The Gourd
Vol 2, Issue 3 March 19, 2022
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Type 3 Diabetes Mellitus
A few weeks ago, Cathy McGill, the Executive Director of the NM Black Leadership Council, emailed me a link to an abstract about Type 3 Diabetes Mellitus (T3DM) in Black people. This is an interesting topic that is still under active investigation. Briefly, T3DM is the term being used by some (it is not a fully accepted term and not listed on the ADA website’s description of diabetes mellitus) to describe the connection between impaired insulin and IGF (insulin-like growth factor) signaling in the brain and the development of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). It does not appear that all persons with AD have abnormal insulin signaling in the brain, so there may not be a complete overlap of T3DM and AD; rather, T3DM may represent a subtype of AD.
Risk factors for T3DM, as outlined in a 2020 study, are similar to those for T2DM and include obesity, lack of physical activity, family history, low socioeconomic status, and diet. The study additionally identifies race and ethnicity as risk factors. The abstract that was forwarded to me notes that some Black people have higher levels of certain diabetes-related cytokines, as well as higher levels of key neurodegenerative proteins and cytokines.
It is accepted that persons with T2DM are at increased risk for developing AD. Persons with T2DM may develop vascular dementia and/or AD without the central signaling abnormalities of T3DM, but may also develop this abnormal signaling in the brain and progress to T3DM. While treatment options for AD continue to improve, there remains no cure. Additionally, while it makes sense to focus on lifestyle changes and glucose control, there is no strong evidence that this will prevent the development of AD in susceptible individuals. A study looking at the effect of intranasal insulin showed early promise regarding a slowing of cognitive decline in those already diagnosed with AD.
Additional references:
Type 3 Diabetes Explained (a summary article)
The Cork Board
The GAMA 2022 Annual Mtg will be held on April 27 from 6 - 9 pm. Register here by April 22.
CME: check out this April 14 webinar on strategies to promote health equity in a. fib care. Register here.
Showing at the Albuquerque Museum - Facing The Rising Sun: The Journey of African American Homesteaders in New Mexico
If you have information you would like to share with this provider community, send it to DRoss@NMBLC.org.
Share the link for this publication with other Black health providers in the state and encourage them to send their contact information (see email address at the bottom of the page) so they can be added to the distribution list.
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