What is Type 5 Diabetes?
Not Officially Recognized
Type 5 diabetes isn`t a standard medical term used by major health organisations like the WHO or ADA, unlike Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes.
Informal Association
The term might be informally or historically linked to rare forms, such as lipoatrophic diabetes, which involves significant loss of body fat tissue.
Lipoatrophic Diabetes Link
Lipoatrophic diabetes causes severe insulin resistance because the body lacks sufficient fat tissue, crucial for proper insulin function and glucose use.
Often Genetic Basis
Conditions sometimes informally labelled Type 5 often arise from specific genetic mutations affecting fat metabolism or insulin action pathways.
Key Differences
Unlike Type 1 (autoimmune destruction) or Type 2 (insulin resistance/lack), these rare forms have distinct underlying biological mechanisms.
Specific Diagnosis Needed
Proper diagnosis relies on identifying the specific rare condition (like through genetic tests), not labelling it as the non-standard Type 5.
Consult Healthcare Experts
Always consult doctors or endocrinologists for accurate diabetes classification and information, rather than relying on unofficial terms like Type 5.