Diabetic Alert Dog for Brooklynn
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My daughter, Brooklynn, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on March 9, 2014. She has had some very extreme highs and lows...but the scariest part is that she doesnt recognize lows at all. Normally, a person can feel the warning signals of LOW BLOOD SUGAR (sweating, shaking, nausea, and confusion); however, some are unable to feel these symptoms and are thus unaware that their blood sugar is dropping or is dangerously low. We have had several calls from daycare saying that she was in the 30's - and she had no idea!
For those of you who do not know much about diabetes, dropping too low can cause brain damage, cause you to pass out, have a seizure or go into a coma. Lows are serious - and can be life threatening.
The worst lows - in my opinion - are over night lows. Diabetics can die in their sleep from dropping too low...this is known as Dead in the Bed. This is when someone with insulin dependent diabetes has gone to bed seemingly perfectly fine and has been found dead in an undisturbed bed. It scares me every night when she goes to sleep. I have often woke her in the middle of the night to find readings as low as in the 30's (normal range is 80-180).
A Diabetic Alert Dog (D.A.D.) would help eliminate the stress and the worry of undetected lows and highs for her. Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained to smell the chemical body changes that occur as the insulin levels increase or drop. When a child is experiencing a high or low, their body is releasing chemicals that change their typical scent. D.A.D.'s are trained to recognize highs and lows by scent, and alert us when she is out of her target range. They are also very very expensive. They run anywhere from $10,000-$15,000 and take 2 years to properly train.
What is a Trained Diabetic Alert Service Dog?
Trained Diabetic Alert Dogs are fully trained service dogs for diabetics. These amazing dogs alert their owners in advance of low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar events before they become dangerous, so their owners can take steps to return their blood sugar to normal, such as using glucose sweets or taking insulin. These dogs are specifically trained to react to the chemical change produced by blood sugar highs and lows . Diabetic alert dogs can provide emotional security and a sense of balance for individuals and for those who have a loved one with diabetes. They can help you lead a more confident, independent lifestyle.
Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated! We just want Brooklynn to be safe and happy, as any parent would. A D.A.D. obviously is not going to cure her, but will help bring some peace of mind and be a great companion for many years to come!
For those of you who do not know much about diabetes, dropping too low can cause brain damage, cause you to pass out, have a seizure or go into a coma. Lows are serious - and can be life threatening.
The worst lows - in my opinion - are over night lows. Diabetics can die in their sleep from dropping too low...this is known as Dead in the Bed. This is when someone with insulin dependent diabetes has gone to bed seemingly perfectly fine and has been found dead in an undisturbed bed. It scares me every night when she goes to sleep. I have often woke her in the middle of the night to find readings as low as in the 30's (normal range is 80-180).
A Diabetic Alert Dog (D.A.D.) would help eliminate the stress and the worry of undetected lows and highs for her. Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained to smell the chemical body changes that occur as the insulin levels increase or drop. When a child is experiencing a high or low, their body is releasing chemicals that change their typical scent. D.A.D.'s are trained to recognize highs and lows by scent, and alert us when she is out of her target range. They are also very very expensive. They run anywhere from $10,000-$15,000 and take 2 years to properly train.
What is a Trained Diabetic Alert Service Dog?
Trained Diabetic Alert Dogs are fully trained service dogs for diabetics. These amazing dogs alert their owners in advance of low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar events before they become dangerous, so their owners can take steps to return their blood sugar to normal, such as using glucose sweets or taking insulin. These dogs are specifically trained to react to the chemical change produced by blood sugar highs and lows . Diabetic alert dogs can provide emotional security and a sense of balance for individuals and for those who have a loved one with diabetes. They can help you lead a more confident, independent lifestyle.
Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated! We just want Brooklynn to be safe and happy, as any parent would. A D.A.D. obviously is not going to cure her, but will help bring some peace of mind and be a great companion for many years to come!
Organizer
Randi Meador Gibson
Organizer
Keller, TX
