The American Animal Hospital Association published what it calls its "2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs," according to Today's Veterinary Business, addressing canine diabetes in a separate document from feline.
Previous AAHA guidelines covered both species in a single document. The new resource focuses exclusively on dogs, from initial diagnosis through long-term monitoring.
Why dogs and cats now get separate guidelines
Dogs with diabetes mellitus have permanent beta cell loss causing absolute insulin deficiency, requiring lifelong insulin therapy. Feline diabetes differs significantly, according to the guidelines.
Most dogs respond well to insulin treatment and can maintain what the guidelines describe as "a good quality of life with few or no clinical signs."
Continuous glucose monitors and once-daily insulin dosing
The 2026 resource incorporates "continuous glucose monitors and long-acting, peakless insulin" formulations that may allow once-daily dosing in some dogs, according to the guidelines.
"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 [use] long-acting insulins," said Dr. Audrey K. Cook, identified by Today's Veterinary Business as "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 guidelines focus on controlling clinical signs rather than tight glycemic control. According to the resource, tight "control is typically not achievable with twice-daily insulin, so management" targets the absence of polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia, plus stable body weight. The guidelines define that as well-controlled diabetes.
Client conversations about lifelong commitment
The resource emphasizes what it describes as "honest conversations between veterinary teams and pet owners about" treatment goals, expectations, and the commitment lifelong care requires.
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Where to find the new guidelines
The new canine-specific guidelines are live on AAHA's website. The resource is built around the fact that dogs require lifelong insulin, which shapes how the guidelines approach dosing, monitoring, and client counseling.
The guidelines are available at aaha.org.