Does a high blood sugar level result in hair loss in women?

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Why do some women grow mustaches while some men start crying at movies? You may be surprised to know these embarrassing traits are typical high blood sugar symptoms.

High blood sugar is caused by a diet high in sweets, soda, and starches (breads, pasta, rice, corn, potatoes, etc.) This diet consistently raises blood sugar levels, which in turn requires the body to secrete high levels of insulin to lower blood sugar. Eventually these insulin surges exhaust the body’s cells and they refuse entry to insulin. This is called “insulin resistance” and it triggers enzymes that cause men to overproduce estrogen, a female hormone, and women to overproduce testosterone, a male hormone, both of which are high blood sugar symptoms.

As a result, the body and brain of men and women take on characteristics of the opposite sex. Women experience hair loss, more facial hair, a deepening voice, and may develop PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). Men grow “breasts” (Gynecomastia) and find themselves crying more easily.

These hormonal trends can be reversed through nutritional therapy, exercise, and other factors. A handy tip: If you feel sleepy or crave sugar after a meal, you ate too many starchy foods. If you feel sleepy after a low-carb meal, you may need specific support for insulin resistance to address hormonal imbalances.

High Blood Sugar Symptoms

How do you know if you have high blood sugar symptoms? See if any of the high blood sugar symptoms below describe you:

• Fasting blood sugar over 100 mg/dl
• Fatigue after meals
• Crave sugar after meals
• Constant hunger
• Excess belly fat, or a waist girth that is equal to or larger than hip girth
• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Difficulty losing weight
• Prone to insomnia
• Don’t feel rested after eight hours of sleep5
• Women grow facial hair; experience thinning hair
• Men grow “breasts”
• PCOS in women
• Hormonal imbalances in both sexes

Risks of High Blood Sugar Symptoms

High blood sugar symptoms aren’t just annoying. They carry with them significant risks. Many people with insulin resistance go on to develop type 2 diabetes, due to a breakdown in the body’s blood-sugar regulating system. Studies have established clear links between insulin resistance and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and mild cognitive impairment.[1,2] Deteriorating brain function is one of many high blood sugar symptoms.

Insulin resistance is also a risk factor for heart disease, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, kidney disease [3], and other health disorders. Insulin resistance creates chronic inflammation, which researchers are increasingly finding underlies many chronic diseases so common today.

What Can You Do to Balance Blood Sugar Levels?

The first and most important step for decreasing your blood sugar levels is to begin a healthy eating plan. Specifically, try to limit your consumption of foods that cause high blood sugar symptoms: Sweets, soda, and starches (breads, pasta, rice, corn, potatoes, etc.)

Along with healthful eating, begin exercising a few days a week and start taking high quality antioxidants to help reverse nutrient deficiencies and decrease your blood sugar levels.

[1] Watson GS, Craft S. Insulin resistance, inflammation, and cognition in Alzheimer’s disease: lessons for multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Sci. 2006 Jun 15;245(1-2):21-33

[2] Cheng G, Huang C, Deng H, Wang H. Diabetes as a risk factor for dementia and mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Intern Med J. 2012 Feb. 28

[3] Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance as risk factors for development of chronic kidney disease and rapid decline in renal function in elderly. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Apr;97(4):1268-76. Epub 2012 Feb 15.

This article was originally published in 2012. It has since been updated. high