Preliminary results of a type-1 diabetes swine model

Abstract

This article presents initial results of a chemically induced diabetic swine model. A Göttingen minipig was equipped with a commercially available subcutaneous measuring glucose sensor and an insulin pump. Blood and subcutaneous glucose concentrations were observed during healthy and diabetic periods. Induction of stable diabetes mellitus by Streptozocin injection was confirmed by oral glucose tolerance test. The measurements showed, that blood glucose level in Göttingen minipigs is in a similar range, albeit discretely lower compared to human subjects. Subcutaneous and intravenous glucose concentration were similar but differing. In the future, it seems to be reasonable to use a swine model as intermediate translational step between in∈-∈silico and human trials for the validation of control algorithms for blood glucose control. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.