'A medical alert dog can let us know if anything is wrong'

FAMILY'S PLEA TO GET DAUGHTER SPECIALLY TRAINED DOG TO DETECT DIABETES PROBLEM

- By OWEN YOUNGER

A FAMILY from Ponteland have made a plea for support to help get their daughter a medical alert dog for crucial support with her type 1 diabetes.

Penelope Airey, seven, was diagnosed with the condition in July of last year aged 6, after her parents Lucy and Michael noticed her behaviour hugely change. Lucy said: "There was definitely a change in Penelope for about a month before her diagnosis, she was getting really upset and was really thirsty and downing drinks one day when we twigged and took her to the hospital.

"We ended up staying there and when we were told that's what she had it was a shock, as she needs insulin so many times in a day.

"She is a real character and such an extrovert, but it felt like this stopped her in her tracks. It has been hard trying to get her to follow such strict rules, and it has taken away a lot of her independence which has been difficult.