Help Maura get a Diabetic Alert Dog
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Thank you for taking the time to read this! My name is Maura Johnson, I am 18 years old, and I have been living with type one diabetes for just over 6 years.
Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakes beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin for foreign invaders and destroys them. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. These glucose levels are called blood sugars. When enough beta cells are destroyed, the pancreas cannot produce insulin anymore. Unlike type two diabetes, this cannot be treated with diet/exercise and cannot be cured.
Throughout my years as a diabetic I have learned many things and overcome challenges no teenager should have to go through. This includes giving myself a shot every time I want to eat, so many finger pricks, endless bullying, and making it my number one priority everyday to keep myself alive. Going through such a traumatic experience at such a young age was very scary, but it has helped me grow as a person ever since. One thing I have not been able to overcome is waking up to my alarms at night. When my blood sugar is too high or too low I will get a notification on my phone and my parents will as well. These alarms do not wake me up which scares me a lot. Having my parents wake me up to fix my blood sugars has been a huge help but as I grow up, the day I move out slowly approaches. When I live alone I worry that I won’t wake up to my alarms and I could die in my sleep if my blood sugar goes untreated.
Diabetic alert dogs can sense the changes in your blood sugar and smell if it is higher or lower than the healthy level. If my blood sugar becomes abnormal while I am asleep, the dog will wake me up so I can give myself insulin to lower my blood sugar or eat to raise it. Not only can they do this, but they can sense the early signs of high and low blood sugars. With this my blood sugars will be regulated because I can fix the problem before it happens. They also are great therapy dogs. Diabetics are three times more likely to have depression and therapy dogs relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.
The funds raised from this would be used for purchasing the dog, months of training, certifications, vet bills, food, and other necessities. My biggest dream is to have a diabetic alert dog so I can better my quality of life. I would be so grateful for any help to achieve my goal. Your support makes a lasting impact on my life, no matter how big or small. Please consider donating and sharing with friends and family to give me the independence and safety I’ll require as I move into my young adult life.
Thank you,
Maura Johnson
Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakes beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin for foreign invaders and destroys them. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. These glucose levels are called blood sugars. When enough beta cells are destroyed, the pancreas cannot produce insulin anymore. Unlike type two diabetes, this cannot be treated with diet/exercise and cannot be cured.
Throughout my years as a diabetic I have learned many things and overcome challenges no teenager should have to go through. This includes giving myself a shot every time I want to eat, so many finger pricks, endless bullying, and making it my number one priority everyday to keep myself alive. Going through such a traumatic experience at such a young age was very scary, but it has helped me grow as a person ever since. One thing I have not been able to overcome is waking up to my alarms at night. When my blood sugar is too high or too low I will get a notification on my phone and my parents will as well. These alarms do not wake me up which scares me a lot. Having my parents wake me up to fix my blood sugars has been a huge help but as I grow up, the day I move out slowly approaches. When I live alone I worry that I won’t wake up to my alarms and I could die in my sleep if my blood sugar goes untreated.
Diabetic alert dogs can sense the changes in your blood sugar and smell if it is higher or lower than the healthy level. If my blood sugar becomes abnormal while I am asleep, the dog will wake me up so I can give myself insulin to lower my blood sugar or eat to raise it. Not only can they do this, but they can sense the early signs of high and low blood sugars. With this my blood sugars will be regulated because I can fix the problem before it happens. They also are great therapy dogs. Diabetics are three times more likely to have depression and therapy dogs relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.
The funds raised from this would be used for purchasing the dog, months of training, certifications, vet bills, food, and other necessities. My biggest dream is to have a diabetic alert dog so I can better my quality of life. I would be so grateful for any help to achieve my goal. Your support makes a lasting impact on my life, no matter how big or small. Please consider donating and sharing with friends and family to give me the independence and safety I’ll require as I move into my young adult life.
Thank you,
Maura Johnson
Organizer
Maura Johnson
Organizer
New Freedom, PA