Irish scientists are trying to prove that dog has the ability to
sense the change of diabetics' blood sugar level, according to
media's report Monday.
"Anecdotal reports suggest that some dogs can perform early
warning of hypoglycemia by using their sense of smell to 'sniff
out' if their owner's blood sugar levels are dropping," said lead
researcher and psychology professor Deborah Wells of Queen's
University in Belfast.
Wells hoped to find out what cues dogs pick up on so they can
officially be recognized and trained as early-warning systems for
diabetics.
At least two organizations in the United States already train
dogs to detect low glucose levels. But exactly what the dogs notice
when a person experiences a blood sugar low is still a mystery,
said Mark Ruefenacht, founder of Dogs for Diabetics, in Concord,
Calif.
(Agencies via Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2008)