Despite the predictable reduction in insulin and C-peptide levels during weeks 14 to 18 in db/db mice, serum insulin levels were higher in db/db mice administered R-Vera (Experiment 2, the T2DM model) than they were in mice administered metformin and vehicle, and moreover, these levels were maintained through weeks 4 to 6 (Figs 6B and 7B). The gene discussed is INS; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.