Whether you wear a bracelet, pendant or carry a card in your wallet, identifying that you are diabetic can be very helpful in a medical emergency. Your ID speaks for you if you lose consciousness or are unable to communicate information about your condition. For example, your ID can accelerate a diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycemia.
Medical ID is especially important if you are at risk for hypoglycemia. You are most at risk if you are being treated with insulin or an antidiabetic medication that increases insulin production by the pancreas (an insulin secretagogue*).
*gliclazide (Diamicron® and Diamicron MR®), glimepiride (Amaryl®), glyburide (Diabeta®, Euglucon®), repaglinide (GlucoNorm®).
If you suffer from allergies or other health conditions, these are generally indicated on the same medical ID item.
Where to buy medical ID
- At specific jewelry stores or drugstores
- By directly contacting an organization specializing in medical ID bracelets and accessories, such as: MedicAlert Foundation Canada
- At certain pharmaceutical companies or associations for people with diabetes that provide ID cards.