Diabetes mellitus is uncommon in birds and can be hard to diagnose. When it does occur, it causes symptoms like those of diabetes in people: large amounts of urine, excessive thirst, and high levels of sugar in the blood and urine.
Diabetes often occurs in overweight birds and in birds that have diseases of the pancreas (the organ where insulin is made) or diseases of the reproductive system (which can trigger secondary diabetes infections by causing inflammation of the pancreas). Blood tests that repeatedly show high sugar levels confirm a diagnosis of diabetes.
As in people, diabetes in birds is usually treated with insulin given by injection and drugs given by mouth to lower blood sugar. However, birds are sensitive to very small amounts of insulin, and their blood sugar can change quickly. Keeping blood sugar levels within a safe range is difficult.
Birds on medications for diabetes are at risk of developing low blood sugar and collapsing. Diabetic birds often have other diseases, such as liver problems, so the long‑term outlook for affected birds is generally poor.
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Also see professional content regarding diabetes mellitus in pet birds.
