Losing your hair can affect your self-image and emotional well-being. If your hair falls out easily or you see a growing bald spot, these changes might affect how you feel about yourself. It can be even more distressing if you don’t know why your hair is falling out. Luckily, not all hair loss is permanent.

DiabetesTeam members have brought up hair loss and wondered if it’s related to their diabetes. “My scalp has been getting numb, and I have significant hair loss. Is it possible to get neuropathy of the scalp?” asked a member.

“I have been feeling down a lot lately due to hair loss. My hair used to be so easy to comb and style. Nowadays, I'm afraid to even run a comb through it,” shared another.

Understanding the causes of hair loss in diabetes can help you take steps to prevent it or encourage hair regrowth.

How Diabetes Can Cause Hair Loss

People with diabetes can lose their hair because high blood glucose (sugar) levels can hurt the blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles (roots). When this happens, the hair follicles don’t get the oxygen and nourishment they need. This affects the hair growth cycle, causing follicles to remain in a resting phase, during which new hair growth stops. This can lead to alopecia (medical term for hair loss).

While research specifically about diabetes-related hair follicle damage remains limited, people living with diabetes often report hair loss. A study involving more than 5,000 African American women with type 2 diabetes found the condition was associated with a 68 percent increased risk of hair loss on the crown (center) of the scalp.

Factors That May Contribute to Hair Loss With Diabetes

In addition to possible damage to scalp blood vessels, diabetes-related treatments and complications may also play a role in hair loss.

Stress

Hair loss can occur due to physical, emotional, or hormonal stress. This type of hair loss is known as telogen effluvium, and it typically happens quickly. High blood sugar levels put physical stress on your body, including the blood vessels in your scalp. In turn, this physical stress can trigger telogen effluvium in people living with diabetes.

Being newly diagnosed with diabetes can also create emotional stress, which may further contribute to telogen effluvium. Additionally, experiencing hair loss itself can increase stress, potentially creating a cycle that makes regrowth more challenging.

The good news? Telogen effluvium is usually temporary and resolves naturally about 95 percent of the time.

Stress can lead to hair loss in other ways, too. For example, trichotillomania is a condition characterized by an irresistible urge to pull out one’s own hair from the scalp, eyebrows, or other areas. For some people, hair-pulling may be a response to stress.

Thyroid Disorders

Hair loss can be a symptom of thyroid disorders, which often occur alongside diabetes. Your thyroid gland produces hormones that help regulate metabolism, body temperature, and energy use. These hormones also influence how your body responds to insulin, the hormone produced by your pancreas to manage blood sugar levels. Diabetes can impact your thyroid function as well. Between about 10 percent and 48 percent of people living with diabetes also have a thyroid disorder.

Thyroid hormone imbalances may contribute to developing diabetes, particularly for those who already have prediabetes (blood sugar levels higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diabetes). Both hyperthyroidism (when your body produces too much thyroid hormone) and hypothyroidism (when your body produces too little thyroid hormone) can cause insulin resistance (when your body doesn’t respond normally to insulin).

Thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (also called autoimmune thyroiditis) — the most common thyroid disorder — can also cause hair loss, including alopecia areata.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, leading to hair loss on the scalp or other parts of the body. This type of hair loss often appears as small, round bald patches.

A study published in December 2024 found that both prediabetes and diabetes may increase the risk of developing alopecia areata. While the link between diabetes and alopecia areata is still being researched, health experts believe the two conditions may be connected by chronic (long-term) inflammation in the body.

Diabetes Medications

Some people report hair loss as a side effect of certain diabetes medications, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists and metformin.

GLP-1 Agonists

GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide may affect the hair growth cycle, potentially disrupting it or improving it by increasing scalp blood flow and insulin sensitivity. Reports of hair loss with some GLP-1 medications have been noted, but clinical evidence is limited. More research is needed to understand their full effects on hair.

Metformin

Some DiabetesTeam members wonder if their hair loss is linked to the diabetes medication metformin. “I was having a good day until I noticed that I was losing a lot of hair. Apparently, metformin causes hair loss. Are any of you having the same problem?” one member asked.

Another noted, “I found that taking metformin made my hair thinner.”

Hair loss isn’t a common side effect of metformin, but it may occur indirectly. Metformin can sometimes lead to a deficiency in vitamin B12, because it makes it harder for the body to absorb this nutrient from food. B vitamins, including B12, support healthy hair growth, so a deficiency might contribute to hair thinning or loss.

Interestingly, early studies are exploring whether applying metformin directly to the scalp might actually help improve hair growth, but more research is needed.

Preventing and Managing Hair Loss

If you’re noticing hair loss or are concerned about it, managing your diabetes may help slow or stop hair loss — and in some cases, support regrowth. Good blood sugar control, along with other strategies, can make a difference.

Managing Your Blood Sugar

Lowering or stabilizing your blood sugar levels can help you avoid losing more hair. To keep your blood sugar in check, your doctor might recommend:

• Monitoring your blood glucose throughout the day
• Following a diabetes-friendly eating plan
• Exercising regularly
• Taking insulin or other diabetes medications

Since every person with diabetes is different, make sure you follow your doctor's specific treatment plan for managing your blood sugar levels.

Balancing Your Diet

Eating a balanced, nutritious diet doesn’t just help with blood sugar control — it may also help prevent hair loss. Key vitamins and minerals in a healthy diet can support healthy hair and strengthen your immune system to prevent hair loss.

Try to include the following nutrients in your meals:

• Iron — This helps deliver oxygen to your hair follicles so your hair can grow. You can get iron from foods like lean meat, seafood, beans, and fortified cereals.
• Vitamin C — Found in citrus fruits, berries, and peppers, vitamin C helps you absorb iron.
• Protein — Hair is made mostly of protein, so getting enough is important for growth and strength. Good sources include meat, tofu, eggs, and beans.

If your hair loss is related to a nutrient deficiency, your doctor may recommend supplements to help restore healthy levels. Be sure to talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian before starting any supplements, as some may cause side effects or interact with diabetes medications.

It’s also important to choose supplements from trustworthy brands. Look for products that have been independently tested and verified by reputable third-party organizations, such as ConsumerLab.com, NSF International, UL, or U.S. Pharmacopeia.

Reducing Stress

If you’re experiencing emotional stress, finding healthy ways to relieve it can help slow or prevent hair loss. Exercise can be an outlet for stress while also helping you manage your blood sugar. Meditation, massage therapy, and spending time with loved ones can also ease your stress and help you relax.

Treating the Underlying Cause

Hair loss may be caused by several underlying health conditions — not just diabetes. As noted, possible causes include thyroid disorders, certain autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata, and more. If you’re noticing unusual or ongoing hair loss, it’s important to talk with your doctor. They can help identify the root cause and recommend treatments.

If your hair loss is caused by a thyroid hormone imbalance, your doctor may recommend treatments to help restore hormone levels. Treating the underlying condition may improve hair growth over time.

Using Hair Loss Treatments

Dermatologist-approved treatments may help encourage hair regrowth if self-care and lifestyle changes don’t help. Over-the-counter scalp treatments — such as topical minoxidil — may help stimulate hair growth in some people. A health care provider can help you decide if these treatments are right for your situation and guide you on how to use them safely

Talk With Others Who Understand

DiabetesTeam is the social network for people with diabetes and their loved ones. On DiabetesTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with diabetes.

Have you experienced hair loss with diabetes? Which strategies have helped your hair grow back? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.