But in the past few years, the usual physical warning signs that tell her she's on the brink of an insulin crisis - particularly at night - are failing as she navigates middle age, the demands of being a busy Missoula massage therapist and single mother to two teenagers.
Her survival is tied to some basic concerns. Because she no longer gets night sweats that tell her to get up and drink a glass of juice, she could fall into a seizure and possibly die. She's already had some close calls.
Now, she wants to bring one home and into her life. The only thing stopping her is the cost: $7,500, which includes the dog and the necessary three-week training course she must take with her new companion.
To make it work, White and her friends are sponsoring a fundraising Dog-A-Thon & Doggie Get-Down on Saturday, June 14, at McCormick Park.
The event includes a three-mile hike, which begins at 3 p.m. in the park and ambles along the Kim Williams Trail, followed by a jam session in the park featuring a barbecue and live music from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
All community dogs and their owners are encouraged to attend, and to solicit pledges from individuals, local businesses and corporate sponsors.
Each dog/owner team who wants to participate is asked to collect pledges - a $10 minimum is suggested - and all pledges are tax deductible. Donations should be payable to Heaven Scent Paws, the Missouri organization that provides and trains diabetic alert dogs, along with Francoise White's name and the identification number 151108358.
There will also be a silent auction and prizes for the dogs gathering the most pledges.
How does a dog save a diabetic?
These special canines are trained to use scent, similar to bomb-sniffing and rescue dogs, White explained.
It works, she said, because the dogs can smell the chemical change that happens when a diabetic's insulin levels become dangerous. When the dogs detect a change, they communicate by excessive barking, pawing or licking their owner.
Managing her diabetes during the day is pretty routine, White said - it's the sleeping hours that are a problem, and it's become such a concern that it's beginning to affect her independence.
White is looking forward to the fundraising event, and her hope is that it will continue on through the years.
She'd like it help bring one or two more diabetic alert dogs to Montana every year for other people who live with the chronic disease.
“These dogs are the best tools on the market,” White said. “A lot of people have been talking to me about insulin pumps, but pumps don't prevent or warn people of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.”
Dog party
To learn more about diabetic alert service dogs and the Dog-A-Thon & Doggie Get-Down on Saturday, June 14, call Francoise White at (406) 542-3362, or Megan Adams (406) 207-6016.
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com.
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