Diabetes Management in Canine and Feline Patients

Diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats is characterised by persistent hyperglycaemia arising from insulin deficiency, insulin resistance or a combination of both. In dogs, the disease often mirrors human type 1 diabetes with immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, whereas feline patients more commonly exhibit a type 2-like syndrome linked to obesity, insulin resistance and amyloid deposition in the islets. Timely diagnosis relies on clinical signs such as polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss, confirmed by blood glucose measurement and concurrent testing of markers such as fructosamine or glycosylated haemoglobin. Management encompasses tailored insulin therapy, dietary modification and regular monitoring. Intermediate-acting insulins remain a mainstay, yet newer long-acting analogues and recombinant fusion proteins offer more stable glycaemic control with reduced injection frequency. Nutritional strategies emphasise high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets in cats and consistency of meals in both species to synchronise with insulin peaks. Advances in continuous glucose monitoring and flash glucose monitoring systems have improved remote assessment and dose titration, empowering clinicians and owners to achieve narrow glycaemic targets. Remission is a realistic goal in a subset of feline patients managed with intensive insulin protocols and dietary adjustment. Globally, pet diabetes management is challenged by owner compliance, economic factors and variable access to advanced monitoring, underlining the importance of education and adaptable treatment plans.

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Diabetes Management in Canine and Feline Patients publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in diabetes management in canine and feline patients across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Diabetes mellitus: Chronic disorder of glucose metabolism due to impaired insulin secretion or action.

Insulin glargine 300 U/mL: Ultra-long-acting basal insulin analogue with a flat time-action profile.

SGLT2 inhibitor: Oral agent that reduces renal glucose reabsorption to lower blood glucose.

Fructosamine: Marker reflecting mean glycaemia over the preceding two to three weeks.

Flash glucose monitoring system (FGMS): Sensor-based device for near-real-time interstitial glucose measurement.

References

1. Ultra‐long‐acting recombinant insulin for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2022).
2. A dose titration protocol for once‐daily insulin glargine 300 U/mL for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2024).
3. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors: a pleiotropic drug in humans with promising results in cats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2025).