Hello, my name is Kathleen Simmonds, and as of this July, I’ve lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 37 years. When you live with a chronic illness, you become skilled at self-reliance, managing your disease day in and day out. But sometimes, this self-reliance can blind you to the fact that you might need help or that there could be a better way to live.
In 2014, I lost the ability to recognize when my blood sugar levels were too high or too low, a condition known as hypoglycemia unawareness. This made my life increasingly dangerous. My blood sugar would drop into the 40s or even the 20s at night while I was sleeping. On several occasions, my husband had to wake me and nurse me back to consciousness. As these nighttime lows began to creep into my daytime hours, I became fatigued and unable to perform daily tasks. Even running simple errands became risky due to the unpredictable nature of my blood sugar levels. The unknown highs were also causing long-term damage to my body, damage I wouldn't fully understand until later.
Worried for my safety, my husband suggested looking into getting a Diabetic Alert Dog. He felt that having a dog with me 24/7 might ease the fear and anxiety that he and our three children were feeling about leaving me alone, concerns they hadn’t shared with me until then.
In 2015, I found Medical Mutts, and it was the best decision I ever made for my health. Their care, kindness, and positive training methods for both the dog and me were exactly what I needed. My whole family loved that Medical Mutts rescued dogs from shelters, giving these animals a second chance at life while providing invaluable assistance to people like me.
In 2016, I received Ms. Emma, a smart, confident Border Collie who immediately took to watching over me. She quickly alerted me to my low blood sugar levels, even during our first week together. That first night in the hotel, when she alerted me, I cried. No one had ever helped me manage my diabetes so personally and effectively.
As Emma’s confidence grew in alerting me, so did mine. I began to enjoy my independence again, returning to activities I loved, like running half marathons. Emma completed races with me in Kentucky, and we logged countless training miles together. She taught me to trust her, which allowed me to focus on my life outside of my chronic illness. Within six months of having Emma, my A1C levels dropped from the eights to the sixes, a significant improvement.
But in 2020, Emma became urgently ill, and we lost her to Lupus. Her loss was devastating. I realized just how much she had helped me—not just in managing my diabetes but in giving me the confidence to live fully. When she was gone, I stopped caring about my diabetes, and my health began to decline.
Knowing I couldn’t manage alone after experiencing such progress with Emma, I reached out to Medical Mutts again. They introduced me to Chai, a 2-year-old German Shepherd who had endured a treacherous start to life. The tips of his ears had been lost to frostbite due to animal cruelty by his first owners. The moment I saw his photo, I knew he belonged with us.
Chai was different from Emma in many ways. While Emma was fanatical about my blood sugar numbers, Chai brought a big dose of emotional care, which I didn’t realize I needed until he was by my side. He quickly learned to alert me to my highs and lows, but he also provided the emotional support I desperately needed, especially as my body began to show the damage done by a lifetime of high blood sugars. I started experiencing symptoms of Autonomic Neuropathy, losing sensation in my eyes, feet, and major organs.
Chai has been there for me every step of the way, helping me navigate the fear and uncertainty that comes with new health challenges. On days when I don’t have the strength to manage my blood sugars, he’s there, loving me and sitting with me, giving me a reason to keep going. He even nudges me to take him to his favorite walking path, ensuring that I take care of my mental and physical health.
Diabetic Alert dogs are more than just tools—they’re companions who understand your struggles and provide the emotional and physical support that machines like the Dexcom can’t. Thanks to Emma and Chai, I’ve found a new and more fulfilling way to live with my disease.
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