We've all seen service dogs trained to assist people who are blind, deaf, or disabled. But did you know that a trained canine could alert you when your blood sugar drops? This could help you avoid the dangers of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), including mental confusion, vision problems, seizures and loss of consciousness.

 

No one's sure how these dogs identify the onset of hypoglycemia in people with insulin-dependent diabetes. But, with training they reliably do so and act upon their finding. Subtle scent changes - undectable to humans - that result from hypoglycemia-produced changes in a person's body chemistry are thought to be the key to the dogs' ability.

 

Trainers say these dogs are right 90% of the time. Typically, when their owners' blood glucose drops rapidly, the dogs change their behavior - running around, jumping, pacing, and rousing their owner out of bed or pawing at their owner until the person eats some carbohydrates to normalize glucose levels. After doing this, the dog should receive a treat and lots of positive reinforcement.

 

Organizations like the Northern California-based nonprofit Dogs for Diabetics and the Minnesota-based Can Do Canine often use dogs that haven't made the cut as guide dogs, putting them through 3-4 months of training. Once they are with their owner who has diabetes, the dog will accompany that person almost everywhere - to stores, restaurants, on public transportation and, of course, on healthy walks.

 

In the Know, by Stephanie Guzowski, Asst. Editor

Diabetes - Health Monitor October/November 2010