I keep track of every low or high alert Bailey gives me by recording the information on an Alert Log Form. I record the date, time, blood glucose level, if he alerted a high (H) or (L), and any other relevant notes. This is a very useful record to have as it lets me know how many alerts Bailey is giving me when Jason is out of range and when one has been missed.
In the earlier days of Bailey's training, the Alert Log Form was extremely useful in showing how Bailey was progressing with his training and subsequently identified if there were any areas that needed addressing. It became obvious if there was something we needed to work on but I also found it interesting comparing them month by month. As he became more confident, the frequency of his alerts increased. This was encouraging for me as a self-trainer, as it let me know I was on the right track.
Having a DAD means that I'm testing Jason's BGL's more often than ever before. Bailey is capable of picking up on abnormal levels all the time. Alerting can occur at the most inconvenient times but testing Jason is always a priority regardless of how tired or busy you are. Training and maintaining a DAD is a big commitment and there isn't room for complacency.
Jason's ideal blood glucose range is between 4 and 8. Bailey is more likely to catch any abnormal levels before they get too high because I have good control of Jason's BGL's. If you're struggling to control your BGL's, it will be harder for your DAD to distinguish between what's normal and what's not. This is why DAD's are considered unsuitable for those whose BGL's are poorly managed or constantly out of range. Bailey catches a high percentage of Jason's abnormal levels, helping to keep tight control with most of his high alerts between the 10 to 13 range (but he gets fussy about any level over 8). Jason's AC1 tests (a blood test which provides information on a person's average levels of blood glucose for the past three months) have dropped from being in the 8's to the 7's since Bailey has been reliably alerting. This is considered excellent control for his age group and given he is not on a pump.
If Jason is unwell, his blood sugars can fluctuate quite rapidly and tend to sit higher and often he can become insulin resistant as his body deals with the illness. Week two was rough on Jason's levels as he fell ill with a respiratory infection and Bailey was really put through his paces. I made a note of this on the log. I have also noted where Bailey's alerts have been prompted after seeing me get the meter out to test Jason. We want Bailey to offer spontaneous alerts. I basically view these as missed alerts. I will still reward him for it but we don't throw a low party as we normally do.
Below is our Alert Log for the last two weeks.
In the earlier days of Bailey's training, the Alert Log Form was extremely useful in showing how Bailey was progressing with his training and subsequently identified if there were any areas that needed addressing. It became obvious if there was something we needed to work on but I also found it interesting comparing them month by month. As he became more confident, the frequency of his alerts increased. This was encouraging for me as a self-trainer, as it let me know I was on the right track.
Having a DAD means that I'm testing Jason's BGL's more often than ever before. Bailey is capable of picking up on abnormal levels all the time. Alerting can occur at the most inconvenient times but testing Jason is always a priority regardless of how tired or busy you are. Training and maintaining a DAD is a big commitment and there isn't room for complacency.
Jason's ideal blood glucose range is between 4 and 8. Bailey is more likely to catch any abnormal levels before they get too high because I have good control of Jason's BGL's. If you're struggling to control your BGL's, it will be harder for your DAD to distinguish between what's normal and what's not. This is why DAD's are considered unsuitable for those whose BGL's are poorly managed or constantly out of range. Bailey catches a high percentage of Jason's abnormal levels, helping to keep tight control with most of his high alerts between the 10 to 13 range (but he gets fussy about any level over 8). Jason's AC1 tests (a blood test which provides information on a person's average levels of blood glucose for the past three months) have dropped from being in the 8's to the 7's since Bailey has been reliably alerting. This is considered excellent control for his age group and given he is not on a pump.
If Jason is unwell, his blood sugars can fluctuate quite rapidly and tend to sit higher and often he can become insulin resistant as his body deals with the illness. Week two was rough on Jason's levels as he fell ill with a respiratory infection and Bailey was really put through his paces. I made a note of this on the log. I have also noted where Bailey's alerts have been prompted after seeing me get the meter out to test Jason. We want Bailey to offer spontaneous alerts. I basically view these as missed alerts. I will still reward him for it but we don't throw a low party as we normally do.
Below is our Alert Log for the last two weeks.