Diabetes can cause a lot of health issues for the individual who is diagnosed, but can diabetes cause hair loss?  Diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, creates a myriad of health issues that can change the way a person lives.  The health problems include hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, hypertension, issues with circulation, fatigue, heart issues and possibly amputation.  There are many more problems, but the question remains, can diabetes cause hair loss?  To answer this question, it is important to examine the disease itself. 

Indirect factors that may lead to hair loss

Diabetes is caused by certain factors that are related to the individual-obesity, diet, activity, exercise, heritage and genetic history.  It is true that none of these factors alone (with the exception of obesity) can affect hair and the growth of it.  Diabetes can change that.

Stress-Being diagnosed with diabetes can cause a great amount of emotional stress.  Also, there is stress that is related to making changes in lifestyle; this may include changes in diet and patterns of eating, physical activity and other adjustments that are required because of diabetes. 

Obesity-As mentioned before, obesity by itself may create issues with circulation.  Coupled with the diagnosis of diabetes, the problem may be even worse.  

Direct factors that may lead to hair loss

The circulatory system-Diabetes will adversely affect the circulatory system of the body.  Pertaining to the scalp, it may be responsible for death of hair follicles.  This will lead to loss of hair.  Also, it will hinder growth of new hair. 

Hormones-This may be more prevalent with women, especially those who are pregnant (gestational diabetes).  Diabetes is a hormone related disease, bringing certain complications with it.  Loss of hair is one of them.

The immune system-It is a fact that the immune system is weakened by diabetes.  This will increase the possibility of acquiring scalp infections, which can result in loss of hair.

Can diabetes cause hair loss for woman, men or both?

It is true that the symptoms described above can bring about hair loss for women, but the very same symptoms can cause the same problems equally for men.  Every individual, be it a man or a woman, will have different results due to the complications of diabetes.  Therefore, each case of hair loss from it may be different.  The risk of woman having issues with hormonal imbalances may be higher, especially with pregnant women, so there may be a slighter chance of women having an issue.

The question, can diabetes cause hair loss, is one that may be answered through the problems that come with the disease.  Some of them are from symptoms that cannot be controlled (hormones, circulation), while others are one that the individual may have a hand in preventing (stress, obesity).  It is important to do all that is possible within the scope of capabilities to prevent any issues that are related to diabetes.  One of the most important means of preventing any further problems relating to diabetes is through the regulation of blood glucose levels.  Keeping the range within healthy levels will go a long way in preventing serious health issues, and some that are not as serious-the loss of hair.

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