Chronic effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus on cardiac muscle contraction in the Goto‐Kakizaki rat

Type 2 diabetes mellitus accounts for more than 90% of all cases of diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular complications are the major cause of mortality and death in diabetic patients. The chronic effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus on heart function have been investigated in the Goto‐Kakizaki (GK) rat. Experiments were performed in GK rats and age‐matched Wistar control rats at 18 months of age. The progressive effects of diabetes on glucose...