What metals can I wear?

[Zantos]

I was diagnosed type 2 New Year's Eve 4 years ago. My works were very supportive and understanding but asked that I wore an SOS talisman "just in case". I had no problems with it and duly purchased one.
About 2 years ago I lost my original so went looking for a replacement on Amazon and eBay. All of a sudden I'm seeing that the metals they're made from a not recommended for diabetes even the gold ones when in contact with skin!The suggested alternative was a watch type bracelet where there is a leather strap that goes behind the talisman bit so no skin contact. I approached work telling them all this but it was a no go and they would prefer me to wear the necklace type.
As I work in a food factory I understood their reasons which were:
Bacteria living in the leather and getting into the products. Due to having to wash hands umpteen times a day and a wet environment this is a possibility.
Possible foreign body contamination if bits fell off the leather. Again understandable as no one wants unidentifiable chewy bits in their lunch.
Any metal should be picked up by the metal detectors everything has to pass through before it goes out to the public.
So a replacement silver (chrome I think) necklace was bought filled in and off I went. About 6 months later I developed a huge spot on my chest. I'd had a few issues with spots early on whilst getting everything stabilised so wasn't to worried. It just seemed to take forever to heal. I mentioned it at a meds review expecting the stock it's your diabetes answer. The nurse took a look and said she'd had a similar problem due to cheap watch backs. Until then I'd not really took a lot of notice of the back of my talisman but now discovered deep scratches in it and it felt quite rough. I don't have an especially hairy chest but it was as if someone had taken a scouring pad to it. The nurse suggested coating the back with clear nail varnish to stop the spots as this had worked for her and the watch. I've tried this it works but has a tendency to go bright green after a few weeks so has to be chipped off and recoated. When I bought the new one I bought a heavy duty silver chain to replace the flimsy chain supplied and have had no issues with it on my neck.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar? How have you dealt with it?
Sorry if I've rambled on a bit but I wanted to explain what's gone on to get answers and help anyone else if they're suffering from an unexplained spot.

 

[jocat]

When I brought an sos talisman when first diagnosed I was told as diabetic to buy a stainless steel one which I did, no problem. I now wear a stainless steel medic alert and touchwood have not had and problems
Good luck
Jo

 

[KookyCat]

Hi Zantos
There's no metal unsuitable for people with diabetes as far as I'm aware, so warnings on Amazon are most likely those odd "may contain peanuts" like warnings that you get on peanut packages, you know the general disclaimer type thing? That said lots of people are allergic or react to Nickel which is found in lots of compound metals, particularly jewellery. Certified sterling silver shouldn't contain nickel, but plated jewellery can often contain it. If it's a nickel allergy sweat tends to make it worse. I can't wear costume jewellery because I'm allergic to nickel, it its that then you should be OK with sterling silver, stainless steel and white gold (generally but not always), or yellow/rose gold of 18 carat and above (always best to check though) oh and if you're feeling flush platinum doesn't normally contain nickel 🙄 Nickel is the most common irritant in metals I believe so it's likely your culprit, some costume jewellery is certified nickel free these days precisely because it causes issues for so many folk. The nailpolish trick is one I used to use for bracelets when I was still trying to wear costume jewellery but it does tend to cause a reaction with the metal (the green tinge), 3 free nailpolish works better and doesn't react with the metal so that might be worth a try, that's more expensive though, i think if I remember correctly it's the formaldehyde in nailpolish that causes the problem. I stopped doing that though when a dermatologist practically fainted after I told him what I was doing and he instructed me not to, apparently nailpolish is a chemical horror and shouldn't be in contact with skin 😱. Hope you find a suitable alternative that works. A friend of mine has sterling silver dog tags and he gets on OK with those.

 

[Diabeticliberty]

I've had a particularly nasty experience from wearing a wedding ring. The thing is now behind me. I have though vowed to never ever wear another one of any metal type 😉

 

[KookyCat]

I've had a particularly nasty experience from wearing a wedding ring. The thing is now behind me. I have though vowed to never ever wear another one of any metal type 😉

Ah well that's an entirely different kind of reaction mr Liberty, my ring finger itches at the mere thought 🙄

 

[Marsbartoastie]

If the back is flat like a watch, perhaps you could stick a circle of felt on it.

 

[DeusXM]

All of a sudden I'm seeing that the metals they're made from a not recommended for diabetes even the gold ones when in contact with skin!

I have literally never heard of the idea that people with diabetes can't wear metals.

Apparently some people with diabetes on a specific type of anticoagulant experience greater tarnishing on some silver products. I'd suggest either stainless steel, gold, or if you're feeling flash, platinum or palladium.

As a wider thought though, I'm not sure why a T2 would necessarily need medical alert jewelry. Unless you're on insulin or sulfs, for almost any eventuality that involves you being unable to explain you have diabetes, diabetes won't be particularly relevant. The primary purpose of medical alert jewelry for people with diabetes is to alert first responders that the reason you are unconscious could very probably be linked to hypoglycaemia, which shouldn't be an issue for the majority of T2s.

 

[Caroline]

I wear a bracelt with diabetes stamped on it. It is stainless steel and I wear it all of the time, even shower with it on. I got mine from the chemist. You can get bracelets and dog tag style pendants.

 

[Mini-Vicki]

I have a stainless steel braclet from Universal Medical ID. I think they do necklaces as well. I've been wearing it constantly for a year now, with no problems 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Certainly the first time I have heard of metal being a particular problem for people with diabetes I'm aware of quite a few people with piercings, so surely an alert tag or bracelet has no specific problem regarding diabetes? Are you on any medication for your diabetes?

 

[chili]

my ring finger itches

Lowering the tone alot......why does your ring finger itch so much. what have you been doing with it?

 

[AndBreathe]

I've never heard anything about this.

When I try to think it through it seems to make no sense. In reality, many, many, many diabetic patients have replacement joints, or pins and plates in fractures - just like anyone else unfortunate enough to need them. If I wanted to be ultra careful, then I'd go for either a decent carat gold (well, as a girlie, I would? Non?), or titanium. My framed glasses are actually titanium, but that's so that they don't degrade in a slaty atmosphere when sailing. Nothing to do with diabetes. It hadn't crossed my mind for a nano-second.

Some titanium jewellery can be quite stylish.

 

[zuludog]

I went to my local key cutting/trophy sort of shop and got a stainless steel dog tag. They don't do hand engraving any more, it's all done on a computer; had standard wording already set up, just had to add my name & phone number. It was quick & cheap.
I used a but of nylon cord from my tent oddments box, and never had any problems. No doubt you could get a stainless steel chain easily enough

I tried Timpsons first, but they don't do medical tags, so went to an independent shop

 

[Diabeticliberty]

I once made one out of Mars Bars. It seemed a really good idea at the time as it also doubled up in case of hypo's. Sadly however I wore it once in the middle of summer and it melted all over my white suit. I immediately found myself running for my life as I was being pursued by angry wasps

 

[khskel]

Biro on your forehead. In your face diabetes!

 

[Diabeticliberty]

Biro on your forehead. In your face diabetes!

I like your style baby

 

[DaveB]

I'm afraid it's Snake-oil advice. There is no reason whatsoever to worry about the metals you wear when diabetic compared with being non-diabetic. Look for the science behind it and you won't find any.

 

[Martin Canty]

I'm not sure why a T2 would necessarily need medical alert jewelry. Unless you're on insulin or sulfs,

One never knows what the emergency may be, you might be rendered incapacitated for any reason.... Having a medical alert thingy will alert the EMS system as to potential complications. Though not a paramedic, one of the things we are taught to look for is medic alerts so we can advise Paramedics once they arrive on the scene.

I almost always wear one (I have a selection depending on the activity I am performing) also I tell the people I work with that I'm diabetic in order that they may recognize symptoms (which would typically be high BG in my case if I'm not careful). Every so often I give presentations to our SAR group re diabetes & what to look for in the field whether it be hyper or hypo.

In addition, I advise my SAR team where my test kit is (on my person) & they have explicit permission to either test or help me to test if they think I'm just a little off.

Why all this caution? One never knows, particularly if you are in the wilderness many hours from assistance. One of my friends is retired CHP who worked in aviation, he told me of many occasions where they had to airlift SAR members (from the Sierra Nevada's) who had diabetic issues in the field.

 

[Diabeticliberty]

Could I possibly get one that says 'If you find me wandering looking dazed then please just ignore it as I always look like this'?

 

[khskel]

@Zantos I make no apology for the levity introduced to this thread as we all a little lightness in our lives but on a serious note I always wear a silicone wristband. Would that be allowed in your circumstances? NB I blame DL I always think about writing on my face when Mars Bars are mentioned