For people living with diabetes, a companion pet may support their diabetes self-management and improve their quality of life.
Caring for our pets can bring a sense of joy, love, and companionship. It can also help us maintain a routine as we care for the well-being of our animals and thereby ourselves. Pets are an important part of the Diabetes Education Services work environment. You might hear Muffin and Biscuit wrestling in the background if you call Bryanna by phone. Those cute rescue felines are busy making mischief and keep Bryanna hopping. Or the barks of Freya and Sadie while talking with Brent. If you are watching a webinar with Coach Beverly, you will see her constant companion and Chiweenie, Choochi, napping on the comfy chair in the background. Choochi reminds Coach Beverly to take walks in the nearby field and to take a break from her treadmill desk.
Here are a few ways animals can support people living with diabetes.
Structure & Routine
Animals like a routine and need structure. Many know when their feeding time or play/exercise time is and will alert you to when those times are coming up. A pet’s routine can also be used by people living with diabetes to schedule their own meal times, medication schedules, and times for exercise. In fact, 47% of pet owners surveyed said that their pets keep them more active.
The American Hearth Association has this great handout for ways pets can motivate us to be more active.
Isolation & Loneliness
A study published by BMC Public Health that assessed the relationship between loneliness and blood glucose control in diabetes found that “systolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with loneliness in patients with diabetes.”
For people living with diabetes, pets can provide company, love, and nonhuman social support. Having animals can also connect us with others, such as going to the park with your dog, riding horses with others, or joining a pet group on social media.
Stress Reduction & Mood
Last year, the American Heart Association conducted a survey for their Healthy Bond for Life program which showed that “95% of pet parents rely on their pets for stress relief.” For those who experience diabetes distress, spending time petting an animal, watching them play, and snuggling up with them may help in times of stress.
Animal-assisted interventions have also been shown to have positive outcomes for those experiencing depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
How to Keep You and Your Pet Healthy
While there are many benefits to owning a pet, it is important to be aware of how to keep you and your pet safe. The CDC’s “Healthy Pets, Healthy People” hub has helpful information and resources on pet safety.
