Diabetes cases are on the rise worldwide, but there’s a lesser-known form of the condition that's only now getting the attention it deserves. Known as Type-5 diabetes, this malnutrition-related form of the disease has been recognised after decades of being largely overlooked.

It’s taken almost 75 years since it was first recorded, but Type-5 diabetes has officially been recognised at the International Diabetes Federation’s World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. Previously, this condition was simply undefined, but now it has a name.

The history of Type-5 diabetes

Type-5 diabetes was first reported in Jamaica back in 1955, under the name “J-type diabetes”. It was later observed in undernourished populations across India, Pakistan, and parts of sub-Saharan Africa during the 1960s.

The World Health Organization (WHO) initially recognised the condition in 1985 as a distinct form of diabetes. However, this recognition was removed in 1999 due to the lack of proper follow-up studies and supporting evidence.

What exactly is Type-5 diabetes?

Type-5 diabetes is a malnutrition-related form of the disease that typically affects young, lean, and malnourished teenagers and young adults in low- and middle-income countries. The condition is estimated to impact around 20 to 25 million people worldwide, mostly in Asia and Africa.

Interestingly, Type-5 diabetes differs from the more well-known forms of the disease, such as Type-1 and Type-2.

Type-1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and Type-2 is generally caused by obesity, Type-5 is largely linked to malnutrition.

A new understanding of the disease

Previously, it was believed that malnutrition-related diabetes was a form of insulin resistance, much like Type-2 diabetes. However, experts have now discovered that this form of diabetes is fundamentally different from others.

Meredith Hawkins, a Professor of Medicine at the Global Diabetes Institute in New York, explains, “People with this form of diabetes have a profound defect in the capacity to secrete insulin, which wasn’t recognised before. This finding has revolutionised how we think about this condition and how we should treat it.”

Unlike patients with Type-1 diabetes, who can benefit from insulin injections, Type-5 diabetes patients won’t see the same results. In fact, insulin could sometimes cause dangerously low blood sugar levels.

Challenges in treatment

Despite these breakthroughs in understanding the disease, doctors are still unsure how to effectively treat patients. Many of those diagnosed with Type-5 diabetes don’t live more than a year after being diagnosed, making it a very serious condition.

The working group’s mission

To better understand Type-5 diabetes and find more effective treatments, the IDF has set up a working group. According to Hawkins, this condition “has historically been vastly under-diagnosed and poorly understood,” and it’s more common than diseases like tuberculosis and nearly as common as HIV/AIDS.

She adds, “The lack of an official name has hindered efforts to diagnose patients or find effective therapies.”

The working group’s primary task will be to develop official diagnostic and treatment guidelines for Type-5 diabetes over the next two years. It will also create a global registry for research and provide education modules to help healthcare professionals better understand the condition.

Looking to the future

Though much remains to be done, the recognition of Type-5 diabetes as a formal condition is an important first step. It’s hoped that with more research and attention, better treatment options will be found for those affected by this little-known but impactful disease.

(IANS inputs)