Dogs have long been trained to assist people with certain medical conditions, including mobility impairment and blindness. Now, diabetes is getting added to the list, at least experimentally.
Cancer and Bio-detection Dogs, a nonprofit center and sponsor of research in Aylesbury, England, is in the process of training 17 Diabetic Hypo-Alert Dogs to detect hypoglycemia in people with diabetes. Dogs’ sense of smell can be sharp enough to detect changes in blood glucose level before humans notice them, possibly a boon to people who frequently experience low blood glucose or who have hypoglycemia unawareness.
According to an article on the Today show Web site about the program, 65% of people with Type 1 diabetes reported in a survey (conducted last year at Queen’s University Belfast) that their dogs reacted when they had episodes of hypoglycemia. But no large trial has been conducted to study how early, and how effectively, dogs detect blood glucose changes, or to discern whether other technology — such as a continuous glucose monitor — might accomplish the same goals more effectively or at a lower cost. The chief executive of Cancer and Bio-detection Dogs maintains that dogs can detect blood chemical changes in the realm of parts per trillion, something that no external man-made sensor can do.
So how good — or crazy — is this idea? Watch this video to see it lampooned on The Colbert Report.
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Cheating Death - Diabetes Dogs, Chocolate Milk & Swearing in Pain | ||||
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What do you think — would you be interested in a dog trained to detect hypoglycemia? If you have a dog, does it react when your blood glucose gets low? Would you rather rely on a medical device? Is this too small a function for a full-time medical dog? Leave a comment below!
I would like to find out more about these medically trained dogs. I wouldn’t put more emphasis on a dog over a medical device but if you have both in play then one could be protected in different ways. Supposing one’s device fails then there is always the back up of a dog. Would these dogs be considered Service Dogs? If so, then they would be allowed to go where ever the person does?
Posted by Sheri | Jul 28, 2009 at 11:54 amWhere can I find out more?
My current dog has never really been around when I’ve had a serious low bloodsugar. My last dog, Jackson-a black lab, woke me up abou three different times while I had him for a low blood sugar. I was in the 30s each time he licked my foot or leg to wake me up. I usually wake up on my own, but these three times, it was because of Jackson. I’d love it if my current dog Barkley could to do the same.
Posted by Victoria | Jul 28, 2009 at 6:07 pmThe dogs seem very reliable. My husband said they would be good for people alone but I disagree. I’ve had low blood sugar when he’s been here and he doesn’t do anything. They need more research for me to make an honest opinion but so far they seem fine. Would they be called a service dog so they could go anywhere? Which would cost more is one of my questions - the dog or your own reaction? there are many questions that are unaswered. Need more reseaarch.
Posted by Cindy Stamm | Jul 29, 2009 at 12:51 pmIn June 2005, I adopted a rescued dog named Louie to work with children and do therapy visits. In September 2005, Louie began to do a strange thing-he would suddenly jump up, come over to me at my desk, get on my lap, sniff my mouth and lick my chin. I just thought he wanted attention. He started doing this on a regular basis, daily in fact. I noticed that after he did it, I felt bad-sweaty, nauseated and weak. I noticed increase thirst, blurred vision, etc. Made a doctor’s appointment, had tests done. In November 2005, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Louie became my service dog and has helped me on a number of occassions. He did this without training. These dogs are life savers while Louie picks up on the highs, mostly he notices the lows. I won’t go anywhere without him.
Posted by Vivian | Jul 29, 2009 at 12:57 pmI cannot believe that there are that many people that have hypoglycemia that you need a dog to sniff it out. They would be best used to sniff for dope rather than hypoglcemia.
Posted by Mitchell | Jul 29, 2009 at 1:09 pmWe are using stevia in the place of sugar. What do you know about this plant? Is it better than sugar or canderel? We notice that we don’t suffer pain in our joints with stevia.
I would like to hear your and others opinions about this subject.
Thank you Renè
Posted by Renè | Jul 29, 2009 at 1:22 pmMy dog woke me 2-3 times while asleep with low blood glucose about an hour or two before my normal wake up time. He hasn’t done it recently but I would like to find out more about this.
Posted by Bob R | Jul 29, 2009 at 1:46 pmMy previous dog, Brandi, woke me several times by licking me continuosly, when I had severe low blood sugars. One night when my husband had to call 911, she woke him to do that. When they tested me my blood sugar was 20. Went to the ER that night. Yes I believe that dogs have a sense of when my blood sugars are low. My new dog hasn’t exhibited any signs that he knows, but we have only had him about 6 weeks.
Posted by Nancy | Jul 29, 2009 at 2:30 pmI had a wonderful little pound puppy that was a chow shepard mix that seemed to know when I was having problems with my blood sugar. On days that it was low he would not leave my side and many times he would wake my husband and keep pestering him until my husband would check on me. Most often he would have to get me juice. I am sure that dog saved my life on a couple of occasions. I think it is a wonderful idea and hope that more dogs would have his instincts or be able to be taught to recognize when help was needed.
Posted by CJ | Jul 29, 2009 at 2:31 pmMy dog detects hypoglycemia and signals me. He started signaling me spontanteously, and then I worked with a service dog trainer to make sure he would do it consistently, and also to make sure that his behavior would be good enough to go places with me. He has traveled with me for 2 years now, and is very consistent about signaling me when my blood glucose is low.
There are several training programs in the U.S. if you search the term “diabetes alert dog,” you can easily find them. The most well-funded one seems to be “Dogs 4 Diabetics” in San Rafael, CA; but there are others in other parts of the country.
I have also heard that there have been some research studies published out of Australia.
Posted by Ann | Jul 29, 2009 at 2:51 pmI have had 2 Frenh Poodles who have always alerted me to episodes of low blood sugar, especially in the middle of the night. He
Posted by LETA | Jul 29, 2009 at 5:04 pmnudges, kisses, or stands on my to get me to wake-up and constantly smells my breath (and it’s not because of poor oral care.)
My service dog, Angel, has woken me from a sound sleep because my bloodsugar had dropped to 40. She has done this several times. I never had low blood sugar in my sleep before. This is not a trained response for her.
She is trained for mobility and balance for Dystonia but nothing for diabetes.
Posted by Sharon | Jul 29, 2009 at 6:49 pmHi All!! I have been a boxer dog addict since 1992 and type 1 diabetic since 1973. I have a couple of boxers that have detected hypoglycemic episodes on me. Usually at night. It took the death of one of them for me to realize after he was gone what “magical” powers he had. I think a dog can be trained to detect and respond as needed and would be a wonderful asset for SOME people but not all. You have to have a lot of real animal love and trust in your animals. But for some folks, yes it is certainly an option. Boxer and Frenchie Mom to Moonee and Vertee, Boxers; Marge and Serena my French Bulldogs.
Posted by Susan | Jul 29, 2009 at 8:45 pmI thought I was imagining that my 2 1/2 year-old maltese, Abbey, was responsive to my low blood sugars. She has woken me up several times, usually around 3 or 4 in the morning. My sugars have gone as low as 18! I know she’s saved my life, as I live alone and would probably not be able to rouse myself enough to wake up if not for her licking my face and sniffing my breath. Nobody trained her. It’s just instinctual! God bless her little heart!
Posted by Patti | Aug 03, 2009 at 4:51 pmI adopted a dog from the humane society and he alerts me when my bloodsugars drop. I feel like I saved him and he saved me several times.
He has not been trained formally but has saved me several times. He is never wrong.
I also have a cat who will actually come to the door at night and bang until my husband gets up I check a bloodsugar and get juice. She checks the cup my husband gets to make sure it is orange juice. She is never wrong in the 10 years I have had her she gets a 100%
The intelligence, love and value of animals is boundless.
Posted by Lora Edwards | Aug 05, 2009 at 1:22 pmI have had Type 1 for 42 years now, and my only complication is ‘low-blood-sugar unawareness’…which is a very serious matter. After coming close to death many times, I looked into getting a trained dog which would alert me of my low sugars.
Posted by M Johnston | Aug 05, 2009 at 2:46 pmIt obviously is an awesome solution for some…but I talked myself out of getting a dog because I considered all the obstacles…like matching a dog to my personality, the training involved, the challenge of taking the dog with me when attending meetings, when flying, when using rapid transit, and even just going for groceries.
I am presently trying out a continuous glucose monitor which is also very challenging to use at first, and also is expensive to maintain…
I think it wins out over the dog mainly because the monitor can be programmed to be silent when necessary (e.g. duriing a wedding). I am still learning the finer details of using it…but as long as it proves that is it is very accurate at reading my low blood-sugars, then it will be a life-saver…and that is worth a lot!
Yes I do believe that dogs have a sense of detecting Hypoglycemia. I have 16 yr old dalmation named Lacey……..she has senced my low blood sugar several times the pass few months & has made several attempts at waking me from a sound sleep, causing me to test my blood sugar which has been around 40. Lacey is just a family pet no training.
Posted by Linda | Aug 05, 2009 at 5:40 pmYes I do believe……….I have a 16 yr old dalmation named Lacey, she has come to my side several times the last few months waking me & my blood sugar readings have been around 40. she has been a family pet with no training. Just earning her keep. Lacey is very special girl to me.
Posted by Linda | Aug 05, 2009 at 5:54 pmI have two small rescue dogs. Chihuahua Mix who are always with me when at home, sometimes when we are traveling. They sleep with me, and have never reacted to low blood glucose readings in either myself or my husband who is also diabetic.It would be nice if they did, I have to rely on symptoms and a monitoring device. Usually I wake with symptoms of shaking and sweating when I have low readings in my sleep, but I cannot rely on this always being the case and it would be nice if the dogs or even one of them would react and let me know when sleeping that I have a low reading.
Posted by Phyl Herman | Aug 05, 2009 at 6:50 pmI had a shiztu who woke me at night when my blood sugar would drop. He did that at least two or three times a year for five years. Then I lost him. I am now alone and I have a cat. My cat knows when my blood sugar begins to get low and he licks my forehead or takes his paw and taps my cheek until I wake up.
Posted by Shirley | Aug 05, 2009 at 10:52 pmI am a firm believer in the ability of animals to alert to medical conditions, including Diabetes. As a child, I was spending the night with a friend. Their family dog alerted the parents to an extreme hypoglycemic reaction. The dog likely saved my life that night. My husband tells me that my cat, who has since passed away, would bat at his nose to wake him in the night when I was having a hypoglycemic reaction. Having hypoglycemic unawareness, I am very interested in the development of this ability in animals.
Posted by Lora | Aug 06, 2009 at 12:48 amI HAVE A DOG THAT WILL LET ME KNOW IF MY SUGAR IS TO HIGHT OR TO LOW. ONE NIGHT MT SUGAR WAS UP TO 365 AND MY DOG WOULD WAKE ME UP BUT I WOULD FALL BACK TO SLEEP. SO HE JUMP UP ON THE BED AND WOKE UP MY HUSBOND. HE WOKE ME. MY DOG ALSO KNOWS IF I AM NOT FEELING GOOD HE WILL STAY BY MY SIDE.
Posted by kathy payne | Aug 06, 2009 at 6:57 amI would prefer some sort of device similar to the insulin pump or included in the pump to alert you of low blood sugar.
Posted by Ottilie | Aug 06, 2009 at 3:17 pmI had a German Shepherd mix that witnessed me have a seizure due to low blood sugars and awoke my parents. After that time, she was always very sensitive to my blood sugars, especially when I was sleeping and would wake me or pester me until I realized what she was after. My husband and I estimated that she saved me at least 8 times from severe lows in the middle of the night during her 17-years of life. I have not had a dog sense with such accuity for my blood sugars. Maybe one day.
Posted by Debra | Aug 07, 2009 at 9:58 amThere are several organizations that train dogs in the United States to be diabetes alert dogs. If you google this topic, you will find several options for officially training a dog to do this. Also there is an organization in Australia that does this also. And it does work. Many parents who have children with type 1 diabetes wish to have these dogs. Children with type 1 can have both rapid rises in their blood glucose level and sudden severe drops also; based on activity levels, hormones, stress, incorrectly calculating carb. counts, giving insulin for food that the child does not eat, illness, etc. The variables that can affect blood sugar are endless and scary. My daughter was diagnosed at age 2 with type 1 diabetes, and she could not always communicate to us that she felt hypoglycemic. It would have been fabulous to have a dog who could let us know when she wasn’t able. We even get up through the night to check her blood glucose levels. Imagine if she slept with a dog who would jump up and let us know that she was low while she was sleeping. Yes, Mitchell, there are that many people out there who need these dogs to SAVE THEIR LIVES from these serious life threatening seizure inducing low blood glucose levels. Trust me, we live with this every day.
Posted by Jennifer | Aug 08, 2009 at 12:06 amI would love to have a service dog for this purpose. I am guesing that those that think we should automatically feel and know when we go high or low don’t have diabetes. At least my experience with type 1 I don’t always know in time when I am going low and it can hit fast where confusion can set in making it difficult to know what to do. With a service dog I might be cued in to check even before I have noticeable symptoms.
I also would feel much better knowing that my child had a dog that can send warning signals because kids don’t always understand their symptoms and even if they do they sometimes think it can wait a minute.
All I need to know is where can I get one?
Posted by Tracy | Aug 19, 2009 at 6:16 pmI have developed low blood sugar unawareness, especially during the afternoon when I am distracted by work. I would love to have a dog that would bugged me when my sugar was at 45 or 50 or so. It would keep me from getting to the very incoherent stage.
I would be very interested in the details about the alert dogs. How are they trained? Is there a breed that is more acute than others?
This is a great idea. I was on a pump and it didn’t work any better than syringes. I mean pumps are amazing but doesn’t alert ahead.
Any help would be appreciated.
Are there clinical trials to measure the effects of dogs?
Posted by jaime jameson | Aug 29, 2009 at 5:43 pmTHanks for your article and the posts afterwards.