Type 5 Diabetes; Are You at Risk?

Newly Recognized Category of the Disease

Understanding the Types of Diabetes

You may know about type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but now the International Diabetes Federation has officially recognized type 5 diabetes as a distinct condition. Despite the numbering system, diabetes is not as straightforward as counting from one to five. In fact, there are over a dozen types, each with its own causes and treatments. If you want to manage or prevent diabetes effectively, you need to understand the differences between these types.

Type 1 Diabetes

You develop type 1 diabetes when your immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. This autoimmune response can begin at any age, from infancy to old age. It is not caused by your lifestyle or diet, but rather by a mix of genetics and environmental triggers like viral infections.

Your treatment will require lifelong insulin therapy, typically through injections or an insulin pump. If you struggle with low blood sugar, you may be eligible for pancreas cell transplants from deceased donors. These can reduce your need for insulin injections, and in some cases, eliminate them completely.

You should also know that dozens of people have received stem-cell-derived transplants that effectively cure diabetes. However, these treatments still require you to take powerful immune-suppressing drugs and are not yet widely accessible.

Type 2 Diabetes

This is the most common type of diabetes and is frequently linked to a high body mass index. However, it can affect you even if your weight is normal, especially if you have a strong genetic predisposition. If you are South Asian, African, or Caribbean, your risk is higher—even at a lower weight.

Drugs that boost insulin production or improve insulin sensitivity can help manage your condition. Metformin is one of the most widely used drugs globally. It works by increasing insulin sensitivity and suppressing sugar production in your liver.

There are dozens of medications that can help you control your blood sugar levels. A personalized treatment plan improves your health outcomes significantly. You can also reverse type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes. Research shows that eating a low-calorie diet, around 800 calories a day, for 12 months reversed diabetes in 46% of participants.

Gestational Diabetes

If you are pregnant, you may develop gestational diabetes, usually between weeks 24 and 28. This is caused by hormonal changes that make you less sensitive to insulin. Risk factors include being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, or previously giving birth to a large baby.

If you are from a Middle Eastern, South Asian, Black, or African Caribbean background, your risk is higher. As you age, insulin sensitivity naturally declines, increasing your risk. You can manage this condition with changes in your diet and exercise, or with medication such as tablets or insulin injections.

Rarer Forms of Diabetes

You might be surprised to learn that there are at least nine lesser-known forms of diabetes. These include genetic variants and those caused by treatments or surgeries. Neonatal diabetes appears early in life and stems from genetic changes affecting insulin release. If you still produce some insulin, you might be treated with tablets that encourage insulin release from your pancreas.

Maturity onset diabetes of the young, or Mody, appears later in life. It is linked to gene changes that affect sugar sensing or pancreas development. Type 3c diabetes results from pancreas damage, often following pancreatic cancer surgery or inflammation known as pancreatitis.

If you have cystic fibrosis, your risk of diabetes increases with age. This condition, called cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, affects about one-third of individuals with cystic fibrosis by the age of 40.

Type 5 Diabetes

Recently classified, type 5 diabetes is associated with early-life malnutrition. It is most common in poorer countries and affects around 20 to 25 million people worldwide. If you have this form, you likely have a low body weight and insufficient insulin, not because of an autoimmune attack but due to poor pancreatic development from childhood malnutrition.

Animal studies confirm that a low-protein diet during pregnancy or adolescence impairs pancreas development. A smaller pancreas puts you at higher risk for diabetes due to limited insulin-producing cells.

Why Classification Matters

You must understand that diabetes is not a single disease. It is a group of conditions that lead to high blood sugar but arise from different root causes. Proper diagnosis is key to proper treatment. As science advances, classifications continue to evolve. Recognizing type 5 diabetes will spark vital global discussions and lead to improved care, particularly in low-income regions.

Your Call to Action for Understanding the Types of Diabetes

You now understand that diabetes is not just type 1 or type 2. Each form of diabetes has its own triggers, risks, and treatments. If you suspect you have diabetes, insist on a precise diagnosis so your treatment plan suits your condition. If you are managing diabetes already, talk to your healthcare provider about whether your diagnosis is accurate and up-to-date. Stay informed, adapt your lifestyle where possible, and remember that understanding your unique situation is the first step toward long-term health and blood sugar control.

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