I have understanding of diabetes through my education and because my daughter is a type 1 diabetic. I had this problem once before seven years ago in argente campbells brought from Holland. This recent problem was discovered by a club member to whom I sold some babies that had been from the black to black pearl cross of animals from England, She alerted me that they were drinking a lot of water. I had not yet bred these blacks into my Reno line. Two of the babies that the club member had both came down with the problem. Then I noticed that I had the problem in a third inbred cross. Since I have had dwarfs and Syrians that had a habit of taking water and trying to store it; I first thought that was the problem. I had forgotten about the problem I had had seven years ago with diabetes in the agrentes from Holland. The following is my approach to deal with the possible diabetes problems in the black and black pearl dwarfs that were brought back from England.

1. As you may know, one can't loose recessive genes; or recessive tendencies toward a condition.
2. There are many kinds of diabetes.
3. From the articles that I have read from England; I believe the Campbells carry the tendency for more than one type of diabetes.
4. The Type 1 diabetes comes on and they drink lots of water and still eventually die. In humans this is treated with three or more shots of insulin a day. The pancreas is not producing insulin, which is needed to properly process sugars. (Sugars can be natural or refined or from the break down of carbohydrates - which include grains.)
5. Type 2 diabetes is defined by the insulin either not working correctly; or the diet overwhelms the insulin that the animal has and cannot work properly. This type of diabetes can appear to come and go. In humans it is treated with insulin boosters (a pill). In humans it can sometimes be corrected by the proper diet. This may be why the diabetes appears to come and go in some dwarfs. It really does not go; only the diet or eating habits have changed.

Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 are not necessarily gene inherited. The tendency toward the development of the disease is probably inherited. The onset of the disease of diabetes can be triggered by stress, a virus infection, pesticides and other pollution. In Type 2 diabetes the onset can also be triggered by diet. This is what is known about human diabetes.

ANIMALS THAT SHOW ANY SIGN OF THE DISEASE (EVEN THOSE THAT APPEAR TO GET OVER IT) SHOULD NEVER BE BRED.

Since we cannot get rid of recessive tendencies; we dilute them. To dilute the tendency; breed out to a line that has never shown any tendency toward diabetes. If any F1 have diabetes; then the line was a carrier of the tendency to develop diabetes. Try another line until you find a line where the F1 show no signs of diabetes. Now you can try two different crosses. First cross F1xF1 (animals without apparent diabetes) and only breed the F2 that show no signs of diabetes to another F2 without diabetes signs; or breed the F2 without diabetes signs to yet another line that has no signs of diabetes. Then you will have to start the process of back breeding to regain the desired color. If you run into diabetes; back and start again. Don't give up, as success is an accomplishment that generates a tremendous natural high. Upon your success depends the future of the Campbells. Close inbreeding will make the tendency show up. We often have to inbreed to develop or save a new color, pattern, conformation, or trait like temperament. I try to breed all my new colors (once established) to a wonderful natural line that I have line bred for over 8 years. I usually do this for temperament and conformation. However; I will be doing it now also to dilute the tendency toward the development of diabetes. I hope this will be of help to you and anyone else with the problem. Campbells are wonderful sweet animals and deserve to be given a chance to be health happy pets.