Diabetes mellitus in nonhuman primates: recent research advances and current husbandry practices.

Primates can be utilized for a variety of studies to give insight into the mechanisms of the onset and progression of diabetes mellitus and obesity, and into the development of secondary manifestations. Results can be used to understand the etiologies and effects of diabetes in human beings. Investigators and animal care personnel should be continually aware of the potential for development of diabetes among primates and should seek to identify the earlier stages before the appearance of overt diabetes. In addition to updating recent research in which nonhuman primates have been used in studies on the different forms of diabetes, this review also furnishes some information about therapeutic management and husbandry of monkeys with predispositions toward diabetes or with overt diabetes.