Curious about answers.....
I recently posted a thread asking about the appropriateness of giving someone a diabetic ID bracelet or tag for a Christmas gift or birthday gift. You can check the answers there. But this now has me even more curious about diabetics or people with diabetes.
Several said that they wouldn't want people to know, or wouldn't want that information out in the open.
Why would that be? Why on earth would you not wear an ID bracelet or tags for the sake of EMT's or other medical personnel to know that you are diabetic? If you were unable to speak for yourself, why wouldn't you want that identification to help them help you?
What are we afraid of in not having people know? Have you had reprecussions from telling people other than the over zealous "helper" type person? Please share them, and help me understand better.
I am of the mind the more people that know that I am diabetic the better, for these reasons:
1. In the event of a mishap, an accident, I pass out, etc, there is more likely to be someone who knows my diabetes and can get me help.
2. It is a great way to spread the news about diabetes and educate the general public
3. I don't have to explain anything I don't want them to know. I can share accurate information, not the stuff they read or might have heard that is inaccurate or just plain wrong.'
Please share your thoughts with me, I am confused about this
Several said that they wouldn't want people to know, or wouldn't want that information out in the open.
Why would that be? Why on earth would you not wear an ID bracelet or tags for the sake of EMT's or other medical personnel to know that you are diabetic? If you were unable to speak for yourself, why wouldn't you want that identification to help them help you?
What are we afraid of in not having people know? Have you had reprecussions from telling people other than the over zealous "helper" type person? Please share them, and help me understand better.
I am of the mind the more people that know that I am diabetic the better, for these reasons:
1. In the event of a mishap, an accident, I pass out, etc, there is more likely to be someone who knows my diabetes and can get me help.
2. It is a great way to spread the news about diabetes and educate the general public
3. I don't have to explain anything I don't want them to know. I can share accurate information, not the stuff they read or might have heard that is inaccurate or just plain wrong.'
Please share your thoughts with me, I am confused about this
Tags: 'd', about, know, not, of, people, reprecussions, tell, why, your
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by The Diabetic Welfare Queen on -
I wear one... but I do worry that potential employers will see it, and not want to hire me. I also worry about the lack of privacy in TuDiabetes, and how easily anyone can see us in here... as employers now take it upon themselves to google anyone, and discriminate without anyone knowing they're doing so...
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Permalink Reply by PatientX on -
that is why we should never use our real names. I know people like to know us but I know the eyes are upon us or maybe its all of those diabetes drugs that are making me more peranoid. I once had duties to google peoples name to make sure that the employees were up to no good. I wrote software that you would feed it a name and then crawl through web pages and extract certain phrases used in any web page related to the individual. I am going to hate it when they use face recognition software and want your picture so they can scan the web for anyone that looks like you.
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Permalink Reply by Judith on -
I have a friend who makes me beautiful jewelry, beaded bracelets to order, including, for instance, an exquisite one of freshwater pearls and onyx beads that I wore for my mother's funeral. She does these so I just have to clip my medical ID into what ever one suits my mood. I consider them a way to engage and educate, if they are even noticed. And vital, even as a T2, if I'm in trouble. Employment concerns are real these days. If that is a particular worry, I would go for a dog-tag necklace that can be tucked under one's shirt or cami---or even a tattoo, as I've seen more of our younger members doing.....Go for it.....
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Permalink Reply by Jeannie Wagner on -
I use an online site www.laurenshope.com They make beautiful jewelry- bracelets, ankle bracelets, necklaces, tags for purses etc. You can engrave any important info on the tag. I wear them whenever I travel by myself. I also have a tag on my purse. My dad was recently dx'd and I was thinking of getting him somekind of bracelet. I do think it is important to wear one.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on -
Well, I do I wear one, but NOT all the time. Really only when I am partaking in potentially "risky" things.. like driving long distance, when I'm exercising (like biking alone), swimming, or similar, where I personally feel my "odds" might be a little higher, or I don't carry much other ID. I do carry a card in my Wallet (which is almost always in my pocket, even when I'm carrying a purse/bag). The last time I wore one continuously was in college - because I did a lot of walking on campus, and I did actually wonder if I might pass out from a low (which never happened).
I've not once in 10 years of D required any kind of emergency medical assistance for diabetes... and I honestly have no reason to "fear" that I might at some point in the future. Odds are good for me, that if I were in some kind of crisis that required emergency assistance, it would NOT be because of diabetes, but due to some sort of physical accident, and while yes, that information IS important for the EMT's to know, it's also somewhat self-obvious (I wear a pump) and at least in an immediate situation, not likely to be a really huge problem or priority - if I'm bleeding to death or I broke my leg, I'd rather they worry about that than worry that I'm diabetic. If not, I've yet to see an EMT that does NOT do a fingerstick just as standard procedure (on everyone).. so if you're very low they'd figure that out fast, and if you were high, I'd bet money they'd start putting 2 and 2 together and it wouldn't remain a mystery for very long.
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Permalink Reply by Kathy on -
I wear a necklace under my clothes. I do not want to "advertise" that I have diabetes. I used to have a neighbor who was an EMT and he said that although the necklace was certainly better than nothing, a bracelet is the best because it's seen immediately. I've been to the ER twice, neither DB related, and both times they started ripping my clothes off right away so it wasn't hidden for long.
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Permalink Reply by S Woodward on -
Medic Alert could be a gift of life. You can buy them a gift certificate and let them choose. The protection from the "Medic Alert" product is second to none and is recognized internationally and the service is 24/7 from anywhere.
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Permalink Reply by gw on -
you can get a medic alert necklace, its more hidden, but emt will find it in the event of an emergency. believe me its worth having, i had severe hypoglycemia many years ago after exercising, and i passed out in a public park. the police arrived and thought i was intoxicated, but after reading my medic alert id, they called for an ambulance and i was properly cared for. if i hadnt had the medic alert id, i hate to imagine what might have happened.
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Permalink Reply by Lazy Pancreas on -
I wear one when driving or walking alone (and it's like the ones from Lauren's Hope - I hate those stainless steel, obvious ones), my experience has been similar to Sarah's.
When I was diagnosed with T1 I was in my early 20s; it seemed like having diabetes was a signal that people at work could offer ignorant advice. I remember one woman ordering me not to put sugar in my tea! Plus I got tired of talking about it, there are many more interesting things to discuss.
I'm going on the job market this fall and I will not be wearing one to any interviews. In this economy, who do you think they would choose between two equally qualified people?
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Permalink Reply by Jest on -
I don't wear one because if people know it ultimately leads to "you can't eat that" or "I made this sugarfree so you can eat it" and it doesn't matter to them if there are 10 other people in the room who hear it. To me, it is told to people only on a "need to know" basis. I also do not feel the need to discuss it with just anyone. I don't need "advice" from ignorant people. And as far as just plain "nosey" people, they can put their nose elsewhere.
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Permalink Reply by Cherise on -
I constantly wear one. I have a tattoo on that arm and I wore my bracelet through the whole thing. It's just one of those cheap stainless steal bracelets. Nothing fancy as I do not have the income. I have had it on for two straight years now and no problems with employers. Though now I am self employed and just worry about clients and getting them the best work that they can get.
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Permalink Reply by Terry Keelan on -
I wear a bracelet all the time. Nobody has ever commented on it.
The day I take it off will be the day I really need it, the way my luck goes!
Terry
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