Starting To Attack Children's Age, Nutrition Factors Are The Trigger For Diabetes In Developing Countries

JAKARTA - The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) announced an official acknowledgment of type 5 diabetes, a form of diabetes that is different from type 1 and type 2. These findings highlight the importance of nutritional factors in childhood, especially in developing countries.

Unlike type 2 diabetes which usually appears at an adult age, type 5 diabetes is often experienced by young people and adolescents who grow with poor nutritional conditions. They have low weight, smaller pancreas, and limited insulin production.

"The type 5 diabetes is not caused by an immune system like type 1, but because the pancreas has not developed optimally due to malnutrition since childhood," explained Prof. Anil Kapoor, an endocrinologist from the IDF, quoted from the Science Alert page.

According to the latest data, around 20'25 million people in the world experience type 5 diabetes, most of whom live in low-income countries.

Studies show a low diet of proteins during pregnancy or a period of growth can hamper the development of the pancreas. As a result, the number of insulin-producing cells is far less.

"We often think diabetes is only related to overweight, even though malnutrition in the early days of life can also trigger diabetes. This is what makes type 5 different," said Dr. Maria Lopez, a researcher in metabolic nutrition and health.

The determination of type 5 diabetes is expected to encourage global attention to the role of balanced nutrition, especially in children.

"This confession is important because it will help developing countries design more appropriate prevention and care strategies." said Prof. Kapoor.

With the increasing number of types of diabetes, the right understanding is the key. Diabetes is not a single disease, but a collection of conditions with different causes.

This type 5 diabetes recognition step not only adds insight to the medical world, but also warns that nutritional problems in children can have a long-term to adult impact.