A little bit about Paws for Diabetics

While we are waiting for our puppy I thought I’d use the opportunity to tell you a little bit about Paws for Diabetics (or PFD as it is also called) and hypo-alert dogs. The following is taken off the PFD website (pfd.org.au).

“These dogs are the latest tool in Diabetes management, as they give their owners warning well in advance of an impending hypoglycaemic episode, allowing for prompt treatment to avert the episode from happening. A hypoglycaemic attack left untreated can lead to coma and even death, so these dogs are real life-savers.

We believe in general Diabetic Alert dogs will increase the independence, safety and mobility of the Diabetic person, providing them with a higher confidence to go out in the general public on their own without the need to rely on family or friends to accompany them, putting an end to the isolation often faced when one is afraid to go out for fear of having a Hypoglycaemic episode.”

Hypo-alert dogs warn of attacks in differing ways, depending on each dog. However, they will all do something that is out of the ordinary for them.

Having a hypo-alert dog will help both me and James. James will have a dog that will help him to not experience hypos which will hopefully lead to better control and less complications later in life. For me, the dog will provide peace of mind when James is asleep and I am at uni (James does night shifts and therefore sleeps during the day). While James is asleep it is impossible for him to pick up his hypos, but a dog will be able to wake him before they get bad enough that he needs my intervention.

If you are interested in supporting the work of PFD and helping other people with diabetes be able to have a hypo-alert dog, please become a member of PFD. It only costs $10 a year for singles, and $15 for families.

So…

If you gave up one packet of cigarettes you could afford membership for a year

For the non-smokers (and caffeine addicted people out there – like me)

Giving up four 600ml bottles of coke would pay for membership for one year

or

Giving up three MacDonald’s meals would give you a family membership as would giving up a ticket for one to the movies

Please at least think about it.

(Drawing by Louise Hubbard www.loudcreations.com. Really bad photo of great drawing taken by me! Really bad photo of great drawing enhanced to this level by Daniel Smith)