Most people are aware of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but did you know there is a type 3 diabetes as well! It is a more obscure term. Although it is not an accepted medical diagnosis, type 3 diabetes has been discussed in the literature as a possible relationship between insulin resistance in the brain and Alzheimer's disease. This link has been described to help explain how metabolic disorders impact brain health, causing cognitive decline and dementia.

What is Type 3 Diabetes?

Type 3 diabetes is more of a misnomer because it should not be confused with type 3c diabetes, which relates to pancreatic dysfunction. The term "type 3 diabetes," on the other hand, has been loosely used by some scientists to analogously propose that Alzheimer's disease is strongly implicated with insulin resistance in the brain.

This concept was conceptualized by Dr. Suzanne de la Monte and Dr. Jack Wands of Brown University in the year 2008. This hypothesis postulated that Alzheimer's disease may be called type 3 diabetes for it bears many similarities with glucose metabolism disorder type 2 diabetes. Their concept arises from the basic principle that insulin is fundamental to blood sugar regulation, but it is also the case with the brain. When brain cells become insulin-resistant, they lose access to glucose, impairing their function.

Research published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology supports this hypothesis by indicating that insulin resistance can be a significant contributor to the occurrence of dementia, also referred to as Alzheimer's. The symptoms of memory loss and diminished reasoning are associated with impaired glucose metabolism in the body, especially in the cerebral tissue.

Symptoms of Type 3 Diabetes

Although type 3 diabetes is not a "medical term," its symptoms correlate well with Alzheimer's diseases that are known to reduce the ability to think in an efficient manner and bring down brain health. These signs are:

- Loss of memory, especially short-term.

- Poor judgment and judgment ability

- Failure in recognizing people or places familiar once.

- Failure in the process of reading, writing or processing numbers

- Anxiety, agitation, or mood changes.

- Disorganized thoughts or confusion

- Lack of impulse control

As the disease advances, patients may be afflicted with severe complications including an inability to swallow or control their bodily functions. In the final stages, most patients die from fatal complications such as aspiration pneumonia.

Causes of Type 3 Diabetes

This may not be well understood with regards to type 3 diabetes, or the exact link between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease. Some identified contributing factors include the following:

1. Insulin Resistance

Insulin acts as an important regulatory mechanism of brain functions such as memory and cognition. The reduction in insulin signaling may impair metabolism of brain cells, thus bringing about neurodegeneration.

2. Type 2 Diabetes

These diseases show a strong relationship and those individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have double chances of getting Alzheimer's. In the two, the main causes can be chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and a defect in glucose metabolism.

3. Environmental and Lifestyle Factors

Insulin resistance associated with obesity, stress, and an unhealthy diet is considered a cause that may increase the chances of Alzheimer's disease.

Researches in Frontiers in Neuroscience and The Lancet Neurology have also highlighted that drugs used for antidiabetic medication may be crucial for the prevention or at least slowing down the course of Alzheimer's.

Treatments for Type 3 Diabetes

In 2022, in a study in Pharmaceuticals, researchers studied biomarker uptake in brain regions implicated in the faulty uptake and metabolism of blood sugar in Alzheimer’s patients.

Emerging Therapies

Research into such treatments as intranasal insulin has also been promising. Intranasal delivery of insulin directly to the brain has been reported to enhance glucose uptake by brain cells, improve memory, and boost cognitive performance. While such clinical trials have been shown to be successful, additional research is needed for safety and efficacy.

Medications

For patients being aggressive or agitated, antipsychotic drugs may be prescribed; however, therapies such as cognitive rehabilitation as well as cognitive stimulation therapy serve to preserve memory and executive function.

Lifestyle Interventions

Diet, exercise, and stress management are critical in preventing and managing insulin resistance. A review in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease also highlighted the benefits of Kirtan Kriya meditation, which can regulate genes involved in insulin and glucose metabolism, improve sleep, and reduce inflammation.

Can Type 3 Diabetes Be Prevented?

Although type 3 diabetes is not officially recognized, its connection to Alzheimer’s disease underscores the importance of proactive measures for brain health. Some prevention strategies include:

1. Healthy Diet

Consuming a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, whole grains, and healthy fats may support brain health.

2. Regular Exercise

Physical activity improves insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation, and enhances overall metabolic health.

3. Stress Reduction

Mindfulness practices, including meditation, have been shown to lower stress levels, which can reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

The term type 3 diabetes brings out the complex relationship between metabolic disorders and brain health. Even though it is not a recognized medical condition, the concept emphasizes the crucial role of insulin in brain function and its possible contribution to Alzheimer's disease. Continued research will hopefully provide hope for therapies such as intranasal insulin and lifestyle modifications.

The biological landmarks that occur in a woman’s life include many factors and menopause is one of them. Menopause is usually identified with changes in menstrual cycle, hormone levels, hot flashes and even emotional health. Nevertheless, this stage of a woman’s life is also characterized by some other things and needs to focus on woman’s cardiovascular system.

Heart problems have long been considered as the problem that concerns mostly men. Nevertheless, today it is known that cardiovascular diseases still kill more women than anything else and take the lives of almost one-third of all women in the world.

The Hormonal Shift That Changes Heart Risk

Until menopause, estrogen gives the cardiovascular system a number of advantages. It maintains the proper state of the blood vessels and assists in cholesterol regulation and proper vascular functioning. But when the woman gets into menopause, the drop of oestrogen level can cause various internal alterations. They include the increase of LDL cholesterol level, the decrease of HDL cholesterol level, elevated blood pressure, metabolic alterations and abdominal fat accumulation.

All those alterations will increase the chance of getting cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure. According to the American Heart Association, the women become at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases after going through the process of menopause.

Also read: Is Controlling BP Enough After a Brain Bleed? Doctors Explain How to Prevent Another Stroke

Why Women Need Proactive Heart Health During Menopause

On the other hand, women may suffer from various symptoms that are associated with heart disease but differ from those in men. For instance, fatigue, breathlessness, nausea, lightheadedness, jaw pain, back pain or arm pain can sometimes go unnoticed and are misdiagnosed.

Therefore, awareness and medical consultation are vital. Health checkups, blood pressure and cholesterol monitoring, living healthy, eating healthy and individualized medical advice can greatly help in decreasing risks in the future.

Also read: Preeclampsia May End With Pregnancy. Your Heart Risk May Not

The Role of Comprehensive Women’s Healthcare

Treatment for menopause should not be restricted to treating symptoms; it should include care during the entire period of health transition.

Every woman's individual health requirements and guidance through various phases of life should be in accordance with her health needs.

Redefining Menopause: A Phase of Awareness, Not Fear

Menopause should never be seen as a deteriorating process but as a turning point where women can assess the state of their health and adopt preventative measures for their healthcare.

Ahead of World Heart Day, the issue of women’s heart health should go beyond just treating heart diseases and focus on preventive measures. It is not only about asking: “how do we treat heart disease in women?” It is also about asking: “how do we detect risk factors and help each woman protect her heart during one of the most critical periods in her life?” For when women understand what is going on in their body, they get the ability to make the right decisions about their health.

By Dr. Anupama Gangwal, Senior Consultant – Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cocoon Hospital, Jaipur

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), now renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), can begin during adolescence and affect metabolic health, fertility and mental health, AIIMS experts said.

Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, the experts discussed PCOS risk factors, diagnosis in teenagers and the role of lifestyle management.

Obesity and sedentary habits can increase risk, but irregular periods or polycystic-looking ovaries on ultrasound do not automatically mean PCOS. Menstrual irregularity and ovarian changes can be normal during adolescence, making accurate diagnosis important.

Irregular Periods: When Is It Abnormal?

Irregular periods are common in the first year after menstruation begins. Dr. Rajni Sharma, Professor, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS, said: “It is normal and physiological.”

However, persistent irregularity should be evaluated.

“But if they are irregular even after one year, like their duration is coming in between, duration more than 45 days up to 3 years, or after menarche, after 3 years up to 35 days cycle, or less than 21 days cycle, or less than 8 times per year cycles, or their gap is more than 3 months, then we should think that they are irregular and they should be investigated,” she said.

Also read: Why Rebranding PCOS As PMOS Could Mark A New Era In Women’s Health

PCOS Diagnosis: Ultrasound May Mislead

Ultrasound is not routinely used to diagnose PCOS in adolescents because polycystic-looking ovaries can be normal during this stage, Dr. Rajni said.

Dr. Renu Sharma, Child Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, said such findings can also cause unnecessary anxiety.

“Many times, many families come out of fear because there is a polycystic appearance in an ultrasound.”

Some girls may have PCOS-like features without meeting the diagnostic criteria and may instead be considered at risk.

“We call it at risk of PCOS. At this stage, it is best to focus on diet and lifestyle.”

What Raises PCOS Risk?

Family history, obesity, type 2 diabetes and lifestyle factors can increase PCOS risk, Dr. Rajni said.

“Especially if there is type 2 diabetes, obesity, all these things are there, or mother, or her aunt had PCOS, then the risk increases.”

Poor diet and physical inactivity can also contribute.

“They are not eating fiber, fruits, vegetables. And they are consuming more junk food. And, one is, sedentary activity,” she said.

However, PCOS can also occur in girls with normal weight. “Many normal girls can also have it. Normal weight girls.”

Facial Hair Can Affect Mental Health

Facial and body hair can affect self-image and self-esteem in adolescent girls with PCOS, Dr. Renu said.

“These young adolescent girls suffering from PCOS have very significant psychosocial issues," said the expert, adding that anxiety and depression are very common.

They also develop some eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, she said, noting that the adolescent's "self-perception, or self-concept, starts becoming negative.”

What Can Parents Do?

Lifestyle management is an important part of managing PCOS risk and symptoms. Dr. Vandana recommended healthier food choices and regular physical activity.

“You can make a lot of things at home, with good healthy ingredients.”

“Second, in general, you should eat more salads. You should eat more colorful fruits and vegetables, so we talk about this.”

She also stressed the importance of avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, and stressed the need for "one hour of physical activity of moderate to vigorous level daily".

“This means that, while doing that activity, you are not able to talk normally. If you can talk normally, then it means that the activity is not of moderate to vigorous level.”

Most women who've had preeclampsia remember it as something that happened during pregnancy. The blood pressure spiked, doctors kept a close watch, the baby arrived, and everything went back to normal.

Case closed, or so it seems. But there's a quieter part of this story that doesn't get told nearly enough - what preeclampsia might mean for a woman's heart years down the line.

So, What Is Preeclampsia?

It's a condition that can happen after the 20th week of pregnancy, when blood pressure rises sharply and starts putting pressure on organs like the kidneys or liver. During preeclampsia, the lining of blood vessels - the endothelium - becomes inflamed and doesn't relax and dilate the way it normally should.

This is the same vessel dysfunction we see in the early stages of coronary artery disease, just decades ahead of schedule. Doctors usually catch it through routine checks - protein in the urine, sudden swelling, or blood pressure readings that don't sit right.

Once the baby is delivered, blood pressure almost always comes back down. That "return to normal," though, doesn't mean the story is over.

Also read: Vitamin D & Pregnancy: Could Vitamin D Deficiency Increase Risk Of Premature Birth?

A Pregnancy Complication with a Long Impact on Heart

Think of preeclampsia as an early stress test that the heart didn't quite pass. It is associated with increased risk of hypertension in future and also increase the risk of heart failure, stroke and cardiovascular diseases. And this isn’t a risk that shows up only in old age, in some cases, death happens within the first 10 years after pregnancy.

The risk of heart failure also increases by four-fold and the risk of coronary heart disease by two folds in patients with preeclampsia. The risk of ischemic heart disease and hypertension is elevated too. The risk increases further if preeclampsia occurred early in pregnancy, during multiple pregnancies, or alongside other factors like obesity or a family history of heart disease.

It highlights the importance of life law monitoring of cardiovascular rest factors in a woman who has history of preeclampsia.

Also read: PMOS Isn't Just About Periods Or Pregnancy: Why Women Need To Think Beyond Fertility

The Part of Care That Often Gets Skipped

Once the baby is here, attention naturally shifts entirely toward the newborn - and a new mother's own follow-ups tend to fall away quietly, usually right after that standard six-week check. That's the gap, we need to close in postpartum care. Women with a preeclampsia history should regularly monitor their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and actually bring these numbers up during the consultation.

None of this means preeclampsia guarantees heart disease down the road. It just means the risk picture has shifted, and that's worth knowing. Staying active, eating well, keeping weight in check, and staying away from smoking helps reduce the risk.

More obstetricians and cardiologists are starting to treat preeclampsia as something to track for life, not just for nine months. That shift in thinking could end up protecting a lot of hearts long after the pregnancy itself is over.

By Dr Waseem Farooqui, Consultant, Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Care, Medanta Hospitals, Noida