Type 1, 2, 3 Diabetes?

 

Diabetes is caused by lack of insulin or resistance to what is produced by the pancreas. In 2014 there were 29.1 million diabetics in the United States. $245.00 billion dollars was spent for medical expenses and lost work for people with diabetes. There are 3 types of diabetes. Type 1 is when you are young and your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin or very little. Often a virus can cause an adolescent to develop diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is 90% of diabetics. The cells are resistant to insulin or not enough produced. The pancreas produces insulin. Food we eat metabolizes into glucose. Insulin is the key that allows glucose to enter the cell. The glucose will allow the metabolic process required for the body to utilize it. If insulin can’t open the cell door, glucose remains in the blood and you often get symptoms like frequent urination,extreme hunger and thirst. Acute reactions can be diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar coma. Sometimes you hear about college students that go into a coma and have diabetic ketoacidosis. That starts a lifelong journey to a dedicated discipline of learning about diabetes and caring for self so that you eat correctly and keep your blood sugar in normal range.Long term complications can be cardiovascular, stroke, kidney failure, foot ulcers and diabetic retinopathy.

The third type is The “Type 3” Hypothesis: This is a proposed, non-official term to describe Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is based on the finding that the brain can develop insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism—similar to the body’s state in diabetes—which is linked to neurodegeneration.

 

Key molecular overlaps (Alzheimer’s as Type 3): This link isn’t just conceptual. The mechanisms include:

Impaired Insulin Signaling: Brain insulin resistance disrupts the PI3K/Akt pathway. This leads to tau hyperphosphorylation (forming neurofibrillary tangles) and increases amyloid-beta plaque deposition.

· Energy Crisis: Dysfunctional GLUT4 glucose transport in neurons causes an energy deficit, forcing them to rely on alternative fuels.

· Reduced Amyloid Clearance: Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) degrades both insulin and amyloid-beta. In insulin resistance, IDE becomes overwhelmed clearing excess insulin, reducing amyloid-beta clearance.

In short: Type 3c = pancreatic disease causing diabetes (a formal diagnosis). Type 3 = Alzheimer’s as a form of brain diabetes (a research framework, not a clinical diagnosis).

 

There are three common treatments medication, diet and exercise.  Medication includes insulin and oral diabetic pills. Insulin involves syringes and administering an exact amount in relation to your blood glucose. This means also you need a glucose meter and lancets to stick your finger for blood.

You may benefit from an insulin pump if you have out of control blood sugars. The supplies needed to take insulin can be costly. Medications like the oral agents need blood glucose monitoring. Any diabetic medication can change your blood glucose.The second treatment is diet. Generally carbohydrates should be less than 200 grams daily. One meal should be 60 grams, two meals about 45 grams of carbohydrates each and 15 grams for a snack. There are several websites with free information and worksheets to help plan your meals and count your carbohydrates. Eli Lilly Company and ADA have excellent educational charts and worksheets. The average American consumes 300-350 grams of carbohydrate daily. .The third treatment, exercise, is like taking insulin. It can have a dramatic decrease in your blood glucose. Thirty minutes of walking three times a week along with weight lifting have the same effect as insulin.. So get fit and exercise. Research is ongoing but there isn’t any cure. Be healthy, get active and lose weight. You may not get this disease. It can be prevented

Resources:

 

Official ADA Classification Diabetes Care 2024;47(S1):S20–S42 The definitive guide to Type 3c (pancreatic diabetes)

Alzheimer’s as Type 3 – Key Review Kandimalla R. Thirumala V. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2025;17(1):45 Best molecular breakdown of brain insulin resistance.

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For educational purposes only. For persistent symptoms see a health care provider. Created with AI assist.