A Diabetic Alert Dog for Tiffany
Donation protected
Tiffany’s story:
As summer came to an end in 2015, our lives would forever change. We began to notice drastic behavioral changes in our silly, charismatic six year old little girl, Tiffany. She was urinating A LOT more than usual, excessively drinking water, losing weight and experiencing erratic mood swings. Sunday, September 20th Tiffany went to sleep as she normally does at 8:00PM. Shortly after bedtime, she began to wake up every hour to use the bathroom and get another drink. The next morning we were exhausted, but she was ready to head to school and so we jumped into normal routine. Over the next two nights we would experience the same episodes. I immediately set an appointment with her doctor for the following day.
When we arrived at the doctor’s office at 9:30AM, Tiffany began to protest. “I’m not sick mom!”
I told her “Mommy just wants to make sure you’re okay.” She reluctantly agreed to go inside, still confused. As we waited for the doctor to call us back, I became increasingly anxious. I knew what was coming. The doctor came in and began the interview, and it wasn’t long before we were sampling urine and pricking her finger to test blood sugar. The look on his face when he walked back into the room was frightening. His concern immediately sent us to the hospital lab for more tests, where we remained and awaited admission.
I broke down. One of my biggest fears was coming to life. Diabetes, but in my baby girl. Only weeks prior we lost my father to this disease. I tried my best to regain composure so not to frighten Tiff. I contacted Brian, her father and we headed to the hospital.
Within 20 minutes of testing we received the call, Tiffany was to be admitted immediately. Her diagnosis was a new on-set Type 1 Diabetes, her A1C level was over 10 and her blood sugar at 526. Normal blood sugar range is between 80 and 120.
At this time, Brian and I attempted to explain to her that she would have to stay in the hospital because she has Type 1 Diabetes. She had become familiar since Grampie had diabetes, but what she asked next will forever be imprinted into my mind. “Am I going to die like my Grampie, mom?”
I choked back tears and an indescribable pain in my chest, assuring her she will be okay. Once we were admitted to the Pediatric wing of Allegiance Health, we spent 3 days learning how to count carbs, insulin to carb ratios, ketones, keto sticks, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, glucose monitors, lancets, test strips, insulin pens, quick acting insulin and slow acting insulin, syringes, glucagon and many more were added to our new life. If all of this isn’t hard enough to comprehend, we must now find a way to teach our daughter how to help herself as she grows. Brian and I had to become “comfortable” giving our innocent little girl insulin shots 4 times a day, provide finger pokes every 4 hours and understand the care we would be providing her the rest of her life before we could be discharged.
We were discharged from the Hospital on the 24th, and as excited as we all were to get home, Brian and I were terrified. Reality finally set in, the realization that our daughter’s precious little life is literally IN OUR HANDS. The fact that insulin shots can save her life or kill her if not monitored closely is a frightening reality that we will now face every day.
So, why are we fundraising for a diabetic alert dog?
There is no cure for Type 1 Diabetes, no explanation why Tiffany’s blood sugar spikes high, or randomly drops dangerously low. A diabetic alert dog will alert us when Tiffany’s blood sugar is too high, or when it’s dangerously low in order to prevent diabetic coma that can lead to death. Growing up, I watched my father struggle with Type 1 Diabetes. The constant worry when he went to bed at night, the un-describable panic when I would find him un-responsive, in the fetal position, drenched in sweat convulsing because his sugar was far too low and knowing that time is not on anyone’s side when dealing with a diabetic reaction. After losing my father to the long term complications of Type 1 Diabetes on July 16th, 2015 after a leg amputation at the age of 59, I knew I needed to do anything I could to help prevent long term complications for my daughter. A diabetic dog can alert us anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes before a sugar low or high is detectable on a glucose meter. This will allow us to catch these highs and lows before they become dangerous in hopes to prevent long term health issues associated with them. The most common health issues in diabetics due to the swings in sugar levels are nerve damage that leads to amputation, most common in the feet and legs, neuropathy, heart disease and stroke, kidney disease and eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy.
How does the dog work?
Diabetes can affect not only the individual, but his or her family as well. Constant care, a lack of sleep, and unshakable fear from highs and lows are all realities a diabetes care taker faces. Diabetic individuals themselves might have a hard time living life fully, due to the limitations of coping with diabetes.
With highly-trained Diabetic Assistance Dogs, thousands of individuals and families lives have been touched. With service dogs, those struck by invisible illness can find independence from fear and around-the clock care. Having a service dog as a companion promotes freedom, and keeps you safe from hitting sharp highs and lows. Diabetic Assistance Dogs are trained to do the following:
· High & Low Blood Sugar Alerts
· Early High/Low Detection
· Retrieve Third Party Support
· Public Access Training, Testing, Certifications
· Carry Detection capabilities 20-45 minutes in advance
· Overall decrease A1c’s as much as 1.5 % in the first 4 months of placement for individuals with Hyperglycemic unawareness (for every 1% decrease, there is a 40% decrease in long term side effects in Diabetics)
· Alert highs and low accurately at least 91.7% of the time
· Provide improved quality of life as well as increase ability to participate in physical activities
Why is the dog so expensive?
Training Diabetic Alert Dogs is incredibly labor intensive and time consuming. While it doesn’t look like work when you see a service dog in training out in public, those trainers are constantly socializing, teaching, creating work opportunities, caring for, and exercising dogs. It’s a job that doesn’t end when the clock strikes 5:00! We are working dogs, in various stages of development, around the clock- 24/7, until they are readyto meet you. http://www.headsuphounds.com/
Our new everyday life:
Tiffany has had over 150 finger pokes and 100 shots since her diagnosis on September 22, 2015. She is poked a minimum of 6 times per day and receives insulin shots at breakfast, lunch, dinner and another before bed. Additional shots and blood sugar checks are necessary if she is overly active or acting out of the ordinary.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
With type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks part of its own pancreas. Scientists are not sure why. But the immune system mistakenly sees the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas as foreign, and destroys them. This attack is known as "autoimmune" disease. These cells – called “islets” are the ones that sense glucose in the blood and, in response, produce the necessary amount of insulin to normalize blood sugars. Insulin serves as a “key” to open your cells, to allow the glucose to enter and allow you to use the glucose for energy. Without insulin, there is no “key.” So, the sugar stays and builds up in the blood. The result: the body’s cells starve from the lack of glucose. And, if left untreated, the high level of “blood sugar” can damage eyes, kidneys, nerves, and the heart, and can also lead to coma and death.
We can’t thank you enough for taking to time to read our story, Tiffany’s story. It would mean the world to us if you could share her story. If you can donate, we can’t tell you how much it would mean to Tiffany! If all you can do is share, please do, that still would mean the world to us!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Tiffany, Amanda, Brian and Kalyssa
As summer came to an end in 2015, our lives would forever change. We began to notice drastic behavioral changes in our silly, charismatic six year old little girl, Tiffany. She was urinating A LOT more than usual, excessively drinking water, losing weight and experiencing erratic mood swings. Sunday, September 20th Tiffany went to sleep as she normally does at 8:00PM. Shortly after bedtime, she began to wake up every hour to use the bathroom and get another drink. The next morning we were exhausted, but she was ready to head to school and so we jumped into normal routine. Over the next two nights we would experience the same episodes. I immediately set an appointment with her doctor for the following day.
When we arrived at the doctor’s office at 9:30AM, Tiffany began to protest. “I’m not sick mom!”
I told her “Mommy just wants to make sure you’re okay.” She reluctantly agreed to go inside, still confused. As we waited for the doctor to call us back, I became increasingly anxious. I knew what was coming. The doctor came in and began the interview, and it wasn’t long before we were sampling urine and pricking her finger to test blood sugar. The look on his face when he walked back into the room was frightening. His concern immediately sent us to the hospital lab for more tests, where we remained and awaited admission.
I broke down. One of my biggest fears was coming to life. Diabetes, but in my baby girl. Only weeks prior we lost my father to this disease. I tried my best to regain composure so not to frighten Tiff. I contacted Brian, her father and we headed to the hospital.
Within 20 minutes of testing we received the call, Tiffany was to be admitted immediately. Her diagnosis was a new on-set Type 1 Diabetes, her A1C level was over 10 and her blood sugar at 526. Normal blood sugar range is between 80 and 120.
At this time, Brian and I attempted to explain to her that she would have to stay in the hospital because she has Type 1 Diabetes. She had become familiar since Grampie had diabetes, but what she asked next will forever be imprinted into my mind. “Am I going to die like my Grampie, mom?”
I choked back tears and an indescribable pain in my chest, assuring her she will be okay. Once we were admitted to the Pediatric wing of Allegiance Health, we spent 3 days learning how to count carbs, insulin to carb ratios, ketones, keto sticks, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, glucose monitors, lancets, test strips, insulin pens, quick acting insulin and slow acting insulin, syringes, glucagon and many more were added to our new life. If all of this isn’t hard enough to comprehend, we must now find a way to teach our daughter how to help herself as she grows. Brian and I had to become “comfortable” giving our innocent little girl insulin shots 4 times a day, provide finger pokes every 4 hours and understand the care we would be providing her the rest of her life before we could be discharged.
We were discharged from the Hospital on the 24th, and as excited as we all were to get home, Brian and I were terrified. Reality finally set in, the realization that our daughter’s precious little life is literally IN OUR HANDS. The fact that insulin shots can save her life or kill her if not monitored closely is a frightening reality that we will now face every day.
So, why are we fundraising for a diabetic alert dog?
There is no cure for Type 1 Diabetes, no explanation why Tiffany’s blood sugar spikes high, or randomly drops dangerously low. A diabetic alert dog will alert us when Tiffany’s blood sugar is too high, or when it’s dangerously low in order to prevent diabetic coma that can lead to death. Growing up, I watched my father struggle with Type 1 Diabetes. The constant worry when he went to bed at night, the un-describable panic when I would find him un-responsive, in the fetal position, drenched in sweat convulsing because his sugar was far too low and knowing that time is not on anyone’s side when dealing with a diabetic reaction. After losing my father to the long term complications of Type 1 Diabetes on July 16th, 2015 after a leg amputation at the age of 59, I knew I needed to do anything I could to help prevent long term complications for my daughter. A diabetic dog can alert us anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes before a sugar low or high is detectable on a glucose meter. This will allow us to catch these highs and lows before they become dangerous in hopes to prevent long term health issues associated with them. The most common health issues in diabetics due to the swings in sugar levels are nerve damage that leads to amputation, most common in the feet and legs, neuropathy, heart disease and stroke, kidney disease and eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy.
How does the dog work?
Diabetes can affect not only the individual, but his or her family as well. Constant care, a lack of sleep, and unshakable fear from highs and lows are all realities a diabetes care taker faces. Diabetic individuals themselves might have a hard time living life fully, due to the limitations of coping with diabetes.
With highly-trained Diabetic Assistance Dogs, thousands of individuals and families lives have been touched. With service dogs, those struck by invisible illness can find independence from fear and around-the clock care. Having a service dog as a companion promotes freedom, and keeps you safe from hitting sharp highs and lows. Diabetic Assistance Dogs are trained to do the following:
· High & Low Blood Sugar Alerts
· Early High/Low Detection
· Retrieve Third Party Support
· Public Access Training, Testing, Certifications
· Carry Detection capabilities 20-45 minutes in advance
· Overall decrease A1c’s as much as 1.5 % in the first 4 months of placement for individuals with Hyperglycemic unawareness (for every 1% decrease, there is a 40% decrease in long term side effects in Diabetics)
· Alert highs and low accurately at least 91.7% of the time
· Provide improved quality of life as well as increase ability to participate in physical activities
Why is the dog so expensive?
Training Diabetic Alert Dogs is incredibly labor intensive and time consuming. While it doesn’t look like work when you see a service dog in training out in public, those trainers are constantly socializing, teaching, creating work opportunities, caring for, and exercising dogs. It’s a job that doesn’t end when the clock strikes 5:00! We are working dogs, in various stages of development, around the clock- 24/7, until they are readyto meet you. http://www.headsuphounds.com/
Our new everyday life:
Tiffany has had over 150 finger pokes and 100 shots since her diagnosis on September 22, 2015. She is poked a minimum of 6 times per day and receives insulin shots at breakfast, lunch, dinner and another before bed. Additional shots and blood sugar checks are necessary if she is overly active or acting out of the ordinary.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
With type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks part of its own pancreas. Scientists are not sure why. But the immune system mistakenly sees the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas as foreign, and destroys them. This attack is known as "autoimmune" disease. These cells – called “islets” are the ones that sense glucose in the blood and, in response, produce the necessary amount of insulin to normalize blood sugars. Insulin serves as a “key” to open your cells, to allow the glucose to enter and allow you to use the glucose for energy. Without insulin, there is no “key.” So, the sugar stays and builds up in the blood. The result: the body’s cells starve from the lack of glucose. And, if left untreated, the high level of “blood sugar” can damage eyes, kidneys, nerves, and the heart, and can also lead to coma and death.
We can’t thank you enough for taking to time to read our story, Tiffany’s story. It would mean the world to us if you could share her story. If you can donate, we can’t tell you how much it would mean to Tiffany! If all you can do is share, please do, that still would mean the world to us!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Tiffany, Amanda, Brian and Kalyssa
Organizer
Amanda Hemminger
Organizer
Jackson, MI