Type 5 Diabetes Officially Recognized

In April 2025, at the 75th Diabetes World Congress in Bangkok, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) officially classified Type 5 diabetes as a distinct form of the disease, marking a major breakthrough in global diabetes care.

Key Points

New Classification: Type 5 diabetes affects lean, undernourished young adults in low- and middle-income countries, impacting around 25 million people globally.
Historical Background: First identified in 1955 as “J-type diabetes,” the condition was previously termed “malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus” by WHO but lacked formal recognition until now.
Unique Causes: Unlike Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, Type 5 is caused by malnutrition-induced damage to pancreatic beta cells, leading to severe insulin deficiency without insulin resistance.
Distinguishing Features: Patients have a BMI below 18.5 kg/m², low body fat (10–12%), and suffer from fatigue, weight loss, and recurrent infections—often misdiagnosed.
Maternal Link: The disease often begins in the womb due to maternal malnutrition, with chronic undernourishment compounding the condition post-birth.
Treatment Focus: Management relies heavily on reversing malnutrition through high-protein diets, with medication like metformin or low-dose insulin used as needed.