• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Medical Alert Tattoos?

Nicely put. I don't want to have to remember to put on a necklace, bracelet, badge or keyring. I would like something easily seen. My understanding is that emergency services would check wrists first so diabetic on the inside of my wrist seems practical. The flowers will be over the wrist like a bracelet.
Anyone having a tattoo should make sure they have eaten properly prior to a tattoo. Your tattooist should also be aware you are diabetic. ..lol obvious withthe word but for other tattoos too.
 
Don't mean to be rude whitewitch but I don't think you read this thread properly before you jumped on the preacher's soap box.

I like the idea of a tattoo for all events. The left wrist seems the best place to me as someone said it's the paramedics first choice of side.

I'm wondering if something like the ICE In Case of Emergency code could be put on a mobile phone too. Instead of making a person your ICE1 contact why not type "T2 Diabetic - Metformin"

Without wishing to hijack this thread what do you think?
 
Ambulance personnel/ fire service or first responders as part of their training would look out for medical alert tags or bracelets. Anything else, tattoos, mobile phone contacts etc are a nice addition but should be "as well as", not "instead of"


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Hi, I have type one diabetic tattooed on my right wrist with little chain links and handcuffs attached to the chain link so it looks like a bracelet :)
 
Im not going to get into the politics of whether its right or wrong for tattoos and poisoning etc lol ! I have had T1 for 21 years exactly on 23rd March 2013 and i have just had a big tattoo on the outside of my arm..... I like the symbol with a pole, 2 x snakes and wings and was going to get it on the inside of my arm because i like it and it will cover my arm completely (half sleeve)
I was just wondering whether this symbol was an American diabetic sign or worldwide? Im English.
P.S. It isnt for emergency services (I have a wristband for that) it is just something to symbolise me as a person..
 
Staff 2 snakes is the caduceus, the staff of Hermes. For reasons you can look up wikipedia, it was chosen as the symbol for the US medical corps instead of the traditional rod of Asclepius which continues to be used elsewhere. Read more
 
AMBrennan said:
Staff 2 snakes is the caduceus, the staff of Hermes. For reasons you can look up wikipedia, it was chosen as the symbol for the US medical corps instead of the traditional rod of Asclepius which continues to be used elsewhere. Read more

Yes i have looked this up on wiki and seen it says US medical corps est 1902.....but I have seen other sites with this sign tattooed on people with "type one diabetic" or "type two diabetic" tattooed above or below it , so was wondering how it as become linked to Diabetics...? also googled "diabetic symbols" and this sign is prominent in seaches!
Anyways i think i may still get it on my inside arm because i like it...unless i see something else between now and two weeks time... and yes i am barking mad..believe me lol
 
The official symbol for diabetes is the blue circle
diabetesbluecircle.png
, which is also in the top image results for "diabetes symbol" but I've never seen it in real life.

The reason for the association is pretty clear - medical alert jewellery features the recognisable symbol of medicine because it has to be recognisable above all else. Since the Caduceus is frequently used in that capacity in the US, you'll also get a number of people using that symbol in medical jewellery and tattoos.
 
Denise02 said:
I'm thinking about this aswell the blue circle and the snakes in the middle:)


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Cool...Can you post a pic? I was just thinking of the snakes and wings on the inside of my bicep......the blue wont go with the rest of the tattoo unfortunately for me...I have a big coi carp which soon is going to have orange and red in it and japanese maple leaves around it etc etc....but mostly going to have oranges reds in it..Im just wanting this to join in with the rest of it to complete the half sleeve..
 
Denise02 said:
I don't no how 2 put a pic up of it this is the best I can do let me no if u can get it or not


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Yeh that picture has come out ok.. Its nice..Personally i dont like tattooing the words Diabetic, Type 1 etc on my arm...Would rather wear my silcone band...but hey were all different!
 
Back
Top