A diabetic’s best friend

Honey, a 16-month-old golden retriever, is making history as the first dog in South Africa being trained to detect low or high blood sugar levels in diabetic humans, reported TimesLive.

If all goes according to plan, Duncan Smuts, 11, will soon have Honey by his side – even at school – so she can warn him if his blood sugar level has dropped and he needs help.

Smuts has type one diabetes and his blood sugar has to be checked every two hours, even during the night. His father, Greg Smuts, enquired about dogs that assist with diabetes a while ago but was told they had to be imported from overseas and it was extremely expensive.

The family eventually approached Cape Town trainer Carien Meyer, who agreed to do a course and find a suitable dog.

“I was lucky because an online course became available at the right time,” she said, and after finding Honey and putting her through a rigorous suitability test, the journey began.

Using positive reinforcement, she is training honey to not just detect a problem, but act on it too.

Duncan said he was excited about the training.

“The most difficult part of diabetes is having to check my sugar consistently and it is very irritating having my parents on my back all the time telling me about sugar and insulin. I also can’t go to sleepovers because my dad worries about me and he can’t sleep.”

Read the full story on TimesLive