Youngster with Type 1 diabetes lives life to the fullest thanks to alert dog

So it is true. A dog is indeed a man’s best friend.

Diabetes Awareness Month might have come and gone but it is never too late to tell the inspirational journey of four-year-old Jenna-Mae van Vyver and her diabetic-alert dog, Isla. In September 2021, Jenna-Mae was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, an auto-immune condition that typically appears during adolescence. This was life-changing for the youngster as she would have to be more mindful of how she lives her life.

Speaking to the News in March 2023, Cherise van der Vyver (Jenna-Mae’s mom) explained how she went from a healthy little girl to one living with a life-threatening condition. The family believes that the diabetes was triggered when Jenna-Mae had Covid 19 in July 2021.

Because Type 1 diabetes is not lifestyle or diet-related, being insulin-dependent will be a lifelong struggle for Jenna-Mae.

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According to Jenae-Mae’s mother Cherise, insulin is essential for the body to function.

“The way our doctor explained it, insulin moves glucose from your blood into cells all over your body. Glucose comes from both food and your body’s natural release of stored glucose. Insulin is like a key that opens the doors of the cells in your body. Once insulin opens your cell doors, glucose can leave your bloodstream and move into your cells where you use it for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose can’t get into your cells and instead builds up in your blood which causes hyperglycemia.”

Cherise added that having to take care of her daughter due to her condition is quite challenging but it’s important to always know and be aware of her child’s health.

“You have to be a parent at the end of the day. We know how important it is to keep her healthy and we still make sure she gets to enjoy being a child despite the challenges. Nothing is as scary as sleeping at night not knowing if she will pass out, which is why we always look at the Glucose monitor to make sure it never gets low. “

Jenna-Mae is a fun-loving toddler who loves to let her imagination run wild with her toys and colouring books. Not only that but like any child she has a furry companion she can call her friend and guardian angel Isla. Isla is a diabetic alert dog and sighthound that Jenna-Mae has had since last year. Through BackaBuddy, the family managed to raise funds to buy Isla who has been specifically trained by Lucy Breytenbach of Honey Garden Medic Alert dogs to alert the Van der Vyvers if Jenna-Mae’s sugar levels go too low or too high.

“What happens is when Jenna-Mae’s sugar levels go low, Isla tells us by jumping on us or bumping our hands. When her glucose levels go low the body releases a chemical called Isoprene which she is trained to smell. From there we check the monitor to see how low her levels are. From there we give her some small snacks to increase her energy levels so that she doesn’t pass out,” Cherise added.

Jenna-Mae is a free free-spirited young girl who loves to be adventurous in many activities such as swimming, baking, and being colourful in her arts and crafts.