Shared risk of diabetes between dog owners and their dogs

Shared risk of diabetes between dog owners and their dogs

According to a new study conducted in Sweden, the risk of diabetes increases for dog owners if their dogs are diabetic (Delicano et al., 2020). Previous studies have confirmed that people with obesity, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes, tend to have overweight dogs due to a shared sedentary lifestyle (Communication, 2019).

The study looked at the health of pet owners from 2007 to 2012 using the Swedish National Patient data portal and identified dogs with diabetes using veterinary insurance records. Although there are some limitations to the study, results showed that ownership of a dog with diabetes was associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in the dog owner. This association could be explained by shared health behaviors such as physical activity as well as shared environmental exposures.

Keeping these results in mind, dog owners who have diabetic dogs should consider a healthier lifestyle not just for their pets but for their own health.

 

References:
-Delicano, R., Hammar, U., Egenvall, A., Westgarth, C., Mubanga, M., Byberg, L., . . . Kennedy, B. (2020, December 10). The shared risk of diabetes between dog and cat owners and their pets: Register based cohort study. Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4337
-Communication, S. (2019, September 18). Overweight Danes are more likely to have Overweight dogs according to new research. Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://www.science.ku.dk/english/press/news/2019/overweight-danes-are-more-likely-to-have-overweight-dogs-according-to-new-research/

  

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