Medical ID Bracelets for Diabetes

A medical identification (ID) bracelet can save your life, especially if you have diabetes. In an emergency, it provides vital information about your health to first responders when you can’t communicate.

If your blood sugar drops very low (hypoglycemia), you could have trouble speaking. You may get confused or pass out. A medical ID bracelet lets emergency health workers know you have diabetes so they can start appropriate treatment as soon as possible.

Information to Include

Medical ID bracelets range from low tech -- a simple medallion on a bracelet -- to high-tech options with cloud-based storage of your health information. Whatever style you choose, your bracelet should list essential health information, such as:

• Diabetes
• Important medications you take (such as insulin)
• Major drug allergies
• Emergency contact information

If you want to provide more information than a bracelet can hold, write it on a card for your wallet. Then, on the bracelet, you can list “more health info in wallet.” Some ideas for what to put on the card:

• Other conditions you have
• Complete list of medications you take
• Location of your living will

Online Information Storage

The company that sells your bracelet may also offer online storage of medical information. In some cases, the cost of the bracelet includes cloud-based storage. In other cases, you pay a membership fee.

Emergency medical workers can access this information in several ways, including websites and toll-free numbers. Some things to consider for your online health profile:

• Other conditions, such as autism or blood disorders
• Drug allergies
• Implanted medical devices
• Health care wishes (such as “do not resuscitate”)

Fashion and Function

On the one hand, it can seem silly to think about fashion when we’re talking about life-saving information. But on the other, nobody wants to broadcast their condition to the world with a big, clunky piece of jewelry.

Companies that make medical ID bracelets know that an attractive piece of jewelry may be important to you. A few of the many styles available include:

• Gold or silver jewelry. You can find medical ID bracelets that look almost like a regular piece of jewelry: silver or gold, with an engraved medallion or charm.
• Silicone bands. These rubber-like bands with a metal tag on the outside are a common choice for fitness activities.
• Kids' bracelets. About 210,000 Americans under age 20 have diabetes. Young kids with diabetes may be more likely to wear medical ID bracelets designed for kids: plastic, comfortable ones with fun shapes.