Service dog starts staring at mom, instantly knows something is wrong
A mom from Ohio has shared how quickly her daughter's diabetic alert dog detected a fall in her blood sugar and saved her life—before the technology could even register it.
In September 2024, Lindsey Berce's daughter Kennedy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Overnight, Berce became a caregiver, nutritionist, nurse, and emergency responder to her 6-year-old daughter.
Thankfully, she tells Newsweek that she and her husband aren't facing it alone, as they also have Kona, a Portuguese water dog who is trained to detect when Kennedy's blood sugar levels get too low or too high.
"He alerts us when her levels fall below 75 or go above 145 by gently placing his paw on her leg," Berce said. "Before that official alert, he often gives us little clues he's stressed out—like pacing, shaking his head, or locking eyes with us—that lets us know something is wrong.
"Unlike other working dogs who need a cue, Kona is trained to monitor Kennedy 24/7, all on his own. He'll alert no matter where we are. Once, he even signaled from 100 feet away."
As soon as Kona locks eyes with Berce, she knows something is wrong with her daughter.
Kennedy wears an insulin pump to regulate her blood sugar, and a continuous glucose monitor. The family has a monitor in the kitchen that displays her blood sugar levels, but oftentimes, Kona detects a change up to 30 minutes before the technology.
When he alerts, Berce uses a blood glucose meter to get an instant and accurate reading to confirm the service dog's suspicions.
"Kona will keep staring until he makes direct eye contact with me, no matter how long it takes. He's trained to be calm and quiet, which helps him stay discreet in public. He might pace around Kennedy or come find me and stand directly in front of me," Berce said.
Following her daughter's diagnosis, Berce has been documenting their new reality on social media (@kennedyst1djourney on TikTok and Instagram). She posted a video of the moment Kona stared her down and alerted her to Kennedy's falling blood sugar, showing just how remarkable his scent work is.
The video went viral with over 993,700 views and more than 104,600 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
Kona typically alerts Berce anywhere between one and five times a day, allowing the mom to help before it becomes an emergency. Every time, Berce is filled with gratitude and relief, telling Newsweek that it "never stops being incredible to witness."
Berce said: "I've seen him alert countless times, but I still don't think our videos fully capture how powerful it is in real life. It's a powerful reminder that his instincts are often faster than our tools. I felt so proud of him and incredibly grateful that Kennedy has this protection."
The family originally brought Kona home as a pet last year before Kennedy was diagnosed. Even then, it became clear that he was drawn to Kennedy, as Berce said he "rarely left her side."
Once Kennedy was diagnosed with diabetes, they realized what a powerful tool Kona could be, and he began training. He lived with a trainer for two months of intense work, using samples of saliva to learn Kennedy's blood sugar levels.
"Looking back, we truly believe he sensed something was off before we even knew she was sick," Berce said. "Their connection is beautiful—a mix of loyalty, protection, and pure love. It's clear that she's his person, and he's her lifeline."
By sharing videos on social media, Berce hopes to connect with others and educate them on the realities of diabetes. As many people think it's still related with diet and weight, Berce wants to highlight those misconceptions.
The online support has also been encouraging for Berce, who has gained a whole new community she didn't previously know existed.
But the work doesn't stop there, as Kennedy has also been selected as a Breakthrough T1D Children's Congress delegate to represent Ohio. In July, she will stand in Congress where she will advocate for continued federal funding of the Special Diabetes Program.
The family aren't just raising awareness for Kennedy and Kona, but for every child living with type 1 diabetes.
After sharing the video of Kona's prompt alert, the post has gained over 430 comments on TikTok already.
One comment reads: "Definitely trust her dog over technology."
Another TikTok user wrote: "Blows my mind. How do they even teach that range to a dog?"
While another person replied: "I love all dogs but service are dogs are angels on Earth."
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