropriate at the time. And dont worry ,if you dont lose your hair you may go grey :roll:
CAROL
 
Pre-diagnosis I was losing a lot of hair for about a year, and getting really upset about it - no-one took me seriously until I took a snap of the amount of hair in my plughole after washing it, and it quite shocked my friends. It stopped exactly 6 months after I started injecting insulin - one day I washed my hair, and only a few strands had come out. I have just been told, finally, I have LADA hence it came on slowly (which I already knew) so diabetes was having an effect on me for quite some time.

It started falling out again over xmas when I was under a huge amount of stress both at work and in my private life and I was finding it hard to control my BGs (even though the HbA1cs were good). It didn't last long last time.
 
My hair is starting to noticeably grow new hairs at the front already :D

I didn't notice at first but then my hairdresser pointed it out to me and there are new wispy hairs coming through, and the recession has significantly decreased in a month :D

I should be all sorted within 6 months now :mrgreen: thankyou for your helpful replies :P
 
copepod
Pardon my intervetion here but I'm not sure you can dismiss all the previous posts which clearly show that there are well documented links to diabetes and hair loss. Having suffered from this myself a while ago it was found to have a link to diabetes as my levels were not well controlled at that time. Once the control was restored my hair did start to grow back. That was all that was done, no drugs, no treatments, just good blood glucose control. I see that the young man has noticed some hair starting to grow back. I wonder what that can be attributed to.

It MAY be possible that it is down to male pattern baldness, however I think this young man should really consult as advised before deciding what is actually the cause. In any case I am sure we shouldn't offer diagnosis only our own experiences on this particular forum. I see that you are female, so I am unsure as to whether or not you actually have any experience of male pattern baldness ?

However, perhaps you are a trichologist and i must bow to your knowledge on the subject ? :)
 
I am seeing a specialist regarding the hair tomorrow on Wednesday anyway to get a full diagnosis :D
 
Good news Aiden is going to mention his hair loss to a specialist.
Not sure that females should not be allowed to comment on male pattern baldness - as I said, it doens't just happen to males. "Sounds like male pattern baldness" doesn not mean definitely is male pattenr baldness and completely unconnected to diabetes. Aiden had already said he was working on getting his blood glucose levels under control, which is why I didn't mention it. Would you ban all midwives who have not given birth?
Not a trichologist, but I hold qualifications in nursing, marine biology, physiology, epidemiology, environmental effects on human health (MSc from Imperial College), and currently studying for genetics certificate at Cambridge University (in person, not correspondence).
 
When my brother was diagnosed with type1 he had 3 bald spots on his head, the doctors told my Mum it was caused by the diabetes and would eventually clear, it did. Before I was diagnosed with type1 I developed 3 bald spots, one in my hair above the ear, one in my moustache and another in my beard, the ones in my hair and tash have gone, and the one in my beard is slowly going.
 
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