Friends- does anyone with type 1 wear a medical bracelet/ID that says you are diabetic? Is this an important thing to have? Everyone in my work place and family already knows I am diabetic. Is it important?
I do! actually I cheated and got a tattoo of it since the cure does not seem to be coming anytime soon lol. In all seriousness it is important to wear one especially in case no one is with you when something happens. I am a medic and while for the most part you being diabetic is not going to effect how I treat you unless it is diabetes related it is good to know so we can let the hospital know if you can’t speak for yourself.
I actually wear a medic alert bracelet as does my husband (me for various medical conditions including diabetes him because he’s epileptic). growing up everyone use to assume that I was diabetic because only children who where diabetic had a medic alert bracelet at that point in time (when they first started out in the market), at least that was the misconception at the time, but didn’t bother me people knew I had it so that was all that really mattered.
Now a days seeing someone with such a bracelet is common place and most medic’s first look at the wrist to see if one is wearing a medic alert bracelet then around the neck to see if its there instead as some people like my hubby prefer necklaces over bracelets.
I think that you need to have something that identifies you as a diabetic. I have several silicone bracelets and necklaces that I wear. I have them to match my mood. You can find them at www.coolmedid.com.
I thought you might like to listen to this talk about the ‘diabetes bracelet’
-podcast with diabetes powershow:
http://www.diabetespowershow.com/DiabetesPowerShow_64.html
This is a little background if your interested…
About the guest speaker:
Greg Adams is currently the Associate Director, Emergency Medical Education at MedicAlert Foundation. He is responsible for training first responders , EMT’s, paramedics, fire fighters, police, nurses and physicians - across the US on MedicAlert’s services and capabilities, such as its 24 hour emergency call center that specializes in providing vital information to help save patients lives. The training helps emergency responders improve and expedite treatment for MedicAlert members.
Greg started his EMS career as a volunteer firefighter in 1980 then joined the US Army (as a medic) in 1981. He has held various training and leadership positions in the Army including 3 years as the Program Director for Combat Lifesaver Course for the 1st of the 184th Infantry Battalion where he trained over 300 infantry soldiers life-saving skills used in Iraq and Afghanistan. During Greg’s 25 years working on an ambulance, he has been a Field Training Officer and Public Relations Officer. He has written training materials for nurses on the subject of interactions with EMS in long term care facilities and he has written articles for a national EMS magazine emphasizing the importance of emergency medical identification.
As a certified instructor for CPR, First Aid, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Greg currently volunteers his time training basic level US Air Force EMTs.
Greg has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and has held his National Registry Paramedic Certification since 1998. He is a member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Educators as well as the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.
The Teenager Who Launched an International Foundation: The MedicAlert Story
Rarely can children and teenagers avoid some kind of injury, cuts or bruises during the carefree days of summer vacation. In the summer of 1953 in Turlock, Calif., teenager Linda Collins was no exception. With her parents away on vacation, Linda managed to cut her finger badly enough to require a trip to the local hospital.
Linda’s family members were no strangers in the local medical community. In fact, they were a staple. Linda’s father, Dr. Marion Collins, was a physician and surgeon in the town. To get treatment for her injury, Linda was taken to Turlock’s Lillian Collins Hospital, an institution founded by her grandfather. There, she was treated by her uncle, Dr. James Collins.
Family Portrait
Centered is Dr. Marion Collins, Michael, Linda, Chrissie Collins and young Tom.
doo
Even for this knowledgeable medical family, what should have been a routine procedure to treat Linda’s cut turned into a medical nightmare. Following standard protocol, Linda’s uncle performed a skin test before injecting Linda with a full dose of tetanus antitoxin which contained horse serum. Within moments, Linda went into anaphylactic shock – a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction.
The incident nearly killed her. Linda spent several days in an oxygen tent fighting for her life. Bolstered by the strength of her youth she was able to survive the trauma. Linda could return to a normal life, but she and her parents both felt there was a lesson to be learned.
“My parents realized that if one tiny drop of the antitoxin had produced that reaction I’d probably be killed by a full dose,” she recalled. “Thereafter, when I went away from home for a weekend or to a neighboring town for school events, they’d attach a note to my coat or make me a paper bracelet describing my allergies.”
Linda gained a reputation around Turlock for her medical tagging. Everyone in the small town had heard her story. But, it wasn’t until Linda was accepted to Stanford that she and her parents decided to create a more permanent indicator of her medical allergy.
Refusing to be tattooed or to wear a dog tag, as her father suggested, Linda came up with the concept of a silver bracelet with “Allergic to Tetanus Antitoxin” engraved on the back. Dr. Collins added “MedicAlert” and the symbol of the medical profession to the front. The design was sent to a local San Francisco jeweler. Days later the first MedicAlert bracelet was created.
Walking around campus, Linda was frequently asked about the unique piece of jewelry on her wrist. Many people asked how they could get one for themselves or a loved one. She told her parents of the interest, and together they decided that their concept needed to be shared.
Dr. Collins launched a campaign to turn his daughter’s jewelry concept into a national phenomenon with a strictly philanthropic model in mind. “We are not here to make money. We are here to save lives,” he frequently stated.
In 1956, Dr. Collins established the MedicAlert Foundation International, a nonprofit organization. In the more than 50 years since its creation, the foundation has grown from a family-run organization, headquartered in the Collins family living room, to a global entity with offices in ten countries and 4 million members worldwide.
Over the years, the foundation has protected the lives of millions of people all because of one teenager’s accident, allergic reaction and desire to help others like herself in times of need.
It is important! Believe me, if there was an episode, such as a hypo or an accident and you became disorientated for whatever reason, medical staff have a tendency to presume you are drunk and may not treat you appropriately. It is also important to list your allergies too, to ensure that they do not treat you with the wrong type of medication.
I searched around on the internet and could not find anything that I could afford, as I am unemployed, so my sister made me a beautiful silver dog tag (though she could have made many other shapes and sizes etc) and I now proudly wear it all the time, it states that I have diabetes Type 1 and that I am on pork insulin and that I have allergies, and also the membership number of the organisation to which I belong, that is internationally known, for them to ring if I become ill so they know my current medication - I can never remember, even if I am ok!! The choice was mine. On the other side is the international medical symbol. Mine is unique, in that there is none like it in the world. My sister has a business making personalised jewellery, usually using finger prints of loved ones, and making them into pendants, necklaces,bracelets etc. While I was visiting I broached the subject and she and I got on and designed my own.
I could give you details if you are interested.
Hi Michael. I’ve been wearing a Medic Alert bracelet for a year now, and it just makes me feel better to know I have some protection in case of an accident. I wear it all the time because who knows when there will be an accident? Reading your description of the company’s origin, I’m doubly glad that I chose Medic Alert. Thanks for the descriptive background of their origins.
I absolutely wear one. Everyone around me knows I have D, but I am not always with them. I would hate to get pulled over from drunk driving, have it go unrecognized, wind up in jail or something like that…it speaks for me when I can’t speak for myself.
I also ride on the ambulance - and it has helped many of my patients when they couldn’t speak for themselves. It is a very useful tool, when the patient can’t relay their history and allergies to us. And also in contacting family who might not know their loved one is in the hospital.
I had a hard time finding something J would wear - he didn’t like the standard bracelets (or the rubber ones or anything else I could easily find).
I ended up going to Tucci Charms and getting him an Italian charm bracelet in 13 mm size. He likes it and it has several links on it engraved with IDDM, Type 1 Diabetic, Insulin Dependent, etc. I recently got him some links that are white with a blue medical cross on them to make it more obvious.
He also just got dogtags from mydogtag.com and he loves those!
I used to be one of those first responders before I retired. When I found someone unconscious with no one around and no medical ID its tough on the first responder to determine what has happened. Please be kind to your first responder in the event you need one someday, they will appreciate it but more important it could save your life. So yes buy it and keep the information up to date. I responded to many T-1 calls over my 31 years of service.
Personally I like Medic Alert as I can keep it up to date on the web.
I have a tattoo as well…I’m not fond “jewelry” that doesn’t have diamonds lol
It’s definitely important that you have something on your person that indicates you have diabetes.
My tattoo is the medical caduceus, surrounded by the blue circle for diabetes, surrounded by the words Type 1 Diabetic.
Some people put what type they have on their medic alerts, some don’t. In any case, it’s a good idea just to have something that idetifies you as having diabetes should an emergency occur and you are incapacitated and unable to inform anyone. If you are severely hypoglycemic or in DKA, precious moments could be wasted while you’re being checked for inebriation or the flu.
I don’t wear it all the time, I know I should. But if I am driving or out walking by myself or at the gym, I try to wear it. I have several from very plain to very fancy. I get them online and you can engrave up to 5 lines of emergency info www.laurenshope.com
I recently updated my Medic Alert information (I didn’t realize that the last time it was updated was prior to me going off to college over 12years prior!). Not only do I wear the necklace, but I carry a sheet of paper attached to my car visor with all the current medications that I take (diabetic and asthmatic). My necklace also states that I have drug allergies which is also important for first responders to know. It came in quite handy this school year when I had the paramedics respond to work when I was in a fullblown asthma attack and unable to respond to their questions…
I DO! And I am a type II. I’ve worn one since the day I found out I had “D”. I think it is vitally important that we wear one, that people with any chronic disease wears one. You aren’t always going to be with family and friend and work people. You maybe out with people who don’t know you…and something happens…what will tell them that you are a type I diabetic.
As an example, and I am sure we all have them. A friend of mine was in a car accident last fall, she had taken her bracelet off to have it fixed at the jewelers, she crashed her car into a railroad tie, and as to be medivaced to the nearest hospital, with no bracelet. It took them four times with the heart paddles to get her back, and she was in a coma for three days. It was only 10 hours later that her husband was contacted (I know another problem) but, it wasn’t until then that the hospital knew for sure that she was a diabetic. No one had a clue, they though her sugars were the least of her problems, and pumped her full of fluids because of other injuries. IF she had been wearing her bracelet…the emt’s would have seen it and treated her there for that, and been able to figure our quicker what another problem was.
SO YES, GET A BRACELET AND WEAR IT!~ You are too valuable to your family, friends and co-workers to lose over a silly piece of metal.
I wear my bracelet all the time. Has Type 1 and a list of allergies. I also have a necklace but find it too annoying to wear.
I have a charm that i wear everyday. I either wear it on a chain as a necklace or I have a pandora bracelet and it fits right on there. I figure that the charm is easier than having to tell everyone around you, and it makes me feel safer.
I can give you the website i got the charm from because i know there’s a lot more obnoxiously large bracelets out there than a simple charm.
I wear one whenever I’m not at home. I first got it because I was walking alone a lot and my mother worried. Now, I feel incomplete without it–the same way I do when I forget my cell phone.
I also wear Medic Alert. I initially got one because my mother made me when I was diagnosed. When I was a teenager I went through a phase where I got tired of people asking or commenting about it, so I got a necklace. I guess it made me feel better, and ti kept my mom quiet. = )
They have phone number the doctors can call to get all of your information (based on your id number). This includes whomever you designate as your emergency contact people and medical information. I have kidney trouble, so that should be known in case of emergency, and if they want to give me steroids in the ER or want to take me in for emergency surgery, they will know they have to check my bg more often. It gives me peace of mind. I am an engineer, though, so I do like to be cautious.
I didnt want to wear a medical bracelet at first. I figured I told everyone around me and I had ICE numbers in my phone until my boyfriend at the time nagged me to get one. He said it made him feel better if I had one but then my excuse was I didnt see anything I thought was cute, lol…Eventually I found a website that offered cute ones and 4 bracelets later I feel naked without it. I feel safer with a bracelet on because lets face it no one can tell your a diabetic by looking at you and if your passed out how could you tell them.
I wear the basic Medic Alert medallion around my neck.
I think it’s really important for all the reasons people have already said. I like Medic Alert because I can register detailed info with them (medical conditions, allergies, etc.) and the hospital/doctor can get access to this info easily. In fact, I wrote sort of a tribute to this topic in my blog a couple of months ago. You can check it out at http://www.spinningdinnerplates.com/2010/11/all-that-glitters/.
Cheers,
Corinna