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My life changed December 1, 2004.
What started as a doctor's appointment for a chest cold turned into my doctor telling myself and my mother that I have Type 1 Diabetes. We were told to drive straight to Children's Hospital of Madera, to not make ANY stops along the way, and that they were expecting us. She told us that the only reason I was not being taken in a helicopter was because I was still coherent. Once I was admitted to the hospital we were put through a "Diabetes Bootcamp." Over the course of three days we learned how to test my blood sugar, count carbohydrates, and administer insulin injections. We also learned all the fun side effects that could happen if I didn't take care of myself and let my blood sugars go too low or too high (loss of eyesight, loss of limbs, seizures, coma, and death just to name a few).
Imagine injecting a medication that keeps you alive and can easily kill you without warning. It's terrifying.
I've been lucky. I haven't been hospitalized for T1D since diagnosis and I haven't had any serious complications. In the beginning I was able to feel when my blood sugar was high or low. Even if it was the middle of the night, I was able to wake up and treat it. Over the years I have lost that feeling. A normal blood sugar is between 80-100, by the time I feel a low blood sugar I am in the 30-40's. This is dangerously low.
I have a device that is hooked up to me 24/7 that tests my blood sugar ever 5 minutes (You may have heard me talk about him, his name is Dex) but it is not always reliable, and it is very difficult and uncomfotable to be hooked up to something 24/7.
I live an active lifestyle and when my blood sugar is too high or too low I am not able to do the things I love as it can be dangerous. I refuse to let T1D stop me from living my life. My parents are on contstant alert and my dad has a GPS tracker on my phone since my lows have gotten so bad. I live alone and it terrifies them that one day I may have a midnight low and I will never wake up. Luli can change all of that.
To help keep me safe I have been trying to get a Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD) for over a year. These dogs are able to smell when a person's blood sugar is high, low, or rapidly going high or low and they are able to alert their handlers. They are able to detect the specific scent that the body produces up to 40 minutes before any blood test or attached device. Dogs that are already trained to do this can cost from $9,000-25,000. Although I have applied to several agencies for a dog the wait list is too long and not guarenteed. I am in need NOW.
Meet Luli
Luli is a 4 1/2 month old Belgian Malinois. She is crazy, super smart, adorable, and is a love bug. I am training Luli to be a Diabetic Alert Dog. This means she will be able to smell when my blood sugar is high or low, or rapidly going high or low, up to 40 minutes before any blood test or Dex reading would be able to tell me. She will be able to alert me when this happens and hopefully be able to wake me up if I am sleeping. I have researched and contacted traininers to assist me in the process and it will cost aproximatley $5,400 for Luli's training, care and service dog certification.
This is expensive training and I need help.
What started as a doctor's appointment for a chest cold turned into my doctor telling myself and my mother that I have Type 1 Diabetes. We were told to drive straight to Children's Hospital of Madera, to not make ANY stops along the way, and that they were expecting us. She told us that the only reason I was not being taken in a helicopter was because I was still coherent. Once I was admitted to the hospital we were put through a "Diabetes Bootcamp." Over the course of three days we learned how to test my blood sugar, count carbohydrates, and administer insulin injections. We also learned all the fun side effects that could happen if I didn't take care of myself and let my blood sugars go too low or too high (loss of eyesight, loss of limbs, seizures, coma, and death just to name a few).
Imagine injecting a medication that keeps you alive and can easily kill you without warning. It's terrifying.
I've been lucky. I haven't been hospitalized for T1D since diagnosis and I haven't had any serious complications. In the beginning I was able to feel when my blood sugar was high or low. Even if it was the middle of the night, I was able to wake up and treat it. Over the years I have lost that feeling. A normal blood sugar is between 80-100, by the time I feel a low blood sugar I am in the 30-40's. This is dangerously low.
I have a device that is hooked up to me 24/7 that tests my blood sugar ever 5 minutes (You may have heard me talk about him, his name is Dex) but it is not always reliable, and it is very difficult and uncomfotable to be hooked up to something 24/7.
I live an active lifestyle and when my blood sugar is too high or too low I am not able to do the things I love as it can be dangerous. I refuse to let T1D stop me from living my life. My parents are on contstant alert and my dad has a GPS tracker on my phone since my lows have gotten so bad. I live alone and it terrifies them that one day I may have a midnight low and I will never wake up. Luli can change all of that.
To help keep me safe I have been trying to get a Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD) for over a year. These dogs are able to smell when a person's blood sugar is high, low, or rapidly going high or low and they are able to alert their handlers. They are able to detect the specific scent that the body produces up to 40 minutes before any blood test or attached device. Dogs that are already trained to do this can cost from $9,000-25,000. Although I have applied to several agencies for a dog the wait list is too long and not guarenteed. I am in need NOW.
Meet Luli
Luli is a 4 1/2 month old Belgian Malinois. She is crazy, super smart, adorable, and is a love bug. I am training Luli to be a Diabetic Alert Dog. This means she will be able to smell when my blood sugar is high or low, or rapidly going high or low, up to 40 minutes before any blood test or Dex reading would be able to tell me. She will be able to alert me when this happens and hopefully be able to wake me up if I am sleeping. I have researched and contacted traininers to assist me in the process and it will cost aproximatley $5,400 for Luli's training, care and service dog certification.
This is expensive training and I need help.