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Sometimes hair loss can be a symptom of disease. One disease that often presents an initial symptom of hair loss is diabetes. If you are losing your hair faster than usual and you have a feeling that the cause is not common pattern baldness, you should visit your physician to rule out an underlying disease such as diabetes. Diabetes has the following impact on your physiology:

1. Diabetes causes poor blood circulation. Poor blood circulation can affect the ability of hair follicles to operate normally. Under normal conditions, hair grows for 2-6 years; then it goes into a period of dormancy, and eventually it dies and falls out as a new strand is produced in the follicle to push it out. When blood circulation is poor, the follicle is not producing a new strand as normal, the old strand dies and falls out, and there is no replacement hair. Further, strands tend to die and fall out more quickly when blood circulation to the head area is poor. Therefore, more hair falls out and is not replaced, creating much thinner hair.

2. Diabetics are more susceptible to skin conditions, and skin conditions on the scalp can cause hair loss. Both bacterial and fungal infections of the scalp can interrupt the normal growth process of hair.

3. The medication often prescribed and taken for diabetes can interrupt the normal cycle of hair growth. More often, this is reversed as the body adjusts to the medication, but anyone beginning medications should be aware of this.

4. Physiological and psychological stress usually accompany diabetes. These are direct factors in hair loss. When combined with the other effects of diabetes stress can be an even greater cause of hair loss.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, and you are noticing hair loss that might be a result of the disease, here are a few things that you can do to slow or stop the hair loss process:

1. It might take a few months, but wait to see what happens once your body has stabilized on the medications that have been prescribed to you. Be very conscientious it taking your medication on time and in the right dose. Often your hair loss problem will correct itself.

2. Keep your body hydrated. Eight glasses (8 0z. each) should be consumed daily, no matter what other liquids you consume.

3. Get plenty of exercise. This will help increase circulation, and increased circulation will assure that the scalp is properly receiving the nutrients required for proper hair follicle health. Healthy hair follicles will produce more hair.

4. Try Yoga or some other form of relaxation to relieve stress and anxiety.

Diabetes is a significant diagnosis and a life-changing illness. Follow your physician’s instructions carefully and continue to do those things that you know are good for your general health. Hair health is affected by all that you do and consume.