Type 3 Diabetes - What Is It and Practical Tips for Prevention

January 20, 2026 • Written by naturopathic doctor intern - Sarah DemarÉ

Type 1 and 2 Diabetes are quite well known but have you ever heard of Type 3 Diabetes?

Some of the top neurodegenerative researchers are now calling Alzheimer’s Disease, Type 3 Diabetes. 

While Type 3 Diabetes is not an official term yet, it is used as a concept by researchers to explain the link between Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease. Those with Type 2 Diabetes are at a 59% higher likelihood of developing dementia. This is an important area of health prevention for us Canadians since Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are the #1 leading cause of death for females and 2nd leading cause of death for males (3). 

A small percentage of Alzheimer’s Disease is inherited through familial genes. The larger portion of the time, it development stems from random individual gene mutations and lifestyle, including risk factors such as head injuries, diet, exercise, age, heart health and metabolic health. Alzheimer’s disease up until now has been known as a disease that results in degeneration of the hippocampus, an important brain area used for memory (2).

“Why might I be forgetting things more than usual?”

Chronically high blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormonal messenger that is responsible for telling your cells to open the gates, allowing glucose (aka sugar) to leave the blood stream and enter in to feed your cells. When blood sugar is remaining high too much of the time, this leads to insulin constantly being released.

Similar to the boy who cried wolf too many times– when insulin is always being released your cells stop listening to the insulin signal overtime and the gates that previously allowed the sugar to enter your cells remain shut. The result is that sugar remains very high in your blood and leaves your cells starving for glucose. A certain amount of glucose is required in order to keep up the ‘housekeeping’ of all the cells in your body- especially the brain!

Starving the brain cells of receiving their glucose leads to very hangry and unhappy cells, leading to cell death and consequently memory loss. 

Some early signs of dementia to watch out for may be changes in personality, mood swings, forgetting recent events, getting lost and having a hard time finding words. If you are concerned that you or your loved one may be experiencing early dementia come into Madrona Integrative Health to have a screening exam done so that we can work together to prevent further cognitive decline. 

What you can do to protect your memory?

We are now discovering that lifestyle plays a much larger role than previously thought in the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease aka Type 3 Diabetes. The silver lining is that there is much more opportunity to prevent it’s occurrence by making health-conscious choices today. 

My name is Sarah Demare, I am a Student Naturopathic Doctor, completing an externship under the supervision of Dr. Hannah Webb and seeing patients at Madrona Integrative Health. I would like to provide you with some practical takeaways of how to stay sharp-minded into older age.  

1. Healthy Fats are Key

Just like any other well performing machine, proper fuel is a necessity. In order to support the health of brain cells, a key focus should be on high quality fat intake. Let’s talk avocado’s! Monounsaturated fatty acids found in avocado’s are great for providing the building blocks necessary for rebuilding neurons and will also increase blood flow to the brain, supporting healthy brain function. And yes, contrary to popular belief our brain cells can grow and be replaced! Our brain, especially the hippocampus (memory center) loves to produce new neurons daily so providing healthy fats to do so is crucial to maintaining cognitive function. 

Another important consideration for dietary fat is that toxins can often be stored in fat cells. This is why opting for high quality when eating an animal-based fat sourcewill benefit you in the long run.  Seek sustainably raisedchicken, grass-fed and grass-finished beef and wild caught fish in order to increase chances of healthy fat. 

Tip: Try incorporating healthy fats into every meal. Some examples of healthy fats to stock in your kitchen: avocado’s, organic olive oil (amber glass bottle preferred and only heat at low temperatures), nuts and seeds or nut butters (organic if possible), fat-containing animal proteins, grass-fed + finishedbutter, bone broth, eggs, chia seeds, wild sockeye salmon

Avoid: canola oil, sunflower oil, vegetable oil, margarine

2. Order of Food Matters

When you eat carbohydrates alone such as fruit juice, this results in a fast rise in glucose into the blood with a big rise in insulin, which is what we want to avoid. One easy trick is to focus on the order you consume the foods on your plate. Starting with soluble fiber (vegetables, chia, beans)will allow for slow and steady absorption of glucose, this prevents any high blood sugar spikes and maintains long lasting energy. Eating fats and protein before carbohydrates will slow down the food in your gastrointestinal tract and allow for a more controlled insulin response. No more late afternoon energy crashes, bonus!

Tip: Order to eat food: Fibers (vegetables first) à Protein and Fats à Carbohydrates (grains & fruit)

Example: Eating salad or broccoli off your plate first, followed by some chicken with avocado, enjoying potatoes or rice last. Another example is having 10 almonds (fats) before eating a piece of fruit (high in carbohydrates). 

3. Herbs as Medicine

The evidence suggests that insulin dysregulation, inflammation and oxidative stress are key mechanisms leading to dementia (2). Therefore we can combat memory loss through high quality antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herbs that will improve mood and memory. Some examples include Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Brahmi(Bacopa monnieri) and Gotu kola (Centella asiatica). We can’t forget about our mushroom friend: Lion’s mane(Hericium erinaceus) that can stimulate the growth of brain cells and improve cognition. 

4. The Gut and Mind Connection

The diversity of your gut microbiome has also been linked to the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (2). A goal should be to increase the diversity of healthy bacteria in the gut by avoiding unnecessary use of antibiotics, replenishing with high-quality probiotic supplements and adding fermented foods into your diet.  

Tip: Consult your local Naturopathic Doctor to determine which strains of bacteria are going to be most beneficial for your individual case when selecting a probiotic supplement.
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Note: There can be various causes for cognitive decline, for a comprehensive screening, book in with Sarah (Intern Naturopathic Doctor at Madrona Integrative Health) here.

Sarah will be seeing patients under the supervision of Dr. Hannah Webb ND and is pleased to offer 50% of regular Naturopathic Medicine visit costs in order to increase accessibility to the Salt Spring Island community.

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Disclaimer: Information can be empowering, but we all have unique health profiles and needs. Health-related information contained in this article is intended to be general in nature and should not be taken as medical advice nor should it be used as a substitute for a visit with a licensed health care provider.