Diabetes in pets, particularly dogs and cats, is a significant but often overlooked issue that affects their quality of life and that of their owners. In dogs, the condition mirrors Type 1 diabetes in humans, characterized by the destruction or dysfunction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Cats typically experience a form more akin to Type 2 diabetes, where insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production causes elevated blood sugar levels.
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According to recent veterinary studies, diabetes affects about one in every 300 treated dogs and cats, although the prevalence can vary by region. While this may appear to be a small percentage, the condition imposes a heavy burden on both pets and their owners, necessitating daily insulin injections for dogs diagnosed with diabetes.
A research team from the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Chulalongkorn University has dedicated the past decade to finding solutions to this challenge. Their latest breakthrough involves developing stem cell technology from canine adipose (fat) tissue, which could potentially lead to a more effective treatment for diabetes in companion animals.
The initiative, dubbed the "Canine Fat-Derived Beta Cells" project, was conceived by Assoc. Prof. Chenphop Sawangmake, DVM, PhD, who founded the Veterinary Stem Cell and Bioengineering Innovation Center (VSCBIC) in 2013 after gaining extensive research experience in the United States. The center focuses on addressing diseases in companion animals that currently have no cure, with canine diabetes being a primary concern.
Assoc. Prof. Chenphop expressed a desire for more than just disease management: "Why should we settle for managing the disease when advances in stem cell science and biomedical engineering may open the door to a genuine cure?" This goal drives the research aimed at transforming canine diabetes treatment from lifelong management to a potential cure through innovative approaches in stem cell technology, tissue engineering, and genetic engineering.