Diabetes induced by a high fructose diet.

Long-term fructose feeding to the genetically selected albino rat resulted in the development of diabetes mellitus and diffuse glomerulosclerosis. Siblings of these animals that were starch fed did not develop the metabolic impairments nor did they develop diabetic microangiopathy. These results are similar to those observed following sucrose feeding to these genetically selected animals. Hence, fructose feeding is not different than that of sucrose in producing diabetes and diabetic angiopathy.