Low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) combined with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetes in rodents has been identified as an ideal animal model of type 2 diabetes, which simulates the metabolic characteristics and disease progression of type 2 diabetes.33, 34 This model is appropriate for testing anti-diabetic agents in treatment of type 2 diabetes.35 In this study, combined treatment with STZ and HFD caused increases in fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance and ratio of heart weight to body weight, and decreases in glucose tolerance and ventricular function in rats. The gene discussed is INS; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.