Christine: Your tat looks great… I think this is a great idea!
I have worn one from Day 1. I changed whenever I changed meds until I went on insulin and now I stand fast. I have a beaded one that looks pretty and not clunky like the usual. And the EMT’s had no issue with it when I had an incident a couple of years ago.
Do a search online, there are many websites offering options!
Hugs,
Tracy
You reallyshould have an ID. I was lucky two years ago that I was home when I had a seizure and ended up in a coma. If I had been away from home with no ID I would have died. The EMT’s had a hard enought time with me knowing I am diabetic so I can’t imagine if they didn’t. I was incoherent, uncooperative and soseverly dehydrated. I had needle markd everywhere including my feet. I highly recomment a Medic Alert of some kind. Four days is a very long time in the ICU and you don’t want to go ther.
I have been a diabetic for 11 years and have never worn one. I am currently looking for one but I am not sure what information should go on the bracelet. Does anyone know what information should be on it?
A company like Medic Alert can help you wth it. On the reverse side of my bracelet it says:
Diabetes,
Insulin Dependent,
Hashimoto’s Dis.,
Allergic to Penicillin
12345678
Also, there’s a non-personalized engraving that says “Call collect xxx-xxx-xxxx USA”, so if someone needs the more thorough information on file, they can call and reference the unique number at the bottom (12345678 – not the real number).
This was done before I started using the insulin pump. If someone calls the number, they’ll get the information on my pump, who my doctor is, who my emergency contacts are, etc.
Some of the other companies simply put “Diabetic” on it. It gets a basic message across, but that’s really it.
Thank you for the information. It was really helpful.
I used to wear one but it kept falling off or getting snagged on things and breaking so I stopped wearing it. I know that probably should wear one but part of me doesn’t want to have a constant reminder hanging off my wrist. I feel a little more “normal” without it.
I have worn a medic alert bracelet for since I was 11. Right now I have a pretty cheap (I think $20) medic alert that is teal. Thankfully I have never needed it but I would never leave home without it- except maybe my wedding day =) I know in the last few years medic alert has come out with a line of bracelets that have cool colors on the emblem instead of the traditional red - they aren’t too “cool” but I would rather be alive with an uncool bracelet than dead because the EMT didnt notice it =/
Just thought I would share as well- My bracelet says:
Diabetes.
Aortic Valve
Defect. Allerg
Insect & Pen.
MY NAME
I know a few people dont add their name- but I dont go by my legal name so thats just to help someone screaming my legal name at me =)
There are dozens of companies, each with particular stuff. Some are jewelry pretending to be medic alert. some are military type medic alert. Depends on your preference. I’ll ask my wife she had found two sites that were nice quality and affordable too.
Point of infomration though… BRACLETS must be worn on the LEFT HAND…
Stuart
I wear one, just a black fabric strap with a stainless steel plate with the information on. Always wear it with the plate on the inside of my wrist as it was getting scratched up.
I was thinking the same thing about the tattoo. A watch and Live Strong band for my brother are the only pieces of jewelry I wear. I hate having it hang off me. Let alone, like Sami said, the unattractiveness of design, I should just get the tat.
Stuart-
Is the left-hand rule dictated by fashion or tradition, or is there a more pressing reason to do so? (like EMTs are trained to chck the left wrist, or take the pulse on the left side)
The only reason I wear my bracelet on my right wrist is because my watch is on my left, and they would interfere with each other if they were on the same arm. And I’m not prepared to move my watch, as I look at that a lot more than my Medic Alert bracelet!
I wear a sos talisman around my neck. I have worn it on and off since diagnosed with type 1 in 2005. I mainly have it on when I work away from the city i live in
I’ve had it for almost 10 years now and I never wore one until this summer, I went online and bought a hot pink dog tag with my info on it. it’s really cool, i hate those little kid ones they try to make you wear.
I wear the SOS Talisman type medical bracelet. Its absolutely brilliant. I treated myself to a sterling silver one and I am really thrilled with it. It looks just like a regular piece of jewelry, but all most important medical info is inside! I bought it here: http://www.medical-bracelets.co.uk/
I wear one off and on…for years I wore a necklace, but recently I’ve been wearing one of the ID bracelets easily available sold in the little plastic tubes in pharmacies. The only problem is that it periodically yanks hairs off my arm or else snags the hair on my head. Ouch. I just take this as a sharp reminder to take care of myself.
Hello! yes i wear one . You can check out www.laurens hope .com they have some really nice ones there. And there not that much money like some others. And money goes to jdrf . Well happy shopping. diabeticidol94
I just got a watch from StickyJ, I kind of like it. Hopefully it’ll get the job done if there’s some sort of emergency, though it’s not as obvious as other bracelets. http://www.stickyj.com/sp1060.html Also got a necklace for when I’m exercising or whatever.
Mine says-
Diabetic
Insulin Dep.
Allergic:
Penicillin
i got a free one from where i get my insulin but i got the necklace.