Diabetes has been detected in Danish and Swedish bank voles (Myodes glareolus). There are no data, however, concerning the prevalence of diabetes in populations from other geographic regions. We investigated the frequency and physiological effects of
glucose metabolism disorders in captive bank voles from Poland. Single measurement of fasting
blood glucose concentration performed in the 3-4month old captive-born bank Polish voles without any disease symptoms showed that 8% of individuals (22/284) displayed an impaired fasting
glucose (IFG,
blood glucose (BG) ≥100mg/dL) and 1% (4/284) showed
hyperglycemia (BG ≥126mg/dL) which could suggest diabetes. Next, we analyzed
blood glucose in samples taken once a month from an additional cohort of bank voles with (
FHD), or without (H), a family history of diabetes. The prevalence of IFG at age six months was 26% (16/62) among bank voles from the H group. In the
FHD group the prevalence increased to 49% (43/88), and additional 12% (11/88) became diabetic (DB, BG ≥126mg/dL at two time points). Postnatal stress (three maternal deprivations before weaning) did not affect the risk of developing IFG or DB in H voles, but significantly reduced the frequency of
glucose metabolism disorders (IFG and DB combined) in
FHD voles. IFG was associated with
hyperinsulinemia, but not with other biochemical disturbances. Diabetic animals displayed a progressive malformation and vacuolization of β-cells in the pancreas, without visible leukocytic infiltrations. In summary, our results indicate that Polish captive bank voles can develop diabetes, which shows features of both type 1 and
type 2 diabetes in humans. Risk of diabetes is higher in animal with
FHD.