Dogs who can sniff out out hypoglycemic attacks

Dogs have been trained to sniff out drugs, explosives and even certain cancer cells. Now they are being trained to confront another disease: diabetes. Some dogs can be trained to recognize lowered blood sugar levels, part of a hypoglycemic attack that diabetics must be wary of. If blood sugar levels fall too low, they could lose consciousness. According to Reuters:

A survey last December by researchers at Queen's University Belfast found 65 percent of 212 people with insulin-dependent diabetes reported that when they had a hypoglycemic episode their pets had reacted by whining, barking, licking or some other display.

The NY Times reports on a National Geographic segment about a 6-year-old dog named Tinker who was trained as a hypo-alert dog after his family noticed he would become agitated right before a hypoglycemic attack.

Image source: ex_magician