People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have a condition called alopecia areata. With alopecia areata, the immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to the loss of patches of hair on the head and other parts of the body.
Hair loss is often associated with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is thought that certain problems caused by diabetes may result in hair loss, including an immune system disorder called alopecia areata, poor circulation, and high blood sugar.
The primary causes of hair loss in people with diabetes are uncontrolled blood sugar levels, emotional and physical stress, and hormone imbalances. Using medications and lifestyle interventions to get blood sugar levels under control may help reverse or slow down the effects of hair loss.
Anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes should have their thyroid levels checked once per year to ensure they aren't developing hypo- or hyperthyroid disease. Especially common in patients with type 1 diabetes, hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease that can cause significant hair loss.
Many of the genes they have found are important for the functioning of the immune system. People with certain autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis, thyroid disease, or vitiligo, are more likely to get alopecia areata, as are those with allergic conditions such as hay fever.
Family history (heredity). The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition that happens with aging. This condition is called androgenic alopecia, male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness.
Genes and Hormones
Androgenic alopecia can be genetic, and it's also hormonal. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone derived from testosterone, the male sex hormone. DHT binds to testosterone in hair follicles and weakens them. Women also have testosterone.
Insulin resistance, a symptom associated with diabetes, is known to cause hair loss. In addition to losing more hair than usual, diabetes can also slow down hair growth. Hair grows at a slower than usual rate among those suffering from the condition.
Diabetes and prediabetes are conditions that can impact the body in many different ways, with hair loss being one of them.
Maintaining balanced blood sugar levels is the most important way to protect blood vessel health and reduce the risk of experiencing hair loss from damaged blood vessels. This means eating a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and taking medication to control glucose if your doctor prescribes it.
These blood vessels are responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles. Therefore, having diabetes can directly cause hair to fall out, slow hair growth, and/or stop new hair from forming and growing.
When your blood vessels get damaged, your body can't properly transport oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles, which can damage the hair growth cycle. The best way to avoid hair loss due to high blood sugar is to focus on eating a diet made up of foods with a low glycemic index.
Since Metformin reduces androgen levels, it might negatively affect the overall progression of androgenetic alopecia, as hair growth would be decreased. However, due to its mechanism of action, Metformin can be beneficial for CCCA.
Your diet may be the culprit. Hair loss is often caused by genetic factors. Androgenic alopecia, also called male or female pattern baldness, is a very common condition that is largely hereditary. But diet and nutrition can also contribute to increased hair loss.
Nutritional deficiency may impact both hair structure and hair growth. Effects on hair growth include acute telogen effluvium (TE), a well-known effect of sudden weight loss or decreased protein intake [1], as well as the diffuse alopecia seen in niacin deficiency [2].
The exact cause of prediabetes is unknown. But family history and genetics appear to play an important role. What is clear is that people with prediabetes don't process sugar (glucose) properly anymore. Most of the glucose in your body comes from the food you eat.
Biotin supplements have been shown to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Consequently, supplementing with biotin could reduce blood sugar levels in people with taking insulin, potentially resulting in abnormally low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).
You'll need to get a blood test that checks your blood sugar levels. Likewise, you won't know if you have most of the other conditions that are part of insulin resistance syndrome (high blood pressure, low "good" cholesterol levels, and high triglycerides) without seeing your doctor.
Metformin isn't a known cause of hair loss. However, the conditions treated by metformin — type 2 diabetes and PCOS — often list hair loss as a possible symptom. Therefore, your hair loss might be caused by the underlying condition as opposed to the treatment.
Alopecia areata is sometimes triggered by viral infections such as influenza that causes excess production of interferons (IFN). IFN- γ is one of the key factors that lead to the collapse of immune privilege.
Most people know alopecia to be a form of hair loss. However, what they don't always know is that there are three main types of the condition – alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.
Female-pattern baldness is a pattern of hair loss (alopecia) caused by hormones, aging and genetics. Unlike male-pattern baldness, female-pattern baldness is an over-all thinning which maintains the normal hairline.