Recently, one of my readers emailed me about the possibility of a link between type 3 diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Quite frankly, I was unaware of type 3 diabetes let alone a link to Alzheimer’s.
This subject fascinates me because, well, as some of you know, my mother had both type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
The fact that there may be a link and this combination may in fact actually be type 3 diabetes is very interesting on so many levels.
It certainly raises a lot of questions when it comes to my mother:
- Could the development of Alzheimer’s be avoided if her diabetes had been better managed?
- Which came first, memory issues or early diabetes symptoms?
- If her diabetes had been diagnosed sooner could that alter the development of Alzheimer’s?
- What could have been done differently in her treatment to slow the effects of Alzheimer’s?
I don’t know if I will find these answers or not but I am certainly going to do some digging to see what we can learn.
Table of Contents
Type 3 diabetes definition
First, it is important to note that while type 3 diabetes has been used to describe those who have type 2 diabetes and have been also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the term is highly controversial and not widely accepted by the medical community as a clinical diagnosis.
Wikipedia describes type 3 diabetes as being a proposed term describing the link between type 1 and types 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurons in the brain become unable to respond to insulin which is necessary for basic tasks such as memory and learning, leading to what is type three diabetes.
Some researchers believe that insulin deficiency is the main reason for the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease.
The term, type 3 diabetes, has also been used to describe some people who have type 2 diabetes and also become diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Research shows that people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes have a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia later in life.
This describes my mother exactly.
She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in her late 40’s and was subsequently diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s by the age of 59 and she lost her battle by age 67.
What is the connection?
We know that diabetes can cause damage to blood vessels, restricting blood flow. If those damaged blood vessels are restricting blood from reaching the brain then brain damage can occur.
Restricted blood flow to the brain is the main cause of vascular dementia.
In pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, the effectiveness of how the body uses insulin is affected.
Studies have shown a connection between insulin pathways and premature cognitive decline, dementia, depression and anxiety.
There are several reasons how the connection could be made:
Insulin Resistance:
When cells are unable to use insulin properly, this affects the brain’s ability to get the fuel it needs from the blood, causing blood sugar levels to rise. Over time this can create harmful fatty deposits within the blood vessels. Too much insulin can upset the chemical balance in the brain. This impact is so strong that scientists refer to Alzheimer’s related to insulin resistance as type 3 diabetes.
Inflammation and Blood Vessel Damage:
We already know that diabetics are at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. High blood sugars can cause inflammation putting stress on the blood vessels. The damaged vessels can result in Alzheimer’s. Also, inflammation can cause cells to become insulin-resistant especially in obese people.
Blocked Nerve Communication:
It is well known that diabetics can suffer from nerve damage. High blood sugar is connected with heightened levels of beta-amyloid (a protein), which can become clumped together. They can then become stuck between the nerve cells in the brain and cause blocked signals. Nerve cells that fail to communicate is a big trait of Alzheimer’s disease.
Tangled Tau Protein:
Your cells are constantly moving essential food and other supplies along pathways, that act similar to railroad tracks. We have a protein called tau that helps keep these tracks running in straight rows. In Alzheimer’s patients, tau gets all tangled up leading to falling apart tracks, or dead cells. Some studies state that diabetics have more tangles of tau in their brains, which results in more dying brain cells, leading to dementia.
Many people with diabetes have brain changes that are the hallmarks of both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
Risk Factors
A 2016 study, states that people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have up to a 60% higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia later in life.
This study involving 100,000 dementia patients revealed that type 2 diabetic women had a 19% increased risk of developing vascular dementia over men.
Since there is such a strong link with type 2 diabetes let’s take a look at…
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes
- family history (family members with type 2 diabetes)
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- obesity (being overweight)
- certain chronic health conditions like depression, polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS)
My mother had two of these risk factors that I know of, she struggled with obesity and she had high blood pressure.
She was on medication for her blood pressure but struggled with her weight for as long as I can remember.
Because she had two risk factors it really shouldn’t have been a surprise when she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Type 3 diabetes symptoms
You already have pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes so you may have those symptoms if you have not yet been diagnosed:
- frequent urination
- excessive thirst and drinking a LOT
- increased hunger
- extreme fatigue
- blurry vision
- sores or cuts that don’t heal properly or are slow to heal
The symptoms would typically be the same as dementia or early Alzheimer’s:
- memory loss that affects daily life and social interactions
- difficulty completing familiar tasks
- misplacing things often
- difficulty making judgements based on information
- sudden personality(demeanour) changes
Type 3 diabetes treatment
Each of the individual conditions requires separate treatment as follows. Treating diabetes will help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia but itis important to understand it can not be cured.
Prediabetes
This is usually treated with lifestyle changes.
Eating a healthy well-balanced diet will certainly be recommended.
Your doctor will also suggest regular exercise such as a daily walk.
If you are overweight, your doctor will likely recommend losing 5-7% of your overall body weight.
Type 2 diabetes
A nutritional, healthy well-balanced diet is an essential part of any diabetes management plan.
Regular exercise is also an important part of diabetes care.
Your doctor is likely to prescribe medication or insulin depending on the severity of your case.
You must follow your diabetes care plan to reduce the risk of further complications and help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s
There are prescription medications that treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
While they can’t cure it, they can help slow the progression.
Mood swings or depression can be treated with psychotropic drugs.
Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may also be prescribed if deemed necessary.
As was the case with my mother, you will likely end up with quite a few prescriptions that must be taken each day and some several times per day.
As dementia progresses you will need a caregiver in place who can ensure medications are taken at the proper time and in the correct dosage.
Difference between type 1, type 2 and type 3 diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks and kills the insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreas.
This means the person can no longer produce the insulin the body needs for the cells to be able to extract the glucose from the blood to be used as energy.
Type 1 diabetics, such as our grandson, will need to take several insulin injections daily for the rest of their lives.
Some wear an insulin pump rather than do so many injections each day.
Our daughter is starting to consider an insulin pump for Alex since his little stomach and buttocks are quite bruised and calloused from so many injections.
Pre-diabetes
This is also called insulin resistance.
This is when the body doesn’t use insulin as efficiently as it should causing blood glucose levels to rise to high.
This is usually a precursor to type 2 diabetes and can often be referred to as a wake-up call.
Lifestyle changes such as:
- eating a healthy, well-balanced diet
- getting regular exercise
- following your doctor’s recommendations
will help prevent developing full-fledged type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
If you have ignored the symptoms of pre-diabetes or ignored doctor’s orders you may find you have developed type 2 diabetes.
Again, lifestyle changes are an important part of your diabetes management plan.
You will also be prescribed certain oral medications such as Metformin or insulin.
It is important to take all medication as directed and follow the advice of your diabetes care team.
Type 3 Diabetes
Type 3 diabetes is when you have one of the above-mentioned conditions and also shows symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia.
In this instance, both diabetes and Alzheimer’s must be treated.
Follow the recommendations for treating diabetes or pre-diabetes as well as be sure you take all medications designed to treat Alzheimer’s.
Properly managing your diabetes will certainly help slow the progression of dementia but it will not cure it.
Always follow the advice of your doctor and ensure you have adequate caregivers in place as Alzheimer’s progresses.
My father was my mother’s main caregiver until such time it became evident that it was too much for him.
We discovered that she had gotten up before him one day and got outside, she then wandered off and got lost. This was compounded by the fact that they were in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains when this occurred. She was reported missing at 8:00 in the morning and wasn’t found until 8:30 in the evening.
At that time the family decided it was in her best interest to be placed in a long-term care facility.
Do your research, there are some very good ones out there and even some that specialize in Alzheimer’s care.
Final thoughts
When a reader informed me of a type 3 diabetes and Alzheimer’s connection, I had to dig deeper and see what I could learn.
The similarities to my mother’s case were astounding.
To recognize that she had two of the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and then was later diagnosed with type 2 was proof to me that these risk factors really did put her at a heightened risk.
She developed Alzheimer’s a few years later and ultimately lost her struggle after an 8-year battle.
I can’t stress enough the importance of making the necessary lifestyle changes before it is too late.
Eat a healthy well-balanced diet, get regular exercise and above all follow your doctor’s recommendations exactly.
By doing this you have a much higher chance of developing this controversial type 3 diabetes.
I am not in any way a medical practitioner, please do not rely on the information on our website as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another healthcare provider. We only share our experiences.
Have you heard of type 3 diabetes?
Do you have any experiences to share?
Share your experiences in the comment section below.
Goodness. I did not know there was such a thing as diabetes type 3! I have type 2 and do not manage it very well. I hope this article is enough to push me to do better! The link between the two (Diabetes and Alzheimer) is astounding and down right scary. Diabetes alone is an insidious disease, but getting Alzheimer’s disease too? No thank you. Thanks for the heads up!
Thanks for dropping by Brianna. Sorry to hear you are struggling with Type 2 diabetes. I agree the link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease is very scary. As I mentioned in my article I witnessed the gradual decline of my mother until she was merely a shell of the woman she was previously. I certainly hope my article can help motivate you to follow your diabetes management plan and work closely with your doctors to hopefully prevent developing not only Alzheimer’s but any diabetes-related complications. Take care of yourself, it is so important. Best wishes.
Thanks, Deb, you sure dove into it! 🙂
What for me still is a bit confusing: in the title, you say Diabetes 3 and Alzheimer’s, wherein the text it looks like Alzheimer’s is a risk for Diabetes 2 patients and is therefore called Diabetes 3. Is Diabetes 3 something a person can have without also having Alzheimer’s?
My father had Alzheimer’s, my mother vascular dementia. Not a nice prospect if it is hereditary. Although the doctor in the nursing home assured me not to worry.
You say if there is a family member with Diabetes 2 the risk is higher as well. What family connection is that? Only the first line like parents or also aunts and uncles? My uncle died probably too soon to develop Alzheimer’s on top of his Diabetes 2, but his sister, my aunt, did.
Oh well, as you know Tom and I take good care of our health. So I won’t worry too much beforehand. Maybe I will get ill and maybe I won’t. 🙂
Hi Hannie, sorry for the confusion in the title. From the articles I read, I believe type 3 diabetes would be when you have type 2 diabetes in combination with either Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia. Yes, they are very similar.
As for the family connection, that would be a blood relative such as a parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, or grandparent.
Sorry to hear about your uncle and of course your aunt as well. It is difficult enough to watch the cognitive decline of a loved one when it is out of their control but to watch the physical decline when diabetics don’t fully care for their diabetes is brutal.
I believe you and Tom lead a very healthy lifestyle which will go a long way towards minimizing any risk.
Take care.
Fascinating, I am familiar with type 1 and type 2 diabetes but had never heard of type 3 diabetes until reading this article. I do have some family history of type 2 diabetes so this is very helpful. It’s always good to know the warning signs to be on the look out for.
It is interesting to learn about how certain diseases can be connected. It’s another good reminder of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
I have heard that mentally stimulating activities like reading and crossword puzzles can also help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. I wonder if that would be true for someone who has type 2 diabetes in preventing it from developing into type 3 diabetes?
Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment, Leah.
I am sorry to hear you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, which certainly makes it even more important for you to make the healthiest lifestyle choices you can.
Yes, it certainly is amazing how many diseases are connected. Diabetes certainly has several diseases linked to it, particularly heart disease and stroke.
Mental activities like reading and puzzles will certainly help in maintaining cognitive abilities regardless of whether a person has diabetes or not.
The biggest factor in preventing type 2 diabetes from developing into type 3 (Alzheimer’s’)is managing those blood glucose numbers. It is critical for diabetics to follow their diabetes care plan and follow a healthy, well-balanced diet, get daily exercise and adequate sleep. All of these things will work together to help manage blood glucose levels.
Thanks again and do take care.