Comparative Aspects of Human, Canine, and Feline Obesity and Factors Predicting Progression to Diabetes

• Main Author: Margarethe Hoenig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2014-08-01
• Series: Veterinary Sciences
• Subjects: diabetes; obesity; beta cells; gluconeogenesis; glycolysis; cytokines; adiponectin; leptin; insulin; fructosamine
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/1/2/121

Obesity and diabetes mellitus are common diseases in humans, dogs and cats and their prevalence is increasing. Obesity has been clearly identified as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in humans and cats but recent data are missing in dogs, although there is evidence that the unprecedented rise in canine obesity in the last decade has led to a rise in canine diabetes of similar magnitude. The insulin resistance of obesity has often been portrayed as major culprit in the loss of glucose control; however, insulin resistance alone is not a good indicator of progression to diabetes in people or pets. A loss of beta cell function is necessary to provide the link to impaired fasting and post-prandial plasma glucose. Increased endogenous glucose output by the liver is also a prerequisite for the increase in fasting blood glucose when non-diabetic obese humans and pets develop diabetes. This may be due to decreased hepatic insulin sensitivity, decreased insulin concentrations, or a combination of both. While inflammation is a major link between obesity and diabetes in humans, there is little evidence that a similar phenomenon exists in cats. In dogs, more studies are needed to examine this important issue.