Question?

koot · #1 (**permalink**) 01-18-2007, 02:05 PM

My two year old grandson has recently been diagnosed with type 1. Since he has started taking insulin it seems that his hair is real fine and looks like he has lost some of it, has this happened to anyone else?

belyro · #2 (**permalink**) 01-18-2007, 02:51 PM

I haven't heard of that before, but I know that stress can cause hair loss.

Speaking from experience, I know that being diagnosed with type 1 can be a VERY stressful experience for a young child.

LancetChick · #3 (**permalink**) 01-18-2007, 05:05 PM

I've heard of that, and although it can last months sometimes, it's temporary.

Cyborg · #4 (**permalink**) 01-18-2007, 05:32 PM

I've been on insulin for about 5 years and have not noticed any hair loss. Still nice and thick. Sorry to hear about your child, hopefully it's a temporary thing and unrelated to the insulin.

Chris Graham · #5 (**permalink**) 01-19-2007, 07:38 AM

I lost a lot of hair when I was first diagnosed, but I also found out that I have a hypo-thyroid at the same time. It took awhile to stop falling out...4 months or so. I don't know if it is growing back, but it has stopped.

notme · #6 (**permalink**) 01-19-2007, 08:31 AM

I also went from a very thick out of control head of hair to much thinner hair. Some of it came back and I have a "normal" head of hair. Don't stress too much about your grandson's hair. It should come back.

Klososky · #7 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koot

My two year old grandson has recently been diagnosed with type 1. Since he has started taking insulin it seems that his hair is real fine and looks like he has lost some of it, has this happened to anyone else?

never heard of that... however, it is most likely the stress of being diagnosed, did he spend any time in the hospital??? good luck with your grandson,
you/he will get used to it, and after a while, having type 1 won't even be (too big) of a deal.

melissata · #8 (**permalink**) 01-23-2007, 04:31 AM

It isn't the insulin that makes the hair fall out, it's the DKA or even if he wasn't in DKA, it is the trauma. It will take some time, but it will be fine again.

Stuboy · #9 (**permalink**) 01-23-2007, 04:48 AM

YES!

Some of my hair fell out after diagnosis and i asked my nurses the same question... was it the insulin?

Nope! not the insulin, it's probably stress related. His body would have been under stress pre-diagnosis, and although he may not be emotionally stressed, he will probably be physically stressed... it will stop falling out when his body recovers from what it's been through.

It could also be the time of year... if the weather over there has changed recently, that can actually cause a bit of loss of hair. but it's most likely to be the stress.