The verified September 2026 update is that no September-specific feline-diabetes development was identified; the closest documented change was Elanco's August launch of once-daily oral Bexacat in Brazil. That matters because it gives some newly diagnosed, clinically stable cats an alternative to insulin injections, but it does not make oral treatment right for every diabetic cat. Bexacat is an SGLT2 inhibitor, a drug that lowers blood glucose by helping the kidneys pass glucose into urine. For a cat with diabetes, the treatment choice still depends on health status, prior insulin use, and close veterinary screening.
Table of Contents
- What changed in Brazil?
- How do oral diabetes drugs differ from insulin?
- Which cats may qualify?
- What do the study results mean?
- What should owners watch for first?
What changed in Brazil?
Elanco launched Bexacat in Brazil in August 2026 as a once-daily oral treatment for feline diabetes. According to Elanco's August announcement, it is intended for newly diagnosed, clinically stable cats that have not previously received insulin. The change is meaningful for Brazilian households whose cats meet those criteria.
Giving a tablet can be simpler than giving injections, but convenience is not the same as broader eligibility. This launch should not be read as evidence that every diabetic cat can leave insulin behind. Cats that need insulin are a different clinical group, with different risks.
How do oral diabetes drugs differ from insulin?
Insulin lowers blood glucose by replacing or supplementing the hormone the body needs to use glucose. Oral SGLT2 drugs work differently: they cause the kidneys to excrete glucose. In the United States, the FDA identifies two approved feline SGLT2 treatments: Bexacat tablets and Senvelgo liquid.
The FDA also stresses that these drugs are for cats that have not been treated with insulin, not for cats already dependent on it. The FDA's feline diabetes guidance explains both the mechanism and that distinction. For an owner, the practical question is not "tablet or injection?" It is "Does my cat qualify safely for this specific treatment?".
Which cats may qualify?
A veterinarian must make that call after evaluating the cat's diagnosis and overall stability. The documented Bexacat eligibility framework provides a useful example: In the United States, FDA approved Bexacat on December 8, 2022 for otherwise healthy diabetic cats not previously treated with insulin; the approved dose is one 15-mg tablet once daily for eligible cats.
Those details come from the FDA approval notice. Eligibility is not a promise of success. It is a safety gate designed to keep insulin-dependent cats from being placed on a treatment that may not meet their needs.
- Newly diagnosed diabetes
- Clinical stability and otherwise good health
- No prior insulin treatment
- For U.S. Bexacat labeling, a body weight of at least 3.0 kg
- Ability to receive and be monitored on once-daily treatment
What do the study results mean?
The FDA-reviewed Bexacat field studies found that more than 80% of eligible cats met a combined measure of glycemic and clinical success. That is encouraging evidence that the drug can work in carefully selected cats. However, those studies did not include control groups.
That means the result cannot directly show that Bexacat performs better than insulin or that it is the best option for every newly diagnosed cat. Senvelgo's FDA-reviewed six-month uncontrolled field study reported 88% treatment success at day 30. The number is useful for understanding that oral treatment can help selected cats, but it should not be used to compare one drug against another without a direct comparative study.
What should owners watch for first?
The most important risk is diabetic ketosis or diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous buildup of acids called ketones. With SGLT2 drugs, this can occur even when blood-glucose readings do not appear alarming; this is called euglycemic ketoacidosis. Do not switch a cat that has received or is receiving insulin to Bexacat or Senvelgo without veterinary direction.
The FDA warns that this group has an increased risk of potentially fatal ketoacidosis. FDA's safety guidance also notes that serious cases often emerge during the first treatment week. Stop the oral drug and contact a veterinarian immediately if your cat develops: These signs need prompt action even if a home glucose result seems stable.
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Lethargy, weakness, or walking difficulty
- Dehydration or weight loss
- Vomiting or diarrhea