Sherman
Sheila and Sherman
I was blessed 1 1/2 years ago when I was partnered with my service dog, Sherman. He is a black Labrador Retriever with a bundle of energy and a genuine love for taking care of me! I was partnered with Sherman through Dogs 4 Diabetics, a non-profit organization that matches service dogs with insulin dependent diabetics who have hypoglycemic unawareness. When my blood sugar drops, my body no longer provides me with the warning signs that it is happening, such as sweating, shaking, or tiredness. Since I no longer felt the "drops" occurring in my sugar level, I have had multiple seizures in the past. This is where Sherman's amazing nose goes to work! He is trained to smell a "scent" that my body emits when my blood sugar drops and he lets me know that I need to eat before my blood sugar drops to a dangerous level. He never tires of his job. Okay, so he gets a "human treat" such as turkey, egg, or cheese when he lets me know I need to check my blood sugar. But I know, when I see those beautiful brown eyes peering at me with his intense stare, that he means business. One quick finger prick, a 5 second wait for my blood sugar meter to tell me what my blood sugar is, and WOW! It's time for a treat and LOTS of praise for my big boy because is AWESOME! People ask me if I am glad that I was matched up with a service dog. Without hesitation I give a resounding YES! I wouldn't trade him for the world. After all, who wouldn't love that face?