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'Diabetes Dogs' Alert Owners To Sugar Levels
- 13/11/2018
People with diabetes may have a new way to indicate their blood sugar level is too high or too low, by turning to our trusty canine friends, after researchers have found that dogs can help with hypoglycemia monitoring.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, is the first of its kind to analyze whether trained dogs can accurately and consistently serve as an "early-warning system" to monitor blood sugar levels for their owners and notify them when the levels are too high or low.
For the research, 17 dogs were trained by Medical Detection Dogs - a UK charity that works with researchers and universities - to warn their owners when their blood sugar levels were "out of target range."
Researchers then collected data from the owners to analyze whether the dogs were accurately able to respond to their owners' hypoglycemic levels, and also whether the owners experienced better blood sugar control and wider benefits.
The results show that all 17 owners reported positive outcomes, including:
- Fewer paramedic calls
- Fewer unconscious episodes
- Improved independence.
Additionally, the owners' data showed that the dogs notified them with "significant accuracy" during times of both low and high blood sugar.
Lead author Dr Nicola Rooney says:
"Despite considerable resources having been invested in developing electronic systems to facilitate tightened glycemic control, current equipment has numerous limitations."
"These findings are important as they show the value of trained dogs and demonstrate that 'glycemia alert dogs' placed with clients living with diabetes, afford significant improvements to owner well-being, including increased glycemic control, client independence and quality-of-life, and potentially could reduce the costs of long-term health care."
Sniffing out blood sugar
The study authors note that although dogs respond to their owners' high or low blood sugar levels, they cannot be entirely sure how they do this. They cite odour cues as the most likely explanation, saying:
"It is likely that dogs detect changes in the chemical composition of their owners' sweat, or breath (including products of ketosis), using their acute sense of smell."
They say their study confirms that trained detection dogs perform above the chance level, which is the level that would be expected if random choices were made.
Dr Nicola Rooney adds:
"Some of the owners also describe [that] their dogs respond even before their blood sugars are low, but as they start to drop, so it is possible that the dogs are even more effective than this study suggests."
She says that further research is needed in order to determine how the dogs "carry out this amazing task."
Researchers recently revealed that they are creating a method for dogs to sniff out ovarian cancer.
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Hi there,
I have had type 1 diabetes since I was 8 yeras old... so in 1988 I was diagnosed and now I just turned 40... so thats 30+ years of having type 1 diabetes. I spent the last 8+ years living and working in Canada and while there, discovered this incredible Medical Alert Traning Academy. I used this very program to train one of my 2 dogs and I am possibly about to embark on the same training again over this coming year.
This is NOT a Hoaks Training Acamedy.... it is legit but you do need to put the work in with your own dog, if you have a dog already or if you are thinking about getting a dog. The size of the dog doesn't really matter but I would possibly recommend a beagle because their sense of smell is 8 times stronger than any other dog... or a smooth coated Lab or possibly a Jack Russell. The dog must be able to jump up onto any size bed in the event that they need to alert their owner to low or high blood sugars or to try to waken the person if they are asleep in their bed at night time....
Here is the Link now:
http://servicedogacademy.com/wp/
Don't be put off by the fact that the actual training facility is in St. Louis, Missouri, in the US... the instructor can teach you everything online either in a group setting or ono-to-one training with you and your dog/puppy in the comfort of your own home.
Hope this helps.
hi I've only been hearing about the detection dog's recently and was wondering how do you get a trained dog for TYPE 1 diabetes or are you supposed to get a puppy and try train it your self???
I am inquiring about this because of my oldest son was diagnosed with TYPE 1 diabetes only recently last year in 2018 and he is only 4 years old and has NO signs or symptoms when his sugar levels are low or high!!
we live in co.Donegal in Ireland and was looking for any information or advice on how or where can I get ONE of the trained dog's to HELP US with our son please, any advice would be greatly appreciated THANKS VERY MUCH
The ONLY route available is through the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind!!! Which, of course, is of no value whatsoever unless you are visually impaired!!!
Hello my son is 21 yrars old was dignoised at age 8 with t1. Je was never offered a pump because his bloods wwre never in control. I would like to buy a trained dog to help manage his control better so eventually he will be able to have a pump.
Hi, i have just read your artical about assist dogs for people with type 1 diabetis , my grandson Aidan was diagnosed in september 2016 in Mullingar hosp, Aidan is only 18mts old and waiting for his pump to be fitted, at the moment he is being injected by myself and his mum 4-5 times over a 24hr period, and while i understand that Aidan is very young and there is a long waiting list for a assist dog, i would like to know the criteria on how we apply for one. thank you for all the fantastic work you do and the dogs are truly beautiful amazing animals x
is this service available in the republic of ireland