Type 1 diabetes is typically modeled in streptozotocin-treated rats or mice. This test system is well-suited for the evaluation of agents such as insulin mimetics, treatments or devices designed to replace or repair pancreatic function, or as a model for the study of the microvascular complications of type 1 diabetes.

For type 2 diabetes, common study endpoints comprise the effects of test agents on blood glucose and insulin levels, along with glucose or insulin tolerance tests and assessment of plasma biomarkers (glucagon, insulin and leptin). There are several genetic models of type 2 diabetes that are used in these studies, including the Zucker Diabetic Fatty (obese) and Goto-Kakizaki (non-obese) rat, along with the obese db/db, ob/ob and THE POUND MOUSE™.