Dog trained to detect change in blood sugar

Did anyone see this on BBC breakfast this morning? The dog is a family pet trained to detect signs in a young girl who looked about 6 or 7. No doubt a great development and help. Could you get over reliant on the dog though and conversely as a parent would you feel totally happy ? i think as long as the child is properly taught itself what it all means.

Says a lot about the parents if they need a dog to tell when their kid is hypo rather than just looking for signals and doing blood test to remove doubt.

I tend to agree with you JWo. The mother complained that her daughter either needed an injection or more food....implying that she WAS relying on the dog. Ok i dont know all the details and as i said it is wonderful that a dog can do this but only as an added safeguard to the knowledge of the diabetic themself and family members. If a diabetic definitely has hypo awareness problems then a dog would be great.

http://medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk/

A charity which I wholeheartedly support; I am home-alone with my diabetes and today, manage on my own.
However, one day I may not be so fortunate, and this could be the support I would welcome.

I think these dogs are a great resource for people who cant detect hypo symptoms........

Its likely a very expensive one though and so having one should be reserved for those individuals who will be alone and who for some reason [reasons which I am unaware of personally] cant detect the hypo warning signs.....

Yes i totally agree. For someone on their own who cant detect signs or is very frail or disabled. And i wonder if a blind person with diabetes could have a dog trained for both? Presumably in the case above it was proved thst the little girl couldnt detect the signs. But i thought that was something that happened after many years of diabetes? Couldnt she just be unstable or not experienced enough.

Your thoughts are similar to mine Diane.......

However I would imagine having the opportunity to use one of these dogs is much similar to getting a pump, some people need to beg their consultants, show them months of blood sugar readings, record a food diary, attend education courses, have complications, before even being considered........

others get given one without even a discussion and are not even shown how to use it.....

So maybe not exactly the same, but it may be a postcode lottery for the dog too......

There may also be other circumstances in place also........what detail did the news program go in to......?

Of course there may be other circumstances yes. It was a brief feature admittedly and couldnt go into detail and yes it highlighted these dogs which is a good thing. Dog was a pet but not clear if already a pet that was trained or got specifically.It wasnt clear if the girl DID have no warning of signs or whether dog just an added help. The mother said something along lines of " sometimes she needs an injection, sometimes more food". May be fault of programme. I just do not like misrepresentation of the facts.!
Aaargh!

Will go and lie down in darkened room now.
:-(

A couple of stories in the news recently that are similar:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8471027/Trained-canine-ready-to-be-diabetics-best-friend

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/mar/16/experience-my-cat-saved-my-life