Kidney Disease Medical ID

Kidney Disease Medical ID

What Should You Put on a Kidney Disease Medical ID?

It is always best to consult with your doctor or specialist to decide what to engrave on your kidney disease medical ID. In the event that this is not possible, we have taken advice from the lovely doctors atConcierge Medical (the multi award-winning private GP service for the Cotswolds and surrounding areas) and recommend the following:

As a minimum, you should put the following on your kidney disease medical ID:

• Your diagnosis.
• Your name.
• Your primary ICE (in case of emergency number).

You may also want to include the following:

• Any other severe medical conditions (including allergies).
• Any medications you may be on.
• “See medical card” (if you choose to carry a medical ID card in your phone case or wallet).

General advice on engraving:

• information should relate to conditions not otherwise discoverable by examination of an unconscious or incapacitated patient.
• Important medications should be listed.
• Information should be relevant to life-saving or emergency treatment.
• Avoid using general terms, e.g. “Allergies: bee stings, nuts” is much more useful than just “Allergies”.

Kidney Disease Medical Wristbands

Silicone medical alert wristbands are a popular choice for kidney disease medical wristbands as they look very similar to many charity wristbands which have successfully raised awareness for charities and have become something of a fashion statement. We have a range of colours you can choose from with inside engraving, outside engraving orinside and outside engraving. Our Velcro and Silicone ranges are great if you like to stay active. All of our wristbands are available in a range of sizes from extra small to extra large and many of them are adjustable

Kidney Disease Medical Bracelets

We have a wide range of kidney disease medical alert bracelets to choose from: from everyday wear to special occasions. Many of our bracelets are adjustable and most are available in a variety of sizes from 5 inches (12.7cm) to 9 inches (22cm).

Our medical ID bracelets come in a broad range of styles and materials including leather, fabric, titanium, carbon fibre and stainless steel.

We also offer watch style SOS Talismans that allow the wearer to write their details onto an information strip and store inside the SOS capsule, great for individuals whose details or medications might change frequently.

Kidney Disease Necklaces

If you would prefer to wear a necklace, our dog tags and pendants offer a subtle and stylish way to share important information. Choose from gold, brushed steel, stainless steel or coloured medical ID designs for men and women.

Our SOS Talisman and Infomedic necklaces are also a convenient way of keeping details of your condition with you at all times, keeping your data safely tucked away inside the unique pendant.

What is Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease is an umbrella term used by the medical professions to cover any abnormality of the kidneys. Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, means any kidney issue that is not resolved in a matter of days. The most common causes of CKD are diabetes, high blood pressure and ageing of the kidneys.

High blood pressure can also be caused by CKD. Over time, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels, reducing, the blood supply to important organs like the kidneys. High blood pressure also damages the tiny filtering units in the kidneys, reducing the kidneys’ ability to remove wastes and extra fluid from the blood. This extra fluid in the blood vessels may build up and raise blood pressure even more.

Kidney disease is very common. However, according to the National Kidney Federation, less than 1 in 10 of the people with kidney disease develop failure of the kidneys requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

According to NHS England, kidney disease does not tend to cause symptoms when it’s at an early stage. Symptoms at later stages include: weight loss and a poor appetite, swollen ankles, feet or hands due to water retention, shortness of breath, tiredness, headaches, nausea, muscle cramps and insomnia.

Should I Wear a Medical Alert Bracelet for Kidney Disease?

Sharing information about a medical condition or medications is a personal decision, but it’s important to note that a medical alert bracelet need not be a bright red, glaringly obvious piece of jewellery.

If you have chronic kidney disease, especially if this is linked to other serious medical conditions, or are undergoing complex treatment, wearing a medical alert bracelet maximises the chances of first responders and medical professionals being made aware of your condition(s) and enables them to tailor their treatment accordingly. The information on your medical ID bracelet facilitates rapid, informed decisions by medical professionals and appropriate treatment during a medical emergency as well as helping to prevent misdiagnosis, adverse drug interactions or treatments that can pose a risk to the wearer. This crucial information helps to provide better patient care and ultimately benefits the patient.

Common UK Medical Abbreviations Related to Kidney Disease

We recommend that you should only use abbreviations when it is essential to do so and to bear in mind the importance of using common medical abbreviations that are widely recognised. Our advice is based on the following:

• It may not be a medical professional who reads the engraving first – it may be a member of the public calling an ambulance or a community first responder;
• Healthcare staff sometimes use the same abbreviations to mean different things leaving you open to a risk of misinterpretation of an abbreviation. For example, BP can mean blood pressure and bipolar disorder;
• Medical abbreviations vary internationally;
• Some abbreviations are highly specialised and not understood by the wider medical community.

It is important to think about any medical abbreviations you intend to use and, if necessary, to add some context to them. For example, high BP or low BP rather than just BP to communicate information about your blood pressure.

It’s also important to remember that more isn’t always better. Your medical alert bracelet should show the information that is vital to informing your treatment in the event of an emergency rather than your entire medical history.

When space allows, providing fully spelt out information will help to create context and made your emergency medical ID easier to understand.

Here are some common medical abbreviations relating to kidney disease: