Inside the World Of Diabetic Alert Dogs: Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Month
Image description: Black lab lays on a carpeted floor in front of a bookshelf with dog books on it, the background is slightly blurred. The black lab wears a purple service dog vest that says “in training” on the chest and a leather leash strap.
It was the middle of a work meeting when her service dog suddenly stood up, stared intently at her, and pawed her leg. She glanced at her dexcom, it was reading steady at 88, which is perfectly in range. She pulled out her glucometer to double check her dog’s alert. With a quick finger prick, her glucometer reading showed 66 mg/dL, a low blood sugar that needs to be treated. Her diabetic alert dog caught this low blood sugar before technology ever showed it dropping.
November is Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Month, and this month we are highlighting the incredible work diabetic alert dogs (DADs) do and the training behind them! Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease, not a result of an individual's lifestyle. For individuals with this disease, their pancreas does not produce insulin, meaning they must do the job of their pancreas manually, every day for the rest of their life. This requires them to monitor their blood glucose constantly, administer the correct amount of insulin before meals, and treat low and high blood sugars to remain in a safe range. Out of range blood sugars can be fatal, making managing this disease a full time job.
Technology like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are lifesaving advancements that help to monitor blood sugars, however they work off interstitial fluid which can cause them to drastically lag behind real time blood sugar changes happening in the body- this is where diabetic alert dogs come in.
What are Diabetic Alert Dogs?
Diabetic alert dogs are medical alert service dogs that have been trained to detect and alert to changes in their handler’s blood glucose levels. These dogs have been trained to use scent to detect chemical changes in the body that are released when blood sugar fluctuates above or below the “normal” range. These alerts can often provide warning before technology shows a change in blood sugar, allowing for an extra layer of protection and management to help prevent dangerous changes.
Each dog’s training plan and tasks are tailored to their handler’s needs and lifestyles.
Diabetic alert dogs may be trained to do some or all of the following tasks for their handlers:
Alert to low and high blood sugars
Retrieve glucose or medical kits
Bring an emergency phone or button
Provide grounding during medical distress
Brief Overview of Training a Diabetic Alert Dog
Training a diabetic alert dog, or any service dog, takes time, patience, and teamwork to help it all come together. It all starts with picking a path for training and obtaining a service dog. Common options in the United States include going through a non-profit or private organization that raises, trains, and places fully trained dogs or self-training a dog with trainer guidance.
Diabetic alert dogs undergo extensive training that often starts in puppyhood. This includes being temperament tested, receiving obedience training, public access training to work in all different settings, and scent training for medical alerts.
These dogs are conditioned to recognize certain blood sugar levels that they will need to alert at. They are taught an alert behavior which is commonly a nose nudge, a paw, or retrieving a specific item to let their handler know they need to check their blood sugar. The longest stage of training is proofing their alert to be reliable in all different scenarios. Think of all the things you do in a day, the dog must be confident in their skills to alert in different environments, activities, and around many distractions. This process typically takes 18-24 months to complete, but training is always ongoing!
Diabetic alert dogs are incredible, and as a trainer I am constantly amazed at what these dogs are able to do. However, it is important to remember that no service dog is a replacement for medical devices or technology, a perfectly accurate system, or a cure for this lifelong disease.
Diabetic alert dogs are quietly changing lives every day. Behind every alert is months of hard work and dedication to a strong partnership between handler and dog. These dogs bring increased safety, confidence, and independence that technology alone cannot replace.
This November, let’s honor and bring awareness to the people living with T1D, family members supporting them, and the incredible diabetic alert dogs who lend a paw of support. Awareness is more than a color or a month, it is a commitment to progress, safety, and empathy all year long.
Interested in Diabetic Alert Dog Training?
Whether you’re just considering a diabetic alert dog, or in the process of getting one, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone! Reach out to me at contact@centrestagedogtraining.com to learn more about different programs and whether or not a diabetic alert dog may be right for you or your family!