{"id":11235,"date":"2024-02-20T18:04:36","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T12:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/?p=11235"},"modified":"2026-02-24T16:09:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:39:11","slug":"what-is-type-3-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/what-is-type-3-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Type 3 Diabetes: Causes and Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"type-3-diabetes\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Diabetes mellitus, simply called diabetes, is a medical condition in which one’s body has trouble regulating blood sugar levels. There are three main recognised types of diabetes:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u00a0<\/span>Type 1 diabetes: <\/span><\/b>It\u00a0happens due to the destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. \u00a0<\/span>Type 2 diabetes:<\/span><\/b> It happens due to less production of insulin or poor response of cells to insulin. It’s more common and results in too much sugar circulating in the blood.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Gestational diabetes<\/a>:<\/span><\/b> It only occurs during pregnancy and involves the onset of high blood sugar levels, often clearing up after delivery.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Interestingly, some recent research indicates that Alzheimer’s disease<\/a><\/strong> can be a form of diabetes called type 3 diabetes. This blog will explain in detail what type 3 diabetes is, its causes, symptoms, and treatment.<\/p>\n

    What is Type 3 diabetes?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Type 3 diabetes is a term that some researchers have used to describe the theory that Alzheimer’s disease, a major source of dementia, is triggered by insulin resistance and dysfunction of insulin-like growth factors, but only in the brain.<\/p>\n

    The phrase type 3 diabetes has also been used to refer to individuals who have type 2 diabetes<\/a> in addition to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. However, it’s important to note that type 3 diabetes is not an officially recognised medical term endorsed by key national health bodies like the American Diabetes Association.<\/p>\n

    What causes type 3 diabetes?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    In a 2008 review, researchers argued that Alzheimer’s is essentially a neuroendocrine disorder characterised by a reduction in insulin and insulin-like growth factor signalling. This decline in insulin-related processes can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation within the brain.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    It was also stated that conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity might contribute to the development of dementia. In fact, another study published in Diabetes Care in 2016 suggested that people with type 2 diabetes may have a 60% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other dementias.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    But these are not the sole causes of<\/span> type 3 diabetes. Other potential factors or causes of the disease include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Birth weight<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Family history<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Ethnicity and race<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Genetics<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Stress<\/span><\/li>\n
    6. Lack of physical activity<\/span><\/li>\n
    7. A diet high in sugars, fats, and calories and low in fibre.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      What are Type 3 diabetes symptoms?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

      Type 3 diabetes can certainly cause symptoms. These symptoms are the same ones associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. They might develop for a reason unrelated to insulin.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      As per the Alzheimer’s Association, its symptoms include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Memory loss that affects daily living and social interactions<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Difficulty completing familiar tasks<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Misplacing things often<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Decreased ability to make judgments based on information<\/span><\/li>\n
      5. Sudden changes in personality or demeanour<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        How is type 3 diabetes diagnosed?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

        There’s no singular, definitive test for <\/span>type 3 diabetes. Alzheimer’s disease is usually diagnosed based on a neurological exam, a medical history, and neurophysiological testing.<\/p>\n

        However, suppose an individual presents with symptoms of both type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s but has not been diagnosed with either condition. In that case, their healthcare provider may order diagnostic tests such as fasting blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin tests.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        What is the management plan for type 3 diabetes?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

        Currently, there’s no cure for <\/span>type 3 diabetes. However, based on the symptoms, medication may be given to slow the progression of the disease. In addition, certain lifestyle changes are recommended as a part of the type 3 diabetes treatment plan. These are similar to approaches used for type 2 diabetes that may help improve insulin sensitivity.<\/p>\n

        Potential management approaches may include:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Following a healthy diet low in refined carbs and high in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins<\/span><\/li>\n
        2. Getting regular physical activity<\/span><\/li>\n
        3. Maintaining a healthy body weight<\/span><\/li>\n
        4. Medications that improve insulin sensitivity<\/span><\/li>\n
        5. Cognitive training exercises<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Type 3 diabetes is a hypothesised condition that links Alzheimer’s disease to insulin resistance in the brain. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and properly managing type 1 or type 2 diabetes can potentially help minimise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and <\/span>type 3 diabetes later in life.<\/p>\n

          But if one does have type 2 diabetes, they must begin treatment for it immediately. Treating type 2 diabetes could minimise damage to the body, including the brain, and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s or dementia.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          The first step, however, is getting tested for diabetes and related risk factors. Consult the doctor, <\/span>book a diabetes test<\/strong><\/a>,<\/span> and screen for insulin resistance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          FAQS<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
            \n
          1. What are the symptoms of type 3 diabetes?<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Type 3 diabetes symptoms may resemble those seen in early Alzheimer’s disease. These include memory loss and difficulty completing familiar tasks.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. What foods should someone with type 3 diabetes eat?<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              The suggested type 3 diabetes diet includes foods recommended for Alzheimer’s disease, like vegetables, fruits such as blueberries and strawberries, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy.<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Can type 3 diabetes be reversed?<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                There is no known cure for the hypothesised “type 3 diabetes.” However, medications are available that may prolong life for someone with this condition. Unlike prediabetes and standard diabetes, it’s not possible to reverse type 3 diabetes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                Diabetes mellitus, simply called diabetes, is a medical condition in which one’s body has trouble regulating blood sugar levels. There are three main recognised types of diabetes:\u00a0 \u00a0Type 1 diabetes: It\u00a0happens due to the destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.\u00a0 \u00a0Type 2 diabetes: It happens due to less production of insulin or poor response […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":11241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[853],"tags":[605,1930],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11235"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11235"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18475,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11235\/revisions\/18475"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}