Type 5 Diabetes: New health threats affect millions of children with this condition, and it’s something every parent needs to know
What is type 5 diabetes?
According to the IDF, type 5 diabetes refers to severe defective diabetes (SIDD). Unlike type 2 diabetes, which is mainly associated with obesity and insulin resistance, type 5 diabetes is mainly caused by chronic malnutrition, especially in early development.
“Type 5 diabetes is characterized by severe insulin levels and poor metabolicity. It often affects lean people who are undernourished in childhood or adolescence,” the IDF noted in the press release.
IDF estimates that between 200 and 25 million people around the world may suffer from this form of diabetes. It is most common in Asia and Africa, and early reports trace this back to 1955. By the 1960s, similar cases were found in parts of India, Pakistan and sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite observations over 70 years, type 5 diabetes has been largely ignored and is often misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2. “This recognition marks a critical moment in understanding diabetes,” IDF said.
Symptoms of Type 5 Diabetes
Type 5 diabetes is often manifested in subtle ways and is easily missed due to lack of obesity, a common factor in other types of diabetes. Here are some key signs to be aware of:
- Continuous fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss or failure
- Deficient growth
- Excessive thirst and increased urination
- Frequent infections and poor wound healing
- Digestion problems and lack of appetite
- Dark patches of the skin, especially around the neck
- Trouble of memory, concentration or school performance
Professor Schwarz of the IDF World Diabetes Conference emphasized the importance of this recognition: “The recognition of type 5 diabetes marks a historical shift in our global diagnosis of diabetes. For too long, this condition has been unrecognized, affecting millions of people and depriving them of access to a fair life of adaptability. It’s about fairness.
The IDF has also launched a dedicated Type 5 Diabetes Task Force to further research, raise awareness and improve health care support for affected people.
