I have worn one for over 30 years, and it has not affected my social life at all. In my mind, anybody who discriminates you because of medical conditions is not someone that can really be called a friend at all.
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AmericanMedicalID as a Dog Tag version that has a built in USB.
The USB has canned info to be filed in. It is password protected. And has enough drive space todown load other data.
In my case I keep all my blood work. And med reports.
55 years ago I often had hypos walking home at noon & after school at an early age (6-10). This was before medic alert (MA) or tags, and theyād often find me in snow drifts. Since MA became an option Iāve alway had one, although once the paramedics missed the necklace version I wore at the time. Itās been a bracelet since, as much as I dislike jewellery.
Iām not concerned so much about hypos now, rather being involved in a motor vehicle accident or possible stroke or CV event.
I have one, but itās not super obvious; it has sea creatures like turtles and seahorses as the band. I felt it was safer that my family knows where I am in a Jane doe type situation, even if it doesnāt save time with the paramedics. Iām most worried about traveling though, especially to Egypt where the traffic is bad so it takes a while for the emts to arrive. Iām not sure it will help at all in this situation because itās not a common practice there and the phone numbers are American. My husband said I would always be with him so it was fine, but his lawyers children died in a building collapse, and in that situation, everyone could be unconscious, so I still worry. I thought about just writing on my hand in Arabic that I was diabetic and my mother-in-lawās phone number, but everyone thought I was being silly and I conceded that it probably wouldnāt help much.
I have a medic alert tag on a black elastic wristband with T1 and hypertension engraved, along with the number to call the organization for detailed medical information. Since Iām retired, live with someone who could provide medical information, and rarely go out, I only wear the bracelet when I do go out, especially if I go alone.
I keep my diabetes under good enough control that the risk of a hypo I couldnāt control is low. But I am concerned that at my age, I could have a heart attack or stroke where it would be helpful for others to know my situation should I be unable to communicate properly. And, of course, there is always the risk of an accident.
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I do a lot of long distance cycling and strongly believe in wearing medical id. Even without a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, itās important that medical staff have access to essential information (contacts, medical conditions, prescriptions, health insurance, etc.). For many years I wore Medic Alert IDs but found the quality is low, the price is high, and you get tons of junk mail asking for donations. I switched to RoadID several years ago and been very happy. They have a wide assortment of IDs at a reasonable price. I go with the IDs that allow medical personnel access to essential information that you can update as needed on their website.
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" artwoman
I have a medic alert tattoo. Bracelets would get caught on things, and the words would wear off. I am looking forward to the day when I go back to my Tat Artist to have the words āI used to haveā added to my tat."
Artwoman, interesting. I never wanted a tattoo but a medic alert tattoo gets me thinking. At 67yrs, thatās a good thing. Can you share a pic of yours?
Mark
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I canāt seem to attach a photo. Butā¦if you go to Facebook and search medic alert or diabetes alert tattoos there are quite a few of us inked T1ās out there - with photos attached.
Artwomen, thanks. I prefer not to use facebook, but will look elsewhere.
Mark
These are really cool diabetes tattoos!
When I was first diagnosed the CDE really stressed the importance of a medical IDā¦ so I went out and bought a bright orange bracelet that said āTYPE 1 DIABETIC ON INSULINā
Not more than a few weeks after that I was at a big professional training center surrounded by other unlimited ocean master candidates, wearing that silly thingā¦ and it made me feel like crap to think that amongst these professionals in a hugely ego-centric industry they were looking at that and maybe thinking āoh, neat, they sent an EEO guy here tooā So I wore that only for about the first two days
So after that I bought a much more discreet dog-tag type necklace that I wore for a whileā¦ but since Iāve become more and more comfortable with my own control Iāve felt it less and less necessary and really havenāt worn it in several years nowā¦
Lately Iāve been considering if it would be the responsible thing to do to find a better compromise, maybe a more attractive and less obnoxious bracelet or somethingā¦ but in my career itās very important to project strength and certainty at all times, and this gives me hesitation to wear a medical IDā¦ which those who arenāt properly informed could interpret as weakness and fallabilityā¦ just like FDR didnāt let himself be seen in a wheelchair
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Type 1 for almost 60 yrs. In 1959, I used to carry a card stating that I was a diabetic and I was not intoxicated. Since I was only 8 it was pretty funny.
Since then I am rarely without a diabetic necklace. Any one who knows me knows that I inject insulin. As far as I know nobody has ever held it against me. In fact my friends fix me food even if they donāt always understand my present diet. I am always happy to explain if asked.
If I was younger, I too would get a tattoo, so if I was in an emergency people would notice it.
The medical folks need all the help they can get. I also keep a list of how much insulin I take and what I eat in my purse.
The few times I have been in the hospital, I am amazed at the lack of knowledge. Luckily I have always been able to insist that I be the boss of my diabetes. I dread to think about having to go to the hospital in the midst of an emergency.
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I carried the same card when I was 6. 
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