Animal models in diabetes research.

Animals can suffer from diabetes due to a wide variety of factors. The diabetic animals may be regarded as models of diabetes in man; however, the disease displays a wide diversity of pathophysiologic factors and occasionally does not correspond to diabetes in man. Diabetes in animals can be produced by surgery, viral infections, hormone administration and chemical agents. Some animals may develop spontaneous diabetes. Animal models could be useful in the study of acute and chronic complications of the disease. We present information that we think is useful to the researcher who is involved in the care, production or use of animal models of diabetes.