What Are Diabetic Service Dogs?
If you live with diabetes, the consequences of blood sugar fluctuations can be a constant fear.
Most people with diabetes use continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to track their blood sugar levels in order to prevent the side effects associated with hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
But there’s an arguably better option to do so – diabetic service dogs.
These dogs are trained to detect blood sugar fluctuations, alert their owners, and even take care of them in case of emergencies.
Owning a pet also brings additional benefits for people with diabetes, including improved mental health and quality of life.
Let’s get started.
What Are Diabetic Service Dogs?
Diabetic service dogs are trained to detect changes in blood sugar levels for individuals with type 1 diabetes and insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes.
Diabetic Alert Dogs vs Medical Response Dogs
There are two types of diabetic service dogs – diabetic alert dogs and medical response dogs.
Alert dogs are trained to recognize high and low levels of blood sugar and alert you of these changes before symptoms take place. The way in which the diabetic alert dog alarms the owner depends on how it was trained. Some examples include staring, touching the owner with its nose, and holding a particular toy.
Medical response dogs can notice blood sugar changes and are trained to respond when dangerous symptoms of low blood sugar arise. This may entail alerting family members, bringing supplies such as food and medication, and dialing emergency numbers using a special device.
How Are Diabetic Service Dogs Trained?
Prior to alert and behavior training, dogs first undergo formal training on basic behaviors and socialization.
Then, they are trained specifically to detect changes in blood sugar.
It is believed that when blood sugar levels change, chemical changes in breath and saliva take place. Service dogs are trained to detect these changes in a variety of ways. A common training method is to expose the dog to different samples of the owner’s saliva or breath, including samples of episodes of high and low blood sugar.
They are then rewarded when they show signs that they can detect the specific compounds associated with high blood sugar levels and low blood sugar levels, usually through smell.
The training process also involves teaching the dog how to alert the owner when their blood sugar reaches dangerous levels. Additionally, they are trained to take care of the owner if symptoms of severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia take place and alert people such as family members if needed.
Are Diabetic Service Dogs Reliable?
According to a study, diabetic alert dogs displayed a median sensitivity of 70% to hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes.
This level of accuracy can vary depending on the quality of initial and ongoing training, as well as dog characteristics such as willingness to try new behavior.
It’s worth noting that the study above assessed the behavior of alert dogs trained by a specific charity, so results may vary depending on the organization you choose to train your dog.
The best way to ensure reliability is to choose among the training organizations that are legitimate and accredited. We’ll discuss this in more detail later.
For now, let’s go over the benefits of service dogs for people with diabetes.
How Can Diabetic Service Dogs Help Their Owners?
Diabetic service dogs can help people with diabetes cope with physical symptoms, provide emotional support, and improve their quality of life. Let’s discuss these benefits in detail.
Physical Benefits
The most significant way diabetic service dogs help their owners is by decreasing the risk of serious complications such as passing out and seizures. And if these consequences do arise, response dogs can ensure you’re taken care of.
Moreover, research shows that dog ownership by itself is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, which is sometimes experienced alongside diabetes.
Psychosocial Outcomes
When it comes to psychosocial outcomes, a study performed by the American Diabetes Association showed that diabetic service dog owners experienced the following benefits:
- Decreased concerns about blood sugar control
- Better quality of life
- Improved ability to participate in physical activities
Emotional Support
Additionally, studies also show that interacting with a pet increases levels of oxytocin, a hormone associated with positive emotions. This, in turn, triggers positive changes in the owner’s mental health, including decreased depression, anxiety, and stress.
Interestingly, some diabetic service dog training programs teach dogs specific emotional support and wellness skills.
This is relevant for those with diabetes since they tend to experience mental health problems such as depression more often than those without diabetes.
Exercise and Weight Loss
There are also benefits involved in the daily need to walk a dog. The most important one is that it promotes weight loss. This additional support in weight management is valuable for people with diabetes that are interested in shedding extra pounds and experiencing the benefits of doing so.
How to Get a Diabetic Service Dog
If you’re interested in a diabetic service dog, you can contact organizations such as Assistance Dogs International, which can help you find legitimate dog training programs in your area.
These programs often, but not always, offer support in acquiring the dog and training it.
If you choose such an organization that doesn’t offer acquisition services, or if you already own a dog, it’s important to take into consideration that not all kinds of dogs are suitable for training.
That’s because there are requirements in terms of smelling ability, temperament, friendliness, intelligence, and other traits.
Moreover, breeds such as poodles, labrador retrievers, and golden retrievers tend to perform better.
How Much Does a Diabetic Service Dog Cost?
There exact cost of a diabetic service dog highly depends on which training program you choose, but it ranges from $8,000 to $20,000.
Some insurance companies may cover these initial expenses, but this reduced cost often comes with a requirement: pet health insurance.
Of course, this excludes the monthly costs of maintaining the dog, which can be $150 and above, as well as ongoing training costs.
Challenges With Diabetic Service Dogs
If you choose to acquire a dog, it’s crucial to note that it is a lifelong commitment that includes many responsibilities. These include, but are not limited to:
- Covering initial expenses, as well as those related to veterinary checkups, diseases, and medications
- Grooming and bathing
- Taking care of their nutrition
- Training to prevent behavior such as scratching and chewing objects, as well as potty training
- Giving them regular exercise
Moreover, service dogs need to undergo regular testing in order to ensure their ability to detect blood sugar fluctuations is still accurate. Additional training might be needed if their performance is not satisfactory.
Conclusion
Diabetic service dogs can help people with diabetes by detecting blood sugar level fluctuations and offering emotional and physical benefits. That being said, it’s important to take into consideration the costs and responsibilities associated with service dogs.
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