Researchers from 11 countries have come together with an urgent message for global health authorities.
They want the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation to officially recognise a forgotten form of diabetes that's affecting millions of young people worldwide.
The condition, called type 5 diabetes, develops in teenagers and young adults who are underweight.
It turns out malnutrition triggers this distinct form of the disease, which needs completely different treatment from the diabetes types we're familiar with.
The researchers published their call to action in the Lancet Global Health journal, highlighting the harm the neglected condition is causing to millions of individuals globally, particularly in poorer nations where food security remains a serious challenge.
The scale of this health crisis is staggering. Up to 25 million people could be living with type 5 diabetes right now, with most cases found in Asia and Africa.
Up to 25 million people could be living with type 5 diabetes right now, with most cases found in Asia and Africa
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Health experts are particularly concerned that the condition mainly strikes teenagers and young adults in low and middle-income countries, who've faced severe food shortages as children, damaging their bodies' ability to produce insulin properly.
The condition was first spotted in Jamaica back in 1955, but the WHO actually recognised it as a separate diabetes type in the 1980s, calling it "malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus."
The health authority dropped it from their official list in 1999, however, arguing there wasn't enough evidence.
Now, researchers are saying that the decision has left millions without proper diagnosis or treatment.
What is type 5 diabetes?
Type 5 diabetes differs significantly from the forms we are familiar with. While type 1 patients can't produce insulin and type 2 patients become resistant to it, people with type 5 face a unique challenge.
They can actually produce insulin, and their bodies respond to it normally. The problem is their pancreas hasn't developed properly due to malnutrition, so it simply can't make enough of this vital hormone.
This means treating type 5 like other diabetes types doesn't work - and could even cause harm.
The researchers warn that without proper recognition and specific treatment guidelines, doctors might be giving these patients the wrong care.
It's a completely distinct condition that needs its own approach, which is why these experts are pushing so hard for official recognition.
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Type 5 diabetes is a distinct condition that needs its own approach
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The good news is that researchers have found ways to help these patients. They're recommending diets packed with protein and complex carbohydrates - think lentils, beans, and whole grains.
These foods work brilliantly because they slow down how quickly the body absorbs sugar. The fibre and protein help prevent those dangerous blood sugar spikes after meals, giving patients much better control over their condition.
Dr Allan Vaag from Sweden's Lund University, who helped write the report, points out a tragic reality.
"We simply don't know how many of these patients exist," he told The Telegraph. "They live in some of the most underserved and understudied regions, areas affected by natural disasters, war, and famine."
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