If you live with diabetes and are battling a condition known as low, it means you cannot detect your hypoglycemia until you are in a dangerous place.
Continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and hybrid closed-loop insulin pump systems can help alleviate some of the risks for people living with diabetes, but keeping a diabetes alert dog can be the safest bet to protect you from dangerous lowness, potential seizures, and even fatal consequences.
But how do you get a diabetes alert dog? Are they covered by health insurance? Are they expensive and suitable for everyone?
In this article, we’ll give you an overview of everything you need to know about getting your own diabetes warning dog.
What is a Diabetes Alert Dog?
Diabetic vigilant dogs (also known as diabetic dogs or fathers) are service or support dogs specially trained to detect high and hypoglycemia in diabetic patients.
They can detect high and hypoglycemia before reaching dangerous levels (which is particularly useful in preventing dangerously low blood glucose levels and seizures).
Diabetes-Warning Dogs can detect chemical changes in their owner’s body when blood sugar levels are rising or falling rapidly. The scent of these chemical changes is irrelevant to humans.
Under the American Disabled Persons Act, if diabetes is fully trained and certified, they can accompany their owners almost anywhere, just like any other service animal.
How do dogs warn and bring help to owners?
Diabetes alert dogs are specially trained to give specific signals to owners if the owner is dangerously high or low. Some signals include:
- Repeatedly pounding the owner with the nose
- Swing on the owner’s lap
- Dive into the owner’s lap
- bare voices and whining
- Warn other families by running to bring help
- Bring the necessary objects, such as a diabetic supply bag
- Get a phone for the owner
- Some dogs may even be trained to dial 911 on special devices to get help
Is diabetes enabled for dogs?
The sense of smell in a dog is up to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human smell, making it a great service animal suitable for all types of health needs.
Dogs have more than 225 million scent receptors in their noses (humans only have five million). 1/8 of the brain is dedicated solely to the olfactory bulb, so dogs are very accurate when they smell.
With the proper positive intensive training that these dogs receive to detect the “correct” scent of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, most diabetes alert dogs have a 95% success rate that deciphers whether their owner is experiencing an episode of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia before it becomes dangerous.
Having all kinds of animals has been proven to help alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. This is also great if you live with chronic diseases, including diabetes.
Who is eligible for Diabetes Alert Dog?
Diabetes vigilant dogs help people with particularly low motivation. This affects almost 40% of people with type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes alert dogs are also useful for people who are sensitive to insulin and extremely hypoglycemia.
Other qualities that may make sense to get diabetes include:
- Individuals with frequent blood sugar levels
- Individuals suffering from hypoglycemia-induced attacks
- Individuals who frequently experience hypoglycemia at night
- Diabetic individuals living alone
- Individuals with comorbidities or multiple diagnoses
If you are struggling with frequent high and low blood sugar levels, you may need a diabetes alert dog.
However, many endocrinologists recommend that patients try a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with alerts and alarms first before recommending a diabetic alert dog.
If you are applying for a diabetes warning dog through a private agency, they may have their own eligibility criteria that you have to meet in order to receive it.
However, suffering from a diagnosis of diabetes and low hopes is usually enough to qualify.
However, some agents prefer that the owner is at least 12 years old, allowing the dog to be properly cared for as their own.
Diabetes-controlled dogs are not just pets
You may want a diabetic alert dog because you have diabetes and love dogs. In this case, diabetes alert dogs are more than family pets, so it’s best to get a regular pet.
They work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, 365 days a year to keep their owners safe from hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. It also requires a lot of work from the owner.
Those considering taking diabetes alert dogs must be aware of the time, energy and money they need.
If you are suffering from blood sugar levels and have spoken with your doctor about keeping a diabetic alert dog, it can be helpful to start the process of getting it as soon as possible, as the wait time before receiving your dog can be anywhere from months to years.
Is diabetes expensive for dogs?
Unfortunately, in the US there are very few health insurance covering the costs of diabetes alert dogs, and these dogs can be very expensive.
State Medicaid plans and Medicare cannot cover service animals ranging from $8,000 to $25,000 (continuous maintenance costs for new dogs including food, veterinary diagnosis, licensing and registration, grooming, toys, and more).
Service animals are trained from a young age, so maintenance and ongoing costs can last for more than 10 years.
More health insurance plans than ever have denied the claims of service animals due to the increased popularity and effectiveness of the continuous glucose monitoring system, and their relative affordability compared to service dogs.
However, some nonprofit organizations in the United States offer service animals free of charge if they are eligible (and pay for training).
Many organizations offer payment plans, so you don’t need to pay the pre-price upfront.
Most organizations also offer lifetime dog warranty. If you stop detection of high and low blood sugar, they will combine you with a new dog or refund you.
It is estimated that up to 70% of people in the US who need service dogs cannot afford them.
If you are considering having a diabetes alert dog, talk to your family. Make a budget and plan and see if it’s the right financial move for you and your family.
How to get a Diabetes Alert Dog
After you have budgeted and planned, and talking to your doctor or family about having a diabetic warning dog, the following questions are: Where can I get it?
Almost all service dog agents have an online presence (there are both for-profit and non-profit agencies, which primarily determines costs).
Doing a little online survey will help you gain a sense of the teaching methods and processes to pair an applicant with an alert dog.
You’ll want to get a dog that suits your lifestyle and taste. Our agents work hard to find the perfect fit for you. Your activity level, age, life goals, and lifestyle all determine not only what you get, but the gender, age and personality that they match you.
You can also contact Assistant Dogs International for information about agencies that breed service dogs in your state.
Additionally, endocrinologists, local diabetes nonprofits, or even local diabetes support groups may also recommend potential diabetes warning dog agencies near you.
Diabetes alert dog success
People who are aware of diabetes, and those who are vigilant about their dogs report a decrease in depression and anxiety regarding diabetes management, and an increase in confidence in control.
If people have service animals like diabetes alert dogs, they can be dangerously low, experience seizures, dangerously high, and even reduce the number of times they fall into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Their emergency room visits and hospitalization rates may drop, resulting in fewer complications of diabetes. Another added benefit is that they always have a companion on their side.
However, diabetic vigilant dogs can be expensive and time-consuming, and losing your beloved pet at the end of your life can be devastating to your owner.
Furthermore, having a diabetes alert dog does not rule out the need to test your blood sugar level regularly or save money on the supply of diabetes.
FAQ
How long does it take to get a diabetic alert dog?
Due to long hours, high demand, limited supply and special training length, it can take six months to several years to have a diabetes alert dog.
If you are interested, ask your doctor immediately immediately, as the minimum wait is usually six months, and start the application process immediately.
Which breeds can become a dog warning against diabetes?
There are no limits to the breeds that can be trained to be a diabetic warning dog, but some breeds are especially equipped for their kind and gentle nature, extreme intelligence, loyalty and ability to receive training.
The most popular dogs that will become diabetes alert dogs are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, Big Poodles, and Big Mixed Dogs (Hunting and Sports Breeds).
Can children be vigilant about diabetes?
yes! It is absolutely possible to have your child take an alert dog for diabetes, especially if you are suffering from frequent and dangerous hypoglycemia or experiencing low hopes.
But the ultimate decision comes down to the agency you choose to work with (some people require that the recipient be at least 12 years old). This is to ensure that owners are able to take good care of their dogs as all dogs need love, attention, food, water, shelter, exercise and regular maintenance costs for the rest of their lives.
Can I train my own dog?
According to ADA regulations, all disabled people have the right to train their dogs themselves and do not need to use a professional service dog training program.
However, if you are struggling with what you don’t want and need a diabetic warning dog, we do not recommend trying to train your dog yourself.
Even if they are professionally trained, not all dogs will pass the final exam, and full training of a diabetic dog requires more than a year of intensive training.
Also, dogs are not legally considered service animals until fully trained, so they cannot be brought anywhere during training.
It’s best to go with a professionally trained diabetes alert dog. This is the safest option that will ensure you have the best care.
Do dogs must be certified as service animals?
no. The entities in question may not require documentation such as evidence that the animal is certified, trained or licensed as a service animal as a condition of entry.
However, it is legal to require that you provide evidence of that you For example, you will need a service animal to fly with your dog.
Are there any places where I can’t bring my diabetes alert dog?
Under the American Disabled Persons Act, diabetic dogs (fathers) are recognized as official service animals and are permitted to accompany their owners wherever they go.
This includes restaurants, airports, planes, school and workplace settings, hair salons, stores, museums, hotels and even hospitals. Service animals can go to places where “public accommodation” is located.
The only exception is when the workplace is considered too dangerous for service animals (e.g., restaurant kitchens or construction sites), or when the dog poses a health risk (e.g., ultra-clean pharmaceutical production facilities).
If someone is struggling to bring your diabetes warning dog somewhere, they may be in violation of the protections provided by the Federal Disability Act and are subject to legal liability.
Conclusion
Taking a Diabetes Alert Dog is a great way to better manage your blood sugar levels, especially if you are unwanted, living alone, fighting diabetic attacks from hypoglycemia, or rivaling multiple chronic diseases.
First, we will work with our doctor to determine whether using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) system is more appropriate than getting a service animal, as it can be expensive, is not covered by most health insurance and requires a lot of time, energy, money and maintenance costs for a lifetime.
However, diabetes alert dogs can be accurate at detecting hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia levels up to 95% of the time.
They can help prevent dangerous hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, unnecessary hospitalizations, and can save lives (and have them!).
Furthermore, having a constant companion can reduce stress, anxiety and depression, which are more common in diabetic patients.
Talk to your family or healthcare provider to determine whether taking diabetes alert dogs is the right thing for you, your lifestyle, your budget, and your diabetes manager.
