Paws for Peyton (Diabetic Alert Dog)

Peyton is a 14 year old young man who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in August, 2013, at the age of 9. He was going to the doctor for what his parents believed to be a stomach virus or a simple illness to treat. However, that doctor’s visit turned into a parent’s worst nightmare…hearing that their 9-year old little boy had an incurable disease that could be fatal if not monitored correctly. Type 1 diabetes is a disease where the pancreas stops producing insulin. There is NO CURE for diabetes and to survive, Peyton uses an insulin pump to give him a continuous dose of insulin 24 hours a day 7 days a week and 52 weeks a year! Even with his mom and dad's watchful eye there are days that Peyton can go from an extremely high blood sugar, which has gone as high as 850, to a dangerously low blood sugar of 26. This is the reason Peyton and his family need your help...

Diabetic Alert Dogs (DADS) are trained to alert diabetic owners in advance of low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar levels before they become dangerous, so their owners can take steps to return their blood sugar to normal, such as using glucose tablets or injecting insulin. Rapid changes in the blood sugar levels cause chemical changes in the body that are expressed through a person’s breath and skin, and include unique chemical elements that the dog can smell. The dog is trained to alert their owner by placing their paw physically on them so they know to check their blood sugar and treat the low or high reading. This training is extremely expensive and can be a tedious process, especially the financial part of actually obtaining a dog. Direct costs in training the dog and client amount to approximately $18,000. Also, the annual cost for healthcare is on average $12,500 for each person with diabetes in the U.S. compared to $4,600 for each person without diabetes.

Peyton loves animals and his compassion overflows when it comes to his pets so what better tool to be his LIFE-SAVING companion than a dog!

Please be assured that your donation is bringing joy, peace of mind, and safety to a precious young man and his family. There is no donation too small and ALL donations are greatly appreciated! God bless and thank you for taking the time to read Peyton’s story.

Heartland Diabetic Alert Dogs