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Hair thinning

S

sooliz

Active Member
Messages
43
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi everyone

I'm female, 52 and was diagnosed Type 2 in early November. Diet only for the time being, although GP said she is looking to start me on Metformin next month. Am overweight but have lost 20lbs so far through cutting carbs, following advice on this brilliant forum. Have just had my retinopathy screening - eyes are fine. Self testing with own meter and bought strips as, in common with lots of others, surgery will not provide me with them. Relaxed the diet over Xmas/New Year and initially found it hard to shift the 4lbs I put back on and get back into the swing of things, but have just this week managed it. BG management is now fairly good, morning BG is generally in the early 5s (I no longer check the morning one every day), 2 hours post prandial usually around 6-ish - only checking now when i've eaten something different or slightly higher carb than normal. I have multiple small gallstones, due to see a gallbladder consultant on 21 February. I take no medication apart from Lisinopril for high BP, and HRT patches. I'm saying all this to give as much info as possible, in case it helps with your thoughts.

And now for the problem.....for the past few weeks, I've noticed my hair is getting a lot thinner - when I wash it the plug hole is full of hair afterwards, after drying and brushing it, I've shed loads of it, it's like I'm moulting! :shock: Seeing as I wash my hair every day in the shower, I'm terrified I'm soon going to have none left! Is this a diabetic side effect? If so, will it eventually stop? (I DO NOT want to be one of those poor old women you see with hair so thin you can see their scalps :***: ).

I know the menopause can cause our hair to thin out, but have been going through the change for more than 2 years now, and the hair loss is only a recent thing.

I'm due to see my GP in a week's time and will of course ask her, but in the meantime, can anyone help? Do any of you have any ideas about what might be causing it, if it isn't diabetes related? And do you know of anything (vitamin or herbal supplements, foods, ointments, shampoos, massage, heck, witch doctor potions or anything at all, in fact :crazy: ) that might help to stop the shedding and thicken up what's left....or even PUT IT BACK!!! (I'd love you forever if you could! :lol: ).

Thanks :wave:
 
PS, I should also have said I haven't changed my shampoo or conditioner or any other hair products, I don't think I'm doing anything differently.

Thanks again
 
How awful for you, diabetes doesn't cause hair loss in itself (well not that I'm aware of) and I wouldn't like to speculate what is causing your hair loss, definitely worth mentioning to your gp when you see her.

Good luck!
 
Hi,
I've just done a quick google search on lisinopril and hair loss. There are loads of articles and it is listed as a rare side effect.
Print some off and take it to your G.P. and ask him to change it for something else.
 
Could be a thyroid problem. Well worth asking to have thyroid levels checked.
 
Hi 'sooliz'.

My hair started to fall out when the menopause kicked in. I started the menopause at 43 years old, and at the time I had very thick wavy hair, but several years down the line, my hair is now extremely thin, and straight.

When I was diagnosed T2 it didn't make it any worse, so I don't think it's that. It's usually hormonal but I should see your doc about it.

Helena
 
Thanks all for your thoughts. I've had numerous blood tests in the past 2 or 3 months, thyroid is fine so it's not that. The Lisinopril I've been taking for 4 or 5 years, and the hair loss is only a recent thing, so I don't think it's down to the tabs either, nor the menopause.

Having thought about it, I reckon it's been happening more or less since I was diagnosed with T2, had a couple of other health probs occur at the same time which aren't yet sorted. So I'm thinking it could be down to stress.....it's been a pretty fraught couple of months!
 
I seem to recall that shortly after I was diagnosed type 2 (on Metformin from the start) I had a spell where my hair seemed to fall out more than usual.
I got quite concerned about it and thought about mentioning it to the nurse at my next visit, but after a couple of months it stopped.
I lost quite a bit of weight pre-diagnosis and just after as I went lower carbed and settled into the new diet. That along with the stress played a big part in it I believe.
Once I got into a settled diet and accepted the new way of life and condition I had acquired it seemed to get better and now 14 months down the line seems a distant memory!!
Hope you get everything sorted and it gets better soon.
Regards
Angie
 
Thanks Diadeb, my GP has been saying she wants me to take statins but so far I've resisted because of the muscle weakness, possible kidney/liver probs I've read about.....having now added hair loss to the list I definitely shan't be having them! I'll look into the MANE stuff, can you buy it in Boots or Superdrug, eg, or is it an order online thing?

Angie, thanks for the words of encouragement - I am coming to terms with the diabetes and think possibly worrying about the hair loss may be adding to the problem! (*makes a note to take up deep breathing/yoga/meditation type things* :D )
 
Dear Sooliz, I'm afraid MANE is only to be bought online but very worthwhile and posted straight away, Deb
 
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