Author: blogwriter

Dr. Ahmad Shahzad
Founder | Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation
Consultant Diabetologist | Educator | Advocate for Preventive Care

The term “Type 3 diabetes” arouses interest and perplexity in both medical discourse and public searches. Although not classified by major health organization as a separate form of diabetes, it is frequently used in two different contexts. First, it discusses a hypothesis that indicates reduced glucose metabolism that may be a contributing factor to cognitive loss and links Alzheimer’s disease to insulin resistance in the brain.

Second, it is usually misdiagnosed as Type 3c Diabetes, known illness brought on by pancreatic damage. Patients and even healthcare professionals misunderstand each other because of this language overlap. Raising awareness, promoting early diagnosis, and enhancing proactive health management all depend on an understanding of the variances and the research underlying each interpretation. This article examines the true definition of Type 3 Diabetes, it relates to pancreatogenic diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, and the latest finding.

What is Type 3 Diabetes?

When pancreatic damage affects both its endocrine (hormone) and exocrine (digestive enzyme) functions, type 3c diabetes, also known as pancreatogenic diabetes, occurs.

Major health organizations like the ADA and WHO do not formally recognize type 3 diabetes, regardless of its common use. This term frequently brings confusion among people and even healthcare providers because it traverses two completely different medical contexts. This is a more vivid breakdown:

Informal Usage in Medical and Academic Circles

In casual scientific discussion, this type of diabetes is used to refer to either:

• Alzheimer’s disease may be exacerbated by an insulin-resistant brain (a descriptive theory, not a formal diagnosis).
• Type 3c diabetes, also known as pancreatogenic diabetes, is a real ailment that results from injury to the pancreas.

Overlap in Terminology

• Although glucose dysregulation is present in both situations, the underlying causes, signs, and therapies are entirely different.
• To prevent misdiagnosis, it is crucial to distinguish between pancreatic illness and the brain-related theory because they have the same informal term.

Causes

Common triggers include:

• Cystic fibrosis
• Pancreatic cancer
• Chronic or acute pancreatitis (most common cause)
• Pancreatic surgery or removal (partial or total pancreatectomy)
• Hemochromatosis (iron overload)

Signs and Symptoms

Individuals who have type 3c diabetes frequently have a combination of:

Typical diabetes symptoms:

• Increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplainable weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision, etc.

Digestive/exocrine symptoms due to pancreatic insufficiency:

• Bloating, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea or oily (fatty) stools and unintended weight loss.

Diagnosis and Management

Diagnosis

Step 1: Use tests such as the HbA1c or fasting blood sugar to confirm diabetes.

Step 2: Use imaging (CT, MRI, or endoscopic ultrasonography) and signs of exocrine insufficiency (such as low faecal elastase) to confirm pancreatic injury.

Step 3: Use autoantibody testing to rule out Type 1 diabetes.

Management

• Insulin therapy and/or oral drugs (like metformin) to manage blood sugar, depending on residual function.
• Support for digestion with pancreatic enzyme replacement treatment, specifically in cases of exocrine insufficiency.
• Handle underlying damage by treating conditions like cancer, cystic fibrosis, or pancreatitis.

You may also like to read: Is Diabetes a Disability?

Key Differences Between Alzheimer’s-Type and Type 3c Diabetes

Although both disorders are sometimes referred to as “Type 3 Diabetes”, their signs, causes, and therapies are completely different. Understanding the difference is essential for precious diagnosis and suitable treatment. Here is a thorough comparison:

How to Manage and Reduce Risk

The following are proven strategies for managing and lowering the risk of Type 3 diabetes, which is linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and Type 3c (pancreatogenic) diabetes:

Lifestyle for Brain Health

Reducing insulin resistance in the brain and possibly delaying cognitive decline can be attained by leading a brain-focused lifestyle:

Healthy Diet:

• Diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grain, fish, olive oil, and nuts, sometimes known as the Mediterranean or MIND diet, relate to enhanced cognitive function and a decreased risk of dementia.
• Intake of food high in choline (such as eggs, cruciferous vegetables, and dairy) and omega-3 sources (like walnuts and salmon) as these have been shown to enhance cognitive and memory performance.

Regular Exercise

• Both aerobic and strength training enhance insulin sensitivity (including in brain cells) and reduce dementia risk by rough 20%.

Quality sleep & stress control

• Make getting 7 to 9 hours of good sleep, specifically REM sleep, an obligation for memory consolidation and toxin removal.
• To maintain neurological function, reduce stress before bed by practicing mindfulness, meditation, or gentle stretching.

Final Thoughts

The terminology Type 3 Diabetes is applied in two different contexts: One explaining insulin resistance in the brain as associated with the development of Alzheimer, and the other one as a form of diabetes (type 3c) due to damage of the pancreatitis. Both raise very serious medical issues despite only Type 3c being an officially accepted illness. Knowledge can be utilized to determine appropriate intervention and care by identifying these differences.

Dr. Ahmad Shahzad
Founder | Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation
Consultant Diabetologist | Educator | Advocate for Preventive Care

Diabetes is a disease with a long-term course that millions of people in the world live with -everyday exercises, change of lifestyle, and in most cases daily pills or insulin are needed. Although this is manageable, people tend to pose this question: is diabetes a disability? This greatly affects the daily activities, work duties and quality of life to many individuals. The question most have would be, is diabetes a disability in law? The response might amaze you. This article will address that issue in terms of the legal perspective of diabetes, entitlement and safeguard of people with diabetes in the workplace and their educational experience, as well as whether there is a disability status assigned to diabetes. Being aware of them can enable people with diabetes to make more effort in taking control of their health and legal rights.

Is Diabetes a Disability Under the Law?

Truly, in many nations, diabetes type 1 and type 2 are acknowledged by law as disability. Since diabetes greatly affects endocrine function, a vital bodily function, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the US. Similar rights are also included in federally financed programs under the Rehabilitation Act. Although people may have to provide proof of how their disabilities limit their everyday activities to be entitled to.

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes that are managed with insulin are frequently covered by the Equality Act 2010 in the UK. If diabetes has a crucial, long-term impact on everyday life, it can be considered a handicap based on a reasonable individual assessment.

Diabetes is usually recognized as a disability in Canada and other jurisdictions, which offer appropriate legal protections and accommodations.

Can You Get Disability Benefits for Diabetes?

Not every person with diabetes is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Socia Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The disease must be serious enough to keep you from working full-time for at least a year, or it must be expected to cause death, in case for you to be considered payments.  

What the SSA Looks For

The Blue Book listings, specifically the parts on endocrine abnormalities and related problems, are used by the Social Security Administration. To be admissible, you had to:

• Enduring and completely recorded medical evidence (lab results, notes from specialists, hospitalization records).
• A history of disease that includes recurrent hospital admissions or medical treatments, as well as clinical evidence that your symptoms prevent you from working full-time.

When Diabetes Becomes Disabling

Diabetes can become incapacitating when its symptoms severely interfere with day-to-day functioning. Key circumstances are as follows:

Repeated Hypoglycemia or Hyperglycemia

Disorientation, convulsions, and even unconsciousness are brought on by frequent low or high blood sugar. According to studies, mild hypoglycemia can cause blurred vision and make driving dangerous, even in the absence of warning symptoms, presenting considerable risks in day-to-day activities.

Cognitive Fatigue or Depression

Many diabetics report feeling extremely exhausted:

“The exhaustion is simply unbearable… It is like having the flu.”

Clinical depression is reported by 20-30% of people, illustrating the prevalence of mood disorders. This emotional stress could worsen blood sugar regulation and further impede productivity and creative thinking.

Limitations on Physical Activity or Driving

Walking, exercising, and doing housework can be restricted by neuropathy, balance issues, and vision problems. Hypoglycemia-related cognitive and coordination problems might result in license suspension or auto accidents.

When Quality of Life Suffers

When diabetes is debilitating, symptoms generally affect mental health, physical health, mobility, and safety, making it impossible or difficult to retain full-time employment. It’s a abrupt shift from sporadic management to a continuous battle to carry out everyday tasks.

You may also like to read: Is diabetes reversible?

Managing Diabetes and Maintaining Independence

Many people with diabetes live full, independent lives- thanks to a combination of good practices, modern innovations, and strong community support.

Modern Diabetes Technology

Smart insulin pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are two examples of devices that have revolutionized healthcare. Research indicates that both Type 1 and Type CGM users have better blood sugar management (lower A1C), fewer hypoglycemia episodes, and an enhanced quality of life. By providing trend data and real-time notifications, these solutions enable users to stay within range and prevent emergency situations.

Lifestyle & Self-Management

Beyond technology, regular exercise, medication adherence, balanced diet, and frequent checkups with the doctor are all common components of good diabetes treatment. Maintaining independence is aided by tried-and-true self-care techniques including fingerstick monitoring, dental and foot maintenance, and sick day preparation.

Community & Peer Support

Support networks, such online forums like TuDiabetes, bring together individuals dealing with comparable issues and provide direction, emotional support, and motivation. Furthermore, peer-driven education initiatives and organizations contribute to stigma reductions and resilience building.

Disability as Strength, Not Stigma

It is not a sign of weakness to accept diabetes as a limitation; rather, it is an admission of the need for assistance. Requesting appropriate accommodation, such as breaks or flexible work schedules, is a proactive way to preserve your health and freedom.

Dr. Ahmad Shahzad
Founder | Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation
Consultant Diabetologist | Educator | Advocate for Preventive Care

Diabetes is one of the major health issues that is increasing every day as millions of people are affected with disease at any age. It occurs when the level of blood sugar is characteristically high, and it may cause severe issues when it is not addressed. Is diabetes reversible? This is a significant question that comes to the minds of most people with increasing awareness and medical development. This article unravels that same question by discussing the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 and whether one or the other was reversible. It is more important to know what each type is to understand where treatment is likely to alleviate the pain or long-term management.

Understanding Diabetes

It is a long-term disorder manifested by the presence of increased blood sugar levels; it is a condition associated with the presence of problems with the insulin hormone, which is supposed to carry sugar to the cells of the body to generate energy. It occurs in two different forms:

• Type 1: it is an autoimmune disorder caused by the destruction of the β-cells in the pancreas, which produces very little or no insulin at all.
• Type 2: It is caused by the body resisting insulin and producing insufficient quantities of insulin over time.

Insulin and its opposite glucagon together maintain blood sugar levels. Insulin reduces the sugar levels; glucagon increases the sugar level. It is necessary to determine the type of person must speak about the possibility to arrange them or not.

Is Type 1 Diabetes Reversible?

Diabetes type 1 is an autoimmune disorder whereby the body immune system destroys the insulin synthesis beta cells in the pancreas and consequently results in the low or no production of insulin. What is unfortunate about it is that so far, no cure has been established for Type 1 diabetes; treatment using insulin injections in life remains as the best mode of treating this kind of diabetes.

Nevertheless, there are great research achievements which enhance the quality of life of the patients. Insulin administration has seen advancement through continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps and even new, so-called, smart insulins which respond to changes developing in real-time.

Studies of immunotherapies such as teplizumab, islet cell transplants (examples include Donislecel/Lantidra) and stem-cell based therapies are promising, but these remain niche.

Type 1 diabetes is not treatable, although with the help of current treatments the symptoms of diabetes can be controlled: it is not curative therapy.

Is Type 2 Diabetes Reversible?

Lifestyle associated with diet, weight and physical activity are closely related to type 2 diabetes. Though it is not completely treatable, people with Type 2 diabetes have a chance to eradicate the condition in some cases. The ample evidence addresses dietary advancements and weight loss as the key change drivers.

Understanding Diabetes Remission

Health experts refer to it instead of a cure like diabetes remission. Remission is when the level of blood sugar falls under the diabetic level and does not grow back with or without medication even after a few months. Nonetheless, regular check-ups are also of importance since relapse can occur in case of the lapse of the lifestyle factors.

Examples of Reversal Through Lifestyle Change

• Almost all the participants in clinical studies were able to enter remission (about 50 percent) when they adhered to a very low-calorie diet, dropping 10 to 15 kg.
• Most individuals who reduce the levels of their weight immediately after being diagnosed will be more likely to reverse type 2 diabetes: others taking no medicine at all even after years.
• In the UK a study of over 85% of individuals who lost more than 15 kg illustrated that they were in remission one year later.

Proven Ways to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

The reversal of type 2 diabetes is best done in a thorough manner that modifies lifestyle dramatically and fuels lifestyles. Some of the evidence-based strategies relate to research:

Weight Loss

• Nothing can be as effective as substantial weight loss. Remission has been induced by low-calorie diets, specifically when such programs are medically supervised.
• DiRECT trial reported that they found diabetes remission in almost 46% of the patients who lost 10-15 kg on their very low-calorie diet, with more than 85% remission in individuals who lost more than 15 kg.
• Rapid rate of diabetes remission can be brought about by bariatric surgery specifically among the individuals with greater body mass index.

Diet

• The whole foods, low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean or plant-based diets, result in better management of blood sugar and weight loss.
• These diets can be used to sustain remission in the long run.

Exercise

Routine exercise enhances the sensitivity of insulin and the sustenance of effects of defenses to weight loss.

Medication Support

Short-term use of medications such as metformin or GLP-1 receptor agonists could be applied to bring blood sugar under control whilst in the process of making lifestyle adjustments.

Clinical evidence confirms that Type 2 diabetes can be reversed for many individuals who commit to these strategies, but sustained effort and monitoring are crucial.

Can Gestational Diabetes Be Reversed?

Gestational diabetes normally disappears after giving birth and the control of blood sugar levels is back to normal in most women. Nonetheless, it is something that creates more danger of getting Type 2 diabetes at a later point in life. Regular screening of blood sugar is important as well as periodic follow-ups with your healthcare provider. In addition, a healthy lifestyle, which means balanced diet and physical activity, is encouraged to reduce your long-term susceptibility, and contribute to long-term health.

Means: Cure vs. Remission

Remission maintenance of normal blood sugar (e.g. HbA1c < 6.5%) without medications, over an extended period, usually at least 3 months, is used in diabetes care. Cure, on the contrary, means a permanent restoration of the normal course of metabolic processes without a risk of relapse, which is impossible to expect in case of diabetes.

Since the susceptibility to metabolism still exists, the blood sugar can increase once more in case good habits are neglected. Therefore, yes diabetes T2 is reversible, that is, it can be made inactive, but not disappeared, it is necessary to continue both lifestyle and monitoring.

You may also like to read: Glucophage (Metformin) Tablet Uses

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to reverse diabetes forever?

Diabetes cannot be cured, and it is impossible to eliminate it fully. Nevertheless, diabetics can reverse the condition in most cases. Reversing diabetes implies close control of blood sugars to reach the stage beyond which medicine intake is not required, and to remain at this manageable stage with the help of a healthy habit referring to proper diet and physical activity.

Is diabetes curable completely?

The answer is simple, yes, it is possible to reverse the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. For your blood sugar levels to be in remission, they must be normal for at least three months of no glucose-lowering medication. Regarding type two diabetes, it’s a chronic condition therefore we don’t talk about curing it or reversing it.

Is it true once a diabetic, always a diabetic?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition and not a short-life disease. Even after remission, so that you’re not taking medication and your blood sugar levels remain in the normal range, you may still have symptoms of the disease that can come back.

🩺 Dr. Ahmad Shahzad
Founder | Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation
Consultant Diabetologist | Educator | Advocate for Preventive Care

Metformin tablet has been synthesized to contain metformin hydrochloride which is a common orally taken anti-diabetes medicine and its biguanide. It is used as the first-line drug with diet and exercise as a supplement to help control the glucose level of patients with diabetes type 2 by the inhibited production of glucose by the liver, the increased sensitivity to insulin, and improved absorption of sugars in the bowel. Other Glucophage tablet uses among many include the reduction of both fasting and post-meal glucose, modest weight loss, as well as penetrating low risk of hypoglycemia as compared to other drugs. It has remained one of the most prescribed drugs, which are used in controlling blood sugar all over the world, due to its safety and efficacy.

What Is Glucophage?

Medicine metformin is sold in the brand name Glucophage, which is a commonly prescribed oral insulin-independent antidiabetic drug. It assists the management of the amount of sugar present in blood, that is, in overweight individuals. Metformin has also various forms to fit different forms of patients:

• Extended-release tablets (Glucophage XR): Take once daily, normally with the evening meal.
• Immediate-release tablets: Take meals 1 to 3 times daily.
• Oral Suspension: Adequate for those who have difficulty swallowing tablets.

Glucophage works in the body through multiple mechanisms:

• Make the body cells insulin sensitive and facilitate a more efficient use of insulin as well as a more systemic uptake of glucose by the body.
• Reduced glycogen production by the liver thus reducing release of sugar into the blood.
• Reduces intake of glucose in the small intestines further assisting in negative sugar control in the bloodstream.

By enhancing the body’s response to insulin and reducing excess glucose, it plays a critical role in diabetes management.

Primary Metformin Tablet Uses

The use these tablets is majorly based on the administration and prevention of lifestyle diseases that are caused by diabetes. The salient symptoms are:

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• First-Line Therapy: The term metformin (Glucophage) is well known as the primary orally used drug in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It may be employed independently (monotherapy) or together with other antidiabetic drugs or insulin in cases where physical activity and diet itself does not allow one to manage his/her blood sugar.
• Blood Sugar Control: Its mechanisms of action incorporate lessening glucose production by the liver, enhancing insulin sensitivity and diminishing intestinal glucose ingestion. This is used in regulating the blood sugar level and preventing complications of diabetes, which normally occur through cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, and retinopathy.
• Prevention of Complications: Clinical trials have reported reduction of blood glucose levels with metformin as well as a reduction in the risk of mortality due to diabetes and mortality in general in overweight diabetic patients with type 2 diabetes because of using metformin.

Uses in Prediabetes

• Delaying Diabetes Onset: The tablets can be prescribed to people with prediabetes and at high-risk of diabetes type 2 (younger than 60, BMI>35, or has a history of gestation diabetes). The idea is to avert or defer the development of full-blown diabetes at least, when lifestyle changes alone have no effect.
• Clinical Guidelines: Although not endorsed universally in the treatment of prediabetes, in specific high-risk individuals it has been considered in the guidelines regarding the reduction of type 2 diabetes incidence using metformin.

Management of Gestational Diabetes

• Alternative to Insulin: These tablets are prescribed in some situations of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) as an insulin alternative with no risk at all. With their assistance, it is possible to manage glucose concentrations in the maternal blood, decrease the infant weight trafficking, as well as dangers of birth complications including hypoglycemia and macrosomia.
• Safety Profile: Some regions allow its use during pregnancy; hence it provides a substituent oral alternative to insulin use by women who are unable to or opt to use injectable insulin.

All in all, there is no doubt about the uses of metformin tablets in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the prevention of diabetes in persons at risk and as a choice of therapy in cases of gestational diabetes when it is clinically necessary.

Off-Label and Additional Uses of Metformin Tablets

Although Glucophage (metformin) is mostly used to treat diabetes type 2, other off-label and emerging uses of tablets include the following:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Restore Ovulation: It becomes an extremely popular treatment of restoring regular ovulation in the women with PCOS, which is the hormonal disorder that frequently causes the irregular menstruation and infertility.

Reduces Insulin Resistance: It reduces the level of androgens by enhancing the body to respond better to insulin and this can ease the symptoms that include too much hair and acne which are symptoms of PCOS.

Weight Management in Insulin Resistance

It may make it possible to decrease the amount of fat in the abdomen and enhance the cholesterol levels of some patients with the assistance of the medication.

Metabolic Syndrome & Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain

• Metabolic Syndrome: Sometimes this drug can be used to treat metabolic syndrome conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist, and unusual cholesterol levels.
• Counteracting Medication Side Effects: It is also use as an antimetabolic and anti-obesity effect antidote of some antipsychotic drugs, specifically in bipolar or schizophrenic patients.

Experimental and Emerging Research

• Cancer Prevention: Recent studies evaluating its possible benefits of metformin in the prevention of some cancers, especially colorectal cancer and breast cancer because of its impact in cellular metabolism and insulin resistance.
• Anti-Aging: This is preliminary research that holds promise of potent anti-aging effects such as better longevity and decreased age-associated illnesses. However, these applications are still theoretical and are yet to be used as a matter of standard practice.

Potential Side Effects and Precautions

Side effects – Nausea, Metal taste in the mouth and Diarrhea are the common side effects of Glucophage. They are mild symptoms, and they can be enhanced through dose or time correction. One of the rare, but rather serious, dissimilarities is lactic acidosis or accumulation of lactic acid in the blood because of which one develops pain in the muscles, weakness, abdominal pain, dizziness, shortness of breath. It is a life-threatening condition, which requires emergency treatment.

Kidney or liver disease increases the risk, and patients should use metformin with caution. Kidney function tests and monitoring of vitamin B12 levels should also de done when under treatment as long term administration may result to DEALING in vitamin b12. It is also important that a patient should not consume exorbitant alcohol as it encourages the development of lactic acidosis. It is better to consult the medical specialist to give the patient individual advice and support them through the method of treatment.

You may also like to read: Bronze Diabetes

Who Should or Shouldn’t Use Metformin?

Suitable for:

• Overweight or obese individuals with elevated blood sugar
• Patients with insulin resistance
• Some women with PCOS (as advised by a doctor)
• Individuals with Type 2 diabetes

Not Suitable for:

• Those with liver transplants
• People with severe kidney disease (eGFR < 30 mL/min)
• Patients undergoing contrast imaging procedures.
• Individuals with the history of alcohol abuse
• People with heart failure or recent heart attacks

🔍 Always consult a healthcare provider before starting Metformin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Glucophage work as fertility?

An oral drug called metformin (marketed as Glucophage) is a rather recent form of healing in treating ovulatory issues and women with polycystic ovaries disease.

Do you lose or gain weight on Glucophage (metformin)?

In the event you are handling type 2 diabetes with metformin (or Glucophage as some call it), you may be dealing with a little weight loss as a side-effect. Whereas Metformin is not necessarily weight loss medication, it can induce weight loss effects by minimizing food cravings and enhancing insulin sensitivity.

Why do I use (metformin) by night?

Research on a small number of diabetic patients revealed that administration of metformin, Glucophage retard at night as opposed to supper hours possibly enhances diabetes control by curbing hyperglycemia in the morning.

🩺 Dr. Ahmad Shahzad
Founder | Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation
Consultant Diabetologist | Educator | Advocate for Preventive Care

Bronze diabetes is a medical condition that reports the combination of abnormal skin pigmentation and diabetes mellitus, most noticeably a grayish or bronze tone. This condition commonly arises from excess iron accumulation in the body; a disorder known as hemochromatosis. In exceptional cases, copper overload may also play a role in its development. This condition only influences internal organs like pancreas and liver but also presents apparent changes on the skin- specifically on the face. Early awareness is important, as untreated cases can lead to serious health complications. In this article, we’ll check out the definition of bronze diabetes, its underlying causes, the visible signs on face, and how excess copper may contribute to this rare but crucial condition.

Definition and History

A certain kind of secondary diabetes mellitus known as “bronze diabetes” is brought on by extreme iron (and infrequently copper) overload, which primarily damages the pancreas and inhibits its ability to produce insulin. In the past, it was observed in people with untreated hereditary hemochromatosis, a condition in which organ deposition results from excessive iron absorption.

Increased melanin production and iron deposition in the skin, a result of underlying metabolic damage from iron accumulation in organs like liver and pancreas, give the skin its distinctive “bronze” look, which is characterized by a slate-grey or metallic-bronze pigmentation.

Despite being less frequently used in conventional medical terminology in favor of terms like “diabetes secondary to hemochromatosis,” the phrase “bronze diabetes” is nevertheless a useful diagnostic and historical notion that emphasizes the connection between metal overload disorders and endocrine dysfunction.

Cause: Iron Overload and Metabolic Damage

Systemic iron excess, most frequently caused by hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), is its primary cause. This genetic condition affects the control of dietary iron absorption and is often caused by mutations in the HFE gene, particularly C282Y homozygosity. As a result, too much iron builds up over the years in critical organs such as pancreas, liver, heart, skin and joints.

This iron overload causes metabolic damage through several mechanisms:

Pancreatic Damage

Insulin synthesis and secretion are hampered by iron deposition, which directly harms pancreatic beta-cells. Moreover, iron causes liver damage and insulin resistance, which further impair glucose metabolism and ultimately end in diabetes mellitus.

Skin Hyperpigmentation (Bronze Appearance)

Increased melanin synthesis is triggered by excess iron deposits in the skin (as hemosiderin). The unusual

metabolic-bronze or slate-grey skin discoloration is caused by the interaction of hemosiderin and melanin.

Organ Toxicity

In all afflicted organs (cirrhosis, fibrosis, arthropathy, and cardiomyopathy, iron catalyzes the production of reactive oxygen species (free radicals), which results in oxidative stress that damages cellular structures and interferes with normal function.

While HH is the classic cause, it can also arise from secondary iron overload, such as:

• Chronic Liver Disease: Particularly chronic hepatitis C or alcoholic liver disease, which might interfere with iron metabolism.
• Repeated Blood Transfusion: Prevalent in long-term anemias (such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease).

Bronze Diabetes Face: Why the Skin Turns Bronze

The emergence of bronze, brown, or gray pigmentation, specifically on sun-exposed parts like the cheeks and forehead, is one of the most visible symptoms. Iron, particularly hemosiderin, accumulates in the dermis and sweat glands in hereditary hemochromatosis, where it interacts with melanin to exacerbate discoloration. The end effect is a slate-gray or metallic tone that frequently intensifies into a brownish bronze color.

The facial skin may have mild texture changes, such as dryness, thinning, and even scaling, in addition to pigmentation. Because iron deposition damages follicular health, patients may experience hair loss in certain situations, most notably thinning of eyebrows and eyelashes. Facial hyperpigmentation is a potentially early clinical sign since these skin changes on the face might appear years before more over systemic warning symptoms of hemochromatosis, like liver malfunction, diabetes, or joint pain.

Why Does Copper Excess Cause Bronze Diabetes?

The dual nature of copper- it is essential for enzymes and metabolisms, but too much of it can induce oxidative stress and tissue damage- is the basis for the theory that copper overload causes bronze diabetes. Copper builds up in the liver and blood in conditions like Wilson’s disease due to defective copper transport (ATP7B gene mutations), where it takes part in Fenton-Haber-Weiss reactions that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage cells and organs.

This oxidative stress influences metabolic tissues like the pancreas in addition to the liver and brain. ROS can harm beta cells that produce insulin and disrupt metabolic enzymes, which may lead to glucose intolerance or diabetes. Copper can also alter glucose-handling pathways; according to some research, it impairs mitochondrial and glycolytic enzyme performance, exacerbating metabolic imbalance.

Although iron excess has historically been linked to it, there is rising attention in how combined metal overload (copper + iron) may hasten both diabetes and pigmentation. Another copper-dependent enzyme involved in iron

metabolism is ceruloplasmin; if it malfunctions, iron homeostasis may also be upset, which could have an increased impact on the system.

The connection between bronze diabetes and copper excess is still hypothetical, though. Wilson’s disease illustrates the negative impact of copper accumulation, however there is little hard proof that copper causes the typical trifecta of liver, diabetes, disease, and bronze skin. To ascertain whether copper directly contributes to the development of what is known as bronze diabetes, further focused studies are required.

You may also like to read: Community Diabetes Care Programs

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Blood tests for serum ferritin and transferring saturation are used as diagnosis; enhanced ferritin and transferring saturation above 45% are strongly suggestive of iron excess. Family screening is guided by genetic testing for HFE gene variants, such as C282Y, which confirms hereditary hemochromatosis. Liver and pancreatic MRI scans provide a non-invasive method of measuring iron buildup and tracking the effectiveness of treatment.

The goal of treatment is to lower iron reserves; phlebotomy, which involves drawing 450-500 ml of blood every week or every two weeks, efficiently eliminating iron until ferritin levels are approx. 50 µg/L, after which there is periodic maintenance. Deferasirox and other iron chelators provide an alternative for people who are unable to have transfusions. Before laboratory testing reveals excess iron, its spontaneous case frequently starts with facial discoloration and exhaustion. Skin pigmentation gradually lightens with regular treatment, albeit it can take months for this to happen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is diabetic bronze curable?
The development of diabetes can be reversed with treats in some cases. Otherwise, there are cases where pancreas may be damaged permanently thus necessitating the use of diabetes medication to regulate the levels of glucose present in the blood.

What are 3 triads of diabetes?
The three P diabetes is polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia. These terms are related to thirst increase, increase in the urination, and the rise of the appetite. The three Ps usually go hand in hand; this is not always true.

🩺 Dr. Ahmad Shahzad
Founder | Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation
Consultant Diabetologist | Educator | Advocate for Preventive Care

Diabetes continues to escalate as the world’s most pervasive health dilemma which spreads across millions of people including all regions of Pakistan. The latest statistics show over 33 million Pakistani citizens deal with diabetes hence the critical need for sustainable community-based diabetes care is essential now more than ever. Community Diabetes Care Programs provide localized people-first programs to deliver care services according to each person’s specific needs. The Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation (LDF) based in Faisalabad leads healthcare transformation through its community-driven diabetes care programs.

Extensive prevalence of Prediabetes exists as a preliminary state of diabetes, but people frequently underestimate its prevalence. Different community-based health programs recognized the absence of information and steps into action for diagnosis and guidance and awareness promotion. The evaluation of numerous studies in Pakistan indicates that 37 million citizens suffer from prediabetes.

A welfare foundation with hospital presence organizes initiatives that reach education facilities from primary schools to college institutions to eliminate knowledge gaps about healthy lifestyles.

Understanding Community Diabetes Care Programs

This program represents grassroots initiatives offering diabetes awareness together with education and prevention along with management services at a community level. They work as local-based initiatives that provide diabetes awareness services in addition to education and prevention and management services for the community. The primary goal of these community-based models diverges from traditional hospital systems through education and follow-up services distributed within schools and community centers including mosques and medical clinics as well as door-to-door visits.

The preventive nature of this model has made it so appealing due to its accessibility to communities. Community care serves as an essential service for people who lack access both to medical facilities with specialists and healthcare professionals. These programs create an environment whereby education and support merge together to build responsibility while benefiting healthcare services and ultimately raising entire communities up.

The Rising Threat: Diabetes and Prediabetes in Pakistan

The nation holds a high position among countries that exhibit the most extensive diabetes population levels. The health reports confirm that diabetes affects more than 33 million adult Pakistanis. Numerous people remain unknowing about possessing diabetes. Adults in Pakistan have the highest diabetes prevalence because they live inactive lives and eat improperly and delay seeking health care.

A person with prediabetes has elevated blood glucose levels that do not fulfill the criteria for type 2 diabetes diagnosis. If medical help does not arrive soon then most patients will develop the complete medical condition. The good news? The condition becomes treatable by increased awareness alongside life changes.

Early diagnosis alongside basic health guidance would substantially impact the lives of patients. Community programs serve an essential purpose through their ability to discover conditions early and provide organized information while delivering continuous backing.

Understanding Prediabetes: A Crucial Window for Prevention

People with prediabetes do not experience any noticeable symptoms which make the condition difficult to identify. Healthcare tests diagnose most prediabetes cases.

• Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)
• HbA1c
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

Before developing type 2 diabetes patients who have prediabetes experience elevated risks of heart disease and stroke. The welfare organization devotes substantial effort to instruct people about detecting diseases at an early stage, especially amongst people with these risk factors:

• Family history of diabetes
• Obesity or high BMI
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Poor dietary habits
• Women with a history of gestational diabetes

Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation: A Beacon of Hope

The Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation (LDF) spent its time raising diabetes awareness and extending healthcare services to Faisalabad under a community-oriented approach. The nonprofit began with healthcare education professionals and runs initiatives for both disease prevention and community-based outreach.

The core welfare effort in this movement continuously operates throughout various platforms with the goal of finding people in their preferred environments:

• Hospitals: Providing screenings and counseling in outpatient clinics
• Schools & Colleges: Educating teenagers and young adults on healthy habits
• Universities: Hosting seminars and workshops in collaboration with healthcare professionals
• Rural outreach: Organizing mobile clinics and free awareness camps

Such activities demonstrate an emerging insight that health outcomes improve through well-informed and supported individuals within their familiar surroundings.

Building Local Awareness

Education plays an essential role in maintaining community diabetes care. The public widely misunderstands diabetes by confusing various aspects of its symptoms along with therapy methods and daily modifications. LDF regularly organizes sessions which create space for open communication to battle discrimination against diabetes.

The strategies target both diabetes sufferers and their caregivers along with parents and younger people while working toward preventing future cases and starting interventions at an early stage.

Community-Based Interventions: The Real Game Changer

The strength of this welfare program lies in its first community approach. By taking health information to the streets, classrooms, and marketplaces, it effectively:

• Breaks cultural and social barriers around diabetes
• Fosters trust among people who are hesitant about formal healthcare
• Delivers information in local languages with culturally relevant messaging
• Empowers individuals to take control of their own health journey

This personalized model of care ensures that education and intervention are accessible, relatable, and actionable.

Help Us Help More: Support LDF’s Mission

At Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation (LDF), we aspire to establish a dedicated welfare hospital focused on diabetes care and management. This facility will adopt a holistic approach, addressing not only blood sugar control but also the many complications linked to diabetes. The goal is to create a comprehensive center where prevention, early detection, treatment, and education come together under one roof.

The expansion and effective execution of Life Defenders Foundation programs result from donors together with healthcare professionals and volunteers who support their community through financial gifts. The current success of LDF programs stems from donor generosity yet many more initiatives remain to be accomplished. Your donation—no matter how small—can:

• The support of a screening camp in a rural village forms part of their charity work.
• The organization will distribute testing kits along with health materials for educational school sessions.
• Fund mobile health unit outreach
• The program should support training programs for additional community health workers.
• The organization should implement expansive telemedicine services across remote districts.

By donating today, you are not just giving—you’re changing lives, securing futures, and strengthening communities. Together, we can build a healthier tomorrow.

👉 Visit LDF’s website to donate or learn more

Changing the Future of Diabetes in Pakistan

The fight against diabetes can’t be won by hospitals alone—it requires empowered, educated communities. This welfare initiative sets a clear example of how grassroots engagement can change public health outcomes.

By targeting both diabetic and prediabetic patients, and offering tools for lifestyle transformation, the organization is creating ripple effects that will benefit generations to come. Its presence in educational institutions ensures that the next generation understands diabetes—not just as a disease, but as a preventable challenge.

The Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation (LDF) Hospital will exist as one of the pioneer hope facilities in Pakistan, especially in Faisalabad, which will establish novel standards to manage diabetes treatment. This proposed advanced institution will be having a 300-bed capacity, and will serve not simply as a hospital, but as a multifaceted institution of care, teaching, and development. The LDF Hospital dream will come true through the gracious hands of Dr. Ahmad Shahzad Dr Ijaz Anwer and Prof Dr. Aamir Shoukat (Pro Vice Chancellor of Faisalabad Medical University) who perpetually believed that every patient, no matter his condition, should be provided with access to exceptional healthcare services.

Inspired Leadership, Collaborative Mission

A dedication of experienced and compassionate medical staff will operate the hospital. The formation of LDF Hospital as a specialized diabetes care center will be spearheaded by medical leaders including Dr. Ahmad Shahzad and Dr. Ijaz Anwer together with Prof Dr. Aamir Shoukat and Prof Dr. Hooria Aamir. Through their joint commitment these authorities will develop an environment characterized by superior standards in both patient management practices and medical educational programs.

Early Diagnosis: Why It Matters

The condition known as diabetes remains silent since many people miss its early warning signs which manifest subtly. When diabetes remains uncontrolled it produces dangerous medical situations that include cardiovascular complications and renal failure as well as nerve damage and blindness. Early diagnosis together with proper diabetes management requires immediate focus on individuals who have prediabetic conditions.

LDF Hospital will implement screening and monitoring procedures to diagnose people who are at risk of developing diabetes before they advance to full condition. Prediabetic patients who participate in lifestyle changes together with medical support experience major improvement in avoiding the progression to type 2 diabetes. At its early stages LDF’s preventive model minimizes the ongoing health and financial impact which diabetes creates for patients alongside their families and health services.

Advanced Facilities for Comprehensive Diabetes Management

The health provider LDF Hospital will provide complete care through their facilities to identify and treat all diabetes complications alongside their management needs for patients. Medical staff at LDF Hospital will provide personalized care to patients with complications like diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy and macrovascular diseases through their advanced diagnostic abilities and evidence-based treatment methods.

The hospital will deliver comprehensive medical care for early detection and advanced chronic condition management to serve every diabetic patient. It combines modern medical tools with expert endocrinologists together with diverse healthcare professionals to deliver maximum effectiveness in individual patient results.

Holistic Care: Beyond Medication

The distinctive quality of LDF Hospital rests in its complete approach to medical care. It will spend resources on lifestyle and nutritional guidance to extend beyond diabetes treatment beyond prescriptions. Healthcare professionals at the hospital will collaborate with diabetic and pre-diabetic patients to motivate sustainable lifestyle changes. The health support initiatives establish long-term medical benefits while stopping diabetes evolution in people who are at risk to develop the condition.

The healthcare center will deliver specialized treatment to patients with gestational diabetes which offers personalized care designed to safeguard birth health as well as maternal health throughout pregnancy.

Teaching, Training, and Research Hub

The healthcare facilities at LDF Hospital will function as treatment facilities and educational and research institutions. Healthcare professionals alongside nutritionists and research workers will complete their training at the hospital through instruction from industry leadership. The hospital will support innovation through clinical research that generates new information about diabetes care for global and local patient populations.

It will support trainee specialists through workshops and medical education while also providing conferences which keep all practitioners updated about recent industry progress.

Equitable Care for All

Accessibility will stand as one of the fundamental principles at LDF Hospital. Share of financial standing will make no difference at LDF Hospital because its staff will approach all patients with respect and care. The hospital will keep its commitment to equitable healthcare so rural and marginalized communities will maintain access to first-class healthcare services and educational programs and screening opportunities.

Hospital mobile health outreach and community-based programs will enable the organization to carry forward its essential mission through targeted services in areas with the highest need.

LDF Hospital will act as the leading medical organization that will advance diabetes treatment throughout Pakistan by both building patient independence and developing professional expertise and innovative practices. Under the leadership of the teamwork of committed healthcare specialists the hospital will emerge as a beacon of hope and healing and advancement.

As diabetes emerges as one of the foremost health challenges in a country, Dr. Ahmad Shahzad’s leadership and vision stands out. Having devoted his life to Pakistan’s diabetes care, Dr. Shahzad single-handedly tries to shift the care paradigm in Pakistan with the determination to raise the diabetes awareness, education and care in overlooked population segments.

Dr. Shahzad is spearheading efforts to close the gap between diagnosis, education, and comprehensive treatment as the founder of the Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation (LDF), particularly for individuals without access to high-quality healthcare.

Dr. Ahmad Shahzad: A Highly Qualified Medical Professional

A wide range of remarkable medical credentials that demonstrate Dr. Ahmad’s breadth of expertise and commitment to lifelong learning are brought to the table. Among his qualifications are:

• MBBS
• MCPS (Pakistan)
• Diploma in Diabetes (BMU)
• RMDC (Pakistan)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (PIMS)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Ultrasound (BI, Canada)

As a Consultant Diabetologist, he currently treats patients with diabetes holistically, addressing not only blood sugar levels but also associated issues such liver and gastrointestinal health, diagnostic imaging, and managing chronic diseases.

Raising the Standard for Diabetes Management

He has spent more than four or five years actively promoting diabetes education and awareness, and as a result, he is well-known in the medical community. He attends most national and international medical conferences both as a lecturer and as a student. His multidisciplinary collaboration with the Primary Care Diabetes Association showcases his efforts to inspire general practitioners and to foster interest in specialized diabetes care.

The Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation: A Movement for Change

Under the leadership of Dr. Ahmad Shahzad, The Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation has emerged as a prominent welfare organization in Faisalabad, working towards increasing healthcare awareness while providing useable or free diabetes management services. Informing practitioners and patients about the importance of early identification and treatment is the goal of this foundation which operates as a registered non-profit organization.

Addressing Pre-Diabetes Before It Becomes Diabetes

One of the areas that he concentrates on is pre-diabetes, signifying an elevation in blood glucose levels that has yet to reach the diabetic range. Pre-diabetes can easily be reversed with the correct changes to one’s lifestyle yet remains undiagnosed often. Understanding this, LDF deals with early detection and screening drives that empower individuals to recognize negative risk factors like inadequate physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, and even family history.

These are tailored towards averting full-blown diabetes and they are very commonly conducted at the level of schools, universities and even the workplaces so diabetes medicine becomes integrated into the everyday life of the community.

Training Future Healthcare Leaders

Dr. Shahzad has been a proponent of improving the medical curriculum for quite some time now. He single-handedly organized several educational programs which inspired numbers of doctors to specialize in diabetology. His lectures and teaching approach stimulate evidence-based practice, paired with empathy and effective communication with patients, in addition to self-development. 

Alongside other institutions, he has organized diabetes awareness conferences in Faisalabad that gather health personnel, researchers, and patients. These conferences aim at exposing the attendees to the fundamental approaches in providing diabetes care, as well as the most modern diagnostic and treatment methods, including medication, lifestyle changes, and other relevant factors.

The Vision: A 300-Bed Welfare Hospital for Holistic Diabetes Care

One of the most pioneering initiatives by Dr. Shahzad, alongside the Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation, is working on is the construction of a 300-bed diabetes-specialized hospital, integrating additional services. This facility will focus on delivering complete multidisciplinary care, managing all major complications of diabetes, such as:

• Diabetic neuropathy
• Retinopathy
• Nephropathy
• Cardiovascular complications
• Mental health challenges
• Nutritional support and education

The modern facility will run on a welfare model which guarantees access for people who truly need it. This is a holistic approach that seeks to cater for the entire mind, body, and spirit of every single patient.

How You Can Support This Lifesaving Mission

The last hospital expansion came out in 2007 and has not been updated since in the West. Because of this, additional public funding, donations, and partnerships are important to support the further development of LDF’s initiatives. Here’s how you can contribute:

• Help sponsor a diabetes awareness camp or screening
• Give medical care supplies and testing equipment donations
• Aid in funding outlines and educator materials for training courses
• Partners in diabetes hospital build and operational logistics.
• Donate time or professional services in the realm of medicine and community service.

Support and donations, no matter how small, can make great impacts.

Conclusion: Legacy of Care and Commitment

Being a specialist in the field of diabetes care, Dr. Ahmad Shahzad, as an academician, a director of health policies and a diabetic healthcare consultant, aims to tackle diabetes in Pakistan through a community-focused approach.

He believes that there is no solution for diabetes without proper diabetes education coupled with its necessary advocacy, stating that building informatively structured healthcare systems with a focus on prevention as well as enhanced community enablement is very crucial.

Together with Dr. Shahzad and the Lyallpur Diabetes Foundation, they are a part of this transformative journey—communities that are educated, empowered, and enabled can truly prosper.

For consultation or appointment, you can contact at dr_ahmad_shahzad@yahoo.com.