Diabetes, Metformin/insulin And Hair Loss

[ajargon02]

Ok, so I am newly diabetic. I have been on injectable insulin for 2 months and my Dr also wants me to add 1000mg of metformin to the mix.
I started to notice 3 wks ago, that I was shedding like crazy, especially my edges!
So when I washed my hair this past weekend after not doing so for 2 weeks, I lost A HANDFUL OF HAIR! I am freaking out because I have fine hair as it is! I read that one of the side effects of metformin is hair loss, but that can't be the reason, because I just started taking it with the insulin last week.

I don't know what to do. I called the dr to ask him about it, but I am waiting on a call back.

**if you have diabetes or know someone who does and they are on injectable insulin and or metformin, is this normal? How long will this last?**

Thanks for your help!

 

[Tibbar]

@ajargon02,
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last September. I am experiencing severe hair loss as well. My hair was coming out by the handful at first, and I've been experiencing breakage ever since. My hair has thinned out considerably, but not as much is coming out now.

I was also taking injectable insulin (Novolog and Lantus) as well as metformin. I am no longer taking meds -- I am controlling my blood sugar through dietary changes. I stopped taking meds in January but my hair has not improved.

I don't really know if the breakage / shedding is caused by the disease itself or from the meds. I wish I had answers for you but I can commiserate with you. Good luck!

 

[ajargon02]

@ajargon02,
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last September. I am experiencing severe hair loss as well. My hair was coming out by the handful at first, and I've been experiencing breakage ever since. My hair has thinned out considerably, but not as much is coming out now.

I was also taking injectable insulin (Novolog and Lantus) as well as metformin. I am no longer taking meds -- I am controlling my blood sugar through dietary changes. I stopped taking meds in January but my hair has not improved.

I don't really know if the breakage / shedding is caused by the disease itself or from the meds. I wish I had answers for you but I can commiserate with you. Good luck!

We'll I am glad to know it's not just me, even though it's depressing. I certainly hope it slows down. My a1c is 12.9, so it's gonna take a while for it to come down, but I hope to be able to control it via diet/exercise. I am so glad your able to control yours that way! That's awesome! Keep up the good work!

 

[Tibbar]

We'll I am glad to know it's not just me, even though it's depressing. I certainly hope it slows down. My a1c is 12.9, so it's gonna take a while for it to come down, but I hope to be able to control it via diet/exercise. I am so glad your able to control yours that way! That's awesome! Keep up the good work!

Hey @ajargon02, My A1C levels were in the 12% range initially as well. When I was first diagnosed I ended up in the hospital with blood sugar in the high 400/low 500 range and I had diabetic ketoacidosis. They had me in the ICU on iv insulin to get my levels stabilized. I left the hospital taking injectable insulin 4xs per day and 2000 mg of metformin. I gradually dropped the evening dose (Lantus) and kept with the pre-meal Novolog and post meal metformin for several months. I was really strict with my diet and managed to get my levels down significantly and the last two times I had bloodwork my A1C level was in the 5.2% range. My doctor had me drop all medications because my sugar would drop too low while taking it....

Change is possible!! I was diagnosed last September and by this January my A1C had dropped from 12% to 5%. Hang in there with changes to your diet and exercise. Many people have been able to control this disease through diet and exercise. (Don't feel bad if you can't though! My husband is also diabetic, and even though we eat the same dinner, he HAS to take insulin and metformin to control his!) I will say that his other meals are not too good ..... I think if he completely followed the same diet I do he'd be good, but he's hard headed and just wants to eat what he wants whenever he wants.....
he don't listen...

I will be in your corner cheering you on!! You can reach out if you want to vent or have questions...


I'm hoping I can get my hair to recover. Here's my strategy: I've been trying to drink plenty of water ( I was severely dehydrated at one point, which was causing blurred vision, leg cramps, dry patchy skin and brittle nails.) I'm also increasing greens (especially spinach), and eating more proteins. I am taking nature's bounty hair, skin, nails tablets (not as regularly as I should), doing scalp massages with JBCO, low manipulation styles (mostly wearing twists), doing LOC method and baggying as often as possible, I am going to start using protein DC ( have not used protein DC too often, I have a couple of different ones I will rotate) and will also DC with moisturizing products. I'm thinking I probably need to trim, but I'm not sure to what length because my hair is so many different lengths right now... I don't want to go too short because I have a BIG head!! . My ends are brittle, rough and raggedy though so I probably need to cut them and get a fresh start.... sigh.... I was doing so well too!!

~-*-~-*-~HANG IN THERE!!~-*-~-*-~​

 

[ajargon02]

@Tibbar,
I have read and re-read your response. I didn't truly realize the severity of my situation, UNTIL I started reading. You have inspired me to keep on the right track! My pcp wasn't freaked out or anything with my a1c, so I figured that I didn't have to either. My endo on the other hand, is like TAKE ALL THE MEDS,we need to get that a1c waaaaaay down.

So, I have my good and bad days, but I am trying to have more of the good days. Eating right, sleeping the right amount for me, exercising, all that good stuff!

Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[Atthatday]

@Tibbar: Congrats, you slay!!!!

 

[Tibbar]

@Tibbar,
I have read and re-read your response. I didn't truly realize the severity of my situation, UNTIL I started reading. You have inspired me to keep on the right track! My pcp wasn't freaked out or anything with my a1c, so I figured that I didn't have to either. My endo on the other hand, is like TAKE ALL THE MEDS,we need to get that a1c waaaaaay down.

So, I have my good and bad days, but I am trying to have more of the good days. Eating right, sleeping the right amount for me, exercising, all that good stuff!

Thanks for the encouragement!

@ajargon02

It is a lot to deal with at first, but once you change your mindset it will become second nature.

For me, preparing breakfast and lunch for the week on Sunday is very helpful. It eases workday stress and ensures that I have good food in the proper amounts. I pre-make 5 days worth of breakfasts and lunches and use grocery bags to pack and store in my fridge. I bring my lunch to work and use freezer packs to keep it cold. I don't have to think about what I'm eating for my 2 most rushed meals, just grab and go.

I use Ziploc bags to measure out serving sized amounts of non-perishable items like breakfast cereal and snacks that are added to my breakfast / lunch meals. I usually try to pre-make about 3 weeks worth of cereal and snacks and store the baggies in those shoebox sized storage boxes. (For my cereal baggies - I also add 2 tablespoons of raisins and sprinkle cinnamon on 3/4 of a cup of any plain, non sugar added cereal. I also sometimes add chopped walnuts and / or almonds) Oatmeal can also be cooked in advance and portioned out and stored in fridge. (For just a few days though) I also try to always have some type of protein with my breakfast. Whatever you like to eat, there should be some way to pre-make and store most or all of it.

To me, the long term benefits of pre making / pre planning outweigh the short term aggravation.


**Try to eat new (healthy) things.
**Try to eat regularly so you are not hungry.
**Try to eat your meals around the same time everyday if possible.

**You can do this!
**Contact me if you need to !!

You are going to have good days and bad days, everyone does. Just don't get off track and have WAY more good days than bad ones and you'll be fine!!!!

 

[sugarbaybie]

im not diabetic but I do know that organic apple cider vinegar will knock a hole in high blood sugar. especially if right before a sweet meal. but if taken daily and your sugars are high it will knock it down. also cinnamon is good. another very good one is chromium.

 

[felic1]

Ok, so I am newly diabetic. I have been on injectable insulin for 2 months and my Dr also wants me to add 1000mg of metformin to the mix.
I started to notice 3 wks ago, that I was shedding like crazy, especially my edges!
So when I washed my hair this past weekend after not doing so for 2 weeks, I lost A HANDFUL OF HAIR! I am freaking out because I have fine hair as it is! I read that one of the side effects of metformin is hair loss, but that can't be the reason, because I just started taking it with the insulin last week.

I don't know what to do. I called the dr to ask him about it, but I am waiting on a call back.

**if you have diabetes or know someone who does and they are on injectable insulin and or metformin, is this normal? How long will this last?**

Thanks for your help!

Hi honey. I was using naturelle grow hair balms on my edges. I lost a big chunk when I had Senegalese twists in 2011 and 2012. I swabbed some of these balms on every night. I looked up and saw my edges. I thought I was fantasizing. My hair braided said your edges are back. Whatever balm that she has on sale at the black Friday sale buy them and get to rubbing. You wont be sorry!

 

[felic1]

I have type 2 and use lantus also. The balms will help you.