My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was six years old. I often marvel at how well she has adapted, given that her life after diagnosis was filled with needles, insulin, and constant queries about how she felt and what she had eaten. Despite her seeming acceptance, she could never say that having diabetes was fun ... until August 2008. In August 2008, Dogs for Diabetics partnered my daughter with Colton, a yellow laborador/golden cross trained to alert on hypoglycemic episodes (low blood sugars). Suddenly, my daughter had a four legged friend and a partner in her diabetes care who helped in a way that neither I nor any other person ever could. He became her playmate, her faithful companion, and her vigilant guardian ready to let her know when she needs to check her blood sugar. He has saved her from serious medical emergencies when her blood sugars were dropping without our knowledge. He has brought joy, laughter, and fun into her life with diabetes (as one passerby put it - "That's so awesome - not that you have diabetes, but that you have a dog to help you with it!"). My family and I are active volunteers with Dogs for Diabetics - or D4D as we all refer to it. D4D is a California non-profit based in Concord, California. It receives dogs donated from Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Raphael) and trains them to detect and alert on low blood sugar levels in insulin dependent diabetics. Once trained, D4D places these dogs with clients free of charge. These service dogs have public access rights and accompany their diabetics at all times. D4D dogs not only provide life saving services, they help with depression, fitness (they still need to be walked even if they are out and about with you all day!), and independent living - free of the fear of unpredictable and sudden drops in blood sugar and the need for constant monitoring. D4D's services do not end once they place a dog with you - in fact, their services are probably just starting! They provide a forum for insulin dependent diabetics to get together to talk about their questions, lives, concerns, fears, and hopes. My daughter (and I) has maintained friendships with other clients and volunteers met through D4D, connected through their dogs, their disease, and their love for each other. I should note that I am also a board member for D4D but my first and strongest connection through this group was as a parent of a client and a volunteer. I thank them every day for the love that they have brought into my daughter's life.