Hypo alert dog
Encyclopedia
A hypo alert dog is a type of assistance dog
Assistance dog
An assistance dog is a dog trained to aid or assist a person with a disability. Many are trained by a specific organization, while others are trained by their handler .-Classification:...

 trained to provide alerts to their diabetic owners when their blood sugar levels start to become hypoglycemic and sometimes hyperglycemic also.

Description

Hypo alert dogs are trained to alert diabetic owners in advance of low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar events before they become dangerous, so their owners can take steps to return their blood sugar to normal, such as using glucose
Glucose
Glucose is a simple sugar and an important carbohydrate in biology. Cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate...

 sweets or taking insulin.

The dogs are trained to accompany their owners wherever they travel in the manner as guide dog
Guide dog
Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles.Although the dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are partially color blind and are not capable of interpreting street signs...

s and assistance dog
Assistance dog
An assistance dog is a dog trained to aid or assist a person with a disability. Many are trained by a specific organization, while others are trained by their handler .-Classification:...

s. In the UK the scheme is overseen by Cancer & Bio Detection Dogs. In 2009 a dog named Tinker from Durham City, now deceased, became the first British assistance dog to be officially registered for a type 2 diabetic owner. He was able to give his owner Paul Jackson up to half an hour warning before an attack occurred.

The training process is done much like that of a termite detection dog. The dog is rewarded for finding a high blood sugar (it is supposed to smell like tutty fruity gum) or the low blood sugar that is supposed to smell like rusty water or nail polish remover.

The dogs will alert on other diabetics beyond their handler.

External links

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