My Medical ID Braclet

When I was about 2 years old my mum bought me my first ever medical ID bracelet. It was a small gold bracelet which had to have links taken out of it because my wrist were so tiny. I haven’t really taken an ID bracelet off since. It hasn’t always been that exact one of course, I don’t think it would fit anymore!

I’ve probably had every type of ID bracelet under the sun! And a couple of necklaces as well. I remember a purple sports band with pink  flowers and a Velcro fastening when I was about 5 years old (although I had a necklace that I could tuck under my sihrt for school whilst I was at primary, at secondary I just wore a bracelet). I had a bracelet with mood beads on and two clasps so that the disc with the medical details on could come free of the bracelet. This gave me the idea of making my own bracelets. I don’t really know why I decided to that. They were very interesting bracelets. Not very flexible, mismatched beads and often there would be small, sharp bits of wire sticking out at odd angles. I always ended up gravitating back to the proper bracelet anyway! It was much comfier.

After asking for a black thread bracelet that tied to the disc for Christmas about 2 years ago (which didn’t last very long as it almost disintegrated when it came into contact with water!) it brings me to my current bracelet. And I love it!

I decided not to get the silver version because I wasn’t sure how I would get on with it due to the fact that it is a different style from my previous bracelets. So, it is a stainless steel chain with very big links, a circular charm that dangles off it with the medical details engraved on one side of it, the medic alert symbol on the other side and a polo clasp that secures it on my wrist. (For anyone that doesn’t know, a polo clasp is a ring with a bar that goes through it and hooks itself there.) I wear it as an accessory now, it is just another bracelet. However, it is a bracelet that I virtually never take off. I wear it when I wash, sleep, eat – 24/7 pretty much! Although with the exception of during exams because it is on my right wrist so it makes a tapping noise on the table in the silence.

For the first couple of years I had a simple bracelet with ‘Diabetic’ engraved where my name was supposed to go and my mum’s mobile number on the underside. But then we started getting Medic Alert jewelry with the easily recognisable symbol and details of my conditions and medications were kept on the website that had a small number connected to it that would be engraved under some basic details on the bracelet/necklace itself. (It is a yearly subscription, but worth the money). If I collapsed on my own or had a severe hypo and was unable to care for myself, the paramedics would easily be able to find my details and treat me very quickly.

But on the bracelet’s disc/charm thing I have this written on it:

‘Type 1 Diabetes
– On Insulin Via
Pump, 95%
Pancreatectomy
Hypermobility. Call
for Details
(then my ID number for the website)’

So even without searching the internet, my blood sugars would be tested and treated much more quickly than if they had to find out I was diabetic somehow.

Yes, I do lose it sometimes and I turn my entire bedroom upside down to try and find it (the last time I’d lost it it was actually at school for the whole of the two weeks’ holidays as it had broken and fallen off my wrist! That’s the only time that happened though), but it is well worth having one. If you are diabetic and don’t have an ID bracelet, I highly recommend getting one! Or if you just have a medical condition e.g. a severe peanut allergy or epilepsy it is a very good idea:)

Medic Alert’s website – https://www.medicalert.org.uk/ go and check it out!

P.S, I haven’t been asked to write this it is all my own opinions.