Uncover The Link: Diabetes, Inflammation, And Hair Loss

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Thank you. Thank you for having me, Beverly. I’m happy to be here.

Beverly Yates, ND

Yes. I’m delighted to bring this topic forward because people do care about their appearance. Sometimes, when we find that we’re losing our hair, all of a sudden there are lots of reasons for it. They’re often based on health. It’s good to know what the signs are and what they mean. Before we jump into that, would you please share with us just a brief overview of your background?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

I am a triple-certified nutritionist and functional medicine nutritionist. I’m also certified in functional medicine, and I’ve been doing this for about 13 years now. As you said, I do specialize in female hair loss, using a root-cause approach.

Beverly Yates, ND

Absolute root causes are so important. Okay, so let’s dive in. Let’s take it from the top here. What is it about diabetes that can cause hair loss?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Well, there are a lot of reasons. But the biggest one, the biggest link, is the inflammation, a low-grade inflammation. It’s interesting because when people get diabetes, they don’t associate hair loss or hair thinning with diabetes. But it is very common, and it’s a sign. Some of the signs that you might be losing more hair than you should are if you’re losing more than 100 or 125 hair a day consistently, day after day, or if you notice a lot coming out in your brush, during washing, or even, of course, bald patches. But there are other reasons associated with diabetes for which your hair can fall out. But as far as inflammation is concerned, I know you’re an expert in this whole inflammation realm, Dr. Beverly, but let me tell you how it’s associated with hair loss and diabetes, whether it’s type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This chronic inflammation impairs the normal hair cycle. It disrupts growth. Hair has three defined growth cycles that include the growing phase, resting, and shedding. This diabetes-related inflammation can cause a cycle to accelerate or stall, and it can also damage those hair follicles. Of course, it’s going to affect the hair’s growth. When those follicles are inflamed, they may not produce hair as efficiently, which can lead to excessive shedding that you will notice.

Beverly Yates, ND

It makes sense. Sometimes people find that they have more hair loss, and then sometimes it corrects itself. What I’m hearing you say is that if it does not correct itself and if it’s continuing, it’s getting worse and worse. This is something to pay attention to because it’s signaling there’s a change in health.

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Then it’s also contributed, as far as diabetes is concerned, to poor blood circulation, which affects your eyes, your feet, and everything else. But it’s far-reaching for your overall health, including hair loss, because you need that steady supply of blood with nutrients to your scalp to remain healthy with that growth cycle. When it’s impaired by high blood sugar levels or blood sugar levels that aren’t maintained properly, your hair follicles receive less oxygen and those vital nutrients they need to thrive, and people don’t realize that our scalp hair follicles are the newly discovered microbiome. They require the same amount of nutrients but also energy in the form of mitochondria and ATP. They require an enormous amount of energy for our hair to grow. That’s unfortunate because our hair is not a vital organ. When we’re already impaired with diabetes or other health issues, those nutrients and energy are going to go to our vital organs first. This is important, and it’s important to pay attention to it because hair loss is a time issue. If you just let it go, you can get to the point where you have scarring of the hair follicle, and then reversing that growth is nearly impossible. If you’re noticing it, you also want to address nutrition and nutritional deficiencies. Stress is a huge one that can also impair the hair follicles and just destroy the cells around them. You can’t have them grow. I know that I know this whole summit; you’re talking a lot about different lifestyles and things that will help with diabetes, but that includes your hair health, including sleep, and hormonal balance, which is huge with hair loss. A lot of times, people with diabetes, of course, get this insulin resistance, and that can lead to thyroid disorders, especially hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, that’s associated with hair loss. It’s multifaceted, and again, it’s a sign or symptom that is not brought up very much. Also, now we’re experiencing another COVID outbreak per se. It’s associated with that as well because your body’s immune system is attacking the follicles, and you have that chronic inflammation, the cytokine storm, and everything else that can be associated with diabetes and hair loss.

Beverly Yates, ND

Yes, it sounds like there’s an unfortunate overlap between these things.  There are different sources of inflammation, and sometimes they have much more of an impact on the scalp and damage the hair follicles. Then there goes the hair. The hair is being lost at an accelerated rate. Accelerated rate, rather. What I’m hearing you say is that this is not necessarily a normal thing associated with aging. It is specific to what goes on with diabetes.

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Yes, it can be. It definitely can be. It’s again, you pay attention. It’s a sign. It can be a good sign. I mean, for me, if it wasn’t for my hair loss, I probably wouldn’t have paid attention to my health. Well, because it was an opportunity for me to sit back and finally slow down and address my health. Of course, as I started digging into it, I was a hot mess. But you can avoid that if you pay attention to these signs and symptoms that are associated with hair loss and, of course, manage your blood sugar, which is vital for this diabetes.

Beverly Yates, ND

Can you listen to the signs that diabetes may indeed be a root-cause issue or a hidden factor that’s affecting hair loss?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

A sign, besides the inflammation, poor circulation, stress, and sure issuances.

Beverly Yates, ND

Is there anything else that the person might experience that would be something that they could easily observe and might go?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Well, yes, just if they just notice that it’s coming out here, there, and everywhere; it’s on their pillow; it’s clogging the drain. If it’s just more than usual, then that’s something to pay attention to. That’s a good sign.

Beverly Yates, ND

Okay. What’s the biggest link between diabetes and hair loss? Is it inflammation, or is there something else going on?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Well, it’s a cascade. Chronic low-grade inflammation is the biggest link, but it is a cascade effect because that causes more stress on your body. More stress on your body is going to make it difficult for you to absorb those nutrients, and it is going to be more difficult for you to get circulation to your scalp. When you’re stressed, you don’t tend to exercise or sleep as much as you should. It’s a whole vicious cycle, and then your hormones are beginning to get off. You’re not going to be regulated.

Beverly Yates, ND

It makes sense. These things are all intertwined together. What are some other factors that contribute to hair loss when someone has diabetes?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Well, when they’re not managing their blood sugar per se by not getting enough of that healthy protein—the fiber and the complex carbohydrates—in every meal. They’re on this blood sugar rollercoaster. That makes it very difficult to modulate that inflammation and, of course, maintain it with diabetes. Of course, that’s the forefront of how I mean, Beverly, when you say your diet has a big role here and not only managing your diabetes but your health and your hair health. 

Beverly Yates, ND

Yes, they all go together. Can improving blood sugar management, being able to get it in the healthy zone, lead to a noticeable reduction in hair loss?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Yes, absolutely. You should notice a difference because everything else will fall into place too. Your hormones will be in better balance. Your stress will be in better balance, and you’ll be getting better circulation. You’ll see that that inflammation was modulated. Yes, you should notice a difference. You shouldn’t notice a bunch of hair coming out.

Beverly Yates, ND

You’re giving your body a fair chance to be able to make the hair and have the hair mature and successfully grow from the scalp rather than coming out much shorter than normal or just not even making it that way. It’s just leaving the follicle early. 

What tips do you have? Share them with us in particular for nutritional needs to balance the blood sugar, because these things are all related.

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

I want to keep a simple PFC. Good-quality protein is a good-quality animal protein that has those amino acids—essential amino acids that are vital for hair growth and hair health. then F stands for healthy fats that are needed for the hair follicle. Also, our cell membranes are made of healthy fats, which help balance our blood sugar. Then those complex carbohydrates, such as vegetables, have that fiber. You can just think of a plate good-sized with protein and half your plate with vegetables. Then, the healthy fat can be alternated with, maybe, some other complex carbohydrates. gluten-free grains per se, if that’s something you do. But just keep it simple. Every time you eat that protein, think of the size of the palm of your hand for animal protein, chicken, turkey or what have you. What is the size of your hand? You want at least 60 grams or more a day. It’s going to make your mood better, your sleep better, and your energy better. It’s going to manage your blood sugar and your inflammation.

Beverly Yates, ND

Good to know. In your experience, Julie, have you found that people who come to seek your help and get your advice are just filled with misinformation? What are the top three myths that you are constantly myth-busting about when it comes to hair and hair loss?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

About that. That’s a lack of biotin. Let’s start with that. Now. Biotin is in every hair product imaginable. But that is a myth because we’re not lacking in biotin in this society. It is rare. It’s very rare for people to be low in Biotin, and you can get too much Biotin. There are very few hair supplements that I recommend because most of them have way too much Biotin.

Beverly Yates, ND

Okay. If there’s too much biotin, does that interfere with the hair or is it just a waste of biotin?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Well, it can jack up other systems in your body when you have too much biotin.

Beverly Yates, ND

Okay. while the systems are impacted, because I have noticed that when there are supplements that are over the counter, sometimes shampoos, whatever, they’ve got biotin in them, but sometimes it’s such a high amount. I’m sure people will be going. Hey, yes, I’ve noticed. Biotin, tell us more. What does it mess up within our system? If it’s too much,

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

It can mess up your cellular metabolism. It’s just an imbalance. I mean, people don’t realize that even water-soluble vitamins. I mean, you do urinate it out. But still, that can affect your health. Most people know that the fat-soluble vitamin, ADEK, can’t be taken too much; you have to monitor that. But it’s just the same. Even if you get too much magnesium and some other nutrients, it’s not. If you drink too much water, you can die. I mean, you can live in the hospital if you have too much magnesium, and biotin isn’t any different. 

Beverly Yates, ND

Yes. We need things in balance. Often, they’re not in balance. What’s a level of biotin that’s too high? Can you give people some ideas? 

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

10,000 micrograms. 

Beverly Yates, ND

10,000 is too much. What is the recommended amount of biotin? If it makes sense for someone who uses it.

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Two or 3,000.

Beverly Yates, ND

That’s a big difference. The factor of ten. Okay. More is not always better. I think that’s the message here.

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

The second myth about hair loss is that you have to use expensive serums, shampoos, and products, and that’s a myth. I mean, sure, they can help with the texture of your hair. Sure, if you have high hairstyles that are pulling on your hair, that can cause hair loss. If you’re using harsh products, that can cause hair loss. Yes, you need some good, clean shampoos, but that’s not the end all. All it takes is to start. Our hair grows from the inside out.

Beverly Yates, ND

Yes, I’ve often thought of hair because of the process by which it grows as a reflection of some degree of potential gut health, along with our blood sugar stability and our overall hormonal situation. If we’re out of balance with our blood sugar, with our hormones, or with our gut health, our hair is going to reflect some of that.

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Absolutely. You hit it on the nail. As we talked about in my summit, there are over 50 causes of hair loss, but I put them into four functional categories: inflammatory, hormonal stress-induced, digestive, and nutritional.

Beverly Yates, ND

It makes sense, then. For blood sugar and gut microbiome, having a functional gut and having the microbiome happy means it’s producing a healthy level of blood sugar instead of an unhealthy level of blood sugar, and now you’ve got the scalp microbiome and your skin. We begin to see how much we are a reflection of all of these different communities that are living on this same organism called us. Is that a way to think about it?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Yes, now, if you have too many bad bacteria, if you have dysbiosis, it’s going to crowd out the good bacteria. We have parasites as their nutritional pirates. If you’ve got H.Pylori means that you can’t digest or absorb your food very well. I have some before and after pictures of people with hair loss who got their H.Pylori under control, and their hair grew back. Even things gluten. There are some studies on gluten, and gluten in the before picture, and after this, this teenage boy lost all his hair, and then he went on a gluten-free diet for a year and it grew back. That’s a medical study that’s stopped. I mean, it just goes on and on. 

There’s also been some remarkable research. Beverly, I’ve just mentioned this real quick with the fecal microbial transfer plant. There are four subjects. The reason I bring this up is to just point out the value of gut health. Now, these four subjects were sick. They had all different issues, and they all had alopecia. Two of them had alopecia universalis. That’s why they lost hair over their entire body. There were two men, an older male, and then a woman who had Crohn’s. Anyway, they all took the fecal microbial transplant. Guess what happened?

Beverly Yates, ND

Their hair came back.

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Their hair all came back, yes.

Beverly Yates, ND

Microbiome. What’s in your gut matter?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

That is the key here. That’s what’s going to manage your inflammation, and that all starts there. I mean, if your microbiome is inflamed, it’ll affect your whole body, including hair growth.

Beverly Yates, ND

Absolutely. Where can people find you? If they’re interested in connecting,?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

They can go to my website, which they can find through Julie Olson with an O,  JulieOlson.com. That’ll get you there.

Beverly Yates, ND

Great. I visited your website. It’s well laid out and very clear. You were talking about these amazing factors that go on for our hair and being able to have our hair be healthy or lose it.  We left off the conversation talking about the idea of the fecal transplant making a difference for some people, especially if they had a very clear gastrointestinal disease. But what about other folks who are trying to figure out how to hang on to their hair and they’re wondering, if stress is a factor for them or if it is their kinds of hair products, what might be a factor? What are your thoughts about those things?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

I think all those would probably be a factor, not to make it complicated, but to look around at what you’re doing. Even your environment. I mean, if you have mold, that can be a trigger for hair loss. If you have a stressful job or relationship, that’s going to affect your health and your hair, as well as environmental toxins and even EMFs. Too many EMFs. I mean, the list is pretty much even for mast cell activation. That’s a big one, mast cell activation syndrome.

Beverly Yates, ND

That has to do with histamine response. If somebody is sneezy or if they find they live on Benadryl, things; like mast cell activation syndrome or MCAS might be something to look into, and could certainly that inflammation affect their hair? Is that what you’re saying?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Absolutely. 100%.

Beverly Yates, ND

Okay. Cool. That’s great to know. I think that there are so many factors in today’s world. There’s both how we feel, our stress levels, our internal world as well as our external world, environmental factors, stuff in the water and the air, various bodily care products that we may have, and things we may not even know about. Maybe if the lining of a hat. I do know some people will wear hats with a silk lining, and they usually find that that is much nicer to their hair, the same way they think about a hair bonnet. Again, silk could be helpful. What are yours?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

I think I’m glad you brought that up. That’s a good tip. Also, a silk pillowcase retains about 43% of moisture. It helps not only with your skin health but also with your hair health. It feels so good.

Beverly Yates, ND

Perfect. Silk is so nice for the skin. It’s very friendly for humans, that’s for sure. Any other tips you have to share with our audience?

Julie Olson, CFMP, BCHN, CN, and CGP

Well, I just know it’s not your fault. The good thing is you’re here; you’re listening to this summit. You’re getting the information, and information is power. and don’t lose hope. There is hope, and you can get past this. Thank you for being here.

Beverly Yates, ND

Absolutely. Thank you for being a guest here at the summit. Okay, friends, please share these interviews, including this wonderful episode with Julie Olson about hair and preventing hair loss, with the people in your life who care about these topics or whose minds might just need to be exposed to some new and different information. I think the more we work on health, the better off we will all be. Thank you for your time, attention, and energy.