Diabetic Awareness Dog for Alexis

       My name is Alexis  and I am 13yrs old. You wouldn't know it by looking at me, but on August 5th, 2016 I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. That day changed my life FOREVER!

       Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmmune disease in which your pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that lets you get energy from food. I can not manage this disease with diet and exercise. I must carefully monitor my blood sugars and give myself insulin to keep them in a "good" range. A lack of constant monitoring puts me at risk of serious organ damage, a coma and even death. This means constant finger pokes, blood tests, insulin shots, 2 AM checks, and even sitting out on all the FUN until my levels return to a safe range.

       It is hard for me to realize when my blood sugars have gone high or low. A fun time riding bikes with my sisters can drop my blood sugar fast and once I am reminded to test I am too low to continue playing. I have to watch everyone else have fun while I try to get my blood sugar back to a "normal", safe, level.

       I am trying to raise money for a Diabetic Alert dog. These dogs are trained to detect when blood sugars are going high or low, day or night. I am determined not to let diabetes control my life and it has been hard. Every choice I make effects my diabetes. An alert dog would not only give me more freedom to keep my life "normal" but it would be a friend who was always with me and watching over me.
       
       These dogs are pretty expensive. A fully trained dog costs $10,000 - $12,000. Thank you for helping me raise the money to adopt a diabetic alert dog.


                   Alexis