Male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF/GmiTMfa/fa) rats were 7.5 weeks old (onset of diabetes) at the beginning of the treatments. Lean age-matched Zucker control rats (ZLC/GmiTM +/fa or +/+) were used. All of the animals used in this study were purchased from Genetic Models (Indianapolis, IN). Animals were kept under a constant 12-h light-dark cycle and were allowed to eat (Purina 5008) and drink ad libitum. The experiments were performed in two sets for 60 days. All institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed