11 hours Ago By Pallavi Mehra
A newly recognised form of diabetes, known as Type 5 diabetes, is now gaining global attention for the way it silently affects lean and undernourished young people, especially in low- and middle-income countries like India. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has officially acknowledged Type 5 diabetes as a distinct category of the disease. This announcement was made at the 75th World Congress for Diabetes held in Bangkok on April 7, 2025.
What is Type 5 Diabetes?Unlike the more commonly known Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, Type 5 diabetes is not caused by autoimmune issues or lifestyle factors like obesity or poor diet. Instead, it stems from a genetic mutation that disrupts the pancreas’s ability to produce insulin. This form of diabetes is mainly seen in lean and malnourished adolescents and young adults, making it harder to detect and often misdiagnosed.
Dr Nihal Thomas, professor of endocrinology at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, and a member of the IDF working group, explains that the condition has been around for decades but was never formally recognised. “It was once called J-type diabetes when first seen in Jamaica in 1955, and later in 1985, the WHO termed it ‘malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus’. However, this category was dropped in 1999 due to lack of enough evidence,” he says.
Now, with years of clinical observation and studies, the link between malnutrition and this unique form of diabetes is clearer than ever. How Is It Different from Other Types?Dr Thomas points out that individuals with Type 5 diabetes often have a very low body mass index (BMI) — usually under 18.5.
Their insulin production is extremely low, even lower than in many Type 2 diabetes cases, and just slightly more than in Type 1. Unlike Type 2 patients, these individuals also show lower liver glucose output. Scans reveal they have much less body fat compared to typical diabetes patients, and their diet is severely lacking in protein, fibre, and essential nutrients.
What makes Type 5 diabetes harder to catch is the absence of usual risk factors like high weight, family history, or autoimmunity. It Starts in the WombDr C.S.
Yajnik, director of the Diabetes Unit at KEM Hospital in Pune, and another core member of the working group, explains how the disease often begins even before birth. “If a baby does not receive proper nutrition in the womb, it increases the risk of diabetes later,” he says. He adds that India’s long history of undernutrition, due to factors like colonial hardship and poverty, plays a role.
“When a baby is undernourished before birth and stays that way after birth, it may lead to this form of diabetes. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to obesity and overnutrition, Type 5 diabetes is a result of ongoing malnutrition.” What’s the Treatment?Treatment for Type 5 diabetes requires a comprehensive nutritional approach.
Dr Thomas explains the importance of a high-protein diet along with adequate carbs and healthy fats to promote healthy weight gain. Because each case is different, the use of insulin or oral medication depends on how much the patient’s blood sugar levels improve with diet and lifestyle changes. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all plan.
We treat based on the individual’s needs,” he explains. What’s Next?The working group of experts is now focused on setting global diagnostic criteria so that Type 5 diabetes can be recognised and treated effectively across different populations. They also aim to develop standard treatment guidelines tailored to this unique group of patients.
This recognition marks a major shift in diabetes care, drawing attention to an often ignored group — the undernourished youth silently living with a disease that wasn’t even considered real until now. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world..
