Making a difference in the quality of life for diabetics, one Service Dog at a time.

Have you ever heard of a dog that could sense when blood sugars are dropping to an unsafe level?  They are called Hypoglycemic Alert Dogs or Diabetic Alert Dogs (D.A.Ds) and they are enhansing lives every day.

D.A.D’s are relatively new to the world of service companions and currently there are few programs training them.  This severely limits the number of Brittle and Hypoglycemic Unaware Diabetics that can be paired with these amazing service dogs. For those who do get the opportunity, the benefits are remarkable.

Most Type1 diabetics feel symptoms of approaching dangerous low blood sugars, but a few Type 1s have lost that ability which is called Hypoglycemic Unawareness or never had the ability called Brittle Diabetes.  Those patients and families need a new way to recognize approaching severe low blood sugars so they can reclaim independence.  CGMs are one option another is a properly trained Diabetic Alert Dog (D.A.D).  Because of the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are able to accompany their diabetic at all times to “alert” when their blood sugar is moving in a direction that could cause serious harm, in addition they also become a balanced member of the family.

Even though scientists are unsure how the dogs are able to sense blood sugar changes in their human companions, trainers, diabetics, family and friends have witnessed dogs reacting to scents created by chemical changes related to glucose imbalance. These dogs are providing a great sense of relief to people with diabetes and their families.

When a diabetic's level of sugar (glucose) in their blood drops too low, the situation can quickly become a medical emergency.  While not a medical emergency, when the level of sugar in a person's blood remains higher than normal, it will damage organs.  Both extremes are serious health threats and add a lot of psychological baggage to each minute of their day.

Living like that is hard and isolating.  The Type 1 diabetic is often the only person around who needs to do complicated mathematical equations before eating anything, going anywhere, before doing anything!  Diabetes must always be on their mind!  In their everyday life, they are alone, even with family and friends by their side.