Today, for the first time in my ‘diabetes-life’, I am wearing a medical-alert bracelet. After a hypo last night that resulted in paramedics, IV dextrose and at-home hourly BGLs (just so I could avoid going to A&E), I pulled out of the draw the bracelet I bought a couple of years ago and put it on.
I have resisted wearing medical-alert jewellery for 15 years and I’m not really sure why. I have never been backwards in coming forwards about the fact I have diabetes and I am certainly not in any way ashamed of living with this condition.
But for some reason, in my weird and twisted mind, the wearing of a piece of jewellery that brands me as ‘type 1 diabetes/insulin pump’ (as the inscription on the back of the tag says) was just too much for me to deal with. I have always associated it with the idea that I would not be able to deal with my diabetes myself; that I’d need someone else to help me and that there would be emergency situations. I’ve pretty much avoided these circumstances so far. Until last night.
So today, I located the bracelet and linked it around my wrist. It’s quite pretty to look at, provided all I can see is the bracelet part and not the tag . But each time I catch a glimpse of it – as I am typing at my computer; as I sat in a café drinking my morning coffee; lifting my arm to push hair out of my eyes – I feel defeated and somewhat branded.
I’ve always wondered about people who get tattoos which proudly declare they have diabetes and I’ve never understood why anyone would do that. I just don’t understand why someone would want to have their health status permanently tattooed to their skin. I’ve always thought if I was to do that, I’d need to add all the other ways I want people to think of me. And having ‘Harry Potter tragic’ or ‘Delusions of Nigella Lawson’ scrawled up and down my arms would just be silly! Again, it’s not because I’m ashamed of having diabetes. Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that I defiantly go against what everyone else is doing and I quite like being the only ‘un-inked’ person in the room. Of course, this is merely my own opinion and I absolutely don’t think any less of people who choose to have a diabetes tattoo. Maybe if braver, I’d do it too.
I’m heading overseas in a couple of weeks for a long trip and for the first few days, I’ll be alone, without my family. It’s probably a smart idea to have something on me that says I have diabetes – just in case something happens. Maybe it will give me some peace of mind, as I’m sure it will my family.
But for today, I’m feeling fragile and not particularly happy. Not happy that now I feel unsafe and feel the need to have something that (in my mind, and I’m sure my mind alone) screams ‘TYPE 1 DIABETES’. I feel that it’s a victory to diabetes. And I hate losing.
Lauren’s Hope jewellery has some gorgeous designs. My bracelet has five strands of black Swarovski crystals holding together the medical-alert tag. It’s quite beautiful, really!
Diabetogenic 
17 comments
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May 23, 2013 at 12:11 pm
dinah
Oh Renza, poor you to have had a severe hypo overnight that required paramedics. Always a shock to the system when you come round and then slowly regain consciousness to then realise what has just happened. Then the recovery for the body. Take it easy on yourself today as its ok not to be super-human all the time 🙂
As for wearing an id bracelet (and a pretty one as well)…..its like health insurance do we really need it, well we never fully know what the future holds for us and therefore if a medical alert bracelet helps us one time then it has been invaluable & it has served its purpose. Like my make up drawer full of anti-aging creams, camouflage pens etc. it is just another support tool to be used!
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May 23, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Renza
Thanks for your lovely comment, Dinah, and for reading. I’ll write about the hypo another time, but it was actually while I was out for a walk. I’m nothing if not dramatic! (Also re-affirms my ‘exercise is dangerous’ attitude!)
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May 23, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Colleen
I’m glad you’re okay.
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May 23, 2013 at 1:59 pm
celticasocial
Glad you’re OK… *I* was thinking of getting the tattoo, a. I react to nickel and some metals. b. My old Medic-Alert bracelet I had became blank from my skin. NO details were left on it and
(the big one)
C. The DAY I get a tat, diabetes will be cured. Every time I’ve taken a permanent stand on something, it changes. Really, pretty true!
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May 23, 2013 at 2:08 pm
David
Glad you’re OK Renza.
Events like that are scary (sometimes more for your family than yourself at the time).
There are subtler forms of ID available, such as the SOS pendant I wear (Ok, so as a guy I’ll make different fashion choices). It also has other details such as my allergy to a common medicine, so I don’t think of it as a “diabetes tag”. It’s just always there. I got lazy about wearing it a few years ago, but smartened up again. It’s not just for if you have a “diabetic emergency”: if you were hospitalised unconscious after a road accident and unconscious, I’m sure you’d want the medics to be aware that you had diabetes.
My pendant even sometimes performs a useful function, such as somewhere to hang my pump when I’m in the bathroom or when changing clothes!
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May 23, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Bronwyn
Hello Renza, I too recently took to wearing my bracelet after taking up a regular walking regime (now 10+ Kms/wk), after not wearing for some years!
As I often walk with my 9 yr old son, I really wanted it to be easy for Him to get help for me if that was necessary. You’re bracelet is truly beautiful :), mine is dull and boring but functional on a sports band – though I did purchase the gold plated version for those rare evenings out! Hoping the Hypo hasn’t knocked you too far off kilter – I really enjoy your blog entries, even though I don’t often respond
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May 23, 2013 at 7:22 pm
Suzanne Matthews
Glad to hear you have recovered from your hypo. I have always worn the medi-band silicon diabetes bracelets They are not as stand-outish like the others, it stays on 24/7 and just like a fundraising bands so no one asks what it is. I have tried the others and they just did not suit me. I have thought about a tattoo as well but I think (my opinion) that is really branding.Enjoy you trip!! 🙂
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May 23, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Matt Cameron
Bloody hypos! I went 15 years without wearing one too, and decided to get one as that safety mechanism. It took some time to get used to, especially when you can tell people are looking at it. These days though, I wouldn’t even know its there!
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May 23, 2013 at 10:24 pm
ABCanet
I think I beat you both! I’ve been living with diabetes for, um.. 24-years, and have never ever worn any medic-alert jewellery. And, bon voyage Renza!
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May 23, 2013 at 11:09 pm
Kirsten
Glad you’re OK Renza. I started wearing a bracelet with a medical tag attached after I was diagnosed 7 years ago because my partner asked me to. She was worried something would happen to me when she wasn’t there and I work in an environment where people tend to not know where I am most of the time. So I bought a bracelet that looks a little like a Tiffany bracelet but that came with a medical tag engraved with the info I asked for on the other side. I haven’t taken it off since. A smart-arse ambo I once met at a seminar told me that it would be useless if I passed out on the street, but I like to think that a decent ambo might see it 🙂
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May 23, 2013 at 11:59 pm
diabordinary
Sorry to hear about your icky hypo, Renza – I’m glad to hear you’re OK now!
I so know what you mean about the medic-alert-mind-battle and stupid symbolism…But in my opinion you didn’t lose to diabetes, you won.
For me, having to make decisions like that are part of what sucks most about diabetes; choosing between your health, and your independence or value of being ‘un-branded’. But you faced it and made the best decision for you and your family and put your health and safety first – I think that’s winning 🙂
Then you wrote about it and shared it with all of us, so we win too 🙂 In fact, everyone wins!
I think you are very brave (un-inked and all)!
Thanks for sharing your experience, I always find your blogs really helpful in my own journey with diabetes 🙂
Rach xx
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May 24, 2013 at 2:18 am
StephenS
Wow… Glad you’re okay after a nasty low.
I get it. You’re not afraid of your diabetes, but you don’t want to stand up on a table and shout “I HAVE DIABETES!”. I’m thinking you’ll get more comfortable with the bracelet after time. And your bracelet is way nicer than my necklace (which is really just a chain with a pendant on it anyway)!
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May 24, 2013 at 3:08 am
marialo7592
” (in my mind, and I’m sure my mind alone) screams ‘TYPE 1 DIABETES’. I feel that it’s a victory to diabetes. And I hate losing.” I can’t agree with you more. I similarly resisted for years until I traveled alone, and then finally conceded (also with Lauren’s Hope). It does get better though. That first trip It bothered me so much, but now its almost 4 years later and ive gotten so used to wearing the damn bracelet that sometimes i forget its there. The nice thing about lauren’s hope is you can wear the bracelet part facing front and hide the tag under your wrist lol in an emergency the medics will still find it, and it helps not having to stare at the ugly red medical symbol.
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May 24, 2013 at 3:14 am
Popping Balloons. | diabordinary
[…] stumbled across a blog by one of my favourite bloggers, Renza. She talked about a scary hypo and dealing with the […]
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May 29, 2013 at 9:22 am
Jocelyn Foster
I am so glad that you are ok! I cannot imagine how scary that is to have paramedics at your bedside. I do wear my bracelet (when I remember) and agree that it is difficult at times as it is a constant reminder.
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June 12, 2013 at 10:54 am
Scott K. Johnson
This is a powerful post, Renza. And it is brave of you to share this story and get some conversation going.
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June 23, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Jo
I loved reading this post!! I have had type 1 since 2001 (I was 20 when diagnosed so considered strange at the time although I’ve discovered it’s actually pretty common to be diagnosed type 1 as an adult). I have heard of your blog over the years and appreciated articles you have written in diabetes mags but haven’t really taken the time to check out your blog. I’m so glad I did! You really just get it! All the things you describe are what run through my head! I felt the same way with wearing a medic alert but I must admit I’ve worn it since only a couple of years after diagnosis. I remember all too well feeling like I would be walking around with something stuck on my head announcing to the world that I have diabetes. Funnily enough I don’t remember anyone commenting about it being a medic alert but I’ve had numerous compliments over the years about my lovely bracelet!! In fact looking at it now (putting it on is just routine now and I don’t give it much thought) I will need to get another soon as the engraving is wearing off! I have just signed up to receive your blog via email and I look forward to reading more and discovering that my feelings/thoughts about diabetes are normal! Thanks for being brave enough to share what no doubt many of us feel/think even if we aren’t so sure about actually saying it!
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