The Adventures of (the) Hypo Dog(s): When it rains...

Hi again,
Mum sometimes says "when it rains, your poor" or something like that. I don't really understand it because it's a silly human saying, but I think it applys in this situation - where I didn't blog for ages and have now done four posts in one day!

Ages and ages ago I told you that Carbi and I graduated from brown class to green class at training. Here is a picture of me with my certificate and ribbon.

I also wanted to tell you about us being famous again! Carbi and Dad are in the March-June 2007 edition of Paws and Claws. This is the article...

Eight years ago when James Yarker was 14 years old, he was diagnosed with having Type 1 insulin dependent diabetes. Over the years he has experienced countless hypoglycaemic episodes (or hypos), most of which occur when he is asleep and require medical intervention. Experiencing hypos during the night presents a serious risk because he has no way of sensing an impending hypo; there is a chance of falling into a coma. James says this has always been a major concern for him and his family.

“A few years ago when I was driving my car I experienced a hypo without any warning signals,” he said. “I lost consciousness at the wheel, crossed over to the wrong side of the highway and crashed into an oncoming car. “ James explains. “I decided then that there had to be a better way of detecting and treating hypos that would keep me and those around me safe.” This is where seven month-old chinese crested powder-puff Carbi arrived.

He is a dog in training provided by Paws for Diabetics Inc. for diabetes hypo alert. Paws for Diabetics Inc. is a charitable, nonprofit organisation of dedicated volunteers involved in the training and placement of diabetic alert dogs. These dogs are the latest tool in diabetes management, giving their owners warning well in advance of an impending hypoglycaemic episode which allows for prompt treatment and prevention. A hypoglycaemic attack left untreated can lead to coma and even death, so these dogs are real life-savers! Diabetes hypo alert dogs are especially useful for people living alone, or parents who worry about their children having a hypo, especially at night. These dogs are trained to wake the diabetic before they become unconscious whilst asleep. If the diabetic person will not wake, they are trained to alert someone else in the house.

“I also suffer from other medical conditions that can make it hard to control my blood sugar levels, so Carbi is invaluable,” James said. Carbi comes from a bloodline of naturally alerting dogs, beginning when he was just 8 weeks old and continually improving by alerting James by biting his fingers and growling, and not leaving James’ side until James has had eats something to help raise his blood sugar.

Paws for Diabetics Inc. places dogs with recipients who meet the criteria. The recipients are then given extensive training on handling and caring for an assistance dog. Carbi has the same access rights as a guide dog, receiving similar training as guide dogs and also rely on donations to fund this training. Currently Carbi attends work with James at UnitingCare Springwood. “As work can sometimes get very hectic and I can lose track of time, having Carbi at work allows me to relax as I know that he will let me know before I experience I hypo,” James explains. Further information can be obtained by accessing the Paws for Diabetics Inc. website, www.pfd.org.au, or calling (07) 46843414. Donations can be sent to The Treasurer, Paws for Diabetics, 14 Boatwright Ave. Lugarno NSW 2210. Membership costs are $10.00 per annum, or $15.00 per family. Membership forms are available from the website. For more information about the adventures of Carbi and his brother Aramis, please visit : www.hypodogs.com.

AND we are all on the cover of the Diabetes Australia - Victoria membership magazine Diabetes Today. This is the article...

Super pooches saving lives

James Yarker was involved in a near fatal car crash as a result of a hypoglycaemic attack. His wife Liz embarked upon a search to find someone to help James to ensure that this kind of accident would not happen again.

After a lot of research and hours searching on the internet, Liz eventually met Lorraine Roulston at Paws for Diabetics Inc (PFD), a charitable non-profit organisation of volunteers who train dogs to alert their diabetic owner when they are having a ‘hypo’.

In August 2006, Lorraine introduced a Chinese Crested Powderpuff called Carbi (short for carbohydrate) to James, who has had type 1 diabetes since he was 14 years old.
Liz says Carbi is a lifesaver. "He had already saved James from two night time hypos by growling and biting his fingers to wake him up.

“It wasn’t long before we knew when James was having a hypo, because Carbi would sit and glare at James and just growl.”

Lorraine, who also has diabetes, says these ‘hypo’ dogs are the latest tool in management as they give their owners advance warning of an impending hypo.

“All dogs have the potential to be hypo-alert dogs, especially if they are young or closely attached to the person with diabetes. We usually use pure-bred puppies that are toy-sized as they are generally easier to take with you and are quick learners.”

Lorraine’s mission to find out more about hypo-alerting dogs began after her Japanese Chin, Saki, woke her up one night by scratching and whining at her. Lorraine was going into a ‘hypo’. “At first I thought it was a coincidence or that Saki must be psychic, but when my diabetes suddenly because unstable and I started having more frequent ‘hypos’, I began to see the pattern in Saki’s behaviour.”

While there is currently no scientific research to prove the exact reason why dogs can detect a hypo, Lorraine says it has to do with a chemical alteration in the body that results in a change of scent which the dogs can pick up and consequently react to.

Not all breeds of dogs have the temperament required to complete the public access test which enables the dog to become an accredited assistance dog like the seeing eye dogs. An owner may have to train several dogs before finding the right dog for the work that is required.

Lorraine says hypo-alert dogs help to increase the independence, safety and mobility of people with diabetes, and also their carers. For Liz Yarker, having Carbi has meant that she can now leave James at home without fear of him having a hypo. She can rest well knowing that Carbi is there to keep him alert.

You can check out Carbi’s online blog at www.hypodogs.com.

If you would like to know more about training your dog or receiving a puppy to be trained, please contact Paws for Diabetics Inc. by calling (07) 4684 3414 or visit www.pfd.org.au.