Dolphins Shed Light on Diabetes Mechanism

The friendly sea mammals have a form of adult onset diabetes, but have the ability to turn the condition on and off….

The discovery opens the door to revolutionary new treatments for the disease in humans, and possibly even a cure. Scientists described the findings as exciting, but stressed they had no plans to use live dolphins in medical experiments. Instead, DNA samples would be taken from routine blood tests already carried out on dolphins in captivity.

In bottlenose dolphins, the condition appears to have evolved as a useful way of coping with food shortages, ensuring their brains have enough energy until their next meal. When they are fasting, they can make themselves insulin-resistant. Glucose is not removed from the blood and their brains continue to be supplied with vital energy. When food is available, they switch off their insulin resistance and blood sugar levels are controlled again.

Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson of National Marine Mammal Association in San Diego, California, believes diabetes may have evolved in our prehistoric ancestors to cope with famines in a similar way, but the switch has been lost over the millennia. Understanding how the switch works and learning to control it could be the solution to type 2 diabetes.

Clinical research for the U.S. National Marine Mammal Foundation