What is Diabetic Bracelets

Diabetes can affect all areas of your life, so it is important to consider your diabetes at all times. This includes letting medical personnel know that you are a diabetic. Diabetic bracelets are the easiest way to make it obvious that you are a diabetic. When people see your bracelet, they will know what type of diabetes you have so that any care provided can be tailored to this.

WHY MEDICAL ALERT BRACELETS FOR DIABETICS ARE IMPORTANT

All people with diabetes should have a diabetes medical alert bracelet. This tells first responders and other people that you are a diabetic to help to ensure the safest treatment possible during a medical emergency. Should you be unable to speak for yourself during an emergency, diabetic bracelets will tell those helping you what they need to know to provide the most accurate care possible. Both children and adults with diabetes should have a bracelet for diabetes because:

• Low blood sugar symptoms can mimic a lot of other issues, such as heart problems or alcohol intoxication, so when you are wearing your bracelet, it allows first responders to know that they need to check your blood sugar immediately to see if it is the cause of your symptoms

• You can often be treated faster since this bracelet allows medical personnel to more quickly narrow down the possible cause of your symptoms

• By knowing which diabetes medicines you are taking, it allows medical personnel to avoid administering any drugs that could adversely interact with the medications you take

• Medical personnel can avoid giving you any medications that you are allergic to since bracelets for diabetes also typically include your allergies

• When you list your emergency contact, first responders can quickly get in touch with them to get more details about your diabetes and overall health to provide more accurate care

• If you have an insulin pump, your medical bracelet will state this so that medical personnel know that you cannot have an MRI

INFORMATION TO INCLUDE ON YOUR DIABETIC MEDICAL ALERT BRACELET

It is important that you include all of the pertinent details about your diabetes and other health conditions on your bracelet for diabetes. You should put whether you take insulin on the bracelet. It is also important to state the type of diabetes you have. Make sure to include other diabetes medications in addition to the insulin that you are taking. To ensure that first responders have all of the pertinent information, your bracelet should also include the following:

• Your allergies

• If you have an insulin pump or other implanted medical device

• Your chosen in-case-of-emergency contact person and their phone number

Any other pertinent medical information should also be on your bracelet. In addition to your diabetes medicines, any other medicines that could impact an emergency situation should be listed, such as those for an abnormal heart rhythm. You should also list any other serious medical conditions, such as kidney failure or heart disease. Ideally, your medical alert bracelet should provide first responders with a quick snapshot of your diabetes and your overall health.

TYPES OF BRACELETS FOR DIABETICS

There are several styles of diabetic bracelets. The best one for you will ultimately depend on your personal preference. Most of these bracelets are made of durable metals, such as stainless steel, or a more flexible material like silicone or rubber. If you experience rashes from metal when you sweat, you should opt for one of the flexible materials. Those with a latex or nickel allergy should consider this to make sure that they do not choose a bracelet that contains these materials.

When you are looking at the bracelet options, you also need to think about the type of closure. If you have issues with your hands, such as arthritis, one with Velcro closure is a good choice. These are easy to close and remove when needed. This type of closure is also a good choice for kids. Some of these bracelets have a band like a watch band with a buckle to make sure that they remain in place.

Some diabetic bracelets use technology to deliver information about your health. If your diabetes is complex, or if you have several medical conditions, this type of medical alert bracelet can be a good choice. Since the information about your health is not imprinted on a plate, you can add a lot more information. When someone sees your bracelet, they can scan it or call a phone number to get the details about your diabetes and other health conditions.

CAN YOU GET A DIABETIC MEDICAL ALERT BRACELET FOR FREE?

For those who meet federal poverty level guidelines, it is sometimes possible to get a free diabetic medical alert bracelet. You can check with local diabetes organizations or with your doctor to determine if you qualify for this type of service. It is important to note that free medical alert bracelets for diabetics might not be as personalized as those that you buy yourself. Because of this, if you want to have specific information on your bracelet, it is often best to purchase one.

IS A BRACELET BETTER THAN A NECKLACE?

In many cases, a bracelet is more visible than a necklace since a necklace can get tucked under your shirt. A survey of first responders showed that approximately 95 percent of them look for a medical ID bracelet when they are attending to a patient. Also, one of the first things emergency medical personnel do is check blood pressure, so this requires that they move your sleeves up. When they do this, if you are wearing a bracelet for diabetes, they will see it immediately. This will provide them with the information they need to know about your underlying condition.

WHICH WRIST SHOULD YOU WEAR YOUR BRACELET FOR DIABETES ON?

Since you should be wearing your bracelet for diabetes at all times, it is best to wear it on your non-dominant hand. This way you can wear the bracelet without it getting in the way when you are doing things like writing or home chores. Make sure that your bracelet fits well without being too tight so that it is comfortable to wear. Also, it should not be loose enough to slide off of your wrist so that you do not lose it.

You should also be mindful of the other wrist jewelry you are wearing on this wrist. It is okay to wear another small bracelet, but you want to make sure that your diabetes medical alert bracelet is as unobstructed as possible. Avoid large bangle bracelets or other jewelry that might cover your bracelet for diabetes or make it hard for people to see. Ideally, you should only wear your medical bracelet whenever possible.

CONCLUSION

All people who have diabetes should consider diabetic bracelets. These will tell people about your condition so that they can take the appropriate measures, especially in a medical emergency. When it is known that you have diabetes, this can prevent issues that could actually worsen your condition. It can also let people know why you might be experiencing an emergency so that they can deliver proper care. Please share this article on social media and post a link to it on your website.