India, April 18 -- A new type of diabetes has been observed which is known to be caused due to chronic exposure to malnourishment during childhood and obesity. Type 5 diabetes has been observed to affect around 20 to 25 million people worldwide, especially in Africa and Asia. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Ajay Agarwal, senior director - internal medicine, Fortis Hospital, Noida said, "Malnutrition-related diabetes, distinct from both type 1 and type 2, has now been officially recognized and named type 5 diabetes. It is a malnutrition-related diabetes, typically affecting lean and malnourished teenagers and young adults in low- and middle-income countries."

"Type 5 diabetes is seen in people with extremely low body mass index (BMI...