Diabetes Test Helps Prevent Extinction

Filed in archive Research on December 22, 2006

We all know that different diabetes tests and treatments can be used for other conditions such as obesity and heart disease, but now one test is being used to prevent the extinction of a species.

"We believe that female embryos in rhinos are more vulnerable than males to excess glucose in the mother.

"Moving the rhinos to zoos or game reserves seems to increase glucose levels by either increased stress from the move or better nutrition available to the mothers in resource-rich reserves or in captivity."

It seemed female embryos had higher mortality rates if their pregnant mothers were stressed, or fed a sugar-rich diet, Dr Linklater said.

A group of rhinos in an Australian zoo is being tested using a diabetes kit used by about 100,000 Kiwis.

Wow. Everybody benefits from medical breakthroughs.