The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) released its “2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs.” The resource supports effective management of canine diabetes mellitus, from initial diagnosis through long-term care and monitoring. Previous guidelines included canine and feline recommendations, whereas the most recent guidelines address each species individually.
Canine and feline diabetes differ significantly. Most notably, dogs with the condition have permanent beta cell loss that causes an absolute insulin deficiency, requiring lifelong insulin therapy. Fortunately, most dogs respond well to treatment and can enjoy a good quality of life with few or no clinical signs.
The resource incorporates recent advances in canine diabetes care, including the use of continuous glucose monitors and long-acting, peakless insulin that may allow for once-daily dosing.
“The care of our doggy diabetics has changed dramatically over the last few years, with the advent of inexpensive continuous glucose monitors and a new understanding of how to leverage long-acting insulins,” said Dr. Audrey K. Cook, a member of the AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines task force. “Practitioners will be better positioned to optimize care for diabetic dogs and support the well-being of both pets and their caretakers.”
The new guidelines include:
- A review of canine diabetes pathophysiology to help veterinary teams understand the species-specific aspects of the disease
- How to diagnose diabetes mellitus in dogs
- Insulin treatment and monitoring
- Tips on troubleshooting complications
- How to treat diabetic ketoacidosis
- Recommended tests for monitoring glycemic status
- Dietary management
- Client communication tips
- Charts and algorithms that provide step-by-step guidance for types of insulin and starting dosages, monitoring and adjusting insulin, troubleshooting hypoglycemia, and how to approach unregulated dogs on high doses of insulin
The guidelines focus on controlling the clinical signs of diabetes in dogs. Tight glycemic control is typically not achievable with twice-daily insulin, so management focuses more on clinical control. Diabetes is considered well-controlled when dogs don’t experience polyuria, polydipsia, or polyphagia, and their body weight is stable.
The guidelines also emphasize honest conversations between veterinary teams and pet owners about the goals and expectations of treatment and the commitment lifelong care will require.
The complete guidelines can be found on AAHA’s website.