Hair Loss

[Dawn]

I've experienced hair loss and wondered if that is related to diabetes. I noticed it when I began to lose weight and my doctor said that losing a lot of weight can do it...something about the changes in hormones. It's been a year since I've lost weight and I don't think I am losing as much hair but I also don't think it is growing any thicker.

Also, I'm 45 now so maybe there is hair loss related to the approaching 'change'???

Could this be related to T2? What are your experiences?

[princesslinda]

Hi Dawn: Have you had your thyroid checked? Hair loss can be a symptom of many things: thyroid problems, dieting, stress, anemia, heredity, hormones, medications, insulin resistance.

Not long before diagnosis, my hair started thinning on top...I've always had really thick hair until then. Like you, I thought it was probably stress or hormones (i'm near that magic age as well). After my blood sugars stabilized, this did as well fortunately.

I work for a dermatologist in the evenings and we see lots of people for alopecia (fancy term for hair loss). She has them fill out a questionairre asking about stress, dieting, meds and does blood work (ferritin/iron levels and hormone panels and thyroid levels).

I've read recently that metformin can contribute to thinning of hair, but haven't noticed this (and I see you're not on meds).

If it becomes problematic, go and see your doc or a dermatologist, as there are meds that you can take to at least keep it at the level it is now.

[jjordie]

Hi Dawn
Just logged on and noticed your posting, I have hair loss problem too and GP has cut my Metformin down to 500mg per day with a view to changing it to something else

"I have been on Metformin for 10 months now and still getting lots of side effects such as -
very dry mouth with metalic taste so that everything I eat tastes like cardboard, flatulence,
dizziness, often feeling very hungry, bloating and crampy stomache pains.
The very worst effect is HAIR LOSS, constipation and weight GAIN!

I am seriously thinking of not taking any more. My GP says all drugs have some adverse re-actions
so you have to put up with it but I feel my life is being ruined by this as I feel so awful most of the time and look terrible too with so little hair!

I found this website with many people who, like myself, are also unhappy with taking Metformin!
glucophage: Side effects, ratings, and patient comments

Anybody got any encouraging information as to whether things will eventually get better, and will my hair grow again?"

I posted the above message a few weeks ago - still waiting for another blood test, this time to check thyroid, and then I have to see a consultant about my hair loss as still not sure if it's the Metformin or thyroid problem but it doesn't see to have got too much worse since I reduced the Metformin to 500mg. Still keeping my fingers crossed that it will grow back a bit :(

http://i8.tinypic.com/4ke0uau.jpg

[princesslinda]

Dawn, sorry to hi-jack you thread but I wanted to respond to Jean.

Jean...have you seen a dermatologist about your hair loss? There are injections that can be given into your scalp that might help with regrowth, as well as different shampoos. Also, if you add color or perm, i'd go easy on that for awhile as well, just until things level off.

[jjordie]

Hi PrincessLinda
Thanks for that. I am waiting to see consultant after my next blood test in a few days time.
Injections into scalp - yikes!!! sounds painful!! http://i10.tinypic.com/4qqxt0k.gif

I also apologise for hi-jacking your posting Dawn. I am sure you will get more answers very soon.

[Dawn]

No apologies necessary. I am sorry to hear that you are having such a difficult experience Jean. You do not have to put up with those kinds of side effects...or a doctor who is not working with you to find something else that will agree with you better. He/She is essentially telling you to suck it up and live with it. That is not okay. Can you go to another doctor? Of course you're not feeling well with all of those side effects and then to make matters worse losing your hair and feeling bad about that. You deserve to have a doctor that will work with you to find what is best for you.

[volleyball]

Hair loss is a side effect of Diabetes. More likely is that you have reached upper adulthood and are at the time hair thins and turns grey. You may have neither, one or both. It is more prevalent in men so if you have a brother of similar age and he's bald, it genetics. Or your uncles

[cheryl]

When I was first diagnoised diabetic, that whole summer I had a ton of hair coming out tons and tons, went to a dermatologists and since all or mostly all, my hair had the roots on it, he said it would grow back, but only 80% yea, right LOL, it seemed i grew back more

fast foward 16 years later this yea, I lost 30 pounds went on the pump, and I started to loose my hair again, it has slowed down as long as you see roots on most of the hairs you should have nothing to worry about and it will grow back

Cheryl

[mike9876]

Now I know why my hair went.:D

[sam123]

Is there any medicine available to regrow the lost hair or even stop the hair fall?

[jjordie]

Hair loss is a side effect of Diabetes. More likely is that you have reached upper adulthood and are at the time hair thins and turns grey. You may have neither, one or both. It is more prevalent in men so if you have a brother of similar age and he's bald, it genetics. Or your uncles

Volleyball
My brother is in his late 60s and still has a LOT of hair - it ain't fair is it? :(
(he's not diabetic)

[volleyball]

While I have less hair on my head than I did in my 20's, I think the follicles fell off and landed lower on the body where they took root :mad: , I have a several year younger brother, non diabetic who has far less hair then me. He takes more from my mother side where her brother lost hair in his 30's.

[jjordie]

Just had the reply from the consultant - not bad since I had the blood test done 20th September :mad:

It seems all my tests were ok but he thinks it could be ibuprofen causing my hair loss???
So I now have to stop taking it and see what happens.....

Anybody had this re-action to ibuprofen? Would be interested to hear

[cgsmichelle]

Well I have very THIN FINE hair. I also have PCOS and a hypothyroid. Both cause hair loss. I am only 35 and I can see a day wear I am probably going to pay big bucks for some VERY NICE wigs. I just was not dealt a very good hand in the DNA card game. I started Metformin this year and I have lost even more. YIPPPEEEEE for ME! Go have your thyroid checked though just to CYA.

[jjordie]

cgsmichelle
Sorry to her you have hairloss problem too. I have hypothyroid as well - and have had several checks lately but told it was ok with the Thyroxine. I am still thinking it is Metformin that is the problem although my hair was quite thin before I took it but hardly any hair on top of my head now since I have been taking it. Perhaps the Ibuprofen combined with Metformin was too much for my poor hair to cope with!

Like you I am considering very nice wigs!!! :(

[cgsmichelle]

I have alot of cute hats! I am not going to consider a wig till we move from Guam. 1) Its HOT HOT HOT here and synthetic hair may melt to my head! LOL 2) I spend so much time outside and swimming.... I would feel uncomfortable pulling my hair off to swim. HEHEHEHEHE Someday though.....someday I will most likely wear wigs. Its all good. I still have my sparkling personality!

I am sorry you have to deal with this. If you ever want to talk or vent just message me.

[muddy]

I have researched and researched Metformin and there are no clinical studies that show it has hair loss as an adverse effect from taking it. There have been studies done to see if they could find a connection and so far they haven't. Usually when they study the patients they find something else is the link..
My hair is falling out really bad. I'm not sure why. I have not been taking Ibuprofen so, that is not it. I have been checked out with bloodwork and nothing.
If you find out something please let me know. I would try anything at this point.

[DonnaB]

Gee I'm glad to read this thread. I have been having thinning hair on top also, and I've always had really thick hair. I am hypothyroid but my levels are always good with the thyroid replacement drugs. Now I realize it must be the Metformin and I had never even considered that possibility. If I don't lose more than I'll just live with it as my control is pretty good but if much more falls out then I might have to talk to the doc about trying something else. This has been very helpful and certainly explains some things.

[Dawn]

It seems all my tests were ok but he thinks it could be ibuprofen causing my hair loss???
So I now have to stop taking it and see what happens.....

Anybody had this re-action to ibuprofen? Would be interested to hear

I have never heard of ibuprofen causing hair loss. That could be it for me. I really take too much of it. For some reason my legs hold all of my stress and ibuprofen relaxes them. Anyway, I take 2 tabs probably 3 or 4 nights a week. YIKES. My doc initially thought the hair loss was a result of losing so much weight rapidily...but I've stopped losing weight over a year ago and my hair is not getting any thicker. I'm actually going to get my long hair cut tomorrow because it just feels and looks too thin to me. :bawling:

[Carwy]

think of it this way. Less hair is easier to take care of and it is also cheap to maintain.
just some thoughts from a bald man.
oh and you look cool like the smilies. :cool:

[little_john]

I have never heard of ibuprofen causing hair loss. That could be it for me. I really take too much of it. For some reason my legs hold all of my stress and ibuprofen relaxes them. Anyway, I take 2 tabs probably 3 or 4 nights a week. YIKES. My doc initially thought the hair loss was a result of losing so much weight rapidily...but I've stopped losing weight over a year ago and my hair is not getting any thicker. I'm actually going to get my long hair cut tomorrow because it just feels and looks too thin to me. :bawling:

I've had a receding hairline since I was 15 and have always wondered what was causing it at such a young age, I guess this explains it..... thank you diabetes.

[Jill-O]

I have always had very thin / fine hair which I hate. My mother and grandmother have the same hair. About 18mos ago, I made a change I've very happy about... I started wearing wigs! My hair was not "embarassing" before but it never looked good no matter how much time and money I spent on trying to make it look good. Now my hair always looks fabulous (you'd never know I'm wearing wigs) and takes me about 2 minutes to "fix" it vs. the hour or so before. The synthetic wigs they make now days look so natural and feel nice and comfortable on. When you wash them, you just spend a minute brushing them into style and once dry, they are styled (curled, straight -- whatever their original style was) and ready to put on and go. Since getting into having wigs, now whenever see someone with REALLY nice hair, I always wonder if it's a wig :)

[sugardumplin]

Hey, I been losing my hair like crazy too. I didn't and still don't know why. Seems the past year it really thinned out on top. I got off my birthcontrol thinking that was the reason and I have had some regrowth (little short hairs) But it is still thin and I am only 29! I dont take ibuprofen and I am now taking Actoplus Met 500mg twice a day. I sure hope this doesnt make it start falling out more.

[Dawn]

My little short hairs finally grew out. My hair is still thin and I don't think it is falling out as rapidly as it was but it sure hasn't thickend any. Have you lost any weight in the last year? My doctor said one possiblity was because I lost a lot of weight. I imagine that for me it is a combination of factors.

[Alaska]

I use to have a ton of thick hair but it started thinning. I didn't have any bald spots, it was just thinning so I said **** it and I shaved my head. Been that way for a few years now. **** easy to take care of let me tell ya.

[Dawn]

I see a lot of men with their heads shaved now...I like it.
Do you get cold more easily now or do you make sure you always have a hat handy?

[EdnBama]

My little short hairs finally grew out. My hair is still thin and I don't think it is falling out as rapidly as it was but it sure hasn't thickend any. Have you lost any weight in the last year? My doctor said one possiblity was because I lost a lot of weight. I imagine that for me it is a combination of factors.

One reason a diet can cause hair loss is a reduced intake of protein. How is your protein intake now?

[Dawn]

Oh man....I eat a ton of protein! I should have luscious locks for the protein I eat :D

[Alaska]

Oh man....I eat a ton of protein! I should have luscious locks for the protein I eat :D
I'm not EVEN gonna go there.......lol

YES, my head gets cold so now when I'm outside on the snowmachines or shoveling snow I have to have a stocking cap on now. If I'M out for short periods it's no biggie.....the worst is rain now...nothing to stop it

[muddy]

Hey, Just wanted to let you know I have did the Women's Rogaine for four months and my hair is coming BACK! Probably, thicker than it has been in years. It may not work for everyone but it might be worth a try. You can get generic for women at Wal Mart and I think I saw it at Wal Greens. I'm sure they have it in all the pharmacies.