Bigstock On Sept. 6, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) released updated diabetes management guidelines for companion animals. The refreshed guidelines were developed by an expert task force after a “long and rigorous process,” says Andrew Bugbee, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), co-chair of the AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs. “There is a substantial amount of work put into the extensive literature reviews to identify new information, compile essential information to be incorporated into the guidelines, and several group sessions to discuss, debate, and ultimately reach a consensus about what recommendations go into the new documents,” Dr. Bugbee tells Veterinary Practice News. “The guidelines reflect evidence-based information, varied clinical experience from several experts in the field, and group consensus on how to provide the most practical and clinically relevant recommendations for veterinary team members to use in their practices.” In a change from the previous diabetes management guidelines, issued in 2018, the new diabetes management guidelines are separated into canine1 and feline2 versions. This division was made because of the additional information now available about diabetes management in each species. “Due to the sheer amount of new, exciting, and clinically relevant information involving veterinary diabetes management that has come out over the past several years, this is the first time the AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines have been separated by species. This enabled each document to more clearly present species-specific recommendations and allows readers to more quickly identify information needed to answer their questions about diabetic management,” Bugbee says. The separation of the guidelines into canine and feline versions “allowed the expert task force to really direct our conversations, literature searches, and recommendations in an even more focused way than the previous version of the guidelines,” says Renee Rucinsky, DVM, DABVP (Feline), and co-chair of the AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs. In addition to separating the guidelines into canine and feline editions, the new documents also present updated treatment algorithms. For instance, the new guidelines for dogs add basal insulin therapy as a tool for diabetes management. “The guidelines cover how insulin degludec and insulin glargine U-300 work, what doses are appropriate to start dogs on, how to initially monitor and adjust insulin to achieve control, and how to troubleshoot some common issues that may be encountered clinically,” says Bugbee. The new guidelines also provide insights into nutrition for diabetic dogs. “A patient’s nutrition plan should be specifically tailored to provide appropriate nutrient profiles to manage their diabetes while also considering other comorbidities or patient factors,” says Bugbee. The updated guidelines for cats address patient selection for SGLT2 inhibitor use. Key points of updated guidelines for dogs: Diagnosing diabetes in dogs Treating and monitoring with insulin Treating diabetic ketoacidosis Monitoring glycemic status Managing diet Communicating with clients Key points of updated guidelines for cats: Understanding diabetes pathophysiology in cats Diagnosing diabetes mellitus in cats Recognizing and managing at-risk cats SGLT2 inhibitor treatment Insulin treatment and monitoring Treating diabetic ketoacidosis and euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis Testing of glycemic status Recognizing diabetic remission Managing diet Communicating with clients The Guidelines at a Glance for Dogs3 and Guidelines at a Glance for Cats4 can be downloaded as quick-reference guides for veterinarians. Julie A. Jacob is a communications professional and writer. She lives in Wisconsin with her poodle. References 1. AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs. AAHA. 6 Sept. 2026. https://www.aaha.org/resources/2026-aaha-diabetes-management-guidelines-for-dogs/?_gl=1*j1xeyq*_up*MQ..*_gs*NQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3uvapq7slgMVOW5HAR357i-PEAAYASAAEgLWGvD_BwE 2. AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats. AAHA. 6 Sept. 2026. https://www.aaha.org/resources/2026-aaha-diabetes-management-guidelines-for-cats/?_gl=1*7vqj8a*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3uvapq7slgMVOW5HAR357i-PEAAYASAAEgLWGvD_BwE 3. AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs. Guidelines at a Glance. 6 Sept. 2026. https://pages.aaha.org/hubfs/Guidelines%20PDFs/2026%20Diabetes%20Guidelines%20for%20Dogs/DiabetesGL_Dogs_321Sheet.pdf?_gl=1*125n3en*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3uvapq7slgMVOW5HAR357i-PEAAYASAAEgLWGvD_BwE 4. AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats. Guidelines at Glance. 6 Sept. 2026. https://pages.aaha.org/hubfs/Guidelines%20PDFs/2026%20Cat%20Diabetes/DiabetesCatsGL_321Sheet.pdf?_gl=1*phm40b*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3uvapq7slgMVOW5HAR357i-PEAAYASAAEgLWGvD_BwE
