As the sun peaked through her curtains, Kayla Cortez awakened, stretched her arms above her head and went to get ready for the day. She attempted to swing her legs over the side of the bed but felt the familiar weight of a dog’s head on her lap preventing her from getting up. Her dog, a 4-year-old English black labrador retriever, excitedly pawed at her – a sign that she needed to check her blood sugar. Indeed, Cortez’s blood sugar levels had gone out of a safe range. This is her story.

In April 2018, Cortez, currently 28, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition where a person’s body cannot make or use insulin as well as it should. This causes high blood sugar in the body which can lead to complications such as heart disease and nerve damage.

While in the hospital, she took it upon herself to learn about her new diagnosis and what treatment options were available for her to live a healthy life. Cortez had always loved dogs and had been wanting a dog for herself. 

“You know, I think they have service dogs for people with diabetes,” Cortez’s mother, Jana Cortez said while sitting beside her hospital bed. Cortez immediately began the search for her new best friend.

Initially, Cortez was advised to learn about her new diagnosis and how to manage it via glucose monitors and insulin pumps. But after a few months and reaching medical stability, she determined that a service animal would improve her life. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as a dog trained to perform a task to help mitigate a disability. 

“Service dogs are not for everyone, but I knew I wanted one,” Cortez said with a smile.

She found her service animal through Diabetic Alert Dogs of America, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cortez was very involved in her dog’s training process. She wanted to create the strongest bond with her new companion as soon as she could.

Briar Rose is a diabetic-alert dog who paws at Cortez’s leg when her blood sugar is either too high or too low. Cortez explained that her service dog helps keep her blood sugar levels in a tight range. This is because her glucose monitor has a 10-minute delay and Briar Rose can smell a change in her blood sugar levels before her monitor notifies her. Using Briar Rose is the quickest way for Cortez to stay on top of her levels and stay safe.

A lot of work goes into shaping a proper service animal. Training typically starts at birth and can last until the dog is two years old. Puppies are bred for confidence, calm demeanors and sociability. From birth, trainers will make loud noises and expose the puppies to different textures and smells in preparation for their future. The dogs must be desensitized to their surroundings and confident in all situations, since their handlers rely on them the same as any other medical device.

This training is especially important in the workplace. Cortez works at the Disneyland Resort as an entertainment production coordinator. As a tourist hotspot, it can be difficult to navigate through crowds, especially if Cortez experiences a drop in blood sugar. Common symptoms of low blood sugar include dizziness, instability and seizures in severe cases. Briar Rose can serve as a mobility aid and help lead Cortez to safety without her falling.

“Briar Rose really helps keep me safe,” Cortez said.

Although Briar Rose assists with Cortez’s safety, having a service dog comes with many challenges. First and foremost, Briar is still an animal and requires the same care as any other pet, including vet bills, food and toys. But there are also hidden costs of service dogs. They must always be in training, brushing up on their tasks and maintaining good behavior because just like humans, dogs can become out of practice and lose their skills.

Other people and their pets can also pose a risk to service dog teams. Cortez explained that people bringing their pets into service animal-only places can become disruptive and potentially ruin a service animal’s training or put them in harm’s way. 

“When people are distracting your dog it can cause them to miss an alert which puts the handler in a dangerous position,” she said. Cortez included that distracting a service dog is not only done by petting but by talking to the animal as well.

But overall, using a service dog has brought a lot of positivity into Cortez’s life.

“Briar Rose has helped me to gain self-confidence, and she has made living with a disability a more enjoyable struggle,” Cortez said with a laugh. She views her service dog as an extension of her, as another option to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

Cortez stressed the importance of educating the public about people with disabilities, and that everyone’s situation looks different. Not all people utilize the same tools to help mitigate their disabilities, and service animals may be a great option.

Lastly, Cortez advises the public to learn about person-first language when addressing anyone with a disability. This means emphasizing an individual as a human first and viewing the disability as just one part of them.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover; people who have disabilities are equally as capable as those without disabilities,” Cortez said. “Everyone has value.”