Dogs aren’t just man’s best friend: they can be life savers as well. Take for example some patients suffering from Type 1 diabetes who have support dogs. Not only does their support dog act as a companion, but it is also highly-trained to alert the patient when his blood sugar level is low or high.
But how does a support dog actually work?
Hypoglycemia and Its Dangers
Type 1 diabetics need intensive insulin treatment to control their blood sugar level because the insulin-producing cells of their pancreas aren’t producing enough of these hormones. Unfortunately, one of the side effects associated with intensive insulin treatment is hypoglycemia.
While glucometers can easily check their blood sugar level, they don’t always catch the problem on time. If this happens, hypoglycemia can occur and cause symptoms like shaking, confusion, and sweating. Should their blood sugar level go dangerously low, it could even result in seizures and comatose.
Now, this is where support dogs can help Type 1 diabetics.
How Does a Support Dog Work?
Ketones are produced when the cells are burning its own fat since they’re not getting enough glucose to use it as an energy source. When there is a high ketone level in the blood (common in both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes), the body produces a sort of sweet-smelling, fruity, nail polish remover-like scent.
Support dogs are highly-trained to detect this type of scent on people. They can recognize whether the blood sugar level is high or when it is low and alert the patient and/or his caregiver at least 15 minutes to half an hour before the symptoms occur. This gives them ample time to take action and correct the blood sugar level.
The support dogs are trained to react to different situations so that the owner can take the proper steps. For example, holding a particular object in its mouth for hypoglycemia or jumping on its owner for hyperglycemia. They can even retrieve phones should the patient need medical assistance.
Getting a support dog isn’t easy though since matching the patient to a specific dog is already an extensive process. You also have to consider the expense and time needed to train the dog to your specific scent. However, support dogs are very helpful to patients with Type 1 diabetes, especially those who have erratic blood sugar levels.
[expand title=”References“]
Dogs Can Be Successfully Trained to Alert to Hypoglycemia Samples from Patients with Type 1 Diabetes. URL Link. Accessed July 18, 2017.[/expand]
