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BLOG / PET CARE

Diabetes in Dogs and Cats: Everything you need to know

A complete pet owner guide to signs, causes, diagnosis, treatment, home care and prognosis

Key symptoms Drinking more, urinating more, eating more, weight loss, bad coat condition, persistent skin or urinal infections
Commonality Fairly common in dogs and cats
Transmission Not contagious
Impact on health Moderate to severe if not managed
Treatment cost

Cat: $150 – $400 AUD per month

Dog: $100 – $250 AUD per month
Treatment duration Lifelong
Ease of prevention Difficult in dogs; Easy in cats

Most affected dog breeds

  • Australian Terriers
  • Keeshonden
  • Samoyeds
  • Miniature Schnauzers
  • Bichon Frises
  • Toy/Miniature Poodles

Most affected cat breeds

  • Burmese

A diabetes diagnosis can feel like the moment your household calendar gets hijacked by syringes, meal times and glucose readings. Still, the central fact is reassuring: diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats is usually manageable with proper treatment and monitoring.

What is diabetes?

You may not know this, but just like humans, dogs and cats can develop diabetes too! Diabetes (also called diabetes mellitus) is a disease where the body has a high level of sugar in the blood for an extended amount of time. This is due to the dysfunction of insulin, a hormone in the body that regulates blood sugar. If not enough insulin is made, or if the insulin isn’t working properly, animals can get high levels of blood sugar, affecting organ function which in turn creates symptoms 1.

What are the common risk factors?

Age

Diabetes is more common in mature and older pets. Routine health checks become more valuable with age because weight trends, medication history and subtle clinical signs can reveal risk before a crisis develops  2.

Obesity and inactivity

Obesity is a major risk factor in cats which can be managed. This is often made worse with sedentary cats. Weight should be managed well and weight loss should be gradual and supervised 3.

Breed

Certain breeds of dogs and cats are more susceptible of developing diabetes as they grow older 4 5:

Dogs: Australian Terriers, Keeshonden, Samoyeds, Miniature Schnauzers, Bichon Frises, and Toy/Miniature Poodles

 

Veterinarian attaching a continuous glucose monitor to a cat's ear

Dog vs cat diabetes

While diabetes in dogs and cats often result in very similar symptoms, the way they develop is quite different.

Mechanism in dogs

The main way that dogs develop diabetes is from the loss of beta cell function, the cell that creates insulin, a mechanism that is similar to Type I diabetes in humans. This is usually due to the dog’s immune system attacking its own beta cells, resulting in a deficiency of these cells and therefore a deficiency of insulin 1.

Another, less common mechanism of diabetes in dogs is insulin resistance caused by pregnancy hormones. Female dogs that have not been desexed carry a risk of this form of diabetes 1.

Mechanism in cats

The common mechanism of diabetes in cats is more akin to type II diabetes in humans, where the cells in the body become less responsive to insulin, meaning that it doesn’t regulate blood sugar properly, unlike in healthy cats 6.

Category Dogs Cats
Type of diabetes Type-I-like more common; can also occur in non-desexed females Type-II-like more common
Remission Rare/typically not expected Remission may be possible in some cases 7
Notable complication Cataract formation (cloudy eyes) 8 Hind-leg disease

Recognising the common warning signs

Diabetic pets may develop these symptoms:

    • Increased drinking and urinating: Owners may notice an empty water bowl, requests to go outside overnight or accidents in places where they don’t normally go 1.

    • Increased hunger and weight loss: Your animal may begin to be more hungry, while continuing to lose weight 1.
    • Reduced energy and weakness
    • Poor coat condition
    • Urinary and skin infections that keep coming back 9
    • Cloudy eyes in dogs


However, it is important to note that just because your animal has these symptoms does not necessarily mean they have diabetes. Proper testing should be done to confirm the diagnosis.

 

Golden Retriever illustration labeled with common diabetes symptoms

How do vets diagnose diabetes?

When your vet notes that your animal is showing typical signs of diabetes, they may recommend further testing. This is done with several methods:

 

Blood glucose

Checking the glucose (sugar) levels of the blood is the main way of diagnosing diabetes. However, a single in-clinic reading can be misleading. Stress can cause glucose levels to spike in animals, and can therefore create falsely elevated glucose levels. 10

Urine tests

In conjunction with a high blood glucose level, a diabetes diagnosis can also be confirmed by detecting glucose in the urine. Your vets may request you to collect urine from your pets for testing 11.

Others

All new diabetic patients will usually also get a comprehensive blood test, to look for how well the organs are functioning. This informs if other organs are affected or other underlying diseases.

 

Managing diabetes

Insulin therapy

Insulin remains the standard treatment for diabetic dogs and cats. Syringe injections of insulins are done beneath the skin and will have to be done daily at home by the owner 12.

Administering insulin correctly is very important. Be sure to ask your veterinarian to demonstrate how to give injections properly to your animal.

Insulin injection being prepared for a diabetic pet

 

Diet

Changing your pet’s diet isn’t the main treatment for diabetes, but choosing food that better matches their can support their overall health, especially in conjunction with proper insulin therapy. Diabetic cats often do well on wet foods that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates, as long as other conditions such as kidney disease are taken into account 13. Diabetic dogs usually benefit from a balanced diet that helps them to maintain a steady weight and keeps their blood sugar more predictable after meals.

Monitoring

To ensure that the insulin dose being given is of the right dose, frequent monitoring of how well the insulin is managing glucose levels is necessary. This is usually done with one of two ways:

  • Insulin-glucose curve: your vet may recommend your pet to go into the clinic every couple of months to do an insulin-glucose curve. This is a graph that looks at how well the blood sugar is responding to the current dose of insulin they are getting. The dose should result in a glucose level that is not too high, but also not too low 14.

  • Continuous monitors: a device can be placed on your pet’s skin, providing real time information about their glucose levels, and how well they are responding to the insulin 15.

 

Other diseases associated with diabetes

Cataracts

Diabetic dogs commonly develop cataracts within months if the disease is not controlled well. This problem can usually be treated with cataract surgery, but is usually delayed until the diabetes is stable.

Diabetic ketoacidosis: An emergency

 

If diabetes isn’t controlled, the body starts to break down fat into ketones as an energy source. When this process occurs too aggressively, ketones build up in the blood, which causes it to become very acidic, which results in the disease called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) 16.

DKA often results in vomiting, profound lethargy, weakness, dehydration, rapid breathing, collapse and refusal to eat 16.

DKA is an emergency and can be very dangerous to your pet. If you believe this is occurring, it is important to seek urgent vet care. Whilst dangerous, DKA is treatable, with a study showing that 70% of dogs that went into hospital with DKA survived until discharge 17.

 

Outcome

While initially, diabetes may seem like a big problem for your pet to overcome, with proper treatment and monitoring, your pet can live a long and healthy life 18.

Diabetes in cats and dogs:
key takeaways

A diabetes diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but with proper veterinary treatment and monitoring, many pets can live comfortably. Increased drinking, urination, hunger, weight loss, low energy, recurring infections or cloudy eyes may be warning signs, but veterinary testing is needed for diagnosis.
 
Dogs usually need ongoing insulin, while some cats may achieve remission. Diet, glucose monitoring and regular vet checks support management. Vomiting, severe weakness, dehydration, rapid breathing, collapse or refusing food may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis and requires urgent veterinary care.

Diabetes in Cats and Dogs: Frequently Asked Questions

Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which an animal has persistently high blood sugar because the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin is the hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose levels.

Common warning signs include increased drinking and urination, increased hunger accompanied by weight loss, reduced energy, weakness, poor coat condition, and recurring skin or urinary infections. Dogs may also develop cloudy eyes because of cataracts. However, these symptoms can occur with other conditions, so veterinary testing is needed for confirmation.

Diabetes is more common in mature and older pets. Obesity and inactivity are important risk factors, particularly in cats. Certain breeds may also be more susceptible, including Australian Terriers, Keeshonden, Samoyeds, Miniature Schnauzers, Bichon Frises, and Toy or Miniature Poodles among dogs, and Burmese cats.

Veterinarians generally use blood-glucose testing together with urine testing. A high blood-glucose reading and the presence of glucose in the urine can support a diagnosis. Because stress can temporarily raise blood glucose in animals, a single in-clinic reading may be misleading. Additional blood tests are often performed to assess organ function and identify other illnesses.

Insulin injections under the skin are the standard treatment for diabetic dogs and cats and are usually administered daily at home. Management may also include an appropriate diet, gradual and supervised weight control, and regular glucose monitoring. Monitoring can involve an insulin-glucose curve performed at a veterinary clinic or a continuous glucose-monitoring device.

Diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, occurs when uncontrolled diabetes causes excessive breakdown of fat, leading to a dangerous buildup of ketones and acid in the blood. Signs may include vomiting, severe lethargy, weakness, dehydration, rapid breathing, collapse, and refusal to eat. DKA is a veterinary emergency requiring urgent treatment.

Gerald Lim

Gerald Lim

Veterinary clinical placement student & content contributor
Credential Bachelor of Veterinary Biology / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sydney

Gerald Lim is a 4th year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student at the University of Sydney with hands on experience across general practice, emergency, and specialist veterinary settings. Passionate about animal health and client education, he brings both clinical skill and clear communication to his work with Petsy Pet Insurance.

  • Clinical placements across general, emergency, and specialist veterinary hospitals
  • Experienced in orthopedic surgery, including TPLOs and MPLs
  • Designed and built his own personal website during his Petsy placement
LEARN MORE ABOUT GERALD

References

  1. Rand, J. S., Fleeman, L. M., Farrow, H. A., Appleton, D. J., & Lederer, R. (2004). Canine and feline diabetes mellitus: nature or nurture? J Nutr, 134(8 Suppl), 2072s-2080s. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.8.2072s [↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
  2. Pöppl, A. G., de Carvalho, G. L. C., Vivian, I. F., Corbellini, L. G., & González, F. H. D. (2017). Canine diabetes mellitus risk factors: A matched case-control study. Res Vet Sci, 114, 469-473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.08.003[↩]
  3. Öhlund, M., Egenvall, A., Fall, T., Hansson-Hamlin, H., Röcklinsberg, H., & Holst, B. S. (2017). Environmental Risk Factors for Diabetes Mellitus in Cats. J Vet Intern Med, 31(1), 29-35. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.14618[↩]
  4. Samaha, G., Wade, C. M., Beatty, J., Lyons, L. A., Fleeman, L. M., & Haase, B. (2020). Mapping the genetic basis of diabetes mellitus in the Australian Burmese cat (Felis catus). Sci Rep, 10(1), 19194. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76166-3[↩]
  5. Ringstad, N. K., Lingaas, F., & Thoresen, S. I. (2022). Breed distributions for diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism in Norwegian dogs. Canine Med Genet, 9(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-022-00121-w[↩]
  6. Taylor, S. P. C., Cannon, M., Church, D., Fleeman, L., Fracassi, F., Gilor, C., Mott, J., & Niessen, S. (2025). iCatCare 2025 consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus in cats. J Feline Med Surg, 27(11), 1098612×251399103. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612×251399103[↩]
  7. Gottlieb, S., Rand, J. S., & Anderson, S. T. (2024). Frequency of diabetic remission, predictors of remission and survival in cats using a low-cost, moderate-intensity, home-monitoring protocol and twice-daily glargine. J Feline Med Surg, 26(4), 1098612x241232546. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x241232546[↩]
  8. Miller, E. J., & Brines, C. M. (2018). Canine Diabetes Mellitus Associated Ocular Disease. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 33(1), 29-34. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1053/j.tcam.2018.03.001[↩]
  9. Nelson, V., Downey, A., Summers, S., & Shropshire, S. (2023). Prevalence of signs of lower urinary tract disease and positive urine culture in dogs with diabetes mellitus: A retrospective study. J Vet Intern Med, 37(2), 550-555. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16634[↩]
  10. Cook, A. K., & Behrend, E. (2025). SGLT2 inhibitor use in the management of feline diabetes mellitus. J Vet Pharmacol Ther, 48 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), 19-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.13466[↩]
  11. Yadav, S. N., Ahmed, N., Nath, A. J., Mahanta, D., & Kalita, M. K. (2020). Urinalysis in dog and cat: A review. Vet World, 13(10), 2133-2141. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.2133-2141[↩]
  12. Behrend, E., Holford, A., Lathan, P., Rucinsky, R., & Schulman, R. (2018). 2018 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc, 54(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.5326/jaaha-ms-6822[↩]
  13. Bennett, N., Greco, D. S., Peterson, M. E., Kirk, C., Mathes, M., & Fettman, M. J. (2006). Comparison of a low carbohydrate-low fiber diet and a moderate carbohydrate-high fiber diet in the management of feline diabetes mellitus. J Feline Med Surg, 8(2), 73-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2005.08.004[↩]
  14. Gottlieb, S., Rand, J. S., & Anderson, S. T. (2024). Frequency of diabetic remission, predictors of remission and survival in cats using a low-cost, moderate-intensity, home-monitoring protocol and twice-daily glargine. J Feline Med Surg, 26(4), 1098612×241232546. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612×241232546[↩]
  15. Del Baldo, F., & Fracassi, F. (2023). Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Dogs and Cats: Application of New Technology to an Old Problem. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 53(3), 591-613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.01.008[↩]
  16. Rudloff, E. (2017). Diabetic ketoacidosis in the cat: Recognition and essential treatment. J Feline Med Surg, 19(11), 1167-1174. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612×17735762[↩][↩]
  17. Hume, D. Z., Drobatz, K. J., & Hess, R. S. (2006). Outcome of dogs with diabetic ketoacidosis: 127 dogs (1993-2003). J Vet Intern Med, 20(3), 547-555. https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[547:oodwdk]2.0.co;2[↩]
  18. Rothlin-Zachrisson, N., Öhlund, M., Röcklinsberg, H., & Ström Holst, B. (2023). Survival, remission, and quality of life in diabetic cats. J Vet Intern Med, 37(1), 58-69. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16625[↩]

Specified Conditions includes:

  • Cruciate ligament damage
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Patella luxation
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Cherry eye
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion,
  • Osteochondritis dissecans (‘OCD’)
  • Lumps

Lumps means the protuberance or localised area of swelling or unusual growth that can occur anywhere on or in the body including tumours, warts, cysts, growths, mucoceles, haematomas and abscesses.

You can apply to reduce the 6-month exclusion period for Specified Conditions by using our request for Waiver Form. Simply take this form to your next vet visit and submit the completed form back to [email protected] within 14 days of the visit.

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Optional Extra Benefits

During the application process You will be provided with the option to include Optional Extra Benefits that cover certain conditions and Treatments which are not otherwise covered under the Policy.

The Optional Extra Benefits are:

Alternative Therapies, Behavioural Problems, and Dental Illness.

Examples of Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy.

Examples of Behavioural Problems: Excessive licking, fur pulling, pacing and destructive chewing.

Examples of Dental Illnesses: Dental diseases, gingivitis, periodontal disease.