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What Diabetes Medications Cause Hair Loss

Reversal Of Diabetic Hair Loss

Can Diabetes Cause You Hair Loss? Hair loss due to diabetes Explained.

One of the main issues found in studies regarding hair loss and diabetes is that higher glucose levels tend to promote hair cell apoptosis within the body.

Apoptosis is a natural process where the death of cells occur. During Catagen stage, hair follicles go through a process of shrinking that reflects a burst of apoptosis.

Our immune cells work continuously to remove unwanted invaders from our bodies. In people with diabetes, higher blood glucose interrupts the normal apoptosis cycle and makes the immune cells remove hair cells that appear to be invaders.

Causes Of Getting Diabetes

Causes of diabetes can happen from eating the wrong foods that could make things worse such as a constant source of high sugary foods and not excising.

Although you can do the right things to reverse diabetes and manage it such as by exercising managing your weight and making healthier food choices. So there is hope!

How Is Diabetes Treated

Treatments for diabetes depend on your type of diabetes, how well controlled your blood glucose level is and your other existing health conditions.

  • Type 1 diabetes: If you have this type, you must take insulin every day. Your pancreas no longer makes insulin.
  • Type 2 diabetes: If you have this type, your treatments can include medications , insulin and lifestyle changes such as losing weight, making healthy food choices and being more physically active.
  • Prediabetes: If you have prediabetes, the goal is to keep you from progressing to diabetes. Treatments are focused on treatable risk factors, such as losing weight by eating a healthy diet and exercising . Many of the strategies used to prevent diabetes are the same as those recommended to treat diabetes .
  • Gestational diabetes: If you have this type and your glucose level is not too high, your initial treatment might be modifying your diet and getting regular exercise. If the target goal is still not met or your glucose level is very high, your healthcare team may start medication or insulin.

Oral medications and insulin work in one of these ways to treat your diabetes:

  • Stimulates your pancreas to make and release more insulin.
  • Slows down the release of glucose from your liver .
  • Blocks the breakdown of carbohydrates in your stomach or intestines so that your tissues are more sensitive to insulin.
  • Helps rid your body of glucose through increased urination.

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How To Lower Blood Sugar

If you do notice any of the early signs of high blood sugar, its important to have your blood sugar tested by a GP.

If diagnosed with the condition, the following changes could be recommended:

Drink more water as it helps remove excess sugar from the blood through urine and it helps to avoid dehydration.

Exercise more as working out can help lower a persons blood sugar levels.

Will Hair Lost From Diabetes Grow Back

Does Diabetes Cause Hair Loss?

The hair lost from diabetes is very limited and is not reversible, says Dr. Harish. In some cases, diabetes related hair loss or thinning can last for a very long time.

The good news though is that in most cases diabetes-related hair loss can be controlled and treated with the right approach. Make sure to speak to your doctor and a Trichologist, a specialist who studies and treats the hair and scalp.

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Serious Side Effects Of Glipizide

Because glipizide affects blood sugar levels, it has the potential to cause some serious side effects. These might include:

  • Hypoglycemia
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Cholestatic jaundice
  • Hyponatremia

If youre taking glipizide and start to have severe constipation, bloody urine or stools, fevers, unusual bleeding or bruising, body swelling, increased thirst, yellowing of the eyes or skin, chest pain, or convulsions, you should seek medical advice right away. These symptoms may indicate that a more serious health condition is developing.

Although its rare, glipizide can also cause life-threatening allergic reactions. An allergic reaction to glipizide will cause difficulty breathing, hives, and swelling of the face, throat, lips, or tongue. If you or someone you know has any of these symptoms, you should seek emergency medical care right away. People who are allergic to glipizide shouldnt take the medication.

Medications And Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common side effect of many medications. Most of the time, these drugs only cause temporary hair loss that goes away once youve adjusted to or stopped taking the medicine.

These medications damage the hair follicles themselves, disrupting growth at different stages.

Two kinds of hair loss may occur. One is telogen effluvium, or short-term, temporary hair loss. This occurs in the resting phase of the hair follicle, but new hair growth continues.

Another type of hair loss often caused by medications is anagen effluvium. This is a longer-term type and often also includes thinning or loss of other body hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Anagen effluvium takes place in the hairs new growth phase.

Here are some of the types of medications that can cause hair loss as a side effect.

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Medication And Hair Loss

Oral medicationsused to manage diabetes may cause some thinning or loss of hair as a side effect. Each of us responds to medication differently. Some people will not experience any side effects at all. However, if you notice that a greater-than-normal thinning or loss of hair after starting your diabetes medication, talk to your doctor about it.

The diabetes medication may not necessarily be the cause , but if it is, your doctor may be able to put you on a different brand or may have other suggestions for you.

Treating Hair Loss In People With Diabetes

Does Diabetes Cause Hair Loss and What Can You Do?

With accurate diagnosis and early treatment, hair loss can be both prevented and treated. The following are some options for treating hair loss in people with diabetes.

The doctor may recommend these options depending on the severity of the condition, other health-related factors, and personal preferences.

  • Topical Medication

Minoxidil is a commonly prescribed FDA-approved over-the-counter treatment for hair loss . It affects the follicular cells and promotes hair growth and minimizes hair loss. However, the medication is not a permanent solution for hair loss and may need to be used on an ongoing basis for achieving continued results.

  • HbA1c And Blood Sugar Management

Managing blood sugar levels is another effective way to reverse or stop hair loss due to diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, adults with diabetes should aim to keep their A1C at less than 7% . This will improve your overall health and lower the risk of hair loss.

  • Nutrition

If your body does not get enough nutrition, it may affect its functions, including hair health. A blood test can reveal any such nutritional deficiencies. The doctor may suggest taking supplements for iron, biotin, zinc, and folic acid deficiencies. These are widely recommended for promoting hair growth.

They may also suggest cosmetic, surgical, and other treatment options to minimize hair loss.

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How Do Drugs Cause Hair Loss

Drugs cause hair loss by interfering with the normal cycle of scalp hair growth. During the anagen phase, which lasts for two to seven years, the hair grows. During the telogen phase, which lasts about three months, the hair rests. At the end of the telogen phase, the hair falls out and is replaced by new hair.

Medications can lead to two types of hair loss: telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium. Learn more about other causes of baldness.

Telogen effluvium is the most common form of drug-induced hair loss. It usually appears within 2 to 4 months after taking the drug. This condition causes the hair follicles to go into their resting phase and fall out too early. People with telogen effluvium usually shed between 30% to 70% more than the normal 100 and 150 hairs a day.

Anagen effluvium is hair loss that occurs during the anagen phase of the hair cycle, when the hairs are actively growing. It prevents the matrix cells, which produce new hairs, from dividing normally. This type of hair loss usually occurs within a few days to weeks after taking the medication. It’s most common in people who are taking chemotherapy drugs for cancer and is often severe, causing people to lose most or all of the hair on their head, as well as their eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hairs.

The severity of drug-induced hair loss depends on the type of drug and dosage, as well as your sensitivity to that drug.

Will Hair Loss From Diabetes Grow Back

Hair fall is reversible in some cases. While many treatment options are available for men and women, benefits are usually short-term, and need active follow-up.

Some individuals with diabetes can control hair loss that has occured due to pre-existing health conditions. Managing stress levels and controlling blood glucose levels can help. Exercising regularly, following a healthy diet, monitoring and seeking cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling can control the condition.

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What Is Hair Loss

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that the average person sheds 50-100 hairs each day, which is considered normal. Hair loss is a natural aspect of the hair cycle. When one hair falls out, another grows in its place.

Alopecia, or hair loss, happens when anything prevents the hair from growing. Hair loss can appear in patches and may not recover until the underlying cause is addressed.

On the other hand, excessive hair shedding might happen when youre stressed or after youve given birth. Its vital to realize that this isnt the same as hair loss. So if you see a mature hairline, its not necessarily caused by your diabetes.

When blood sugars are out of range, diabetes can cause hair loss. Diabetes has also been linked to alopecia areata, an immune system illness that causes hair loss. Hair loss is upsetting, especially if you dont know whats causing it or how to treat it.

What Should I Expect If I Have Been Diagnosed With Diabetes

Does Diabetes Medication Cause Hair Loss?

If you have diabetes, the most important thing you can do is keep your blood glucose level within the target range recommended by your healthcare provider. In general, these targets are:

  • Before a meal: between 80 and 130 mg/dL.
  • About two hours after the start of a meal: less than 180 mg/dL.

You will need to closely follow a treatment plan, which will likely include following a customized diet plan, exercising 30 minutes five times a week, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol and getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Always take your medications and insulin as instructed by your provider.

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The Bottom Line On Metformin And Hair Loss

There are no current scientific indications that metformin causes hair loss. However, we know the disease that metformin treats type 2 diabetes is associated with hair loss.

In fact, hair loss may be an early warning sign of type 2 diabetes and other health problems.

Fortunately, there are some viable solutions to potentially slow or stop the hair loss you might be experiencing.

Talking with a healthcare provider about your condition and which treatment option might be right for you is a good first step.

Do not discontinue the use of metformin without speaking to your healthcare provider.

Diabetes & Hair Loss: Causes & Treatment Options

As people with diabetes, were often warned about the effects diabetes could potentially have on our eyes, fingers, and toes, but what about our hair?

Diabetes and hair loss is a common yet rarely discussed issue. Perhaps because its quickly dismissed as vanity, or because its embarrassing to publicly talk about balding areas of your scalp, whether youre a man or a woman.

Hair thinning and hair loss can come with a degree of shame because hair contributes to our feelings of beauty, femininity, and masculinity.

This article will explain the common causes and treatments for diabetes and hair loss.

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Why Is My Blood Glucose Level High How Does This Happen

The process of digestion includes breaking down the food you eat into various different nutrient sources. When you eat carbohydrates , your body breaks this down into sugar . When glucose is in your bloodstream, it needs help a “key” to get into its final destination where it’s used, which is inside your body’s cells . This help or “key” is insulin.

Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas, an organ located behind your stomach. Your pancreas releases insulin into your bloodstream. Insulin acts as the key that unlocks the cell wall door, which allows glucose to enter your bodys cells. Glucose provides the fuel or energy tissues and organs need to properly function.

If you have diabetes:

  • Your pancreas doesnt make any insulin or enough insulin.
  • Your pancreas makes insulin but your bodys cells dont respond to it and cant use it as it normally should.

If glucose cant get into your bodys cells, it stays in your bloodstream and your blood glucose level rises.

Spironolactone For Female Pattern Hair Loss

Diabetic diabetes type 2 hair loss

Spironolactone is the prescription medication for female pattern hair loss . It helps increase hair thickness and reduce hair loss. However, this medication is not safe to take during pregnancy.

There is no doubt that medical treatments and medications are some of the most effective ways to treat hair loss. However, self-care and developing healthy habits are equally important for preventing hair loss. Here are a few tips to take care of yourself and your hair at home.

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Injections Of Immunosuppressive Drugs Or Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids and immunosuppressant drugs, such as methotrexate and cyclosporine, are sometimes used to treat alopecia areata . These medications are directly injected into the balding or thinning area to stop inflammation, which, in turn, may promote hair regrowth. The injections may need to be administered every 4 to 8 weeks or more often.

Black Womens Health Study

The BWHS was established in 1995, and 59,000 AA women age 21 through 69 years were recruited, mainly from subscribers to Essence magazine, a general readership magazine that targets AA women . The baseline questionnaire elicited information on demographic and lifestyle factors, reproductive history, and medical conditions. The cohort is followed biennially through mailed and Web-based health questionnaires. Follow up of the baseline cohort has been completed for > 85% of the potential years of follow up through 2015.

The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Boston University Medical Campus. Participants indicated consent by completing and returning their questionnaires. The present analysis includes data from 20 years of follow-up .

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Final Word On Diabetes And Hair Loss

It is understood that a variety of complications may arise from diabetes that may affect hair growth and loss. Diabetes may trigger certain autoimmune conditions that attack the hair follicles, such as Alopecia Areata.

Although there is no known cure or proven treatment to cure AA of a stricken individual, several therapies might be used to help slow, reduce, or even reverse some of the conditions effects.

Through a medically approved diet and lifestyle , combined with your doctors recommended medications, be it topical or otherwise, most of the hair loss effects of diabetes and its related complications may be managed.

If you are experiencing hair loss and either have diabetes or think it may be possible, dont hesitate to contact your doctor. A simple blood test may be all that is needed to confirm.

Know that preventive measures are possible is smarter than waiting until there could be potentially life-threatening complications. If you are experiencing anything you arent sure about, make the call and discuss it with your doctor.

In my many years of practice, I have witnessed any number of symptoms of diabetes. In my experience, patients will encounter more common symptoms before they experience hair loss. Check out my article on Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus to help identify if you are at risk.

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