by Barry Girolamo

Created on: September 15, 2010

One of the earliest symptoms of diabetes is usually the excessive loss of hair. You should be tested for diabetes as part of an annual physical, and this can be done through blood work which your doctor will order. Diabetes will cause blood circulation problems along with high blood sugar readings which can lead to many types of problems, one of them being hair loss. If your hair follicles aren't receiving proper nutritional support due to circulation issues, your hair will fall out, sometimes in patches, and you hair follicles can even die. Many times the hair loss suffered by diabetics will be patchy, and therefore more noticeable early on in the disease. Diabetics are also prone to skin disorders such as eczema, and other types of bacterial and fungal infections, which will also lead to excessive hair loss.

Diabetes can lead to other more serious ailments, including blindness, so it's important to make any early diagnosis to prevent the progression of the disease to a more elevated stage. Many times the patient will ignore early symptoms, so a good annual physical is a personal responsibility which we should not let slip by. This disease can kill you, so it is not something that you want to ignore. Diabetes can often cause thyroid and kidney issues, along with other skin diseases which will lead to symptoms which will surface all over the body. Anemia is another problem which can be the result of diabetes, which can cause a vitamin B-12 deficiency.

The diabetic can fall victim to eating habits which contribute to the progression of the disease, and so it is urgent that the sufferer get proper medical support. This includes seeing an endocrinologist to help with hormonal issues, which can also lead to hair loss. If you have an elevated blood sugar count, don't wait until you have a full blown case of this disease. Early intervention is the key to slowing down the progression, which will also help you to keep your hair.

Other symptoms of diabetes are a feeling of lethargy and or tiredness, being thirsty all the time, and frequent urination. Blurry vision and a feeling of irritation are also symptoms which can tip you off that it is time to check in with your doctor. Don't let these signs of diabetes go, as an early diagnosis is your best chance of keeping the disease from progressing.

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