MedicAlert bracelet/ID tag - do you actually wear it?

[Aidyn]

I'm wondering how many of you actually wear a MedicAlert tag. I don't, though I know it's logically a good idea, since a bad low could be mistaken for public drunkenness and not get treated in time, among other potentially unfortunate circumstances.

Some falsely invincible part of me thinks, "Yeah, I know, but I won't ever get that low! I always have sugar on me!" and, "That won't happen to ME! That only happens to BRITTLE diabetics! " but I know it could happen to anyone...

My problem is that I do not want to draw attention to my disease and I'm afraid that everyone will automatically look at my ID tag and stare at it. I don't want that; I don't want my diabetes to be common knowledge - I'm not entirely private about it, but I want to have the option of telling who *I* want to tell.

What about you? Do you wear an ID tag? What are your feelings on it? Just curious.

[Gaia]

I first got Joey the bracelet which is what he chose. Then he came home and told me he was hot in class all day because he didnt want to take off his sweatshirt because 'then everyone would know'. So I had MedicAlert overnight a necklace and he seems more comfortable with that. We really couldnt afford it finacially to order a 2nd one. But I figured Joey comes first, Ill deal w/ the money issues later.

Its really important to have some ID on you at all times. Id rather someone think my kid was drunk and call me then ignore it , not know he's diabetic and have him end up in a coma or worse. Is this making sense? Sorry, only on 1st cup of coffee, hubby & Joey still home sick and I am ohhhhhhhhhh so tired!!

I guess my point is......a necklace can be tucked into a shirt and they have dogtags now which I hear are popular for anyone. If anyone sees it, they may not automatically realize its medicalert. I think telling your friends is important because you need the support. Joey told his 4 closest and nothings changed. Take it 1 day or 1 person at a time & good luck to you!!

[Brensdad]

I absolutely wear mine all the time.

[hypercarmona]

I absolutely wear mine all the time.

Same here. I've got a bracelet that I wear casually, and I also have a really pretty necklace that I wear if I'm going out somewhere nice. I've had several people comment on mine, and suprisingly, most of them have assumed that I wear it for an allergy.

[clb1968]

I were mine everyday. I make sure that everyone I am around knows about my daibetes also.
I have had diabetes 17 years and no one really ever asks about my medical ID, I wear a necklace sometimes too. Not many questions.

[TripleThreat]

i never take mine off

[funnygrl]

I have one on my ankle. Probably not the best spot, but better than nothing.

[pumpgirl]

I am now 24 and have had diabetes since I was 7. When I was younger, I wore a necklace medic-alert... and for quite a few years. When I hit puberty, my attitude hit as well and I took the medic-alert off and it "disappeared." I've never really had a want or need to wear one until recently. About 4 or 5 months ago, I went to pick my son up from after school daycare. I ALWAYS carry glucose tablets in my purse, which I had at the time. However, my bloodsugar hit so low so fast that by the time I realized I was having a low, I couldn't coordinate my motor skills to reach over in the passenger seat of my car to grab the glucose tablets. I tend to get combative with myself when I have lows, which is exactly what happened to me. I fought with myself in my car for about 30 minutes before I was finally able to manage getting the door to my car open and get into the daycare. I was sooo low by this time, I was unable to even communicate to anyone what was going on. I had the owner of the daycare ask me if I was okay and all I could do was cry and repeatedly say, "Yes, no, yes, no, yes, no!" She called my mom before she found out what the problem was. By the time the paramedics got there, my bloodsugar was down to 24 and I was fighting with myself and them and they had to SIT on me to get an IV in me.

If I had been wearing a medic alert, the owner would've immediately have known what was wrong with me. Instead, she had to search for emergency numbers, call my mom and tell her she thought I was drunk. My mom had to explain to her several times that was NOT the case and to call 911. I now have a medic alert bracelet, however, I have yet to get it adjusted to be small enough to fit my wrist. I really think it's advisable to wear one. My diabetes is in very good control, however there are those times they you may over-dose for your meal (which was my problem) or you may get extreme exercise in and have your bloodsugar drop. I can usually tell when I'm having a low, but if it's dropping very fast, it can get too low before you're able to treat yourself. I highly, highly recommend it. Try getting a bracelet that has a small medic symbol on it... that shouldn't draw too much attn to yourself. It's better than getting arrested for drunk driving when you're really just having a low!

[rickst29]

and there's spares EVERYWHERE.

[lilituc]

I have a necklace from here:
http://www.americanmedical-id.com/pr...ssion=U1YGQ47B

I think bracelets are better, but there's no way I can wear a bracelet.