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Earlier this year, during an international meeting of experts in India, a new type of diabetes was observed to be affecting a large population of the world. Caused mainly by malnutrition, this type of diabetes was decided to be referred as type 5 diabetes. At International Diabetes Federation (IDF) World Diabetes Congress 2025, IDF President Professor Peter Schwarz announced the launch of a working group to develop criteria and guidelines related to type 5 diabetes.
What is type 5 diabetes? According to International Diabetes Federation, type 5 diabetes affects more than 20 to 25 million people in the world, primarily in Africa and Asia. Type 5 diabetes is caused by elevated levels of insulin deficiency and poor metabolic control, and it affects lean and malnourished teens and young adults in low- and middle-income countries. Also read | Doctor shares pro tips to save your kidneys if you are diabetic Unlike type 1 and type 2 diabetes, type 5 diabetes stems from chronic exposure to severe malnourishment, especially during the formative years of childhood and adolescence.
“It is believed to stem from impaired pancreatic development due to long-term nutrient deficiencies,” wrote International Diabetes Federation on their official website. Type 5 diabetes has been largely overlooked: While type 5 diabetes has been observed for the last 70 years, in global health discussions, it has been largely overlooked. Type 5 diabetes was first noted in mid-20th century and since then, has been often misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Even previous theories suggested that type 5 diabetes can develop due to insulin resistance. Signs of type 5 diabetes: Insulin deficiency is one of the main causes of type 5 diabetes. While people with type 5 diabetes are not insulin resistant, they can be insulin deficient.
With oral medication and insulin injections, the symptoms can be managed. "Given that type 5 diabetes is mostly found in low-resource settings, this cost-effective approach could prove important in regions already struggling to tackle the rising number of people living with the condition,” International Diabetes Federation explained. Also read | Want to lose 10 kg fast and reverse diabetes? Nutritionist says do this ‘1 thing before and after every meal’ Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
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