A groundbreaking development in diabetes research is bringing attention to a form of the disease that many have never heard of — and it’s primarily affecting young people in vulnerable communities around the world.
Type 5 diabetes, officially recognized by the International Diabetes Federation this past April, is distinct from the more familiar type 1 and type 2 diabetes that most of us know.
Unlike type 2 diabetes, which is linked to lifestyle factors and insulin resistance, type 5 diabetes stems from childhood malnutrition that impairs pancreatic development. This means the body becomes insulin deficient but not insulin resistant — a crucial difference that changes how the condition is managed.
The good news? Many people with type 5 diabetes can manage their condition with oral medication rather than insulin injections, making it more accessible for those in low-resource settings.
Currently affecting an estimated 20 to 25 million people worldwide, type 5 diabetes is most prevalent in Asia and Africa, where lean and malnourished teens and young adults in low- and middle-income countries face the highest risk. But experts warn that this isn’t just a distant concern.
As Dr. Rozalina McCoy, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, explains:
“It is important to consider this unique type of diabetes, and treat it carefully, not only in those who have a childhood history of malnutrition, but also those who have lost a lot of weight or are malnourished for other reasons such as an eating disorder or weight loss treatment, either surgical or medical.”
This matters because diabetes doesn’t discriminate by age, and understanding all its forms helps us protect our children and grandchildren. With ongoing malnutrition crises in many countries, researchers expect to see more cases emerging.
The official recognition of type 5 diabetes means better diagnosis, more targeted treatment, and hope for millions of young people whose condition might have previously been misunderstood or mismanaged.
For those of us approaching or in retirement, this news serves as a reminder of how interconnected global health challenges are — and why supporting nutrition programs and health initiatives for young people matters, no matter where they live.
Read the full article here to learn more about this important discovery and what it means for the future of diabetes care.
