Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 21, 2025 8 hours, 36 minutes ago
Medical News: A landmark global study has revealed that malnutrition can trigger a distinct form of diabetes that researchers have now proposed should be classified as type 5 diabetes. Unlike the well-known type 1 and type 2 diabetes, this new variant emerges predominantly in lean and undernourished individuals living in poorer countries. The study estimates that more than 25 million people may already be affected by this overlooked disease.
Discovery of a New Diabetes Form Called Type 5 Diabetes
This discovery is significant because it highlights how metabolic disorders can develop in populations not traditionally associated with obesity or excessive sugar consumption. According to the scientists, the recognition of type 5 diabetes could change the way treatment and prevention strategies are implemented. At the heart of this
Medical News report lies the realization that undernutrition itself, especially during early life, sets the stage for long-lasting metabolic impairment that later manifests as diabetes.
How Type 5 Diabetes Differs
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, leaving patients dependent on lifelong insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes, in contrast, arises mainly from insulin resistance tied to obesity and lifestyle factors. Type 5 diabetes diverges sharply from both. Patients are usually underweight, with a history of childhood malnutrition, and their insulin production is impaired but not completely absent. Unlike type 2 diabetes, weight reduction therapies are not only inappropriate but potentially harmful for type 5 patients, who already suffer from nutrient deficiencies. At the same time, standard insulin therapy used in type 1 may not fully address the underlying nutritional and metabolic imbalances seen in this group. This creates a gap in both diagnosis and treatment.
Global Burden and Affected Regions
The study points to high prevalence in low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Uganda, and Indonesia. Collectively, these countries face a dual burden: widespread malnutrition alongside growing numbers of diabetes cases. Researchers estimate that at least 25 million people globally could already be suffering from type 5 diabetes, though most are misdiagnosed as either type 1 or type 2. This misclassification has serious consequences. Many patients are placed on inappropriate treatment regimens that do not address their unique nutritional needs. Mismanagement raises the risk of severe complications including blindness, kidney failure, and premature death.
Unknowns and Research Gaps
While recognition of type 5 diabetes is growing, many questions remain unanswered. Scientists still do not fully understand the precise biological pathways by which early malnutrition permanently damages pancreatic function. It is unclear how interventions such as fortified diets, micronutrient supplementation, or tailored insulin protocols might improve long-term outcomes. Another challenge is the lack of clinical trials specifically focused on malnutrition-associated d
iabetes. Most global diabetes research is centered on type 1 or type 2, leaving a vast gap in understanding how to best manage and treat type 5 patients.
Call for Action
The researchers emphasize the urgent need for global recognition of type 5 diabetes as a distinct category. They recommend that international health bodies formally include it in classification systems so that healthcare providers and policymakers can allocate resources appropriately. Alongside medical treatment, public health measures must prioritize improving food security and access to protein-rich, energy-dense staples such as legumes, lentils, and fortified cereals. Without interventions that address both medical and nutritional aspects, millions of people in vulnerable regions will continue to suffer unnecessarily.
Conclusions
The identification of type 5 diabetes adds a critical dimension to our understanding of metabolic disease. It underscores that diabetes is not only a disease of affluence and obesity but also a condition that can be rooted in poverty, malnutrition, and inequality. Recognizing this form can prevent misdiagnosis, direct funding to where it is most needed, and promote treatment strategies that combine both medical and nutritional support. Ultimately, addressing type 5 diabetes requires bridging the worlds of endocrinology and global nutrition policy, ensuring that millions of vulnerable individuals are no longer invisible in the fight against diabetes.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Lancet Global Health
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(25)00263-3/fulltext
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