Did you know diabetes and hair loss could be related? Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot change the glucose or sugar to the energy needed. This results in the build up of sugar that can cause many problems.

The bloodstream can become clogged which will interfere with circulation of blood. This, in turn, can stop the hair follicles from receiving the oxygen and necessary nutrients that are vital to healthy hair. The end result is thinning hair.

Because the hair follicles are not receiving the necessary nutrients, new hair either does not grow or it grows very slowly. Diabetics usually have many skin problems, such as the inability to heal quickly. Small cuts and scrapes may take much longer to heal than normal.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Some of the symptoms that may mean you should be tested for diabetes are:

* Being extremely thirsty
* Being extremely hungry
* Unexplained weight loss
* Continually tired
* Becoming irritated easily
* Frequent urination
* Vision is blurry

These are just a few of the symptoms that can be related to diabetes. Having these symptoms does not necessarily mean you are diabetic. They could be signs of something else entirely however, you should be tested to be on the safe side.

Have you noticed that you are losing a great deal of hair and it seems to be getting thinner? If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes and you have this symptom combined with others, you should definitely be checked. The stress that is imposed on hair from being ill can cause loss as well.

Diabetes will cause the immune system to become weak. This means any type of infection is more common, including scalp infections. Diabetes disrupts normal functions of hormones in the body. The loss of hair, especially in women is often due to hormonal problems. In addition, many times thyroid problems seem to go hand-in-hand with diabetes. Thyroid problems can also cause loss of hair.

Even some of the medications you are taking for diabetes can cause hair loss. The only way to know if this is causing a problem is to talk to your doctor. Changing or adjusting your medication can often take care of this.

The body has a metabolic cycle that is important to allowing the processes necessary to run smoothly. In a typical person, one hundred hairs a day may fall from our bodies. However, the body can replace them.

When you have diabetes, the metabolic cycle is not functioning properly. This can be a reason for an extreme loss of hair. Depending on the severity of the problem, regrowth will not occur or it takes it some time.

Hair loss is just one of the symptoms of diabetes. It is minimal in the beginning and can be stopped by regulating the blood sugar levels. If the diabetes is kept in check, the loss will not become worse. The worst case scenario is when there has been no diagnosis and the diabetes is allowed to progress.

This is why it is extremely important if you notice symptoms that do not seem to be normal to consult your doctor. Diabetes and hair loss can be related. Your doctor is equipped to test you and to determine the cause of the loss and the best way to treat it accordingly.