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Type-5 diabetes linked to undernutrition now in spotlight; time to take action, says top researcher

Eminent diabetes researcher Dr Chittaranjan Yajnik from KEM Hospital, Pune, has described a newly recognised form of diabetes — Type-5 — predominantly affecting undernourished and low-BMI individuals.

4 min readNov 10, 2025 08:45 PM IST

Recognised by the International Diabetes Federation, it demands urgent research to tailor treatment for low-BMI, insulin-deficient patients.

A new diabetes form ‘Type-5’ has been identified among undernourished populations, as per a global consensus led by Pune’s Dr Chittaranjan Yajnik. (Express Photo)

If Type-2 diabetes demands that people eat less and walk more, then Type-5 diabetes poses novel challenges, said eminent diabetes researcher and Head of Diabetes Unit of KEM Hospital, Pune, Dr. Chittaranjan Yajnik on Monday.
In a recent paper published in The Lancet Global Health, Dr Yajnik (who among other authors) said that an unusual form of diabetes is being seen among undernourished populations. “There is an urgent need for systematic documentation and deeper investigation into its complex causes and appropriate treatment strategies,” he said.

The Lancet report follows an international consensus meeting held in Vellore, India, in January 2025, where experts proposed the term ‘type-5 diabetes’ to distinguish it from the more common type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as other rare genetic and secondary forms.

Type 5 diabetes patients broadly, are from socio-economically deprived populations (LMICs and rural communities), have low BMI, are insulin-deficient and have high glucose levels but do not develop ketoacidosis (unlike type 1 diabetes). On specific testing, they are insulin-sensitive. They do not show the major genetic mutations of diabetes and their pancreas doesn’t show stones and damage.

The International Diabetes Federation recognised Type 5 diabetes as a subtype of diabetes during their recent meeting in Bangkok (April 2025) and promoted establishing a working group to further investigate this variety of diabetes.”The introduction of this new classification aims to draw attention from global health stakeholders and stimulate further research into this neglected condition. More research is needed to define the genetic basis of this subgroup,” Dr Yajnik said.

Ahead of this year’s World Diabetes Day (Nov 14) with the theme ‘Diabetes Across Life Stages’, the expert in an interaction with media persons also observed that this recognition will help improve acceptance of the condition and attract funding for research. “India is expected to make a substantial contribution to this activity,” he added.

“With undernutrition re-emerging globally due to climate change, migration, famine, and conflicts, Type-5 diabetes may assume far-reaching implications. Its proper documentation and research could pave the way for preventive strategies and tailored treatments that address both ends of the nutrition spectrum,” said Dr Yajnik. Shririn Wadia, CEO KEM Hospital and Dr Rakesh Shah, Chief OperatingOfficer, KEM Hospital were also present on the occasion.

‘ClubOne KEM’ empowering lives, using tech to enhance patient support

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ClubOne KEM, a unique patient-support initiative dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of individuals living with Type 1 diabetes, also has more than 1,700 Type 1 diabetes patients. “This occurs most commonly in children and adolescents. They need multiple daily insulin injections to maintain a glucose level in the proper range and would not be able to survive without insulin treatment,” Dr Smita Dhadge, diabetologist and sleep medicine expert at the unit said.

The Madhuraksha mobile application was developed specially for Type 1 Diabetes patients and their families. It is available free on Android and iOS. This innovative app serves as a “pocket diabbuddy” the patients. “With over 2,000 downloads and nearly 800 active users, it provides vital information on insulin administration, glucose monitoring, travel tips, sick day care,” Dr Dhadge added. ClubOne has also designed a special compact bag/ pouch (Diabag) which children with Type 1 diabetes can carry to school or during travel. It provides safe storage for all T1D essentials (insulin in the insulated cold compartment), glucometer, hypoglycemia management supplies, emergency contacts and others. in one place.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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