Pathophysiology of obesity-associated type II diabetes (NIDDM): implications from longitudinal studies of non-human...

Clinical observations of humans who have developed adult-onset Type II, non-insulin dependent diabetes have generally supported the idea that there is a large degree of heterogeneity in this disease. Studies of monozygotic twins, however, show such a high degree of concordance as to make doubtful the idea of multiple causes and multiple disease in most instances. Such studies suggest the importance of seeking a unified hypothesis for the basis of Type II diabetes. Prospective longitudinal studies of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) now provide that integrated picture, and suggest heterogeneity in rate of progression and timing of expression of the disease, with little or no heterogeneity in its pattern of development or in the sequence of events leading to overt diabetes.