Question

Besides having PTSD and anxiety, I'm also Type 1 Diabetic. I'm on the fence about getting a service dog. I think one would help a lot not only with my PTSD/anxiety, but also my Type 1 Diabetes, since its uncontrolled. Part of me wants to get one because I think it would really help in my everyday life since I still have issues walking around stores, I still won't go down aisles with other people in it. Large crowds still get to me. I still have a difficult time sleeping at night. Still having flashbacks. And the PTSD/anxiety is causing problems with my Type 1 as well. I've missed alerts from my CGM before and it got to a dangerously low number, and I've been so anxious that its lowered my blood sugar. I've almost passed out a few times. Sometimes, I can't feel a low blood sugar. That's why I'm really considering getting one.

Another great example happened yesterday, I was at church, at a funeral, there was about 200 people there, I got really anxious, and my blood sugar ended up tanking, it went from 79, to 53 to 41, and I was a bit anxious while having that low blood sugar.

On the other hand, my family doesn't support it, their dog doesn't really like other dogs, (he's fine at the pet lodge when we take him there when my family members and I go out of state, which isn't very often, and when they turn him out with other dogs, he's fine, but when we take him home, he doesn't like the other dogs in the neighborhood, its still really weird). The cost is the other thing, sure there's owner training, and you don't have to go though a program to get an already trained dog, but that could still be a bit expensive. The biggest thing for me, is I'm trying to return to active duty in the fire service, and its either get a service dog and don't continue with the fire service or don't get a service dog and still have a difficult time. Even though I looked it up, and I found that you could have a service dog and still be in the fire service, you have to take the dog with you to the firehouse as well as on calls. I don't think that, that would be very safe and we work in a very limited space as it is. Sure, there are probably times where I can leave the dog at home, when I go on duty, but then, what's the point of having a service dog, and I still might not be able to return to duty.

I'm trying to figure out what to do with that in general , but the question is, from a type 1 perspective, at what point should I really consider getting a service dog? If anyone has any suggestions on the first one as well about me being on the fence in general, let me know.

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Hi there - I have a few rare autoimmune disease myself. I am a bit older and with young kids and have been begging my husband for a service dog. My traumas widely vary from birth until now. I am not working and am on disability. Now, I don't think the service dog will do much for me in terms of my diseases (yours may very well...which is different). I have travel around the country for medical care and the dog would be great. For me, it is more of an emotional support. I also am very weak so a dog could help alert others. I tend to faint and pass out as well.

I think you need to ask yourself why will the dog help you get back to work versus not having the dog. Is the dog there for emotional support or for your disease? I know the dogs can actually tell when levels are dropping so it may be good for you. If a dog would calm your mind on your sugar levels, I think it is a good idea. As you say though, taking a dog on the work trips etc would be difficult. If not, can you test more times a day. I don't know anyone close to me with DT1. Or is it time to look for another line of work? I know that when I am better balances I will have to hit the job market again and it will not be doing what I used to love. It will be for the paycheck and reduced hours.

I just know how awful your diabetes can be so sending a virtual hug too!

[Hidden in reply to 012703060610]

I still have time, I'm 20 but I love the fire service, and its hard to picture myself in another job. There's nothing like this one. Besides serving the community and helping other people at their worst. You get to make a difference in another person's life in a matter of minutes. And there's just something about sitting down talking to your guys one minute, playing practical jokes on each other, then the next minute, we got a call and we got to go, we only got 2 minutes to get up those steps and get out the door. Then we're blasting lights and sirens down the road.

I was working at a grocery store for a few months, (lost that job because of my Type 1, PTSD/anxiety. Does that go against ADA, yes, but I hated that job, so they did me a favor) I hated that job so much, it caused me so much anxiety and just gave me issues with both my PTSD/anxiety and my Type 1. I've had a lot of low blood sugars while I was working. I just don't want to be stuck at another job I hate, and gave me a lot of problems. I knew after my first night shift at the firehouse I was at, that I belong there, and when I was working at that store, I knew very shortly into the shift how much I hated it. I still came in 30 minutes early every shift, but I still hated it. I had that feeling of "what am I doing here?"

I don't know if there's a way or if its a good idea to keep the service dog at home while I'm on duty and just use him/her off duty. I don't know if I'd be allowed back in the fire service with one, even if I kept him/her at home while on duty.

I think I would task train him/her, to help with my type 1, both the high and low blood sugars. I found its safer to sit on the floor while having a low blood sugar so if I'm in a store, I can have that dog find a safe place for me to sit or help me to get out of that building. Probably do DPT (Deep Pressure Therapy) for both the type 1 and PTSD/anxiety. More so for the PTSD/anxiety, crowd control, help with anxiety attacks since can alert you before you have one. As well as help me to get some sleep.