Type 5 diabetes is a form of diabetes that primarily affects lean and undernourished adolescents and young adults in low- and middle-income countries. This condition is caused by malnutrition-induced low insulin production.
Though observed since the 1950s, Type 5 diabetes was often misdiagnosed or overlooked. The International Diabetes Federation has now formally recognised it as a distinct form, bringing attention to its unique features and helping improve targeted diagnosis and treatment, especially in resource-poor settings.
Type 5 diabetes has been documented in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Korea. It affects nearly 25 million people globally.
The root cause of Type 5 diabetes is malnutrition. Inadequate nutrition during fetal development and early childhood can impair pancreatic development and reduce beta cell function, leading to insufficient insulin production.
Unlike Type 2 diabetes, which involves insulin resistance, Type 5 is marked by insulin deficiency due to pancreatic underdevelopment. Additionally, it lacks the autoimmune indicators seen in Type 1 diabetes.
As treatment protocols are still evolving, the current approach involves:
Therapy must be personalised due to the distinct physiology of affected patients.
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