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Hair Loss

  • Thread starter Thread starter NicolaB70
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NicolaB70

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Hi, can anyone help/advise. Can diabetes make your hair fall out? For the past few weeks my hair has been falling out in handfuls whenever I wash or brush my hair. I have to pull my hair out of my brush everyday. I've got thick hair but can feel its starting to thin out in places. I was diagnosed T2 back in June and am on 4 x 500mg metformin a day, low carbing and the weight is steadily falling off. This is starting to get me down now, especially as i haven't felt this well in a long time, so any advice would be appreciated.


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Hi NicolaB70 ,

I might be something simple, like lack of vitamins (b apparently) and the worry don't help.

Your GP should solve the hair loss problem quite quickly.
You will soon gets lots of help and good tips from other members.
I would also give your hairdresser a call for some recommendation.

I must admit some of these diets are not clever in the long run. At least you will nip this one in the bud.

Best of luck.
Roy
 
I had that problem was given blood test followed by iron from the doctors but I was feed by peg and had surgery so it could of been that that did it for me. So yes go to your doctor.
 
Have you had your thyroid levels checked? Hair loss can be a symptom of underactive thyroid, which is often associated with diabetes.

Check on line for the side-effects of metformin; I think hair loss has sometimes been noted as a side-effect of met; maybe ask your doctor if he thinks you might reduce to 3 a day, if your weight loss has been significant and your BGs are improving.

You don't say if you're on a statin; hair loss has sometimes been associated with those too!

I hope you get more joy from your GP than I did; he had no sympathy whatsoever! (much as I love him :wink: ).

Good luck!

Viv 8)
 
Interesting, I'm going through the same problem. I understand that hair loss is a side effect of Metformin, but also we all have an Auto immune disorder which is apparently also linked to hair loss.

I am going to talk to someone about my hair loss - I had thought it was something ineveitable? At the moment, people look at me and say, "You're not going bald" without knowing that I can tell the difference so much now when I put my hair up or even when I put shampoo on. I only need a tea spoon these days, particularly for the second wash. I'm worried that my GP won't take me seriously when it's such a big deal for me.

It sounds stupid, but I feel really unattractive when I brush my hair in the mornings. It's getting me down a lot. I'm wondering whether to bite the bullet and get a wig or whether hair extensions would help (that is, if I can't find another solution).

Viv, I'm shocked. I think this is a horrible thing to go through, and I don't see why a doctor should not be concerned about your happiness if it could be solved simply.
 
This happened to me too. Diagnosed May 2012 and on 3 x 500 met almost immediately. I thought I was imagining things to start with but my once really thick hair thinned considerably, like you said, not so people would think you are going bald but noticeable. I googled a lot, if seems it can be a side effect of met, although not often recognised, but is also not uncommon with low carbing. One explanation I read likened it to hair loss following pregnancy due to hormonal changes, insulin is after all a hormone!

Anyway, I managed to lose 5.5 stone in 9 months and am now off medication and my hair is thickening up nicely! So there is light at the end of the tunnel I promise x
 
Hi
It id quite comon to experience hair loss from metformin and also various hypertension medication. I was advised to take Evening Primrose Oil daily and have definitely noticed a big improvement. Although not as thick as it was my hair is starting to thicken again and is also growing faster !
 
Hi, I saw this thread and I am going through the same thing, although my hair has always been fine and shoulder length, it doesn't grow any longer than that. Ive been a trye 1 for 43 years and also have a thyroid (under active) problem too. I have found that the only solution for me is to use clip in hair extensions, which have made me look healthier and have been a saving grace for me.
I get mine from amazon.co.uk. I know this isnt the best solution for you, but if it gets to a stage where you want to thicken up specific areas then I would advise these as a temporary solution. I had alot of trial and error at first, however I have found that the full head strips work best for me and make my hair look much thicker.
Hope you find a reason for your hair loss and best of luck.
 
I would like to hold on until I don't have to low carb so much, but I don't think what's left of my hair will hold on until then!

Will try Oil of Primrose and if all else fails, the extensions. I felt that they might 'pull' on the hair that's left, though.

Nicola, have you decided what to try? I hope you find a solution. I don't think there's any shampoo that works - I just wasted £8 on shampoo and conditioner that makes my scalp itch. No thickening in sight.
 
I had this problem - my hair got really thin and my GP wasnt any help.I am on 2 x 850 metformin a day.I would avoid sitting under spotlights in restaurants as this highlighted the problem and was quite embarrassed when going out.I tried using the caffeine shampoo Alpecin after a few weeks my hair had started noticeably growing again. I dont know if this works for everyone but I am a lot more confident now.I also lost weight and got my sugars under control which may have contributed.
 
since i have been diabetic which is nearly 4 yrs now.
i am on METFORMIN & GLICLIZIDE & my hair as gone really thin i used to have really thick hair.
I am wondering is it down to my tablets.
 
Many thanks for all your help. I do have an underactive thyroid and have been on medication for the past 4 years for it and haven't had any significant hair loss in that time. I definately will be making a drs appointment as I can now see a definate bald patch on the crown of my head and it doesn't help it's red from getting sunburnt when I was on holiday last week and still sore. Thanks again for your replies


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Please let us know how you get on. I'd be grateful for any advice that would help. I think my problem is partly down to the metformin, but as it has so many good effects (protection against stroke/CVD, maybe against cancer) I don't want to give it up.

Sorry about the sunburned bald patch. At least you'll have something to demonstrate your point!

Viv 8)
 
Apparently, I am also possibly premenopausal. Might have something to do with it. I'm going to the doctor's as soon as I can (I've booked some time away just when I need to be seeing a doctor - genius!) but I fear he won't be able to confirm the menopause or not. However, if the hair loss is due to something else, hopefully I can get that knocked on the head before I lose any more.

It's getting really wispy now, and hair extentions will cost about £600 and need excessive care and maintenance. I am thinking of having my hair cut short, but will look like a man then. So I'm thinking wig route if I can't find any other solution. I'm trying oil of primrose, but it's only been 3 days, so I've no idea whether it's working. I'm considering a comb over from my top lip though :lol:

The worst thing is I'm having huge mood swings, so hair loss is not necessarily the huge issue I'm thinking it is, but I can't tell at the moment - everything is just hell on earth.
 
I was losing hair for about a year and didn't think it was an 'illness' so didn't see the doctor about it. When I eventually mentioned it during a consultation for something else, he said it could be the type of stain I was taking, as another of his patients with the same statin also had hair loss. I stopped the statin and my hair stopped falling out!
 
 
Hi

when I was first diagnosed, I noticed my hair getting very thin (i did have very thick long hair), I took 4 metform and on gliclazide daily. I was very overweight 24st at my heaviest. I started going to the gym and lost 9st in the first year and 14 in total, as I am now medication free, my hair is back to its regular self. Diabetes is a shock, but you can beat it.
 
GymQueen well done on all your weight loss, that is fantastic. I also have a lot of weight to lose but as I'm disabled with mobility and balance problems I find any exercise hard to do, so mainly stick to using my pedal exercise. The weight (as well as hair!) is coming off so I must be doing something right! Lol


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Research has shown that people who take the oral Type 2 diabetes medicine metformin may be at risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency. Now, a new study indicates that supplementation of this vitamin at the recommended levels may not be enough to address the deficiency

Symptoms of B-12 deficiency and B-12-related anemia include:
•Feeling tired or weak
•Pale appearance to the lining of lower eyelids
•Palpitations, fast or irregular heart beat.
•Faintness and breathlessness.
•Hair loss
•Bruising that occurs without reason
•Dizziness
•Long or unusually heavy menstrual periods

You can ask your doctor for B12 test and also ask for folate too as the two go hand in hand. It is better that you B12 is in the higher range when taking metformin.

Good luck
 
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