New Delhi, May 14 -- Type 5 diabetes has just been recognised as a distinct form of diabetes by the International Diabetes Federation. Despite the name, there are more than a dozen different types of diabetes. The classification isn't quite as tidy as the numbering suggests.

Here's a clear guide to the different types, including some that you may not have heard of, along with information about what causes them and how they are treated.

Type 1 Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body's immune system mistakenly attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This autoimmune reaction can occur at any age, from infancy through to old age.

It is not linked to diet or lifestyle. Instead, it probably results from a combination of genetic...