Some things you're giving your dog could be affecting their blood glucose levels

By keeping glucose levels stable through the right balance of insulin, diet, and activity, you help your dog feel better day to day, avoid dangerous emergencies, and enjoy a longer, healthier life. Simply put — it makes life easier and safer for both you and your dog.

Things that can disrupt your dog’s blood glucose levels

With a diabetic dog, it’s important to understand the impact of everything that goes into their body — not just their main meals. That includes treats, medications and medication aids, supplements, and even certain “healthy” add-ins.

Here are some examples from our journey with our diabetic dog, Parker.

Medications

Some medications can increase or decrease your dog’s blood glucose. This includes not just drugs for diabetes, but medications for unrelated conditions like anxiety, allergies, or infections.

For example, corticosteroids (often prescribed for inflammation or allergies) are well-known for raising blood sugar, sometimes significantly. Certain antidepressants, like fluoxetine (Prozac), can also make it harder to regulate glucose levels.

We learned this the hard way when Parker — who can be an anxious dog — was prescribed a version of Prozac. His blood sugar became much harder to manage until we switched him to a different medication.

Advice we received:

• Always ask the prescribing vet whether a medication could affect blood sugar.
• Read the drug information on the packaging or manufacturer’s website.
• Search online for the drug name + “diabetes” to see if other pet owners or vets have reported issues.

Medication aids

Giving pills is part of daily life for many diabetic dogs. It’s tempting to use products like Pill Pockets, but many contain wheat flour, sugars, or other carbs that can cause a spike in blood glucose.

We used Pill Pockets for a while until we learned about their carb content. Now, we wrap Parker’s pills in low-fat cream cheese, but other diabetic-friendly options include:

• A small ball of your dog’s regular diabetic wet food
• A bit of cooked chicken or turkey breast
• A slice of cucumber or zucchini with the pill tucked inside

Treats

Treats are a great way to reward good behaviour or give your dog a small boost between meals. But for a diabetic dog, carb-heavy or sugary treats can cause big swings in blood sugar.

We stick to 100% protein treats, usually dehydrated or freeze-dried meats and fish. When shopping, we:

• Look for treats under 10% fat with no carbs or sugars‍
• Add up the percentages on the nutrition label; if they don’t total 100%, unlisted fillers could be carbs or sugars
• Avoid anything with molasses, honey, corn syrup, wheat, or rice
  
  

Examples of good options: freeze-dried chicken breast, dehydrated salmon, or single-ingredient turkey jerky.

Supplements

Supplements can be great for supporting a diabetic dog’s overall health — especially for eye health, muscle support (e.g., B12), and digestion (e.g., psyllium husk fibre). But some can directly affect blood glucose or interact with insulin.

Supplements that may raise blood glucose

• High-sugar supplements – Flavoured liquids, glycerin-based tinctures, syrups (including some joint or vitamin products)‍
• Weight-gain formulas – Often contain maltodextrin or dextrose‍
• Licorice root – Mimics cortisol, which can raise glucose
  

Supplements that may lower blood glucose

• Chromium picolinate – Marketed for glucose control, can cause sudden lows
  
• Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) – Natural hypoglycemic effect
  
• Gymnema sylvestre – Boosts insulin activity, risking sharper drops
  
• Ceylon cinnamon – Mildly lowers glucose in some dogs
  

Supplements that can interact with insulin

• Coenzyme Q10 – Alters insulin sensitivity in some dogs
  
• Alpha-lipoic acid – Can increase insulin effectiveness, risking hypoglycemia
  
• Large doses of omega-3 oils – May subtly affect insulin sensitivity, especially with other health issues

Hidden risks

Even “healthy” supplements can be bound with honey, molasses, or malt syrup for flavour — adding hidden sugars.

Rule of thumb: natural doesn’t always mean safe for a diabetic dog. Always check ingredients, even in products labelled as “all-natural” or “grain-free.”

What we've learned

When you have a diabetic dog, everything they eat, lick, or chew matters.

• Ask your vet about any new medication or supplement.
  
• Read labels and look for hidden carbs or sugars.
  
• Keep a close eye on blood glucose when trying something new.

By staying informed and watchful, you can help keep your dog regulated, comfortable, and happy no matter what life throws at you. And with a diabetic dog, life with throw surprises your way.