Owners of a dog with diabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes in later years, research finds. Pet’s condition indicates environmental and habitual disease-forming factors exist and could be shared by both.
By Sida Lai in Week 7
Humans have long enjoyed the companionship with their four-legged friends. Beyond the sharing of joy, however, pet dogs may also serve as an essential indicator of health.
A recent study led by Rachel Delicano from Uppsala University discovered the association between dogs and humans with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Owners of a dog with diabetes are more likely to develop T2D in later years than owners of a dog without diabetes. Researchers hence suggest dogs could be a warning sign for the medical condition.
According to World Health Organization, T2D is a metabolic disorder marked by a high blood sugar level over a prolonged period. It often occurs as a result of obesity, lack of exercise, and the aging population. Rates of T2D have increased significantly since 1960. It has now become a primary global public health challenge, with more than 400 million individuals affected worldwide. And it makes up about 90 percent of total diabetes cases.
Researchers suggest T2D could lead to complications like heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage when untreated. It poses significant threats to one’s health and life expectancy. However, the disease could be effectively managed if caught early. And pet dogs may serve as one alarming signal that facilitates early detection.
By examining over 200,000 pairs of dogs and owners, researchers find having a dog with a condition of diabetes indicates an increased risk of T2D among owners. They are more prone to develop and be diagnosed with T2D in follow-up in later years. However, this does not mean pets facilitate the development of the disease in humans.
Studies suggest diabetes in dogs often means pathological (disease-causing) factors exist and are shared by pets and owners. These contributors include the shared lifestyle behaviors like lack of physical activity level. It could affect their morbidity alike and lead to overweight. Owners and pets also live in the same household, indicating possible similar exposure to a harmful environment. This includes pollutants like noise or air pollution and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These environmental factors contribute to the development of the disease.
Researchers suggest dogs’ distinct and rapidly progressive symptoms make them an ideal indicator of risks of T2D in humans. Dogs with diabetes often exhibit symptoms like excessive thirst, polyuria, and weight loss. These could be detected much earlier than when human T2D symptoms begin to show. However, Researchers also indicate a similar association of disease could not be drawn between cats and their owners. Hence, for now, dogs are the only reliable health indicator among common pets.
The prevalence of diabetes in dogs and cats is on the rise alongside humans. Dogs could be a valuable indicator of the risks of T2D in humans. Upon detection of diabetes in dogs, owners need to take action immediately. They should improve lifestyles, assess environments, and seek professional assistance to prevent or minimize health damages from the disease.