Diabetes service dog saves man's life

WATERLOO, Ind. (WANE) - A service dog trained to alert people with diabetes when their blood sugar is low saved a man's life.  He has brittle diabetes and suffers from uncontrollable and frequent swings in his blood glucose levels.  His service dog Kira was able to wake him up in the middle of the night when his blood sugar level was dangerously low.
 

"For me it has been a life saver," Jeff Hoffmeister explained, "We're inseparable.  We spend almost 24 hours a day with each other."

Jeff Hoffmeisters diabetes service dog Kira is a 6-year-old Golden Retriever that was trained to smell a symptom of low blood sugar.  For two years she has been Jeff's service dog and companion.

Over the weekend she saved his life.  In the middle of the night Kira was able to sense his blood sugar level was dangerously low.

"She kept persisting and finally ended up lying on top of me and licking my face to wake me up so I could get something to eat and bring my blood sugar up."

Jeff's blood sugar level was 23.  Doctors say anything lower than 30 can create brain damage or even be fatal.  Thankfully though Kira was there to alert him and wake him up.

"It's a great comfort to me.  I know it's a comfort to my wife.  You know she always used to worry about me at night going low."

Life's good in the Hoffmeister household.  Especially since Kira is there to keep Jeff's health in check.

"We just work out perfectly."

Jeff got Kira from a non-profit group called Power Paws Assistance Dogs in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Click here to learn more about Power Paws .