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.

Glomerular Diseases affect the glomeruli, which are very small filtering units in the human kidney, and when they get damaged due to disorders, the filters leak blood and vital proteins into the urine and fail to remove waste efficiently. Eventually, these problems can lead to chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. As per its treatment, medications are used to slow kidney damage, manage blood pressure, and reduce protein leakage.

Notably, a new study has revealed hope in this condition by finding that a well-known drug can be very effective in slowing damage if the patient has Glomerular Diseases, and that common drug is Finerenone, which is often prescribed for heart and kidney diseases associated with type 2 diabetes.

The trial was participated in by 903 participants with glomerular diseases. The drug finerenone was given to them. The results show that compared with placebo, it slowed kidney damage, reduced albuminuria, and lowered the risk of kidney failure or sustained loss of kidney function.

Thus, the study clearly indicates that the drug called finerenone may play an important role in protecting kidney function in patients with glomerular diseases.

The research was conducted through subgroup analysis of a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted across 24 countries and regions, focusing on participants with an investigator-reported glomerular disease.

The study was conducted on a large scale, having conducted the research for months in 24 countries and regions. The trial also took care of other important details and implemented all required paperwork, thus securing approvals by regulatory authorities along with ethics committees in every center. Other than that, the participants were required to submit written informed consent. Moreover, an independent data monitoring committee performed safety monitoring throughout the tests.

How To Keep Kidneys Healthy?

Dietary habits can contribute to kidney strain, particularly when busy schedules encourage reliance on convenient foods that are often high in sodium and low in nutritional value.

Hydration habits are additional concerns among office workers. Many professionals rely heavily on coffee, energy drinks, or sugary beverages during long workdays, often replacing plain water as the main source of fluid intake.

Protecting kidney health often begins with small lifestyle changes. Reducing processed food consumption, limiting excessive salt intake, staying adequately hydrated, and maintaining regular sleep schedules can all support kidney function.

Taking short movement breaks during long work hours and managing stress through regular physical activity or relaxation techniques may also help reduce the long-term strain that modern work routines place on the body.

Convenience foods have become the defining feature of urbanization. From ready-to-eat breakfasts to microwavable dinners and takeaway lunches, packaged food fits into all our lives.

But behind this convenience, what lies underneath are the tiny plastic particles, also referred to as microplastics, which are accentuating health concerns across the globe. Unknowingly, these microplastics are seeping through the plastic cutlery, food packaging, etc., potentially into our bodies. Plastics have been widely used for ages due to their higher affordability, durability, and extensive applications in various industries.

What Are Microplastics?

As per a recent literature quoted by Zhang et al. 2025, only about 20% of the plastic waste produced is recycled, whereas the rest is either abandoned in landfills or dispersed into the environment. Microplastics are the new emerging pollutant category in the modern era, raising prominent concerns in both health & environmental contexts. As per scientific literature, microplastics are plastic fragments with a diameter of less than 5mm.

Food Packaging Contributes to Microplastic Exposure

Plastic food packaging dominates the global food system, since it can be designed in any form (container, wrapper, pouch, etc) while keeping food fresh for longer periods.

Microplastics are released from food packaging(s), especially when they are exposed to prolonged heat, abrasive forces, and undue environmental stresses. Heating and/or reheating food in plastic containers or choosing to decant packaged food commodities in plastic containers and maintaining them under unfavorable circumstances can all increase the likelihood of microplastic release.

Bottled Water and Everyday Sources of Microplastics

Bottled water has also proven to release thousands of microplastic particles into the water they contain when exposed to sunlight/ heat. We never give a thought to such bottles being sold by the roadside vendors, wherein these plastic bottles are hung for indefinite days on that kiosk.

Those bottles are in constant light exposure all day without even pondering about the ill effects it may cause to the consumers. Similarly, single-use tea bags have also been shown to release billions of microplastics when steeped in hot water. These findings highlight a troubling paradox that products marketed for convenience and safety may be introducing new risks that consumers never thought about.

What Does Research Say About Health Risks?

The health implications of ingesting microplastics remain an active area of research, but early findings are enough to raise concerns. Studies have demonstrated microplastics in human blood, lungs, and even placental tissue. This suggests that upon ingestion, these particles may not simply pass through the body. Instead, they would accumulate in tissues or interact with biological systems in ways that are not yet fully explored.

One of the major health implications pertaining to microplastic ingestion is inflammation. These particles can trigger irritation in tissues, eventually impacting the immune responses.

Plastics often contain additives in the form of plasticizers, etc., which may disrupt hormone function and impair the normal cellular function.

Infants and children are more often vulnerable as their food is also packed in plastic packaging or containers (like plastic sippers, feeding bottles, baby food pouches, etc.), raising long-term exposure risk during critical stages of growth.

Steps to Reduce Microplastic Exposure

The issues relating to plastic usage also reflect a broader tension in the modern era, where convenience seems to intersect with health! For people or families juggling work and financial burdens, avoiding packaged foods mostly sounds unrealistic.

Still, some small and consistent actions can help us reduce the exposure to microplastics, like opting for glass or paper packaging wherever possible. Avoiding heating food in plastic containers or opting for biodegradable packaging options could prove to be beneficial in the future. Though microplastics are invisible to our naked eyes, what we do next to curb them would help us shape a healthy future.

Are you aware? Scientific insights are helping people of all ages understand heart health better and take the right steps at the right time. Heart health is no longer a concern only for older adults. So, people across all age groups are at risk of developing Heart Disease because of changing lifestyles, stress, and unhealthy habits.

So, here, science plays a pivotal role. With the help of improved research, advanced diagnostics, and increased awareness, science is helping individuals understand their risk factors early and take preventive steps before serious complications arise.

Heart Disease Can Begin Earlier Than You Think

Heart disease is commonly seen in people of all age groups. So, according to scientific research, heart disease develops gradually over time. Early markers such as high cholesterol, blood pressure, and poor lifestyle habits can begin affecting the body even in the 20s or 30s and lead to a poor quality of life.

Today, advanced screening tools and regular health check-ups make it possible to detect these risks early and initiate timely intervention.

Prevention Strategies

For youngsters, science tends to highlight the importance of prevention through healthy eating, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and alcohol. When it comes to middle-aged adults, monitoring conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol can help save the heart.

In older adults, it will be necessary to manage existing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure and prevent heart attacks or stroke.

How Technology Is Transforming Heart Care

Moreover, you will also have to understand that genetics also plays an important role. Scientific advancements help doctors identify individuals with a family history of heart disease and guide them with individualized treatment care plans for outcomes.

Currently, you will be surprised to know that modern science has also shed light on the importance of lifestyle in maintaining heart health. So, opting for wearable devices, health apps, and regular screenings helps track heart rate, physical activity, and prevent any concerning heart problems in people.

Robotic surgeries are now enabling heart patients to recover more quickly and provide benefits such as shorter hospital stays, minimal blood loss, and are extremely safe.

Hence, by understanding risk factors, adhering to healthy habits, and undergoing regular check-ups as advised by the doctor on a yearly basis, individuals can take control of their heart health.