Dear Heloise: I have Type 1 diabetes, and I also have a service dog, a golden retriever named Gillespie, who is trained to detect when my blood sugar drops. He can sense the change due to the smell of my breath when I exhale, and he’s trained to nudge me with his nose and even alert someone else to my condition. He’s even trained to bring me my medications and my cellphone, too! If he didn’t help me out and alert me, I could faint and fall.

He’s helped me be more independent and active. My family worries less about me when Gillespie’s around. He’s not a replacement for caring for myself and managing my diabetes, but he’s a great companion and a big helper.

I’d advise your readers who are interested in a service dog for a medical condition like mine to talk to their doctors, get professional advice and go from there. — Holly in Ohio

FRESH FACE

Dear Readers: Spring’s the time to freshen up, and that includes your skin! Gentle exfoliation is a great way to remove winter’s dull cast on the complexion. And what do I love to use? It’s a household helper that is cheap, safe and readily available. Hmmm — what could I possibly be referring to? Why, yes, it’s baking soda!

To remove dull, dry skin cells, make a paste of baking soda and water, and gently rub on the skin, either face (avoid eye area) or body, in the shower. Rinse thoroughly.

I have more beauty secrets for using baking soda in my six-page pamphlet Heloise’s Baking Soda Hints and Recipes that you can have by visiting www.Heloise.com, or by sending $5 and a long, stamped (70 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.

FYI: For a refreshing bath, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to a full tub of water. Soak that stress and tension away! — Heloise

CAT TOES

Dear Readers: A typical cat has 18 toes — five on each front paw and four on each hind paw. A polydactyl cat has extra toes — up to nine on each paw!

Extra toes are a genetic “flaw,” but it typically causes the cat no harm and can even be a benefit — all the more toes to hunt, climb and play with!

And some fun facts: Novelist Ernest Hemingway was a “collector” of multi-toed cats, and nearly half of Maine Coon cats have extra toes! — Heloise