[BriOnH]

A while ago, I think it was Dew, posted about dogs that could sense when their human friends are going low and warn them.

About a month or so ago I was helping my good friend promote Bearskin Meadow Diabetic Camp of which he now runs. We were promoting it at the UC Davis Hospital at an event where a bunch of diabetic camps go to pitch to parents and kids who want to go to camp. At the event I saw a girl there with a dog that senses her lows for her.

Pondering how in the world the dog does this, but not so curious as to actually go talk to her about it, she needed to do a set change and could not do it herself.

Far be it for me to judge, and I shouldn't be casting stones, but come on. Where is the line drawn for you take to responsibility for your diabetes? The impression I got from this lady was that she was incapable of managing her diabetes.

How do you feel about that scenerio?

[JediSkipdogg]

Firstly, it was me that posted about the dogs. Unless Dew posted in the past before me.

Now, I guess my question is about how old was the girl? That's where I would wonder about drawing the line. I didn't give myself my own shots till I was about 13 or so. However, before and after that, I had numerous dangerous lows where a dog would have been great. Since pumping, I have no need for one as I regained my detection on the dangerous ones. So I really wouldn't say incapable for her yet.

[DeusXM]

It depends on age, but to be honest I take the view that you and only you should be personally responsible for your diabetes. Ideally you should be in a position that means you never require assistance, so you should be able to:

Test your own BGs
Administer your own injections
Collect your own prescriptions
Check for ketones
Be able to interpret your BG results and take appropriate action

And if you're on a pump you should be able to do whatever else it is you need to be able to do with a pump - not being on one myself I couldn't say for definite what that all involves. But basically by the time you're in your teens you really should have all the aspects of your treatment plan covered.

[2high]

I believe that, by the teen years certainly, you should be able to manage your own D, but I also believe the Paws for Diabetics program is a good one.

Sometimes a midnight hypo wont wake you.. then what?? What if your liver doesn't kick in?? Trouble.

I was staying with my gran the other day, and I **may** have let her dog sleep with me (hehe.. naughty!!). I woke at 12.20 am to Bella nudging me with her nose, pawing at my face and crying, then even biting my ear... I pushed her away at first, but she kept bugging me... I realised I was low, and tested at 1.9 // 34. So.. what if Bella hadn't woken me??

P4D can be a great program, I think it just has to be tweaked to make sure that the D's dont rely too much on their dogs to do everything for them.

[BriOnH]

She was well within her twenties. I think she is a bit of an attention wh@%e too. She had 2 people helping her put in her new site. With a good amount of people surrounding her. Unfortunatly she was right next door to our booth so I was part of that crowd. Sorry for the mix up on who posted it.

Good to see you on Deus. You been busy lately brother? I agree with the responsibilities. As I watched this event occur it made me very angry, as the diabetics there were all children to early teens. I didn't say anything, or send out an angry vibe, but I do regret not talking to her to get the full story.

[2high]

In her 20s and unable to change her own pump set?!?!?!? Aw heck, thats just ridiculous!! I know of little kids who do their own changes!!

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by 2high

P4D can be a great program, I think it just has to be tweaked to make sure that the D's dont rely too much on their dogs to do everything for them.

The requirements to get a dog are generally very hard. It's not as easy as picking up the phone and getting one. Although, they do have home kits that teach you how to attempt to train your own dog. I know someone that has a diabetic alert dog and he is in his 50s and he really needed one. No matter what his BG is, he has no changes in mood or feeling. So he had to get a dog for that reason and he said it took him about a year on a list to be considered for one and now the lists are aobut 2-3 years waiting.

[BriOnH]

Originally Posted by 2high

In her 20s and unable to change her own pump set?!?!?!? Aw heck, thats just ridiculous!! I know of little kids who do their own changes!!

And that's just what I saw. i got the feeling she didn't want to have anything to do with managing diabetes for herself.

I am not sure how I feel about the dog thing. In the end it seems like an awful big responsibilty [not to mention a PITA] to bring a dog everywhere with you just to have it sense lows. On top of that, having to explain why you have the dog to everyone would be awful and get old really fast imo too.

[BriOnH]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

The requirements to get a dog are generally very hard. It's not as easy as picking up the phone and getting one. Although, they do have home kits that teach you how to attempt to train your own dog. I know someone that has a diabetic alert dog and he is in his 50s and he really needed one. No matter what his BG is, he has no changes in mood or feeling. So he had to get a dog for that reason and he said it took him about a year on a list to be considered for one and now the lists are aobut 2-3 years waiting.

I wouldn't mind training one of my dogs to do that actually. But I wouldn't ever use the dog as a crutch like this girl seemed to. It would just be a bonus of having pets.

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by BriOnH

On top of that, having to explain why you have the dog to everyone would be awful and get old really fast imo too.

And that would have to be done all the time. Either the dog has to be marked, or you have to say it's a medical assistance dog. You don't have to identify what for, but you do have to let people know when you go into places that dogs aren't allowed.

[xMenace]

Diabetes doesn't discriminate. Mentally challenged people get it too. I know one such case, a 50+ yea old lady. Just the thought of not being able to eat something forces her into ravenous pig-out behavior. She has zero understanding of her condition. She needs contant care. It's basically a death sentence for her.

[Diana]

She sounds like a major attention seeker to me. I appreciate that some people have difficulty sensing lows and may need extra help, but needing to change a pump and not being able to do it herself, on top of it just happening to occur while she is at a diabetes event? I dont know, but if it was me, and I was unable to change my pump site independantly I would make bloody sure that I was at home when it needed changing. And if my site just happened to fail while I was out and about I would just quietly do a normal injection or whatever needed doing, rather than making a song and dance about it. Some people seem to get major kicks out of playing the sick role to the max, at the detriment of those with the same condition who just want to get on with their life and prove that they are just as capable as the next person.

ETA: In the case of people like the lady that xMenance mentions, I understand it can be a lot more complicated. I care for with a lady with an intellectual disability and borderline personality disorder, who gets an ambulance to hospital for no good reason about once a week on average. She doesnt have anything medically wrong with her - I cant imagine what life would be like for her if she had something like diabetes.

[babs2000]

About a month ago my dog Lexy woke me up in the middle of the night. I thought she wanted out but when I got up I new I was having a low. Once I got myself straighted up she wouldn't go out. I'm wondering if she knew I was low. Beth

[SueM]

Originally Posted by BriOnH

I wouldn't mind training one of my dogs to do that actually. But I wouldn't ever use the dog as a crutch like this girl seemed to. It would just be a bonus of having pets.

I have had 3 dogs and none of them have been trained to detect lows but all of them have or do detect lows.
I think it depends on what sort of a bond you have with your dog.
Saying that have I never ever relied on any of my dogs to tell me when I am low as have always been fully aware of lows.

The Labrador I have now actually goes and brings me the cookie/biscuit container when I am low.( He does get to share )
IMHO being reilent on an animal to detect lows is fool hardy. What happens when the dog dies?
R.E, the 20 yr old prat who couldn't/wouldn't change her site,
My personal opinion is that if she can't/wont do it then the prevalige of a pump should be withdrawn untill she is capable of doing the changes for herself. Bet she will learn pretty dam quick

[andypoo]

I was actually going to tell Rob,who posted on another post about getting a first alert to maybe get a dog or cat mainly for company,but they can be your "best friend",too. I hate to see someone living alone and not getting much company.