Uncontrolled Blood Sugar Can Lead to Hair Loss, 2 Ways to Reverse It

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4/13/2023

Updated:

4/13/2023

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Hair loss and baldness can be distressing conditions for both men and women. They can have a significant impact on one’s appearance and are difficult to treat, which can cause psychological stress for patients.

In addition to genetic factors, hair loss and baldness can be caused by insulin resistance and poor blood sugar control. Without addressing these underlying issues, treating hair loss can be challenging.

Hair Loss May Be Associated With Insulin Resistance and Uncontrolled Blood Sugar

Male pattern baldness is one of the common causes of hair loss, and it is believed to be caused by abnormal secretion of male hormones. The pattern of hair loss may differ by gender: Men typically experience a receding hairline and balding at the crown, while women may have thinning hair on the top of the head.

The common treatments for male pattern baldness include oral medications like finasteride, topical hair lotions, and hair transplantation. However, finasteride may cause side effects such as sexual dysfunction and drowsiness in a small percentage of patients, and topical hair lotions may cause allergic reactions and have limited effectiveness. While hair transplantation offers a permanent solution, it can be costly and not affordable for everyone.

Dr. Chien-Te Hung, who has a doctorate from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and is a specialist in metabolism at the 17beauty Clinic in Taiwan, highlighted that people tend to focus solely on the abnormal levels of male hormones that cause male pattern baldness, but treating only the male hormones may not be sufficient to improve the condition. This is because patients with male pattern baldness often have insulin resistance.

Hung’s many years of clinical experience have shown that by regulating patients’ blood sugar and insulin resistance, not only can their conditions be controlled and improved, but their hair may also regrow.

Studies have shown that insulin and male hormones in the body are interrelated. Insulin may stimulate the production of androgens, while elevated androgen levels are associated with conditions such as hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance.

Some studies have suggested that male pattern baldness may be influenced by factors beyond genetics, such as smoking and metabolic syndrome (i.e. insulin resistance). Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a large waistline and abdominal obesity, and although individuals with this condition may not have developed diabetes, they often experience hair loss as a symptom.

The accumulation of fat in the abdominal tissue can lead to metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and diabetes. Insulin resistance can affect the normal function of endothelial cells in blood vessels, leading to local-tissue hypoxia, microvascular insufficiency, and miniaturization of hair follicles, ultimately resulting in hair loss and baldness.

Additionally, research has found that people with a family history of hair loss, who also have metabolic syndrome, are more likely to start experiencing hair loss before the age of 30.

Hung noted that people with diabetes might experience hair loss and baldness as potential complications, especially when their glycated hemoglobin levels consistently exceed 10 percent. This can result in significant hair loss over time.

Hung went on to explain that poorly controlled blood sugar can affect metabolic processes, leading to the cessation of protein synthesis. This, in turn, can affect hair growth and result in hair loss and baldness. Furthermore, other bodily functions related to growth and synthesis, such as wound healing, immunity, and intestinal epithelial cell, nail, and skin growth, can also deteriorate.

With appropriate treatment, patients can restore their normal metabolic processes, as well as the growth and synthesis mechanisms, thereby solving hair loss and balding issues.

Factors such as food safety and environmental pollution can have detrimental effects on cells, leading to hair loss and male pattern baldness. However, Hung stated that these factors are often beyond our control. Therefore, he believes that addressing insulin and blood sugar issues is a more effective fundamental approach to treating male pattern baldness.

Reduce ‘Oil-Sugar-Flour’ to Improve Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is closely linked to a person’s dietary habits. The modern diet is filled with high-glycemic-index foods, which are the main cause of insulin resistance. Whether at restaurants or supermarkets, one can easily find fried foods, bread, cakes, cookies, candy, and soda, all of which can cause blood sugar levels to rise rapidly.

These types of foods are characterized by high fat, sugar, and flour content. Hence, Hung has coined a term to describe these foods: “oil-sugar-flour.”

He pointed out that global epidemiological studies have revealed that changes in lifestyle and environment are the main drivers of the rising incidence of insulin resistance and diabetes. Among these factors, dietary changes are the primary contributor, and these diets often include the consumption of “oil-sugar-flour” foods.

In addition to paying attention to the intake of “oil-sugar-flour” foods, there are several dietary principles that can help regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin resistance.

Eating Order: Meat, Vegetables, Rice

Many people assume that eating a full meal is more likely to cause a spike in blood sugar levels than snacking, but the reality may actually be the opposite. “Eating an ‘oil-sugar-flour’ snack is more likely to cause a spike in blood sugar levels than a full meal eaten in the order of meat, vegetables, and rice,” said Hung.

Hung recommended that people eat in the order of meat, vegetables, then rice, and try to consume fresh, natural, and diverse foods to reduce the risk of blood sugar abnormalities and insulin resistance.

Choose Whole Grains Instead of Refined

A continuous glucose monitoring device acts like a “magic mirror” that reveals the impact of different foods on blood sugar levels. Some foods that are thought to cause blood sugar spikes may actually have little effect, while some foods that are considered healthy may have a greater impact on blood sugar levels.

For example, white rice can lead to a greater rise in blood sugar levels compared to whole wheat bread.

Since the natural structure of starch in whole grains is intact, it takes longer to digest, resulting in a gradual rise in blood sugar levels. However, grinding the grains into flour changes this structure, affecting blood sugar levels. Hung pointed out that even foods made from whole-grain flour, such as bread and noodles, can accelerate the rise of blood sugar. “Instead of grinding grains into flour, opt for whole grains,” Hung suggested. Examples of these kinds of whole grains include barley, quinoa, and bulgur.

It is worth noting that instant oatmeal available in the market, despite having an intact appearance, has undergone extensive processing, and therefore can lead to a similar blood sugar response to that of porridge or congee. Based on Hung’s observation, its glycemic impact is comparable to instant noodles, with a rise in blood sugar levels occurring only about five minutes later than when it would with glucose.

Not all types of noodles are detrimental to blood sugar levels, but some are better than others.

Durum wheat, unlike regular wheat, is hard wheat with a high protein content, which results in firmer pasta. When pure durum wheat pasta is cooked according to package instructions, which involves boiling the noodles until they are al dente and only 70 to 80 percent cooked, it has a glycemic impact similar to that of rice, as demonstrated by Hung’s research.

However, pasta that is made with just 20 percent durum wheat or that is overcooked will cause a quicker spike in blood sugar levels, meaning it is still better than regular wheat pasta but not as good as pasta made entirely from durum wheat.

Let Rice Cool Before Consumption

According to Hung, if patients follow the order of eating meat, vegetables, and rice, and eat cold white rice, their blood sugar may reach a maximum of 120 mg/dl, with a peak of no more than 140 mg/dl (normal postprandial blood sugar levels range from 80 to 140 mg/dl).

The rise in blood sugar levels can differ depending on whether rice is eaten immediately after cooking, cooled before consumption, or eaten the next day. Rice that has been cooled or stored overnight contains more resistant starch, which helps to slow down the rapid rise in blood sugar.

Insulin as a Short-Term Solution for Hair Regrowth

In addition to managing insulin resistance and stabilizing blood sugar through proper diet, some patients with type 2 diabetes who experience male pattern baldness may have a chance to regrow hair through certain treatments, such as insulin injection therapy.

According to Hung, in cases where diabetic patients are unable to effectively control their blood sugar levels even with multiple medications, insulin injections may be recommended to prevent complications. Under the guidance of a physician experienced in insulin therapy, some patients may only need short-term insulin injections until their blood sugar levels stabilize, after which they can discontinue them.

Furthermore, the use of continuous glucose monitoring devices in recent years has enabled many individuals to better understand and comply with Hung’s recommended treatments, leading to better treatment outcomes. Based on Hung’s more than 40 years of clinical experience, patients who receive insulin injection therapy typically experience gradual stabilization of their blood sugar control levels within two to three months. After about six months, their hair will start to regrow, with the new hair predominantly being the person’s natural color.

For example, a 62-year-old university professor had been suffering from diabetes for many years. He had struggled with uncontrolled blood sugar levels and male pattern baldness due to a lack of proper treatment. However, after being prescribed oral hypoglycemic medication and insulin injections, he no longer experienced hair loss, and new hair started to grow in the areas previously affected by male pattern baldness.