S.No. Animal model Advantage Disadvantage 1. Type 1 diabetes Hyperglycemia persists for several days Spontaneous destruction of β-cells mimics the disease pathology in humans They are suited to study diabetic autonomic neuropathy Diabetes and obesity symptoms overlaps Limited availability and expensive. Mortality due to ketosis is high in animals with brittle pancreas (db/db, ZDF rats), and it requires insulin in later stage for survival Drug-induced tissue toxicity 2. Type 2 diabetes These models mimic the pathology of humans It is likely to be as complex and heterogeneous as human condition Polyphagia and polyuria

Table 1: Advantages and disadvantages of type 1 and 2 animal models.