Dr Gaurav Jain, an internist at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (India), said that high glucose levels in diabetes can contribute to hair loss through various mechanisms.
“High blood sugar levels can lead to poor circulation, affecting blood flow to the hair follicles. Reduced blood flow hinders the supply of essential nutrients to the hair, impairing hair growth and strength,” explains Dr. Gaurav Jain.
Sharing the same view, Dr Anantharaman, consultant endocrinologist at Chinmaya Mission Hospital in Bengaluru (India), added that one of the notable effects is alopecia areata, which is more common in people with type 1 diabetes.
This happens because the immune system attacks hair follicles, resulting in alopecia areata.
Uncontrolled diabetes can also cause telogen effluvium (which occurs when there is a change in the number of hair follicles that are growing into hair), when hair enters this phase, more hair falls out.
"Reduced blood flow due to damaged blood vessels in diabetes slows hair growth and causes hair to become thinner," emphasizes Dr. Anantharaman.
Additionally, people with diabetes can experience hormonal imbalances, including increased levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone linked to hair loss.
Dr. Gaurav Jain explains that DHT can shrink hair follicles, shortening the lifespan of each hair strand and leading to thinning and sparse hair.
People with diabetes are also prone to fungal infections and conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, which can affect the scalp and hair.
Inflammation is another important factor, as diabetes is often associated with chronic inflammation, which can negatively impact hair follicles.
Inflammation can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, pushing more hair follicles into the shedding phase.
Poor circulation, hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and complications of diabetes can contribute to hair loss.
Therefore, controlling blood sugar levels, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and consulting a doctor are important steps to minimize the risk of hair loss.
According to Dr. Anantharaman, in addition to the above causes, hair loss can also originate from many different causes, so a comprehensive assessment from a healthcare practitioner is needed to receive personalized advice and treatment.
