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Medical Alert I.D's

Lili

Newbie
Hiya,

I was just wondering how many people out there have the medical alert I.D's as my boyfriend thinks I should have one but I'm not keen they are all really chunky and 99% of the time I'm with or around people who know I am diabetic T1. I can obviously see the need/use of them but has anyone got any nice ones?

Lili. :)
 
I have a stainless steel chain with a panel. one one side it has a cadduceus [sp?],my name and "diabetes type 2" on the other, my husband's name and mobile number and ICE. It's discrete, and quite elegant, definitely unobtrusive. Bernstein says that eveery diabetic should have a bracelet. Neck chains are too easily missed. Stainless steel goes into the swimming pool with me regularly
I an attest to that, my T1 husband had a major hypo with seizure. the paramedics missed his neck lace. He now has a bracelet like mine.
I as a T2 on minimal Metformin, don't expect to have hypos, but if something should happen, I should be safe from glucose drips.
Hana
 
I've always worn a MedicAlert bracelet, but now only continue to do so in order to stop family and friends "worrying". They should perhaps be more worried that on the occasions I've required assistance because of a hypo, the bracelet has been completely ignored by police/emergency services! But it keeps family and friends quiet...

http://www.medicalert.org.uk/
 
I resisted getting one for 10 years as I never saw the need and didn't like the way they looked. However I have recently developed some other conditions (allergies) that necessitate getting one.

I signed up with Medic Alert as they keep your info and drug dosages on file for an emergency. However I don't like their bracelets so I bought the cheapest one they offerered and removed the engraved plate. I bought lots of lovely beads from the local beading shop and made a few strings. Now I can wear a 'different' bracelet depending on what I'm wearing.

I keep the engraved plate on the inside of my wrist so it's not too obvious that i'm wearing medical jewellery when I'm out and about. However, If someone went to take my pulse then it would be quite obvious as the engraved plate has a big red snake and 'Medic Alert' written on it. :D
 
kegstore said:
They should perhaps be more worried that on the occasions I've required assistance because of a hypo, the bracelet has been completely ignored by police/emergency services! But it keeps family and friends quiet...

Kegstore, that's worrying. Did they say why they ignored the bracelet?
 
goji said:
kegstore said:
They should perhaps be more worried that on the occasions I've required assistance because of a hypo, the bracelet has been completely ignored by police/emergency services! But it keeps family and friends quiet...

Kegstore, that's worrying. Did they say why they ignored the bracelet?
Nope. My guess is the knowledge just isn't out there, or I've been VERY unlucky. I've also had a bracelet STOLEN (along with my watch) while passed out in the street.
 
Hi Keg.

The knowledge SHOULD be there. I was trained to look for such things as ID tags/bracelets etc so there is no reason why any cop/ambulance personel should not know what to look for in all circumstances.

Down to individuals not being professional I think ?
 
I didn't wear one for years, after my Mum bought me a medallion when I was a kid, and I got teased at school...this was teh 80s though, and I don't think children are so unaware these days! I know have a stainless steel one, which just has my name and the word diabetic on it. I had a beautiful silver one, that I actually liked as a piece of jewellry, but it brought ne out in a rash, so I am on the stainless steel engraved one now.

I am in the unfortunatel position to have needed these on a couple of occasions, so I know from experience thatthe ambulance crews who were called to help me looked for id. Once they saw the word diabetic, it was a blood glucose check, and a glucose drip, and 5 minutes later I could give them all teh details tehy needed! On teh occasion whn I wasn't wearing any id, I went into a severe hypo outside my GPs surgery, so they knew me and were able to help.

The period of my life when this happened was when I was pregnant, and had never happened before or since. (when I say never happened, I mean to an extent where I could not communicate somehow). As Kegsrore mentioned, if teh only reason you wear one is to help put loved ones mind at rest, this is worth doing. There are so many out there. Personally, I don't think signig up to a complicated service is necessary..if you are hypo, they will treat that firsta, and sort teh rest out when you can tell them the rest.
 
sophsmam said:
we got our daughers from icegems she loves it.

I've bookmarked that page, it's got some lovely designs especially for older children. We got a velcro kiddies one for my daughter and she won't wear it because it's uncomfortable not because it's a medic alert bracelet. I'm pretty sure my daughter will like the heart bracelets on the Ice Gems website so thanks for posting the info sophsmam.
 
Hi Sophia

If your daughter likes 'pretty' things, it's really easy for you and her to thread up a bracelet yourself. I never tried beading before but it only took me 10 minutes to make a few bracelets. I got some ideas from typing 'medic alert' into Etsy (they do handmade jewellery) and then bought some beads.

It might make her feel better about wearing one if she makes it herself. It's a lot cheaper too to make your own.
 
kegstore said:
Nope. My guess is the knowledge just isn't out there, or I've been VERY unlucky. I've also had a bracelet STOLEN (along with my watch) while passed out in the street.
Could have been worse, they could have pinched your car keys and done one with the car. That would be my luck. :lol:
 
I'm a cheapskate, bought mine for £3.95 on eBay with free delivery. I also carry an "In Emergency" card in my wallet and have an "ICE" number in my phone.

If a picture paints a thousand words

id.jpg


emergency.jpg


Sorry about the poor photo's but the light is bad under these new energy saving light bulbs :lol:
 
A lot of diabetes clinics usually have hypo cards :), if not just ask a dsn.

Here is my id which is on mobile phone as a wallpaper and also inside my purse inside a clear travel/credit card type holder.






Also if you look at http://medids.com/free-id.php you can print out a medical id card using your printer and some thick photo type paper. Best thing, it's free and can be updated whenever you want.
 

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sophsmam said:
sid where did you get your medical card from


Hi sophsmam, I was given it in hospital by the diabetes nurse when I was diagnosed, she gave me some insulin, two pens a few needles and a load of bumph which included this card. Ive just checked the back of it and it has "novo nordisk" on it, checked their web site and they have a customer services number 0845 6005055 which you could try ringing :) Say you are using their pens and insulin :wink:
 
I have a tattoo on my wrist - there is a pic in the forum somewhere of it. Its very noticable should anything happen to me!
 
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