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medical id bracelet

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
SacredHeart

SacredHeart

Senior Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hmph. I'm quite annoyed. I finally decided to order myself a a medical id bracelet (mostly to calm my Mum's fear that I'm going to have a massive hypo on evenings when I'm walking home alone from rehearsals), and found one I liked.

It said I could have up to 3 lines of text on the back, and not to worry about how much, because they could alter font size accordingly. I really really didn't want anything on the front. So I put in an order last night, for the following on the back of the bracelet (the front to say 'see other side')

Rebecca Thomson 19/03/1985
Type 1 Diabetes on insulin
ICE: (my housemate's phone number)

figuring that they can make the font smaller where appropriate.

Just got a phone call saying it won't all fit, and I've either got to take something off, or put the diabetes line on the front (which to their credit, they said they wouldn't charge me extra for). Now, I've told them to go ahead with it, but I'm thinking I probably won't want to wear it as much now, because I didn't really want to advertise it, and wanted a bit of discretion.

Am I being daft? :confused:
 
You're not being daft at all, although I can't think of a way round it. Is it too late to change your mind and have a pendant or dog tags which you can then hide under your clothes? Or maybe wear another bracelet with it to take attention away from it?

I wear a bracelet and people keep asking me what I'm alergic to!
 
SacredHeart said:
Hmph. I'm quite annoyed. I finally decided to order myself a a medical id bracelet (mostly to calm my Mum's fear that I'm going to have a massive hypo on evenings when I'm walking home alone from rehearsals), and found one I liked.

It said I could have up to 3 lines of text on the back, and not to worry about how much, because they could alter font size accordingly. I really really didn't want anything on the front. So I put in an order last night, for the following on the back of the bracelet (the front to say 'see other side')

Rebecca Thomson 19/03/1985
Type 1 Diabetes on insulin
ICE: (my housemate's phone number)

figuring that they can make the font smaller where appropriate.

Just got a phone call saying it won't all fit, and I've either got to take something off, or put the diabetes line on the front (which to their credit, they said they wouldn't charge me extra for). Now, I've told them to go ahead with it, but I'm thinking I probably won't want to wear it as much now, because I didn't really want to advertise it, and wanted a bit of discretion.

Am I being daft? :confused:
Click to expand...
Hi babe, could you just alter the wording do you think? Mine says my name and that i am insulin dependant , and an ICE number . Not that i am diabetic as all medical people would know that anyway.
 
Ask them how many characters per line (a space usually counts as a character), then you'll know exactly how much you need to leave out. Eg Why include your date of birth? Do you need the word "on" between diabetes and insulin?

Hope you work out a solution.
 
No your not. I have one with a few lines on front but all the medical details are at the back. I am having a bracelet made so that it will look like a fashion bracelet. If you are unhappy with what has been suggested call them back and say that you don't like it, see what they say, you never know untill you ask.
________
TEEN MOVIES
 
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What sort of tag is the text on? Mine's on silver and I find the light shines on it so unless you're making an effort to read it you can't see what it says anyway, of course the fact that it's a medical ID is clear but I guess it would be regardless on where the text it.
I can see how much of a pain it must be though, frustrating that you've got something planned then have to change it, but at least you found one you like, that can be the biggest battle!
I've got a friend who makes jewellery so I had her make me one that I really wanted and then added the medical tag to it.
 
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Thanks for all the replies, guys. I'm just having an off day, so this really rubbed me wrong.

It's engraved on stainless steel, so aymes, you might have a very valid point!

http://www.medicaltags.co.uk/pebble-bead-bracelet.jpg

That's the one I've gone for, with the idea that I could always remove the beads, and attach bracelets I'll make myself.
 
SacredHeart said:
Thanks for all the replies, guys. I'm just having an off day, so this really rubbed me wrong.

It's engraved on stainless steel, so aymes, you might have a very valid point!

http://www.medicaltags.co.uk/pebble-bead-bracelet.jpg

That's the one I've gone for, with the idea that I could always remove the beads, and attach bracelets I'll make myself.
Click to expand...
Hi Becky, Ive just had a look... wow its lovely!! i like that , I think I might order one .

Taking in to consideration what you have said about text etc . Thanks for that!!! I need

a new one . I do also have a dog tag, have you thought about getting one? you can get

feminine ones / coloured ones etc so they dont have to be manly lol
 
I agree with insulin addict - your bracelet is lovely. You will probably find people will be too busy admiring your bracelet to notice anything written on it anyway. Hope you get lots of pleasure wearing it when it arrives.😉
 
Wow! It's lovely! Puts my bracelet to shame... 🙄 I got mine when I was diagnosed about 13 years ago. It's silver with the big medic alert symbol on it. It doesn't have my name just 'insulin dependent diabetes' written on it with my ID number and the number to ring the medic alert database which has all my info... I also get asked a lot about why I wear it, but this usually leads to lots of questions and me dispelling at least one myth about diabetes so I don't mind that at all! I find now that I feel like a part of me's missing when it's not there!! I quite like it 🙂 Sad... Hehe...
 
that is the least clinical bracelet I have seen, and agree it is lovely and can understand your concerns.
 
It came this morning, and I'm actually really thrilled with it. Aymes, you were totally right, in that as it's engraved, you can't see it unless you're looking for it.

I understand what they said about not being able to fit it all on though - the bar with the details on is about half the length I thought it was going to be. Explains a lot.....🙄
 
it is really nice. I may *consider* getting one before I go to australia... maybe.
 
Every now and then there's a thread about these medi tags.

When I was first diagnosed I was given leaflets on two different companies that supply them, I immediately threw them away.

Now as time passes I'm inclined to reconsider, but should it be a neckless or wrist bracelet? How many people actually do wear them. surely a neckless is less visible, but perhaps more comfortable, but shouldn't it be as visable as poss, i.e. shouldn't a bracelet be the more obvious to medical staff therefore be the only choice?

Not sure what I'm asking just wondering if there is any information or advice out there that will push me to do something serious about it.
 
rossi_mac said:
Every now and then there's a thread about these medi tags.

When I was first diagnosed I was given leaflets on two different companies that supply them, I immediately threw them away.

Now as time passes I'm inclined to reconsider, but should it be a neckless or wrist bracelet? How many people actually do wear them. surely a neckless is less visible, but perhaps more comfortable, but shouldn't it be as visable as poss, i.e. shouldn't a bracelet be the more obvious to medical staff therefore be the only choice?

Not sure what I'm asking just wondering if there is any information or advice out there that will push me to do something serious about it.
Click to expand...


Hi rossi mac

Nathan wears a bracelet, can't really describe it other than its a man style.
He worn one since diagnosis... I would urge all diabetics to wear some form of medical id.. Nath has no probs wearing it, its part of him, and how important it is.. Besides at least if the worst should happen and he has a bad hypo, and i'm not about, someone will be able to assist him and ambulance will be aware..not only that but people in hypo state are often confused, and people believe this to be a sign that they are drunk..not in need of immediate assistance.
As for neckless or bracelet I think that is down to a personal choice and whatever you would feel comfortablest in
Hope this helps
Heidi
🙂
 
It is a really nice bracelet - thanks for the link. Been thinking about some form of ID and someone (think it was Mike) gave me link to medicalert, so will have a look at them all. I have an ID card, but it's buried deep in my bag and it would need Mary Poppins to find it! A tag would be better for going out running etc. I do have a small plastic glucose tab carrier with a medicalert symbol on it which I can hang round my neck, but its functional rather than nice...

Glad you like the bracelet anyway. 🙂
 
runner said:
It is a really nice bracelet - thanks for the link. Been thinking about some form of ID and someone (think it was Mike) gave me link to medicalert, so will have a look at them all. I have an ID card, but it's buried deep in my bag and it would need Mary Poppins to find it! A tag would be better for going out running etc. I do have a small plastic glucose tab carrier with a medicalert symbol on it which I can hang round my neck, but its functional rather than nice...

Glad you like the bracelet anyway. 🙂
Click to expand...

I have a custom made bracelet that I wear day to day but for running I have some from this website http://www.coolmedid.com/ They're nice and cheap (although when I got then the exchange rate was better!) so it doesn't matter if they get damaged doing sport. They are an American company but have always been so helpful when I've ordered.
 
rossi_mac said:
Now as time passes I'm inclined to reconsider, but should it be a neckless or wrist bracelet? How many people actually do wear them. surely a neckless is less visible, but perhaps more comfortable, but shouldn't it be as visable as poss, i.e. shouldn't a bracelet be the more obvious to medical staff therefore be the only choice?
Click to expand...

I went for a bracelet because I felt I could wear it with anything, I can always wear more than one bracelet, but I felt that I'd be tempted not to wear a medical necklace as i'd want to wear others!

As for visability, I'm not sure if it would make a difference, I think emergency medical personnel are trained to look for either.....?
 
Cheers Aymes, I've bookmarked it with the other sites to look at, at my liesure.
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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