Dolphins are the only animals that can develop type 2 diabetes like humans with the exception that they can switch their condition off, a new study finds.
According to the study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in San Diego, bottlenose dolphins are resistant to insulin, similar to the condition reported in individuals suffering from diabetes.
"The overnight changes in their blood chemistry match the changes in diabetic humans," explained Stephanie Venn-Watson, director of veterinary medicine, adding that dolphins can switch off the condition into a non-fasting state when they have their breakfast in the morning.
Dolphins develop this insulin-resistance condition in order to cope with a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet of fish.
"Bottlenose dolphins have large brains that need sugar," said Venn-Watson, stressing that the switch helps provide the required sugar for the brain when their diet is very low in sugar.
Scientists believe feeding the animals with Twinkies would alter the whole cycle, leading to the development of diabetes.
They hope their findings will help control and switch off diabetes in humans in the near future.
Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119077§ionid=3510208.
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