Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in individuals 20-74. Having high blood glucose and high blood pressure over a long period of time can damage these tiny blood vessels and cause cataracts and glaucoma.
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Kidney Disease
High blood glucose and high blood pressure damage the kidneys’ filter. When the kidneys are damaged, proteins leak out of the kidneys into the urine, and excess waste and fluid can build up in your blood because it is not being excreted through the urine. This can lead to kidney failure and a lifetime of dialysis.
Cardiovascular Complications
Uncontrolled high blood sugar increases your risk for developing heart and blood vessel disease. This can lead to heart attacks and strokes, which is the leading cause of death for people with diabetes. Microvascular (small blood vessel) complications from diabetes include damage to eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy), and nerves (neuropathy). These complications, if not cared for properly, can lead to loss of eyesight, renal failure, and nerve damage.
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Diabetes Alert Dogs
Diabetic Alert Dogs can go to School!
With the support of the Diabetes Foundation, House Bill 1405 passed in the legislature regarding Diabetic Alert Dogs in the school system, signed by Governor Bryant.
“Diabetic service dogs are just another fail safe in case technology doesn’t do its job. Then you have nature to back it up. Any potential safety net that you can provide for a child is well worth it” Dr. John Mayfield III.
For some people, dogs are merely pets – someone to play fetch and go on walks with. For others, their dogs are their best friends – someone to confide in and snuggle close to at night. For some, their dog is their protector and life-saver. He is their hero.
What makes a diabetes alert dog?
A dog’s scent detection capacity is 10 to 50+ times stronger than a human’s. Certain types of dogs are able to do more with their superior sense of smell than others. Scenting breeds take full advantage of their amazing capability to ‘taste’ smells, and the Diabetes Alert Dogs can categorize scents and associate smells with specific human responses.
It’s because of their amazing scenting abilities that a DAD can detect a change in blood sugar levels in humans. We train them to not only recognize the change, but to react by alerting their humans by barking, nudging them, or bringing them a special item. The reaction, in real time, helps us know when a change is actively happening. To a person with diabetes, that real-time alert can be crucial.
Many breeds are bred specifically for their sense of smell. While hunting dogs certainly qualify for the job, they aren’t the only breed that does it amazingly well. The best candidate for a DAD is one that scents well, has an above average work ethic and is able to manage their work drive to be calm enough to live within the parameters of a family setting.
Certain breeds fit all of those requirements easily, but all the individuals in a breed will not make a good diabetes alert dog. Variations of personality, temperaments, and drive even within a litter can be extreme. So while a breeder has a whole litter of pups, only 1, 2 or none may qualify for the demands of being a Diabetes Alert Dog.
For those living with diabetes, maintaining proper glucose levels can be challenging. Exercise, food, infections and stress are instrumental factors that will stimulate high (hyperglycemic) or low (hypoglycemic) blood sugars. Individual with diabetes must learn to maintain a healthy balance between these factors to prevent life-threatening consequences. Many people struggling to maintain healthy glucose levels choose to purchase diabetic alert dogs (DAD).
We Care 2
“We Care 2” is a signature program of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi that sends a DFM representative to visit a newly diagnosed child and his/her family while in the hospital. The program’s goal is to connect families with an ongoing support system and resource network for managing the health of their child.
Patient Assistance
Patient assistance is another vital service offered by the DFM. The “Helping Hands” program provides free emergency assistance with diabetes-related medicines and medical supplies once per year to uninsured or underinsured Mississippians. The DFM will also make referrals to pharmaceutical assistance programs and other area agencies. Patients must have current prescriptions and have their medical team or social workers contact the DFM to verify the patient’s need.
Sweet Subject Education
“Sweet Subject” is a signature program of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi created to offer Mississippi schools and daycare facilities with the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU) by attending a DFM school presentation.