New Form of Diabetes is Emerging... How to Tell If You Have "Type 5"

Rebecca Guldberg
Dec 21, 2025
3 min read

A surprising type of diabetes is gaining attention in global health circles — and it doesn’t look like the diabetes most of us are familiar with. According to a recent DailyMail report, researchers are now warning about a form of diabetes that seems to disproportionately affect young, slim individuals — often in their teens and early adulthood — and may be easily missed or misdiagnosed.

What Is Type 5 Diabetes?

Traditionally, most people know diabetes as either Type 1 (autoimmune) or Type 2 (related to insulin resistance and often linked to overweight/obesity). But Type 5 diabetes — also referred to as malnutrition-related diabetes — is a newly recognized form of the disease that’s rooted in severe nutritional deficits during early life.

Unlike Type 1 or Type 2, this form isn’t caused by an immune system attack or by cells ignoring insulin. Instead, long-term undernutrition appears to stunt the development of the pancreas, leaving it unable to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels effectively.

Who It Affects

Here’s what makes Type 5 diabetes stand out:

Young and underweight: Many of the people diagnosed are young and slim — often with a BMI well below average.
Not linked to obesity: This isn’t the “diabetes of excess” we see in Type 2. Instead, it’s tied to chronic undernutrition, especially in early childhood.
Easily misdiagnosed: Because it shares symptoms with other types of diabetes (like frequent thirst and high blood sugar), healthcare providers may initially categorize it as Type 1 or Type 2 — particularly if they aren’t familiar with this emerging form of the disease.

Key Symptoms to Watch For

While the symptoms overlap with other diabetes types, there are a few telltale signs:

Frequent urination and thirst
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
Blurred vision or slow-healing cuts

These are classic diabetes symptoms, but when paired with a naturally low body weight and history of food insecurity or malnutrition, doctors may now suspect Type 5 diabetes. (Cleveland Clinic)

Why It Matters

The current concern among experts is that millions of people globally — particularly in low- and middle-income countries — may be living with this condition without proper diagnosis or treatment. Because Type 5 diabetes stems from nutritional issues, it may also signal broader public health challenges related to food access and early childhood health.

The DailyMail report highlights urgent calls from health professionals for greater awareness of this form of diabetes so that people — especially young, lean patients with classic symptoms — get the right diagnosis and care.

What Should You Take Away?

Even if you don’t fit the typical profile for diabetes, it’s important to remember this:

Not all diabetes looks the same.
Weight and lifestyle alone don’t rule diabetes in or out.
Nutrition history — especially in early life — can influence lifelong health in profound ways.

If you or someone you know has symptoms of diabetes but doesn’t fit the usual patterns doctors expect, bringing up the possibility of less common forms like Type 5 with a healthcare provider might be worth discussing.

About Direct Diabetes

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This content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about any questions or concerns regarding your health or treatment options.