Medical alert dogs supporting people with diabetes  

Patas d'Açúcar is a non-profit organization founded in December 2016 by Nuno Benedito, a military professional with experience in the cinotechnical unit with explosive and drug detection dogs. He has applied his expertise in this area to diabetes detection dogs.

The association was established after 2 years of preparation, and brings together a multidisciplinary team of 21 professionals, including zootechnical engineers, doctors, nurses, psychologists, lawyers, trainers, veterinary nurses, finance specialists, and designers. 

The program aims to improve the lives of people with diabetes through the support of the medical alert dog and give abandoned shelter dogs a second chance.

The families of people with diabetes often feel stressed by the silent characteristics of this disease. A trained dog detecting when the sugar in blood decreases help them feel more relaxed and encourage healthier habits, motivated by the dog’s walking needs. 

The program also supports pets by rescuing shelter dogs to become medical alert dogs. 

Beyond supporting the individuals directly affected, the program also brings peace of mind to families who often live with the worry of undetected hypoglycemia. In addition, the initiative offers a second chance to shelter dogs, trained to become medical alert dogs.

The project aims to : 

• Increase the number of medical alert dogs trained and remitted each year to support more people living with diabetes.
• Strengthen key areas – including training and veterinary care for the dogs.
• Raise awareness – about diabetes and the extraordinary role these dogs play in improving lives.

Regarding the project's social objectives, two key goals have been identified.

On one side, it rescues dogs from shelters and helps reduce the number of abandoned pets as these dogs can also have a great potential to become medical alerts dogs. This gives the dogs a better life, with proper care and health support and a chance to join a loving family. 

On the other hand, the project supports people living with diabetes by helping them manage their blood sugar levels more effectively, which improves their quality of life—as well as that of their families.

A medical alert dog provides support at three key moments:

1.    Self-acceptance of the disease and social inclusion: the dog draws attention and his presence encourages conversations.

2.    Fighting sedentarism, a risk factor for people with diabetes. Since the dog needs regular walks, it motivates the owner to be more active.

3.    Controlling blood sugar levels. The dog is trained to detect when blood sugar drops below 90mg/ml and alerts the person, helping to prevent severe hypoglycemia, especially at night. 

“We took a vacation to rest the body and mind, or at least try, because anyone who is type I diabetic or takes care of one is never 100% rested…

During the vacation, Renato and his medical alert dog Link went for a walk. During the walk, Link had a strange reaction, as he didn't want to walk anymore. He loves walking and running, but he refused to continue.

Renato checked his blood sugar on the sensor and it was 89, which is within the ideal parameters. However, knowing the capabilities of his four-legged guardian angel, he decided to return to the starting point to eat something. When we arrived, and despite not having gone very far, Renato felt strange and his vision was failing.

He still managed to measure his blood sugar and was stunned by the value, as it was 41, a severe hypoglycemia that took a while to recover from.

Can you imagine what it would be like if Renato didn't have Link with him? This angel deserves a medal and all the good that the world can offer him."

Father of Renato