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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Identify Yourself

As I mentioned in my post last week, my first medical ID bracelet broke when it got caught on a loose string.  Here is the broken bracelet:

Day 111 by Arnold_and_Me
You can see the broken lobster clasp in the upper right corner. 

So I got online that night to order a new one.  Why the urgency to buy another bracelet?  I know some diabetics wear a medical ID, some don't, and some rely on their insulin pump to be their ID.  My mom ordered my first ID before I even got out of the hospital, so she obviously believed in the power of the medical ID.  And I can't count how many times I've heard of car wrecks where the driver experienced "diabetic symptoms" (as the radio announcer calls it). 

But what really put me over the edge to have a medical ID at all times is a conversation I had with an EMT friend last year.  He noticed my bracelet and praised me for being responsible for wearing one.  I honestly asked him if wearing this thing was even worth it, or was I wasting good wrist space for a cuter piece of jewelry.  "Oh no," he said, "It's definitely worth it, especially if you wear it on your wrist.  If you're debilitated, an EMT will check your pulse on your wrists' first as part of a vitals check.  And if they see you have a chronic disease that could be contributing to you being out of it, the faster we can treat you."

So there you have it, from the mouth of the one person or party who would actually use my medical ID.  It's worth it.  By far, it's the cheapest life-saving device you can buy. 

But that doesn't mean my medical ID can't be cute, either.  So back to my online hunt.  I wanted an ID that would be cute but also obviously a medical ID.  I eventually stumbled upon StickyJ where I found pretty decently priced IDs with a plethora of bracelet options.  I settled on a heart-shaped charm with my full name on the front and my conditions on the back. 

Day 113 by Arnold_and_Me
I have diabetes in my heart. 

I wear this ID at all times, even during softball games when we're technically not supposed to wear any jewelry.  No one's ever given me trouble about it, but I will argue that this is not a piece of jewelry to me.  This small piece of sterling silver is just as vital as my insulin pump or CGM in my diabetes management. 

I try to tell as many people as I can that I'm diabetic when safety situations call for it (like my spinning instructor, softball coach, and lab coordinator), but this bracelet would be able to tell the world when I can't. 

5 comments:

  1. I wore mine during my synchronized swimming competition too, even though you're not allowed to have jewelry. But the judges knew beforehand that it was a medical ID and I had no problems.

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  2. Thanks for posting this! I have an ID that I got and made my own bracelet. The clasp broke a while back and I have not replaced it. Not good! Thanks for the reminder that I need to get mine fixed!

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  3. i have a necklace that i wear anytime i'm out the house by myself (though i sometimes forget). it would be great to have a bracelet though!

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  4. Thank you for posting this! I just starting to wear one all the time, (I have had T1 diabetes for 7 years) and this really validates my decision. Yours is really cute too, I like the heart :)

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  5. I wear an id necklace but I wonder if I should switch to a bracelet too after what your friend said. Thanks for the tip and cute bracelet!

    ReplyDelete

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DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor, nurse, certified diabetes educator (CDE) or any medical professional of any kind. (But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express!) Therefore, please do not use any of my postings as medical fact. I am simply a blogger expressing my highs and lows (pun intended) with diabetes. For changes in your medication, exercise regiment, or diet please consult a qualified physician.

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My name is Holly and I live in north Alabama with my hubby, two cats, and a dog.