In cats, obesity is the most recognized risk factor for diabetes.
Affected cats develop insulin resistance that, when the pancreatic beta cells eventually fail to compensate, results in persistent hyperglycemia.
Obesity causes insulin resistance in cats.2-4
Weight loss can help to decrease insulin resistance and reduce the risk for diabetes mellitus.2
Canine diabetes is typically more similar to type 1 diabetes in people. While obesity does not appear to be a direct risk factor, insulin resistance has been reported in overweight dogs5 and can make canine diabetes more difficult to manage.6