Type 5 Diabetes Is a Rare, Often Misdiagnosed New Form of Disease

After years of debate, Type 5 Diabetes, previously known as Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), was finally officially recognized by the International Diabetes Federation in 2025. This condition, long overlooked despite early signs in Jamaica and some acknowledgment in the 1980s, affects young individuals with malnutrition, often those from low-income countries who can't afford proper meals. It’s distinct from Type 1 diabetes, as it doesn’t result from overeating but from genetic mutations linked to malnutrition, with no known effective treatment yet, though some suggest high-protein diets might help manage it.