AAHA Releases Its First Stand-Alone Diabetes Guidelines for Dogs

What happened

• The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) released its 2026 Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs in early September 2026 ^1,2.
• It is the first time AAHA has issued diabetes guidance for dogs and cats as separate documents ¹.

What the guidelines cover

The guidelines address diagnosis, starting treatment, monitoring, troubleshooting and dietary management, with charts and algorithms for choosing and dosing insulin and handling low blood sugar ¹. Changes highlighted in dvm360’s report include:

• Continuous glucose monitors, which the article says are now more affordable ¹.
• Long-acting insulins (degludec and glargine U-300), which may allow once-daily dosing for some dogs in place of twice-daily dosing ¹.

The report also notes that all dogs with diabetes need lifelong insulin, because of an absolute lack of insulin ¹.

Who paid for it

dvm360 reported that the guidelines were developed with support from Adapet Medical, Boehringer Ingelheim, Dechra and Merck Animal Health ¹. That is common for professional guidelines, but it is worth knowing.

What owners should know

Diabetes in dogs needs veterinary diagnosis and a treatment plan made for the individual dog, so these guidelines are for clinicians. If your dog is drinking and urinating much more than usual or losing weight despite a good appetite, see your vet. Our dog health guide explains why regular checkups and weight monitoring matter, and our nutrition guide covers body condition and feeding.

Reports gave the release date as September 1 to 3, 2026.