I was reading something or other and it advised diabetics NOT to purchase sterling silver items from them...
Has anyone had any reactions/problems with sterling silver more now that they are a diabetic?
Just found it interesting, esp since a lot of the ID pendants/jewelry/etc are made of it..
(wondering if it has something to do with your body excreting acetone when your in DKA)
Im allergic to silver 
I can only wear gold (not gold platted silver) or in my piercings I have surgical steel with no issues
A doctor told me years ago that, many diabetics were known to have resistance to some metals… The first time I got my ears pierced, it took about 5 years to fully heal (without that bump that we often get). Then again, I was not diagnosed then, and my sugars could have been through the roof.
All I can say is that I do a lot of reading, and I have never seen/heard this.
hmmm. I prefer silver jewelry, and really like sterling silver. My medical bracelets are sterling silver. I bet the advise not to purchase sterling silver was to sell you a more expensive option.
May I know what kind of problems? Did they specify? Ive heard that there are some people who are allergic to certain types of metals…But Ive never seen nor read anything about reactions of sterling silver to diabetics. Though gold is still my preference, so far, I have had no reactions to wearing jewelries/accessories made of silver…
I wear sterling silver jewelry with no problem. My first medical bracelet (which I lost) was sterling silver.
Never heard this, never had a problem with silver - wear it all of the time.
I have purchased a bunch of cheap medic alert bracelets from the pharmacies, taken the chain part off and made personalized beaded bracelets from longer necklaces, with matching earrings. I have never had a problem with whatever type of metal I have used.
Some of us do have reactions though… I would worry more if someone got their ears pierced, because then theirs an open wound; and if your sugars are not controlled, it could be bad I would imagine… Some cheap medic necklaces do jack-up the back of my neck. Maybe it has nothing to do with diabetes, but I think it’s worth it to be mindful. Same goes for diabetics who get tattoos…
I have a problem with all metals, regardless of whether they claim they are hypoallergenic… and can only do gold if it’s 14K or higher… I even get issues at the button site, for jeans. My dad never had that problem, I don’t think, and he was also a Type 2… I don’t think my brother does, either… The different metals make my ear piercings just raw with irritation. One time I had a bracelet mom got for me, thinking it was gold, and I got the worst allergy rash on my hand, ever. It was pretty darn bad.
Same thing happened to me!!! But let’s face it Lizmari, they are not making ANYTHING like they used to. I remember I purchased this really nice lion ring for about $100, and by the next week it turned. Then they try to spray it with more “gold”… I think diabetics, more so anybody else, needs to try and find a jeweler you can trust.
By the way, to those who do not know, pure gold melts. Therefore gold is often mixed with other substances.
Actually I found the reference… It was Medicalert who mentions it…
Funny now they explain “why” on their website… In the intial mailing/article, no reason was given
Quote:
We have observed that a high percentage of people with diabetes and those who are taking an anticoagulant have experienced tarnishing of our non-coated silver products. As an alternative, we recommend selecting a product from our rhodium coated silver line or from another metal type.
And they werent trying to upsell either, some of the options were actually cheaper than silver, albeit not as nice.
Still havent found where someone was stating diabetics are more prone to a metal allergy, such as jewelry, but am still looking into it…
Since my dx 15 years ago, I’ve been a Medic Alert member. This is what they warn on my membership page:
“Did you know? Sterling silver IDs are not recommended for diabetics or those taking anticoagulants (tarnishing may occur). We recommend rhodium-coated products for these members.”
Just a thought…
Interesting.
Never had the issue. Very interesting
My med ID bracelet is silver and has been on me for years with no problem. I have never heard about this. I wonder if there are some people who react?
I have an educated GUESS, (not proven, but a theory)… as to WHY this could happen… but would be nice to see some substantial research to back it up… Two things… one is we do secrete acetone when we have DKA or ketosis in general… I AM NOT sure how much comes out the pores but there’s likely to be some…Iv actually seen a chain I have (two similar but not the same, one is longer) on a sibling without diabetes and it doesn’t seem to turn as fast but this is an ancedotal observation, not a controlled research project… But we do find that Acetone in general has a detrimental effect on some metals…Im wondering if it might be casually linked to someone who has more unstable BG than someone whose more in the zone…
I can wear silver but I have to be careful with all other metals. My body turns green, gets hives, and even eats though the gold. I have to wear plastic watches, put nail polish on the back of my jeans and be careful how long I wear glasses with metal frames. I have been like this since I was a small child. I was only diagnosed as a diabetic a few years ago.