Different Type 5 Diabetes With Type 1, Usually Threatening Children With Malnutrition

Illustration (Pexels/Artem Podrez)

JAKARTA - Diabetes is generally synonymous with genetic factors, unhealthy lifestyles, to obesity. However, recent research results show that diabetes also affects children and adolescents who are malnourished and malnourished.

This was conveyed by the Internal Medicine Specialist at Eka Hospital Permata Hijau, Pandu Tridana, Sp. PD, AIFO-K. Diabetes that attacks children with malnutrition is type 5 diabetes.

Type 5 diabetes is also known as malnutrition related diabetes. This terminology was officially announced by the World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok in 2025, by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

"The type 5 diamond or other names are malnutrition related diabetes, namely diabetes which is mainly caused by chronic malnutrition, especially in the early childhood and youth," said Doctor Pandu during a media meeting in the Semanggi area, Jakarta, on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Although equally characterized by high blood sugar, type 5 diabetes is different from type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the main cause is autoimmune which damages insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.

In type 5 diabetes, damage occurs due to insulin deficiency due to long-term malnutrition. The requirement for diagnosis of type 5 diabetes includes the non-detection of auto antibodies, a history of chronic malnutrition, to the body's mass index.

"The patient is thin, the body mass index is small below 18.5, but the sugar is high. From there, experts from the IDF are concerned and classify this type 5 diabetes," he explained.

Type 5 diabetes is usually found in countries or areas with limited resources, where cases of malnutrition are high. However, this disease is still not widely known, so patients often misdiagnosed and late in getting the right treatment.