Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats Contributers
Guidelines Task Force
Andrew Bugbee, DVM, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)†
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Renee Rucinsky, DVM, DABVP (Feline)†
Mid Atlantic Cat Hospital, Mid Atlantic Feline Thyroid Center, Queenstown, Maryland
Elizabeth Alvarez, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline)
University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
Audrey Cook, BVM&S, FRCVS, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine), DECVIM-CA, DABVP (Feline)
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Patty Lathan, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Cassie Panning, BS, CVT, VTS (Nutrition)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Contributing Reviewers
Thomas Schermerhorn, VMD, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
Ellen Behrend, VMD, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
† Andrew Bugbee and Renee Rucinsky are cochairs of the AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines task force.
These guidelines were prepared by a task force of experts convened by the American Animal Hospital Association. This document is intended as a guideline, not an AAHA Standard of Care. These guidelines and recommendations should not be construed as dictating an exclusive protocol, course of treatment, or procedure. Variations in practice may be warranted based on individual patient needs, resources, and limitations unique to each practice setting. Evidence-guided support for specific recommendations has been cited whenever possible and appropriate. Other recommendations are based on practical clinical experience and a consensus of expert opinion. More research is needed to further substantiate some recommendations. As each case is different, veterinary teams must base their decisions on the best available scientific evidence in conjunction with their knowledge and experience. All task force members contributed to the development of the guidelines. Although task force members attempted to reach an expert consensus, individual members of the task force are not responsible for the final guidelines or specific aspects of the guidelines.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
Andrew Bugbee has received speaking, consultation, and honorarium fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Dechra, Elanco, Purina, Royal Canin and Zomedica, and research support from ScoutBio/CEVA. Renee Rucinsky has received speaking, consultation, and honorarium fees from Boehringer Ingelheim and Elanco. Audrey Cook has received speaking and consultation fees from Boehringer Ingelheim and Elanco, research support from Dechra, and is an Advisory Board member for VetRec. Patty Lathan has received honoraria and consultation fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Dechra, IDEXX, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and ScoutBio, and research support from Dechra and IDEXX.
AAHA gratefully acknowledges the following individuals: Mia Cary, DVM (she/her) of Cary Consulting, task force facilitator, and Theresa Entriken, DVM, developmental editor.
The 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats are generously supported by Adapet Medical, Boehringer Ingelheim, Dechra, and Merck Animal Health.
