A doctor has revealed a lesser-known sign of diabetes that appears in your hair. Diabetes is characterised by the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or react to it efficiently.
This causes high levels of sugars in your blood, as the insulin impairment means that sugars are not transported from the bloodstream into your cells.
Dr Greg Vida, senior surgeon at Harley Street Hair Clinic, said: “While some symptoms and complications of diabetes are widely recognised, such as increased urination and thirst, fatigue, weight loss, sight loss or blurred vision, one symptom that’s not as well-known is hair loss.”
There are a few different mechanisms that can lead to hair loss in those with diabetes.
Dr Vida explained that the first one comes down to the damage in blood vessels triggered by persistent high blood sugar levels. The expert said: “These damaged blood vessels can then no longer bring enough oxygen to hair follicles, which can interrupt and stop the hair growth cycle.
“The hair follicles enter a resting and shedding phase, instead of a growth phase. This means that hairs lie dormant and stop growing, before shedding, causing hair thinning and loss on the scalp.”
Another way diabetes can lead to hair loss is through the lack of insulin production.
Insulin is a hormone that carries sugar out of your blood vessels and away to cells that need it. These cells break the sugar down into energy, which then allows them to carry out their normal functions.
Dr Vida explained this means creating hair in the case of hair follicles. “Therefore, if you aren’t producing enough insulin, the sugar won’t be carried to the hair follicles so hair cannot grow,” he said.
Instead, hair follicles will enter the resting phase of the hair growth cycle, before shedding.
If you start noticing hair loss, the doctor recommended speaking with your GP first.
Dr Vida said: “There are lots of reasons you may be losing your hair – it could be stress, hormonal changes, hereditary, vitamin deficiencies or more – but if you’re experiencing it alongside other diabetes symptoms, you should consult with your doctor for a potential diagnosis.”
However, if you already have an established diabetes diagnosis but you are still noticing hair thinning or falling out, you can book a consultation with a hair loss specialist to discuss treatment options, the expert suggested.
According to Dr Vida, “the best way” to prevent hair loss from diabetes is to ensure that your blood sugar levels are under control.
This is where exercise can step in. He said: “Exercise reduces the level of sugars that are present in the bloodstream, and also improves the delivery of oxygen to your body’s cells, including the hair follicles.”
The good news is that your hair can grow back once your blood sugar levels are under control.
The doctor added: “However, this may be at a slow rate. If you find that your hair isn’t growing back once your blood sugars are under control, you should consult with a hair loss specialist.”
