Diabetic Alert Dogs
When my 6 year old son was diagnosed with a serious medical condition, our life went from ordinary to extraordinary in a moment. Our thoughts and emotions swirled. We were suddenly thrust into being a special needs family.
While we came up from under the metaphorical water, we still worried about the possibility of a seizing episode when our eyes weren’t on our son.
Type 1 Diabetes is often diagnosed in early childhood. With the nature of the disorder, parents can worry whether their child’s blood sugar will drop without indication. This is a very serious medical emergency. Enter a trained Diabetes Alert Dog.
WebMD shares this list of additional benefits of a Diabetic Alert Dog:
ability to take part in more physical activities
improved blood sugar control
fewer episodes of passing out from low blood sugar
fewer events for which paramedics (911) had to be called
greater independence
improved quality of life
Diabetes Alert Dogs use their extremely powerful sense of smell to detect changes in their partner’s blood sugar level. A dog with a strong connection to his or her “pack” will want to serve and protect. This is carefully channeled and molded into a medical alert.
When a dog is trained to pay attention and respond to these signals, parents have one more layer of security. Even at night, when everyone is asleep, a dog can let parents know something is happening with their child. Medical alert dogs are used with other medical equipment to provide better coverage for more peace of mind.
Learn more about diabetes from the American Diabetes Association.
