Type 5 diabetes, new form officially recognized: treatments will now change

In 2025, the International Diabetes Federation announced a significant change in the classification of diabetes: the official recognition of a new form of the disease, called type 5 diabetes. The decision comes after years of discussions and studies and marks an important step in understanding how diabetes can develop even in the absence of factors traditionally associated with the disease, such as obesity or autoimmune mechanisms.

This new category primarily affects populations affected by chronic malnutrition, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and could significantly change the way millions of people are diagnosed and treated.

What is type 5 diabetes

Type 5 diabetes is a form of diabetes linked to prolonged nutritional deficiency, often starting in childhood or adolescence. Unlike type 1 diabetes, it is not caused by an autoimmune reactionand unlike type 2 it is not linked to insulin resistance due to overweight or lifestyle.
The main problem lies in an incomplete development of the pancreas, which is unable to produce sufficient quantities of insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Why recognition is so important

For decades this form of diabetes remained in a gray area of ​​medicine, often confused with other types. Official recognition now allows you to:

1. distinguish patients better and reduce misdiagnoses;
2. avoid unsuitable therapies, designed for forms of diabetes with different mechanisms;
3. dare visibility to a condition that especially affects the most vulnerable populations.
4. And it is also a fundamental step for guiding health policies and scientific research.
5. The distinctive clinical features

The metabolic profile of type 5 diabetes is different from that of other known forms. Those affected have very low insulin production, but generally remain sensitive to insulin, unlike in type 2 diabetes.
Furthermore, the typical markers of autoimmune diseases are not present. Patients are often thin or underweight and have a history of significant malnutrition.

Who it affects and how widespread it is

Type 5 diabetes is more common in areas of the world where food insecurity is high, such as some regions of Africa and Asia. It is estimated that tens of millions of people may be affected, many of whom have never received a correct diagnosis. It often affects young adults, but its origins can date back to nutritional deficiencies that occurred many years earlier.

Forms of diabetes linked to malnutrition they had already been observed and described in the last century, but for a long time they were excluded from official classifications due to lack of sufficient evidence. Only in recent years, thanks to new studies and greater attention to the social determinants of health, has it been possible to collect solid data to support the existence of this distinct form.

What changes for diagnosis and therapies

The recognition of type 5 diabetes paves the way for new clinical guidelines and more targeted treatments. At the same time, it reinforces the idea that the prevention of diabetes does not only depend on lifestyle in adulthood, but also on adequate nutrition during growth. Looking ahead, this new classification could improve healthcare for millions of people who have so far remained invisible in healthcare systems.