Brazil is set to pioneer screening for diabetes type 5, a little-known form associated with malnutrition, in a move that could reshape diagnosis and treatment in low- and middle-income countries.
Brazil is set to begin screening patients for diabetes type 5, a little-known form of the disease linked to malnutrition, in what health specialists describe as an unprecedented move in the country and, in large part, globally. The Brazilian Diabetes Society confirmed the initiative at a congress in Rio de Janeiro, saying the first phase will focus on the North and North-East, where food insecurity and undernourishment are more common.
According to the Brazilian Diabetes Society and reporting by Folha de S.Paulo, diabetes type 5 has long been overlooked despite first being identified in the 1950s. It was brought back into wider discussion last year after a meeting of specialists in India, and the International Diabetes Federation recognised it officially in 2025 as a distinct classification associated with nutritional deficiency. The condition is seen most often in very thin adolescents and young adults in low- and middle-income countries.
Hermelinda Pedrosa, vice-president of the International Diabetes Federation and a member of the Brazilian Diabetes Society, said the new classification matters because many patients are being mistaken for having type 1 diabetes. That overlap can lead to inappropriate treatment. Unlike type 1, type 5 is not thought to involve the same pattern of insulin resistance or the same tendency towards ketoacidosis, a dangerous emergency caused by a lack of insulin.
The concern is not only diagnostic but practical. If a person with type 5 is treated as though they have type 1, they may receive more insulin than they actually need. That can trigger hypoglycaemia, a drop in blood sugar that in severe cases can cause confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness, coma or death. Specialists say the condition appears to stem from impaired insulin-producing cells linked to nutritional deficiency, which means treatment may need to combine careful insulin use with improved diet.
The screening programme will be carried out with support from the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology, the International Diabetes Federation and Fiocruz, with further studies involving Unifesp and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The aim is to build a clearer evidence base for diagnosis and treatment. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that Brazil has 16.6 million adults with diabetes, while the Brazilian Diabetes Society says more than 90% of cases are type 2.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
