Malnutrition can lead to diabetes, and this is newly designated as type 5. People may be able to manage this type with oral meds rather than insulin.

You can develop a type of diabetes from malnutrition, or when your body isn’t getting enough of or the right amount or balance of nutrients.

This may include essential nutrients such as calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals for good health.

In 2025, a leading global diabetes organization designated this as type 5 diabetes, in which chronic malnutrition that often starts in childhood or adolescence develops into a distinct form of diabetes.

This is a distinct form of diabetes mellitus that has been formally recognized by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). It is also referred to as malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus (MRDM).

It is considered a separate type from type 1 and type 2 diabetes due to its unique cause and clinical features.

The prolonged lack of nutrients is thought to impair the development and function of the pancreas, leading to a severe defect in its ability to produce insulin.

“For too long, this condition has gone unrecognised, affecting millions of people and depriving them of access to adapted care,” said IDF President Professor Peter Schwarz. “With the launch of the Type 5 Diabetes Working Group, we are taking decisive steps to correct this. This is about equity, science, and saving lives.”

The Type 5 Diabetes Working Group is led by Dr. Meredith Hawkins, an endocrinologist and founding director of the Global Diabetes Institute at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and Dr Nihal Thomas, a professor of endocrinology at Christian Medical College in India.

This form of diabetes is estimated to affect between 20 and 25 million people worldwide, primarily in regions such as Asia and Africa.

Like T2D, it may be managed through dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, or medication, rather than injectable insulin.

Symptoms people may experience can be similar yet different from other types of diabetes, including:

  • low body mass index (BMI)
  • often diagnosed as children or young adults
  • insulin deficiency (due to impaired pancreatic function)
  • a lack of ketoacidosis
  • no family history of diabetes

While this may be more prevalent in low and middle-income countries, people in more developed countries may also experience chronic malnutrition. This can include areas and populations with food insecurity, where there is not efficient access to quality food sources.

People who receive this diagnosis or are at risk for T5D may take several steps to manage the condition. This may include:

  • Nutritional changes: Addressing the underlying protein and micronutrient deficiencies is a key step.
  • Oral medications: In some cases, oral diabetes medications may be used to stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin
  • Insulin therapy: Insulin injections are often required, but the required doses and strategies can differ between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes management.

Preventing malnutrition

Prevention remains a critical first step in addressing type 5 diabetes. This means addressing eating-related issues that lead to malnutrition, which causes this form of diabetes.

Malnutrition can lead to diabetes, and this is newly designated as type 5. People may be able to manage this type with oral meds rather than insulin.