09/06/2025
A rare new form of diabetes was just officially recognized.
The condition is linked to malnutrition during early life, one that’s now been formally classified by the International Diabetes Federation.
Unlike other types, type 5 isn’t caused by autoimmunity or lifestyle factors but by poor nutrition in childhood that stunts the development of the pancreas. It mostly affects people in poorer countries and may impact 20–25 million people globally. Their bodies produce little insulin, not because of immune damage like in type 1, but because their pancreas never developed properly.
Rodent studies support this, showing that a low-protein diet during pregnancy or adolescence leads to underdeveloped insulin-producing cells. This new classification show how the term "diabetes" covers a wide range of conditions. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease needing lifelong insulin. Type 2, the most common, is linked to body weight and lifestyle but also has strong genetic links, especially in some ethnic groups. It can often be treated with diet, drugs like metformin, or even reversed through sustained weight loss. Gestational diabetes appears during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and usually resolves after birth. There are also several rare types of diabetes, such as neonatal diabetes present from birth and MODY caused by specific genes. Another rare type is type 3c, which results from pancreas damage, often from cancer or pancreatitis. The recognition of Type 5 diabetes pushes diabetes care beyond high-income countries and shows that global treatment approaches need to consider the different causes.
