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 American workforce is experiencing a deep-seeded psychological challenge in 2025. Close to 46% of U.S. employees now indicate that they worry about getting laid off in the next year. This all-encompassing fear is not a temporary worry—it's changing the way Americans think about their work, careers, and even their mental well-being.

In a year marked by economic volatility, layoff anxiety is rapidly becoming a public mental health crisis in the United States. According to a new report by Indeed’s Hiring Lab and Harris Poll. With more than 700,000 job cuts announced in just the first five months of 2025—an alarming 80% increase from the same period in 2024—it's no surprise that job security feels like a luxury.

And behind the statistics, a more profound narrative exists: one of hustle culture, financial insecurity, and end-of-every-day stress converging—driving millions to the brink of burnout.

Silent Impact of Layoff Anxiety on Mental Health

Layoff fear isn't merely about dreading losing a job—it seeps into all areas of an individual's existence. It generates a buzz of constant stress that never disappears, you're always anxious. You're working extra hours, not necessarily because you want to be more efficient, but simply in order to be irreplaceable.

This toxic cycle, breeds mental fatigue, emotional disengagement, and tension-filled relationships, both on and off the job. Employees are working harder, putting in more overtime, and neglecting their own health—hoping only to make it through the next round of slashes.

Symptoms of layoff fear are common:

• Inability to concentrate, even on mundane tasks
• Increased irritability or mood swings
• Insomnia or excessive fatigue
• Working excessively to seem indispensable
• Withdrawing from coworkers or loved ones

This chronic stress does not stay in the office. It filters into personal relationships, interferes with sleep, and compromises overall quality of life.

The U.S. job market at first glance seems solid. Unemployment remains at 4.2%, and the nation gained 139,000 new jobs in May. Behind the headline numbers, however, employee morale has tanked.

In accordance with Glassdoor's data, enthusiasm among employees has sunk to a 2016 low, with only 45.1% of employees having confidence in their organization's six-month prognosis as of April 2025. That's hardly an improvement from the all-time low of 44.4% in February.

These numbers reveal a workforce that's fearful, uncertain, and hesitant to believe in long-term stability—when, technically, jobs still remain.

Survival Over Ambition

Maybe the most revealing change is in how employees are managing their careers. Half of all professionals polled, per Indeed's Hiring Lab and Harris Poll, are remaining in jobs they hate—not because they are satisfied or loyal, but because they are afraid of being the "last in, first out" when layoffs happen.

Is Hustle Culture Driving the Mental health Crisis?

America's historical love affair with productivity and "grind" culture could be fueling the layoff anxiety epidemic.

Hustle culture is centered on the constant striving—working more hours, skipping breaks, and foregoing personal time—all predicated on the assumption that hard work equals security. But in an environment where large-scale layoffs are determined by quarterly earnings calls, that does not hold.

Wilding contends that hustle culture generates an illusion of control. "People believe that if they work harder, they'll be able to stay employed. But working too much results in burnout, which will actually make you less efficient and more at risk.

In reality, employees are burning out for payoffs that never materialize—and sabotaging their own well-being in the process. A fearful workforce will be less innovative, less cooperative, and less committed to the firm's future.

What Workers Can Do to Take Back Control?

Under these conditions of uncertainty, the old career ladder seems more like a moving goal. As nearly half of American workers worry about being laid off, the formula for career success is shifting. For most, security trumps quick promotions or ideal job desires. The dilemma for workers and employers alike is to evolve with this new reality—to balance stability needs with growth, meaning, and happiness. But experts urge workers to make the transition from fear to flexibility. Here's how experts can safeguard their mental well-being and career prospects:

Upskill strategically: Prioritize in-demand, transferable skills.

Develop a personal brand: Networking and online presence are more important than ever.

Look at side projects: Passion projects can lead to opportunities while delivering meaning.

Establish boundaries: Working around the clock isn't the solution—rest is a sign of resilience.

With nearly half of the U.S. workforce suffering from layoff anxiety, we’re witnessing more than an economic trend—we’re watching a cultural shift unfold. The American Dream of climbing the career ladder through relentless hustle is being questioned, even rejected.

When a sharp, stabbing stomach pain hit 39-year-old Krystal Maeyke, she attributed it to an allergy or working too hard as a mom. Active, healthy, and fit, the mother of one did not think of herself as vulnerable to cancer—until symptoms could no longer be denied.

Three months after that, Maeyke was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic bowel cancer, a fact that put her world into disarray and is now a warning to young adults around the world: cancer doesn't care how fit or healthy you look or feel. Even though she was "super healthy and fit," Krystal's experience is a wake-up call that cancer doesn't discriminate on the basis of age, fitness, or family history. Her experience, honestly filmed on TikTok, is now prompting tens of thousands to see and respond to the tricky, much-misunderstood signs of bowel cancer.

Krystal's nightmare started with what she thought were harmless symptoms—sharp, stabbing pains in the lower abdomen. Similar to many, she credited them to an assumed food allergy or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), particularly given that she was otherwise healthy and had no history of cancer in her family. For three months, she dismissed the discomfort as a result of the demands of motherhood and an active lifestyle. But the symptoms didn't end there. Krystal remembers having:

Recurring, inexplicable night sweats: So bad that she would wake up soaked, having to change clothes and sheets several times throughout the night.

Chronic fatigue: She was exhausted all day, all the time, but wrote it off as the unavoidable exhaustion of being a working mom.

Loss of appetite and abnormal bowel habits: She experienced changes in digestion, but attributed them to diet or stress.

General malaise: A sense of illness that she couldn't put her finger on.

These signs, she later discovered, were the classic prodrome of bowel cancer. But since they were mild, non-specific, and readily explainable by less serious causes, Krystal—like many others—dismissed them until the pain was excruciating.

"I was experiencing stabbing pains, very fatigued, night sweats, loss of appetite, spastic bowel movements, and just off in general," she explained in an open TikTok video chronicling her diagnosis. Like many others, she wrote it off as stress, a busy life, and maybe food intolerance.

She had never thought that these symptoms might be indicative of something potentially deadly.

Some evenings I would wake up sweating and need to change my clothes and bedding. But it was summer, and I had the air conditioner on, so I figured the room wasn't cold enough.

The turning point came when Krystal’s pain reached an intensity she could no longer manage. Living in the remote Australian desert town of Yulara, she was airlifted 280 miles by the Royal Flying Doctors Service to Alice Springs Hospital. There, a battery of tests revealed the unthinkable: stage four metastatic bowel cancer. The cancer had spread beyond her bowel to her abdomen, liver, and ovaries.

Krystal remembers the incident clearly, "I was awoken later that night by a doctor whose words I will never forget. 'Krystal, I've got bad news… You have cancer.' The gravity of those words, coupled with my question of 'How do you know?' and the doctor's reply, 'It's everywhere,' shook me to my core."

What is Advanced Bowel Cancer?

Stage four, or metastatic, colorectal cancer implies the disease has invaded distant organs. The Cleveland Clinic describes this as the most advanced and hardest-to-treat stage. Krystal's case is not unusual: many patients, particularly younger ones, are diagnosed late because early signs are indistinct or mistaken for less severe conditions.

Krystal's case highlights an important reality: bowel cancer can develop and spread viciously, even for those who look reasonably healthy. She experienced every stabbing pain as the tumour developed, almost clogging her bowels, and subsequently noticed a lump she was aware of was not an innocent lymph node, but a tumour.

I was awakened by a doctor whose words I'll never forget," she said. "'Krystal, I've got bad news… You have cancer.' When I asked him how he knew, he said, 'It's everywhere.'

Stage 4 bowel cancer, or metastatic colorectal cancer, is when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body away from the colon or rectum—usually to the liver, lungs, or ovaries. In Krystal's situation, tumors were located throughout her abdomen, liver, ovaries, and bowel. She suspects the constant stabbing pains were because tumors were compressing the important organs and nerves.

"I could feel each stabbing pain," she said. "The tumor was halfways blocking my bowels. I could feel the lump, which they informed me could be merely a lymph node—it was the tumor. And then I could feel it reach my ovaries."

Why Are Younger People at Risk?

A recent study by Cancer Research UK and international studies have pointed to a concerning trend: bowel cancer diagnoses are increasing among individuals under the age of 50. For 27 of 50 countries, cases of early-onset have grown, with young adults diagnosed 23% more in some age brackets. The recent passing of social media personality Tanner Martin at the age of 30 has further focused attention on this concerning trend.

What is perhaps most shocking about Maeyke's story is how many of her symptoms are so typical, non-threatening complaints—tiredness, irregular bowel movements, night sweats that occur with the rise in temperature. With no known family history of cancer, exercising regularly and having a well-balanced diet, she had every reason to assume she was healthy.

But as Krystal's case highlights, bowel cancer is striking younger and younger adults, and the initial symptoms are usually not recognized or misdiagnosed.

Krystal's case is an impassioned plea to act. If you have persistent, unexplained symptoms—most importantly, abdominal pain, night sweats, or alteration in bowel habits—do not brush them aside. Seek advice from a doctor and push for extensive testing if symptoms remain.

Early diagnosis is key: although only slightly more than half of bowel cancer sufferers live 10 years after diagnosis, prognosis is so much better if the disease is diagnosed early. Screening and knowing the symptoms can help save lives.

In the United States, the second most common cause of cancer mortality, colorectal cancer, has seen its diagnoses in people below 50 years surge dramatically over the past few years. Scientists are yet to figure out why—citing processed food, inactive lifestyles, environmental pollutants, and even microplastic exposure as probable culprits.

The passing of 30-year-old influencer Tanner Martin from colon cancer last year pushed the issue further to the forefront, prompting discussions around early screening and education.

Recognising Symptoms of Bowel Cancer

The symptoms of bowel cancer may be challenging to identify in its early stages, Cancer Research UK and the Cleveland Clinic say. Some common symptoms include:

• Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
• Changes in bowel movements (constipation or diarrhea)
• Fatigue or shortness of breath
• Abdominal pain or bloating
• Unexplained weight loss
• A lump in the abdomen

Yet, many patients show no symptoms until the cancer has already progressed—underscoring the need for vigilance and proactive screening.

Since her diagnosis, Krystal has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy and shares her cancer journey with over 50,000 TikTok followers, aiming to raise awareness and offer support to others facing similar battles.

One of her biggest worries, she says, isn't the disease itself—but the psychological cost on her young son, Maison.

"He longs for my warmth, my guidance, and my love—a love that cancer is stealing away," she wrote in a heartbreaking post.

But she's still dedicated to raising awareness. Her tip: "Take symptoms seriously. Night sweats, pain, fatigue—don't ignore them. Trust your instincts. Early detection might just save your life."

'Diagnostic Anomaly' is a Health And Me Series, where we dive deep into some of the rarest of rare diseases. Here, we trace such diseases and what causes them. We also try to bring case studies around the same.

Before biologist Silvana Santos set foot in Serrinha dos Pintos, a remote Brazilian town tucked into the mountains of Rio Grande do Norte, families had long lived with unanswered questions. As BBC reports, the children there were losing the ability to walk, often before reaching adulthood. No one knew why—until Santos arrived more than two decades ago and uncovered a genetic mystery that would put the town on the global medical map.

A Name for the Nameless

With fewer than 5,000 residents, Serrinha dos Pintos had long operated as a close-knit, self-contained community. But beneath the surface of everyday life was a recurring pattern: a growing number of children unable to walk, gradually losing strength in their limbs.

When Santos, a geneticist from São Paulo, arrived for what was meant to be a short holiday, she didn’t just see a town—she saw a puzzle.

That puzzle led her to discover and name Spoan syndrome, as BBC reports, a previously unidentified genetic disorder that weakens the nervous system and affects motor control. It only develops when both parents carry the mutated gene, a scenario made more likely in Serrinha due to a high rate of intermarriage within extended families.

The Town Where Family Ties Run Deep

In Serrinha, it’s common for cousins to marry—a reflection of the town’s geographic isolation and cultural traditions. Santos’s early studies found that more than 30% of couples in the town were related, and a significant number of these unions had produced at least one child with a disability.

Worldwide, cousin marriages are not uncommon, but they come with higher genetic risks. In Brazil, such marriages account for only 1–4% of unions, compared to over 50% in countries like Pakistan. While most children born to cousin couples are healthy, the chance of recessive genetic disorders, like Spoan, doubles to about 5–6% per pregnancy.

From Diagnosis to Global Discovery

Santos’s investigation didn’t end with just a diagnosis. What began as a three-month field visit evolved into years of research.

She drove thousands of kilometres, collected DNA samples door-to-door, and documented family trees over coffee and conversation. Her work culminated in a groundbreaking 2005 study that identified Spoan syndrome and traced its genetic roots.

The syndrome, she found, was caused by the loss of a tiny fragment of a chromosome, triggering a malfunction in brain cells. While local legends pinned the condition on a randy ancestor named Maximiano, genetic evidence suggests the mutation arrived over 500 years ago with European settlers—most likely Sephardic Jews or Moors fleeing the Inquisition.

To date, 83 cases have been confirmed globally—including two in Egypt—strengthening the theory of a shared Iberian ancestry.

Changing the Conversation Around Disability

Santos’s discovery didn’t just change medical records; it reshaped local attitudes.

Once dismissed with slurs like “crippled,” residents with Spoan are now recognised by name, their condition understood with empathy and scientific clarity. Many have received motorised wheelchairs and occupational therapy, improving not just mobility but also dignity.

For Inés, whose two sons are among the oldest living Spoan patients in the town, the transformation is bittersweet. “We love our children the same,” she says, “but we suffer for them.” By age 50, most Spoan patients require full-time care.

A Way To Go Ahead

While a cure for Spoan remains distant, education and awareness are proving powerful tools. Santos is now part of a major government-backed initiative to genetically screen 5,000 couples for risk of recessive diseases. The goal isn’t to discourage cousin marriages, but to provide informed choices for families like Larissa and Saulo—who only discovered they were distantly related after months of dating.

Santos, now a university professor, continues to lead a genetics education centre and remains deeply involved in outreach in Brazil’s northeast. She may no longer live in Serrinha, but to locals, she’s more than a scientist.

“She’s family,” says Inés.