Diabetes Warrior: The Mighty Pig

Filed in archive Research on April 3, 2006

It seems like pigs are always helping to further research in diabetes.

They're back with another contribution. The Ossabaw pig, known for its funny looks and long, coarse hair, is born with a metabolic syndrome that often leads to the development of Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is, of course, the most common form of diabetes in humans, and the form that is growing the fastest.

The pigs will be separated into two groups and fed different diets, to determine the effect of nutrition on diabetes and other conditions such as infertility.

"Ossabaw pigs are such good models for human diseases because they can exhibit all these metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities due to their diet," Krisher said.

You can read complete details of the study here.

What do you think? Are pigs a reliable stand-in for people? Is this an example of the strides diabetes research is making today?