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JeffBrownEcology t1_itqeknk wrote

Reply to comment by Ralltir in No fry zones: How restaurant distribution and abundance influence avian communities in the Phoenix, AZ metropolitan area by Helicase21

Many species of Columbidae have an incredible ability to tolerate incredibly high blood sugar levels. In humans, we would consider these birds diabetic, but, at least in lab settings, the birds are not impacted.

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Ralltir t1_itqiqi7 wrote

This might be a stupid question but do we know why that is?

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JeffBrownEcology t1_itqjiym wrote

Not a stupid question and, in fact, the driving question for a lot of current research. Birds, in general regulate blood sugar a lot differently than mammals but the exact mechanisms they use to do so is still being studied.

Not a stupid question and, in fact, the driving question for a lot of current research. Birds, in general, regulate blood sugar a lot differently than mammals but the exact mechanisms they use to do so are still being studied.

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