Development and Application of Animal Models of Diabetes with Ischemic Stroke: Bridging Basic Research and Clinical Translation.

Diabetes is a major independent risk factor for ischemic stroke, exacerbating stroke severity and worsening patient outcomes. Traditional models of stroke, using healthy animals, fail to replicate the complex pathophysiology of diabetes, thereby contributing to the poor translational success of neuroprotective therapies. This review summarizes the methodologies for establishing animal models of diabetes with ischemic stroke, including middle cerebral artery occlusion and thromboembolic approaches, and key considerations for constructing combined models. This review highlights phenotypic assessments tailored to diabetic comorbidity. It also examines how these models advance the understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and pharmacological efficacy. We also review current methodological limitations and suggest future research directions. Overall, the aims were to provide theoretical and methodological guidance to strengthen basic and translational research on diabetes-associated ischemic stroke and support the development of more effective clinical treatment strategies.