Skip to main content

Pet Insurance policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company.

Controlling pet diabetes

The A1C test may be helpful for evaluating the effectiveness of diabetes treatment in pets. Dr. Lee discusses this test and ways veterinarians monitor pets with diabetes.

Controlling pet diabetes

Q: I have diabetes, so I check my blood sugar daily, and my physician periodically tests the A1c levels in my blood. My cat also has diabetes, so I test his blood sugar at home. Why doesn’t my veterinarian check my cat’s A1c?

A: When veterinarians evaluate whether a cat’s diabetes is well controlled, they take into account many factors: weight, appetite, energy level, and whether the cat is drinking and urinating normally or excessively.

In addition, veterinarians and pet parents like you periodically test the diabetic cat’s blood sugar multiple times over the course of a day to be sure blood sugar levels don’t drop too low or rise too high.

Since pets’ blood sugar levels can vary from day to day, veterinarians also test the blood for fructosamine, which indicates average blood sugar over the previous two to three weeks.

The A1c and fructosamine tests are similar, except that the A1c test measures average blood sugar levels over the previous two to three months. This test only recently became available for pets, and most veterinarians haven’t decided yet whether the longer time frame offers any advantage in understanding how well the pet’s diabetes is controlled.

Editor’s Note: A newly diagnosed dog with diabetes may require daily insulin. Veterinarian Dr. Lee shares information on insulin-dependent diabetes with a concerned pet parent.


Lee Pickett, V.M.D. practices companion animal medicine. Contact her at askdrlee@insurefigo.com.

Pattern Blue

Customized
by you

Design your pet’s plan in less than 60 seconds!

medium sized cat illustration
medium sized cat illustration
Cat illustration
Cat illustration
Cat illustration
Your Pet's Type
  • Instagram logo
  • facebook
  • tiktok
  • Twitter

No one is permitted to sell, solicit or negotiate an insurance policy without a producer license in the state in which the plan is sold, and all prospects should be directed to Figo Pet Insurance. The information contained in this website is for illustrative purposes only and coverage under any pet insurance policy is expressly subject to the conditions, restrictions, limitations, exclusions (including pre-existing conditions), and terms of the policy documentation issued by the insurer. Availability of this program is subject to each state’s approval and coverage may vary by state. Coverage underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC), a Delaware Insurance Company, 11333 North Scottsdale Road Suite 160 Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Live Vet and the Figo Pet Cloud are separate non-insurance services unaffiliated with IAIC. Figo Pet Insurance's California license number is 0K02763. Figo Pet Insurance LLC is duly authorized to transact insurance in Puerto Rico (NPN: 16841904) in property, casualty, disability, health services, and life.

Copyright © 2015-2023 Figo Pet Insurance LLC. All rights reserved

Chat with an Expert