International Diabetes Federation recognizes type 5 diabetes

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has officially recognized malnutrition-related diabetes as type 5 diabetes. This condition is estimated to affect between 20 and 25 million people globally, primarily in low-income countries.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, which is autoimmune, or type 2 diabetes, which is linked to lifestyle, type 5 is caused by chronic undernutrition. This nutritional deficiency, particularly during childhood and adolescence, can impair pancreatic development and the body's ability to produce insulin. Patients often present with a low body mass index (BMI) of less than 19 kg/m².

Risk factors include poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy, early childhood nutritional deficiencies, repeated childhood infections, and prolonged food insecurity in adulthood. The IDF notes that refugees and migrants who experienced long-term nutritional deprivation may face an increased risk even after relocating to higher-income nations. Because it is often misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2, patients may receive inappropriate treatments.