Diabetes cases are rising rapidly across the globe. While most people are familiar with Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes, a form of diabetes linked to malnutrition has now been officially termed Type-5 Diabetes. This condition, which was first documented nearly 70 years ago, is now gaining international attention. Recently, it was officially recognised as Type-5 Diabetes at the World Diabetes Congress held by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in Bangkok, Thailand.
When Was It First Reported?
This condition, which commonly affects young and underweight adults, was first reported in Jamaica in 1955. At the time, it was referred to as J-type diabetes. In the 1960s, it was observed among malnourished populations in countries like India, Pakistan, and regions of sub-Saharan Africa. In 1985, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognised it as a distinct form of diabetes, but removed the designation in 1999 due to lack of follow-up studies and supporting evidence.
What is Type-5 Diabetes?
Type-5 Diabetes is a form of diabetes associated with malnutrition, typically affecting teenagers and young adults in low- and middle-income countries. It’s estimated to affect 20 to 25 million people globally, particularly in Asia and Africa. Earlier studies indicated that malnutrition-related diabetes results from insulin resistance.
How Does It Harm the Body?
Unlike Type-1 diabetes, insulin injections do not help patients with Type-5 diabetes. In fact, insulin can dangerously lower their blood sugar levels. Professor Meredith Hawkins from the Global Diabetes Institute at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, explained that patients with this type of diabetes have a severe defect in their ability to secrete insulin—a condition that had previously gone unrecognised. This discovery has revolutionised the way the condition is understood and treated.
Also Read- Kidney Damage Symptoms That Appear Only at Night – 90% People Ignore Them
Recent Studies
A 2022 study published in the Diabetes Care journal, conducted by Hawkins and her colleagues at Christian Medical College in Vellore, demonstrated that malnutrition-linked diabetes is fundamentally different from both Type-2 diabetes (usually caused by obesity) and Type-1 diabetes (an autoimmune disorder). However, experts say that doctors still lack clarity on how to treat these patients, who often do not survive beyond a year after diagnosis.
A Working Group Formed
To improve understanding and develop treatments, the IDF has formed a dedicated working group. According to Hawkins, this condition has historically been severely under diagnosed and poorly understood. She added that malnutrition-related diabetes may be more common than tuberculosis and nearly as prevalent as HIV/AIDS.