Dogs have been used as guardians by humans for as long as time has been recorded. These pups have provided a means of defense and protective “buddy” to human beings. Most recently, these dogs have been trained to be service animals for those who suffer from a health condition that makes them extra susceptible to seizures.

Diabetes is a health condition that has become a prevalent disease. There is a massive surge in the number of people testing positive for diabetes every year, which calls for a drastic solution. There is a variety of tools and tracking devices to help those with the condition. Among those tools is the diabetic service dog.

Service Dog helps in monitoring and alerting a diabetic patient

Service dogs can help individuals compete against diabetes and its related health issues. The canine trained to respond to diabetes-related needs such as blood glucose monitoring, alerting for hypoglycemia, and reminding at risky times of insulin and caloric intake for dieters and patients on dialysis. These specially trained animals can provide independence while still acting as a security blanket at critical moments in an individual’s day.

Help to reduce blood glucose levels

A diabetic service dog is an animal with specific training to help people living with diabetes. They can help you with several different tasks. Their role is also to warn their owners before anything dangerous happens, such as when their insulin drops too low (hypoglycemia), when their blood sugar drops, or when they’re having low or high blood sugar reactions.

Detect low blood sugar levels or fluctuations

Dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system causes a person to be unaware of how much carbohydrate is absorbed from the digestive tract. A diabetic service dog monitors this process by detecting signs of low blood sugar levels or fluctuations in cardiovascular function. If one of these conditions is reached, it will contact the owner and help get them out of a situation before they need medical assistance.

Assist in changing lifestyle for people with diabetes

Diabetic service dogs offer assistance to change lifestyle for diabetic patients, such as trouble with self-monitoring, meal prep, and management systems. The role of a diabetic service dog is very vital. The “Type 1” service dog is specifically geared toward diabetic needs. The service’s main duties are to remind its handler to take multiple daily blood sugar levels and respond appropriately when the levels ebb or flow out of the desired range. Since a diabetic service dog will be with a person throughout the day, they can alert their owner to a few key changes in blood sugar levels.

Smell a change in the smell of perspiration

A service dog can smell a change in the smell of perspiration or notice differences in your urine. If your dog notices that there’s a drop in your blood sugar, they will bark to let you know that something might happen soon.

Conclusion

As you can imagine, the role of a service dog in someone with diabetes is incredibly important and benefits many different areas in a person’s daily life. I would highly recommend that everyone with diabetes take the time to learn more about their options for living with diabetes, including having a Diabetic service dog.

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Between trick-or-treating, parties, and festivals, Halloween could be one colossal sugar rush, however, it doesn’t need to be. Your child with diabetes can experience Halloween treats carefully, however, keep in mind there’s more to October 31 than sweets. Listed here are some guidelines for celebrating the spooky holiday without sending glucose stages soaring.

Plan Ahead

Sit down together with your child and discuss your Halloween plans in advance so they know what to assume. Create some boundaries and basic rules, and include them in the choice-making during the festivities. They’ll be less prone to complain about a plan they helped create. Discover what’s important to them about the day, and try to work collectively to have fun and manage diabetes safely.

Prepare Activities That Don’t Involve Food

Take the focus off of sweet via encouraging arts and crafts tasks, pumpkin carving/painting contests, observing a Halloween movie, touring a haunted house, or attending a hayride. It is a first-class option to create recollections that don’t involve food.

Avoid Snacking on Candy

Planning to go trick-or-treating? Make sure your child eats healthy the previous day so they can begin the evening with average blood sugar. Then, make a pact with your youngster to avoid snacking unless until you get home from trick-or-treating. Once you’re home, your child can dose the correct amount of insulin for the carbs within the sweet he/she is ready to eat.

Use Candy to Treat a Low

D-mother Extraordinaire, Meri Schuhmacher, recommends preserving non-chocolate candy that can be utilized to treat future lows, like starburst and skittles, and divide them up into servings of 15 grams of carbohydrates and bag them in my opinion. Store the baggage of sweet in easy to reach areas (like your child’s backpack, your bag or automobile). Consistent with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), chocolate and other larger-fats treats don’t work well for treating lows so these may also be put aside for purposes other than treating a low.

Limit Pieces of Candy per Day

Teaching moderation is essential. Set a rule as to what number of pieces of candy your child can eat a day. Apply this rule to everyone within the home, not simply the child with diabetes.

Donate Extra Candy

You can donate the extra candy to all sorts of neighborhood agencies, a regional children’s health facility, or troops overseas by way of the Halloween sweet purchase-back program. These are also excellent ways to teach your youngster about giving.

Halloween can be a challenging holiday to celebrate with diabetes, but following a few of these tips can help your child have a fun and safe Halloween.

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If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

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Anyone that has diabetes will need to test their blood multiple times each day using test strips and a glucose meter. There are a wide variety of monitors from which to choose and selecting one can be confusing. Monitors encompass basic models to those with special features and they’re available in multiple price points.

When choosing a monitor, factor in the cost of test strips. Test strips aren’t interchangeable among different brands of monitors and will account for a significant amount of the cost of managing the disease. Some elements to consider when choosing a monitor include the following.

Insurance

Some insurance companies will cover the cost of any type of monitor, while others will only cover certain models. Insurers may pay the total cost of a monitor or only a portion and limit the number of test strips allowed each month. In some instances, it may be less expensive to pay for a monitor and/or test strips out of pocket.

Ease of Use

Make sure the face is large enough and the numbers are easy to read. The monitor should fit easily in the hand. Consider how large the drop of blood has to be for testing.

Types

Glucose monitors are available in traditional models that require a finger prick to test with a drop of blood, while other enable blood samples to be taken from other parts of the body. People can also choose a model that uses an adhesive sensor on the skin and sends continuous readings to a monitor, smartphone or smart watch.

Special Features

Meters are available with memory storage and retrieval that can help people track their glucose levels over time, along with models that will vocalize the readings out loud. Others will record the time and date of testing, the results and show trends over time. There are also monitors that allow individuals to download their readings and history to a cell phone or computer and send it to their physician.

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If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

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For decades, Type 1 diabetes was called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Much more is known about the disease now and it is possible for adults to develop Type 1 diabetes at any point in their life.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas manufactures too little insulin or none at all. Insulin is a hormone that enables sugar to enter the body’s cells to produce energy for performing various tasks. While diabetes can be caused by poor lifestyle choices, it most often occurs in families with a history of the disease.

However, medical science now knows that diabetes can be triggered by any of multiple types of viral infections. Researchers have also discovered that the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes increases the further away from the equator that an individual is. The immune system fights viruses, bacterial and fungal infections, but in diabetes it destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Many people erroneously believe that only children are afflicted with Type 1 diabetes. That misinformation can cause people to ignore the early warning signs of the disease and delay treatment. Individuals with diabetes will experience increased thirst, frequent urination and extreme hunger. Irritability, fatigue, and weakness can also occur, along with blurred vision and unintended weight loss.

The complications of untreated and unmanaged diabetes are severe and can lead to an early death. It drastically increases the risk of heart disease, narrowing of the arteries, and high blood pressure. Nerve damage, especially in the legs, causes numbness, tingling and pain. Neuropathy can also affect the digestive system resulting in nausea, vomiting and constipation or diarrhea.

The disease damages the eyes and can lead to blindness. Diabetes damages the kidneys, inhibits its ability to filter impurities from the blood, and can eventually lead to kidney failure. People with diabetes are more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, particularly of the mouth and skin, along with gum disease.

There’s no cure for Type 1 diabetes, no way to prevent it, and no way to determine exactly who will develop the disease. Even if an individual is eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, they can still develop the disease.

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If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

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The economic cost to individuals with diabetes continues to increase. It’s the most expensive chronic disease in the U.S. to treat and it’s the 7^th leading cause of death. It doesn’t matter whether individuals have Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes, the cost of treatment and management is significant.

Genetics

It’s important that people understand that while lifestyle choices can contribute to the development of diabetes, there are other factors at play. Genetics play a significant role and a variety of viruses can trigger the immune system to attack the cells in the pancreas that enable cells to use glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. The result is diabetes.

Rising Costs

There are numerous reasons for the increase in costs, the primary of which is that pharmaceutical companies are charging more for their products. They’re transitioning from older forms of insulin to newer types and claim the higher prices are necessary to pay for the cost of developing it.

Insulin is essentially a cash cow for pharmaceutical companies that know people with diabetes must have insulin to live. The U.S. represents 15 percent of the insulin market globally but generates 50 percent of the industry’s revenue.

Affordability

Diabetic-related costs are taking a high toll on people with the disease, mentally, physically and financially. Many individuals can’t afford the test strips or insulin they need to monitor and manage the disease and it’s not just the uninsured and underinsured feeling the effects. Insurance companies are demanding that clients pick up a larger share of the costs through higher co-pays.

The American Diabetes Association gives the estimated cost of diabetes in 2017 – the last year for which statistics are available – as $327 billion, an increase of 26 percent over the previous 5 years. The situation is so dire in the U.S. that an increasing number of people are traveling to Canada to obtain the insulin and supplies they need.

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If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

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The line between disclosure of medical conditions in relation to employment is a thin one. Employers can’t ask about medical conditions before they offer you a job. They can after you’ve accepted a position, but employers can’t retaliate for not disclosing it after you’re hired.

You don’t have to disclose information about your disease if you don’t want to, however, he/she will find out if you opt for employer-provided insurance coverage and you’ll only receive protection under anti-discrimination laws if you reveal the information. If the hiring process includes a pre-hire physical or if the condition could present a threat to you or others within the workplace, you need to disclose.

Diabetes presents a few challenges in any employment environment, some more than others. You may need accommodations that fall under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). That can include the ability to keep snacks and diabetic equipment with you or at your desk, along with breaks to monitor glucose levels and a private space to administer insulin if needed. It can also include a safe place to rest if you have a hypoglycemic episode.

Under the ADA, employer accommodations can include time off for diabetes-related medical treatment of up to 12 weeks through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and recovery time due to diabetes complications. Your work schedule may need to be modified if it interferes with controlling the disease. Special chairs or other equipment may be required if you have neuropathy or large-screen computers if your vision has been impaired due to diabetes.

The short answer is that you don’t have to disclose to an employer that you have diabetes, but there are benefits to doing so under the ADA. You should be aware that there are employers that won’t hire you because of diabetes out of a myriad of misconceptions and fear of expense or workplace disruption. However, proving it was a factor in your job loss is almost impossible.

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If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

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Proper hydration is critical for those with diabetes, but even those that have had the disease for many years aren’t aware of the consequences of dehydration. Those with diabetes are at increased risk of dehydration, particularly those with high glucose levels. It’s just one of the reasons that frequent testing is essential, particularly those that live in hot and humid climates. Dehydration can be life-threatening.

Dehydration is especially dangerous for people with type 2 diabetes. A lack of hydration causes blood pressure to plummet. In response, the body secretes stress hormones that have the ability to increase blood sugar levels. Individuals often inject too much insulin as a result.

The first symptoms of dehydration are thirst and dry mouth, but the symptoms typically go unnoticed. People that don’t have sufficient liquid intake often feel irritable, sluggish and weak. When diabetics are dehydrated, the body isn’t able to pump enough blood to the brain, heart, muscles and kidneys.

Dehydration impairs all body functions and lowers blood pressure to dangerous levels. For diabetics, even three days without enough liquid consumption results in impaired glucose responses. The stress hormones that are released result in increased urination that further exacerbates dehydration.

Staying hydrated can be a delicate balancing act for people with diabetes and they’re more susceptible to overheating and heat-related conditions. Symptoms encompass dizziness, headaches, nausea and increased heartbeat, along with muscle cramps, profuse sweating and even fainting. Eventually, the person will stop sweating. Individuals need to immediately move to a cooler area, preferably one that’s air-conditioned, and drink fluids – water is best.

Individuals with diabetes have multiple factors to consider to keep their glucose levels in check, ensure proper nutrition, and manage their weight. Proper hydration is another essential element and one of which many people with diabetes aren’t aware. Multiple studies have demonstrated that diabetics that stay sufficiently hydrated have better control of their disease.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

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Even individuals without a family history of diabetes can be diagnosed with the disease. Many people develop diabetes and aren’t aware of it because they don’t know the symptoms or ignore them due to misconceptions. Diabetes affects multiple systems within the body. The symptoms can include any of the following and in any combination.

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Feeling very tired, fatigued or exhausted
• Feel very hungry
• Very dry skin
• Weight loss or gain without trying
• Blurry vision
• Itching and yeast infections
• Patches of dark skin on the neck, groin or armpits that may feel soft and velvety
• Numbness, tingling or pain in the hands or feet
• More infections than usual
• Even minor wounds heal slower than normal

Type 1 Diabetes

Some people may experience nausea, stomach pains and even vomiting with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 usually begins when an individual is a child and symptoms can develop over the course of weeks or months. It’s thought to be the result of an immune reaction and often develops after a viral infection. Those most at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes are those with a family history of the disease and it’s more likely to occur when an individual is a child, teen or young adult. It’s most prevalent in Caucasians.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops over the course of several years and typically occurs in adults. People are more at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes if they’re African American, Hispanic, have given birth to a child over 9 lbs., or the mother had gestational diabetes. Those age 45 and over, who have been diagnosed as prediabetic, are overweight, or seldom exercise are at increased risk. So are people with a family history of the disease or if they have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Early diagnosis is critical to avoid the damage that diabetes does to the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. The disease can also result in sexual problems in either gender. Knowing the symptoms and early detection can lessen the detrimental impact on the body as individuals learn to monitor and manage the disease.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

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One of the first things that doctors tell their newly diagnosed diabetic patients is to exercise. Individuals typically think it’s to help them lose weight and be healthier, as many people gain weight prior to getting a diagnosis. The truth is that exercise can help regulate blood glucose levels, but in different ways that most people might think.

Glucose is the energy source the body uses to fuel activity, but it requires insulin for muscles and cells to be able to utilize the glucose. Insulin is injected to aid in controlling blood glucose levels and it also enables muscles to use the glucose that’s in the bloodstream. According to an article published by the American Physiological Society, a single round of exercise can reduce a glucose reading by 83 points.

When people exercise, the muscles use more glucose, the heart rate rises, and circulation can increase up to 20-fold. Exercise helps the body use insulin more effectively and reduces the potential for developing insulin resistance. Doctors prefer patients to exercise for at least 30 minutes each day, but even 30 minutes of exercise three times a week is beneficial.

The good news is that no one needs to run a marathon to reap the benefits of exercise when they’re diabetic, nor do they need to run repetitive circles around a track. The first task for anyone is to find a form of exercise that they enjoy so they’re more likely to do it on a regular basis. That can include swimming, dancing, biking, gardening, a brisk walk or even yoga.

There is one thing that individuals should be aware of when exercising. As the body uses more glucose to fuel the muscles, it will naturally lower blood glucose levels. The potential exists for blood sugar levels to drop too low. It’s a good idea to eat a light snack before exercising or at least keep a snack available just in case it’s needed.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

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Few people know the signs of a diabetic emergency, how dangerous it can be, or what to do. Most diabetics will experience the symptoms of low glucose levels at some point in their battle with the disease. An extremely low blood glucose level is known as hypoglycemia and can be deadly if not treated immediately.

Individuals with a diabetic emergency may experience a range of mental and physical symptoms. They often feel hungry, sweat profusely, feel weak or faint, and their skin can feel clammy to the touch. When diabetics have blood glucose levels below 100, they can exhibit drowsiness or mental confusion. If glucose levels drop too far, individuals can become unresponsive and lose consciousness.

Most diabetics are adept at avoiding an emergency situation, but those that are newly diagnosed may not recognize the signs. Glucose levels that drop too low while sleeping is a constant and ongoing fear for many individuals with the disease. They don’t typically expect the condition to arise during the day.

Administering first aid in a diabetic emergency is essential. Many individuals keep a glucagon kit with them at all times for just such an occasion. It’s available in the form of a powder nasal spray or as a pen that’s an injectable. It’s imperative that individuals ensure that family and friends know how to use either type of kit in an emergency and that they should call 911 immediately.

If the individual doesn’t have a glucagon kit, but is conscious and responsive, give them something sweet to eat or a non-diet beverage such as orange juice, soda or lemonade. It will take several minutes for the sugar to take effect. If this is the first time that the individual has experienced an episode of hypoglycemia, try to reassure them.

Hypoglycemia occurs when a person misses a meal or doesn’t eat enough. It’s one of the reasons why individuals with the disease must check their glucose levels regularly. An episode of hypoglycemia can be frightening for everyone involved. Keeping calm and administering aid can save a life.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!