138. Everything You Want to Know About Diabetic Alert Dogs

Reclaim Your Rise: Type 1 Diabetes with Lauren Bongiorno

Today’s episode answers all of your questions about diabetic alert dogs. Our guest, Annie from Medi-Dogs, is here to tell us about how diabetic alert dogs actually work, what they’re smelling for, and how reliable they are. Annie also shares how training works, no matter if the dog is raised to be one or is a dog you already own. She goes over the timeline and which breeds excel in training. Three of our Risely clients have trained their diabetic alert dogs with Annie, so we are thrilled to have her in the show to educate all of us!

Time Stamps:

• (02:24) Annie’s Journey to Creating Medi-Dogs
• (07:54) How Diabetic Alert Dogs Help With Type 1 Diabetes
• (11:00) What Are the Dogs Smelling For?
• (13:10) How Reliable Are Diabetic Alert Dogs?
• (15:23) Alerting to Other People’s Blood Sugar Levels
• (17:35) Training Diabetes Alert Dogs with or without a Vest
• (19:15) The Deep Bond Between Handlers and Diabetes Alert Dogs
• (23:37) Addressing the Stigma
• (30:02) Training Existing Dogs
• (32:46) Breeds That Excel in Training
• (36:28) Timeline of Training

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Doors are open for our Fall 2024 Group Coaching Program for women with T1D. Apply now and talk to our team.
3. Learn more about Annie and Medi-Dogs.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan.