About Living With The Disease Diabetes
By: Eric Menzies | Posted: 08th October 2007
Diabetes is an ailment that afflicts increasing numbers of people every day. Many do not recognize that the loss or thinning of hair can be a symptom of the onset of diabetes. However, if detected early enough, diabetes is a manageable disease that need not result in hair loss or other complications. Many things, including stress, can lead to the onset of diabetes. It is a disease that affects the body on every level, which may include the anxiety attacks that contribute to balding.
Diabetes begins when the body becomes incapable of producing the insulin necessary for the metabolization of carbohydrates. One particular issue for individuals with diabetes is the increase in the possibility of skin problems due to poor circulation of the blood and the elevation of blood sugar levels. Sufferers of diabetes become more inclined to bruise, and their injuries take more time to heal, with their recovery time increasing in all aspects, including hair re-growth. This will cause a significant loss in hair. Additionally, those who suffer from diabetes are more susceptible to infections of both the bacterial type and fungal type in the scalp, further promoting the loss of hair.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that sometimes leads to many other medical conditions. One of these is alopecia areata, which creates small, bald patches on the scalp. Another skin condition called vitiligo, characterized by the loss of pigment on the hands, face and genitalia, is common, along with a dysfunctional thyroid. One major problem that people with diabetes often face is a condition called pernicious anemia, which occurs when the stomach does not secrete enough enzymes to absorb the vitamin B12.
Often doctors do not immediately diagnose diabetes because the early symptoms are subtle or easy to ignore. The delay in diagnosis can cause severe symptoms, such as renal failure, heart disease, and blindness. If diabetes is caught early, treatment can prevent or slow these symptoms, stop major hair loss, and improve quality of life. However, no treatment can succeed if the patient does not consistently and correctly manage his or her lifestyle.
You may think hair loss is an unavoidable part of aging, but it can also be an early indication of diabetes onset. Take this simple warning sign seriously! Early diagnosis by your physician is an imperative first step toward treatment which can also help avoid further hair loss. Don't let lotions and conditioners take the place of professional evaluation and treatment. Hair loss may be your body's way to telling something serious is happening. Take a look in the mirror and act on what may be the simplest warning sign you'll get.
You can find additional hair loss tips at: How To Stop Hair Loss - Hair Loss Treatments. There are many options for treating hair loss including Female Hair Loss Treatment at http://Hair-Loss.Teach2.Us
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Tags: ailment, blood sugar levels, skin condition, autoimmune disease, recovery time, skin problems, poor circulation, type 1 diabetes, anxiety attacks, thinning of hair, loss of hair, hair type, genitalia, pernicious anemia, circulation of the blood, bald patches, renal failure