Dogs Saving Lives

I could relate to your article “Could a Dog Save Your Life?” (March ’08, p. 40). My family dog has had no special training but is great with my 8-year-old son who has type 1 diabetes. Elisha was diagnosed at age 5, and we got the dog about 11 months after his diagnosis. The dog’s name is Napoleon; he is a long-haired dachshund. He has awakened me numerous times during the night when my son is having a low. He sleeps in Elisha’s room, and that has become a great comfort to me.

Every time that Napoleon has alerted me to check Elisha, his blood glucose has been between 40 and 60. I often could not sleep at night for fear of the lows that Elisha might experience. I now take comfort in knowing that Napoleon is watching Elisha, and I am now able to get a good night’s sleep. We are so proud of our dog and the peace that he has brought to us as parents and to our son.

Kathy Cummings
Via the Internet

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1974. For more than 11 years now, my husband and I have shared our life with a beautiful Shetland sheepdog named Bailey. She has saved my life on more than one occasion. There have been more times than I can count in which she has awoken me during an episode of low blood sugar.

One time after Bailey woke me from a nap, I tested my blood glucose and found that it was dangerously low: 29.

Our Labrador Retriever, Star, has been able to wake me a few times as well, so I feel comfortable that as Bailey gets older, I still have another four-legged angel to assist me. I’m happy to read that there are other dogs with this amazing sense.

Karen Meixner
Via the Internet

Keep Moving

I just wanted to tell you how happy I am that you are so concentrated on fitness and health not only to help treat diabetes, but also to prevent it in our children. I’ve had type 1 diabetes since I was 13. As an adult, I do exercise every day to control my blood sugars and keep my blood flowing.

In the early ’80s, my father was an ADA Father of the Year. He has since passed away, but he was always reading up on the latest and greatest ways to keep me healthy. It’s unbelievable to me these days how many kids don’t get enough exercise and are obese. Keep up those articles that help kids stay active.

Jeanne Hamilton
Via the Internet

Self-Monitoring Works

I compliment Diabetes Forecast on the Guest Editorial in the Dec. ’07 issue (p. 9). Christy L. Parkin, MSN, RN, CDE, did a superb job of building the case for self-monitoring.

Several years ago, I had an A1C of more than 12. I am now in the low 6 range on a consistent basis. I would not have been able to obtain those results, and to have established control, just by taking the med­ications my doctor prescribed. If it were not for the active self-monitoring and analysis of these results, I would not be in control.

I have tested long enough, and often enough, that I now know which foods treat me well and which do not, what portion sizes and meal frequencies are right for me, what my blood glucose levels are at when I’m feeling anxious and uptight, what my blood glucose levels are when I feel lethargic and just want to sleep, and what time of day I am most at risk for hypoglycemia.

At my last appointment with my doctor, we negotiated a reduction in oral meds because of my knowledge of my daily blood glucose values.

I encourage all readers to take the self-monitoring process seriously.

Bob Simmons
Litchfield Park, Ariz.

Loving the New Look

Kudos on your updated photography and layout! I have subscribed to your magazine since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 16 years ago, and have felt it to be hit and miss over the years. I find that the new food styling and photography makes me want to try the recipes—they look much more appealing than before. Thank you.

I enjoy that the personal profiles are more prevalent once again. I appreciate reading about others’ good and bad times. The Reflections stories are always my favorite part of the magazine (I read them first).

I would like to see more articles about topics relevant to younger adults living with this disease. As a 34-year-old, I feel caught in the middle—items geared toward children are not always applicable, but neither are those that seem slanted toward older type 2s.

Daniele Krug
McKinney, Texas

Walking in Our Footsteps

You’ve given our group at the Tuckahoe (Richmond, Va.) YMCA a great idea for our next challenge.

We’re at the start of Round II of our successful weight-loss challenge. I lost 40 pounds in Round I, and I’m in Round II for a final 10 pounds.

We’re going to make our Round III challenge “steps to a healthy weight loss” per Diabetes Forecast Editorial Director Sara Sklaroff’s editorial in the Feb. ’08 issue, titled “One Small Step” (p. 11).

Bill Hogate
Richmond, Va.

Getting to the Grain

Thanks for your “Breakfast of Champions” Research Short in the Jan. ’08 issue (p. 19). The article on whole-grain cereal was very enlightening, especially the catch that the cereal must be at least 25 percent whole grain.

I immediately looked at my “whole grain” cereal box and nowhere does it give the percentage of whole grain. Only grams are listed. My next stop was the grocery store and again I was unable to find reference to the percentage of whole grain.

So my next question is, where do I find that information? Is there a list of cereals published that have 25 percent whole grain or more? Help!

Grant Utter
Lacey, Wash.

Katie Bunker, Departments Editor, responds: According to Luc Djousse, MD, MPH, lead author of the study described in “Breakfast of Champions,” lots of foods that we think are whole grain actually lose much of their nutrient value in the refinement process; if a product says “refined” right there on the packaging, it may not have as much whole grain.

There are basically two things to look for, Djousse says. First, look for the label “whole grain” somewhere on the product packaging or in the nutrition information—you may find it listed under the ingredients. Second, check fiber content. It’s whole grain if it’s 4 or more grams of fiber per serving.

Insulin and Travel

I appreciated your annual Resource Guide (Jan. ’08). However, I think readers should be alerted that insulin dispensers can malfunction and, therefore, users should never travel outside the United States without a backup vial of insulin and syringes.

Unfortunately, I was in a Venezuelan jungle this holiday season when my insulin pen started sticking and then stopped working. That meant I was without needed insulin.

A word to the wise: Never travel without insulin backup.

Jane Plitt
Bradenton, Fla.

Editor’s Note: For more advice about traveling with insulin, see our "Tips to Trip By" story.