AAHA launches feline-specific update to diabetes management guidelines

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) released the 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats, marking the first recommendations focused on feline diabetes. The guidelines, built on clinically relevant information from the 2018 AAHA Diabetes Management guidelines, present new findings and expert opinions.¹

The latest guidance now also includes recommendations for use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) after the FDA approval of bexagliflozin (Bexacat; Elanco) in 2022 and velagliflozin (Senvelgo; Boehringer Ingelheim) in 2023 for healthy cats with diabetes mellitus who have not been treated with insulin.

“The 2 available SGLT2 products are palatable [one is liquid, one is a tablet], can be mixed with food or given directly, and only require once-daily dosing. That generally leads to high owner [adherence]. For the first month, the monitoring burden is similar to insulin; you’re just monitoring different parameters—ketones for SGLT2s vs glucose curves and hypoglycemia risk for insulin. After that initial period, the monitoring requirements for SGLT2-treated cats often decline,” Catharine J. Scott-Moncrieff, Vet MB, MA, MS, DACVIM-SAIM, DECVIM-CA, said when asked whether owners are more adherent with SGLT2 inhibitors compared with insulin.²

RELATED: Beyond insulin: What’s new in feline diabetes

Another notable update from the new set of guidelines is that in-hospital blood glucose curves are not recommended for feline patients, as stress hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients can significantly influence glucose readings and, as a result, complicate interpretation. Instead of in-hospital monitoring, veterinary teams can monitor diabetic feline patients using clinical signs, continuous glucose monitoring, and at-home glucose data.

The guidelines will also provide veterinary teams with the following, and more³:

• How to diagnose diabetes mellitus in cats
• How to recognize and manage at-risk cats
• How to talk to clients
• Dietary management tips
• SGLT2 inhibitor treatment and monitoring
• How to recognize diabetic remission

“Diabetes management in cats requires a different approach from diabetes in dogs. With the availability of SGLT2 inhibitor drugs for cats, treatment strategies continue to diverge between these 2 species. To help primary care providers better serve their feline patients, the AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats provides step-by-step guidance on diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diabetes mellitus in cats,” the guidelines stated.³

AAHA guidelines are created by a task force made up of 3 to 4 board-certified specialists, 1 to 2 general practicing veterinarians, 1 credentialed veterinary technician (usually with a specialty in the subject matter), 1 primary care veterinary educators representative, 1 diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners representative, and other professionals (depending on the subject matter).⁴ Later this year, AAHA is planning to also publish canine-focused diabetes management guidelines.¹

These guidelines are also supported by Adapet, Boehringer Ingelheim, Dechra, and Merck Animal Health.

References

1. Won C. Updated AAHA diabetes management guidelines focuses on cats. American Veterinary Medical Association. May 19, 2026. Accessed May 20, 2026. https://www.avma.org/news/updated-aaha-diabetes-management-guidelines-focuses-cats
2. Alaburda B. How to choose and monitor diabetes treatment for cats. dvm360. December 10, 2025. Accessed May 20, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/how-to-choose-and-monitor-diabetes-treatment-for-cats
3. 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats. AAHA. Accessed May 20, 2026. https://pages.aaha.org/hubfs/Guidelines%20PDFs/2026%20Cat%20Diabetes/DiabetesCatsGL_321Sheet.pdf
4. Developing the guidelines. AAHA. April 26, 2026. Accessed May 20, 2026. https://www.aaha.org/resources/2026-aaha-diabetes-management-guidelines-for-cats/developing-the-guidelines/