A chronic ailment like diabetes can take a toll on your entire body. Here is how:
Impact of diabetes on your body
If a person has diabetes, their body would either stop producing insulin or won’t be able to use it properly.
Wondering what insulin is? It is a hormone that extracts and transfers sugar from the food to cells to produce energy in the body. That is why people with diabetes are mostly low on energy.
The absence of insulin means the sugar will pile up in the bloodstream and reach all parts of the body, harming blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, etc.
So, does diabetes cause hair loss?
Yes, it does.
When blood vessels get damaged and blocked, they cannot provide oxygen to various body parts, including the scalp. Inadequate or lack of oxygen hinders the anagen phase, and hair starts thinning out.
Diabetic patients lose hair from their scalp and other body parts like arms and legs. The hair growth rate significantly slows down.
Diabetes triggers alopecia areata, in which the immune system attacks hair follicles. As a result, small bald patches are formed across the scalp.
Moreover, hair loss can happen as a side effect of diabetes too. Daily-life stress, medicines, thyroid disease from diabetes can also lead to severe hair fall.
Now that you know what diabetes can do to your body, let us look at what you can do to cure it without losing your hair:
Tips to stop hair fall occurred due to diabetes
1. Medication
Since diabetic treatment may include drugs that can lead to hair fall, the doctor may prescribe you topical medications like Minoxidil (Rogaine), which can be applied on areas with patterned baldness.
Doctors can also prescribe pills like finasteride, steroid tablets, injection, and other oral immunosuppressants like cyclosporine and methotrexate.
Note: FDA does not approve pills like finasteride for females, so your dermatologist may provide a different pill with similar properties.
2. Take a biotin-rich diet.
Biotin is a subtype of Vitamin B that slows down the hair fall process. Biotin is naturally present in foods like nuts (walnuts, almonds, peanuts), avocado, sweet potato, whole eggs, yeast, Colliflower, etc. You can also buy biotin supplements after consulting your doctor.
Moreover, it would be best to cut down on sugary and salty foods. Stay away from fried and junk foods too. Integrate lean protein, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and healthy fats in your diet. Also, keep munching every few hours to keep your blood sugar levels steady.
3. Follow an active lifestyle.
Though exercise does not treat diabetes or hair fall, it can keep you in good shape to fight the disease.
Regular workout ensures constant blood circulation to all parts of the body. It also prevents blood vessels from getting clogged and maintains a good flow of oxygen in the body.
Yoga can be equally helpful to keep you stress-free. With breathing exercises, your scalp will get the necessary oxygen for hair growth. You can do breathing exercises even in menopause to stop hair fall.
Final Thoughts
Treating diabetes in its early stages is paramount. Otherwise, it can lead to problems like nerve damage, peripheral arterial disease, fatigue, excessive urination, lack of energy, high blood pressure, hair and eye problems, etc.
Patients can experience extreme hair fall, especially patterned baldness among men and women.
Before you go for any medication, it would be best to consult a doctor. Only a qualified dermatologist can recommend the best treatment for medication, diet, and lifestyle changes.
Thus, stay cautious about your diet and lifestyle to cure hair loss swiftly.
