Experts have officially recognised a new type of diabetes called type 5 diabetes, which is linked to malnutrition. It affects around 25 million people worldwide, mostly young people in low- and middle-income countries.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) approved the classification at the World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok on April 8.
Meredith Hawkins, a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said this condition was often misdiagnosed in the past. She called the IDF’s decision an important step in raising awareness.\
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Unlike type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which affect blood sugar control, type 5 diabetes is caused by malnutrition, leading to low insulin production.
According to a 2022 study, over 830 million people worldwide have diabetes, mostly type 1 or type 2.
