Diabetes continues to be one of the greatest health challenges of the modern era. According to a 2014 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29.1 million Americans have the disease. Of that number, 21 million have an official diagnosis, while the remaining 8.1 million do not. These are disturbing numbers, but there continues to be progress in the fight to help diabetes patients live as normal a life as possible.

When a person’s blood sugar drops, they typically display symptoms such as nausea, shaking, or sweating. This is an important warning because seizures often follow if the problem is not rectified. A person can even become comatose.

Fortunately, our canine friends and their renowned sense of smell are coming to the rescue. While service dogs have long provided assistance for those who are visually impaired, these animals are now also assisting diabetics by warning them when this condition (known as hypoglycemia) sets in.

We all have a natural odor emitted by our bodies, but it changes when a person experiences hypoglycemia. This bodily change causes the odor to become fruity. While humans cannot readily detect it, a trained service dog can. The sooner a person’s blood sugar levels stabilize, the less chance there is of dangerous complications.

Service dog training begins at birth so that they become highly familiar with the odor in question. When the dog detects the smell, it receives a treat. This causes them to instinctively seek it out.

When the animal works with a human, it reacts to the smell in several ways. If the person is sleeping, the dog will try to wake them up. Appropriate training also allows the dog to fetch a juice box and/or a phone, hit an alert button, or notify other people in the home.

A dog’s sense of smell is about 10,000 times superior to humans. Any human health condition that is noticeable to a dog can now receive early detection, thanks to man’s best friend. While not a replacement for regular blood sugar checks, service dogs can be an invaluable aid. This is particularly so if the client is a young child unable to articulate the problem to parents or family members. As the numbers of people with diabetes continues to climb, the importance of service dogs in the fight against this terrible disease will continue to rise.

A first responder is best able to do their job if they know the particulars of a person’s health. Certain situations can leave an individual unconscious or unable to speak, which makes an Emergency ID bracelet or necklace essential. Affordable and easy to use, each Emergency ID product comes with custom engraving, allowing the user to alert responders that they have diabetes. Emergency ID also offers a free Online Datafile, a convenient way to store all of your health information in one spot for quick access. We back all of our products with a 30-day money back option, a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and no hidden fees. Visit our product page now to see the styles available and for information on how to order.