Reversal of alopecia by insulin therapy in uncontrolled type 2 DM: A case report

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that results in micro-vascular and macro-vascular complications. Further, uncontrolled hyperglycemia can damage blood vessels and alters the anagen and telogen phases of hair growth leading to alopecia. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman diagnose...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ravi Kant, Shruti Barnwal, Suresh K Sharma, Kalpana Thakur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Diabetology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.journalofdiabetology.org/article.asp?issn=2078-7685;year=2021;volume=12;issue=4;spage=533;epage=537;aulast=Kant
_version_ 1798022061504856064
author Ravi Kant
Shruti Barnwal
Suresh K Sharma
Kalpana Thakur
author_facet Ravi Kant
Shruti Barnwal
Suresh K Sharma
Kalpana Thakur
author_sort Ravi Kant
collection DOAJ
description Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that results in micro-vascular and macro-vascular complications. Further, uncontrolled hyperglycemia can damage blood vessels and alters the anagen and telogen phases of hair growth leading to alopecia. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension suffering from hair loss on the right side of scalp without any signs and symptoms of scalp inflammation. All the possible causes such as lipid profile, side effects of hypoglycemic agents and anti-hypertensive therapy, trichotillomania, and dermatological diseases were ruled out. Here, we emphasize that damaged blood vessels that hinder oxygen supply and nutrients to hair follicles could be the reason behind alopecia in DM patients. Furthermore, insulin plays an important role in cell proliferation and regrowth of hair follicles. It was also noted that patients’ response to glycemic control was remarkable, and timely initiation of insulin in patients with DM and alopecia restores normal hair growth. Still, more extensive research is required in this field, which will ultimately be helpful in the prevention of alopecia in DM patients.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T17:23:45Z
format Article
id doaj.art-98c8327df71b49a68c05992b94bb47e4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2078-7685
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T17:23:45Z
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Diabetology
spelling doaj.art-98c8327df71b49a68c05992b94bb47e42022-12-22T04:12:25ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Diabetology2078-76852021-01-0112453353710.4103/jod.jod_66_21Reversal of alopecia by insulin therapy in uncontrolled type 2 DM: A case reportRavi KantShruti BarnwalSuresh K SharmaKalpana ThakurDiabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that results in micro-vascular and macro-vascular complications. Further, uncontrolled hyperglycemia can damage blood vessels and alters the anagen and telogen phases of hair growth leading to alopecia. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension suffering from hair loss on the right side of scalp without any signs and symptoms of scalp inflammation. All the possible causes such as lipid profile, side effects of hypoglycemic agents and anti-hypertensive therapy, trichotillomania, and dermatological diseases were ruled out. Here, we emphasize that damaged blood vessels that hinder oxygen supply and nutrients to hair follicles could be the reason behind alopecia in DM patients. Furthermore, insulin plays an important role in cell proliferation and regrowth of hair follicles. It was also noted that patients’ response to glycemic control was remarkable, and timely initiation of insulin in patients with DM and alopecia restores normal hair growth. Still, more extensive research is required in this field, which will ultimately be helpful in the prevention of alopecia in DM patients.http://www.journalofdiabetology.org/article.asp?issn=2078-7685;year=2021;volume=12;issue=4;spage=533;epage=537;aulast=Kantdiabetic complicationshair fallhba1c levelinsulin therapyteam approach
spellingShingle Ravi Kant
Shruti Barnwal
Suresh K Sharma
Kalpana Thakur
Reversal of alopecia by insulin therapy in uncontrolled type 2 DM: A case report
Journal of Diabetology
diabetic complications
hair fall
hba1c level
insulin therapy
team approach
title Reversal of alopecia by insulin therapy in uncontrolled type 2 DM: A case report
title_full Reversal of alopecia by insulin therapy in uncontrolled type 2 DM: A case report
title_fullStr Reversal of alopecia by insulin therapy in uncontrolled type 2 DM: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Reversal of alopecia by insulin therapy in uncontrolled type 2 DM: A case report
title_short Reversal of alopecia by insulin therapy in uncontrolled type 2 DM: A case report
title_sort reversal of alopecia by insulin therapy in uncontrolled type 2 dm a case report
topic diabetic complications
hair fall
hba1c level
insulin therapy
team approach
url http://www.journalofdiabetology.org/article.asp?issn=2078-7685;year=2021;volume=12;issue=4;spage=533;epage=537;aulast=Kant
work_keys_str_mv AT ravikant reversalofalopeciabyinsulintherapyinuncontrolledtype2dmacasereport
AT shrutibarnwal reversalofalopeciabyinsulintherapyinuncontrolledtype2dmacasereport
AT sureshksharma reversalofalopeciabyinsulintherapyinuncontrolledtype2dmacasereport
AT kalpanathakur reversalofalopeciabyinsulintherapyinuncontrolledtype2dmacasereport