I'm so mad!

General
1

First let me say that I love the Medic Alert Foundation and have always gotten great customer service. With that said, let me tell you why I'm ticked at them today!

I ordered Brandan a new Medic Alert bracelet today. I want it to have 'Insulin Pump' engraved on it. I asked our pump rep if that was a good idea and she said yes. Her assistant told me that's what she did too. So, when I ordered the bracelet this is how the conversation went:

Me: I want 'Type 1 Diabetes' and 'Insulin Pump' engraved on the back.

Her: It's on his record that he has a pump, you don't need to engrave it, just in case he comes off it. (Comes off it?!)

Me: I don't plan to take him off the pump and I would feel more comfortable with it engraved.

Her: OK. We'll engrave 'Diabetes' and 'Insulin Pump' but if he stops needing the pump you will need a new bracelet. (Stops needing it?! I'll ignore that.)

Me: Please make sure it says 'TYPE 1 DIABETES' and 'INSULIN PUMP'.

Her: It only needs to say 'Diabetes' because all diabetics are treated the same, but it will specify Type 1 on his record. (UUGGGHHHH!)

Me: The one he has now says 'Type 1' and I want his new to say it.

Her: Well, they'll know he's insulin dependant because you're engraving that he has a pump.

Me: That doesn't have anything to do with it! He has Type 1 Diabetes and that's what I want his bracelet to say! So will you please order the bracelet with 'Type 1 Diabetes' and 'Insulin Pump' engraved on it?!

Her: OK............

Whew. Feels good to rant!

 

 

2

Wow, I'm sorry you had so much trouble.... but isn't it nice to have a place to rant, knowing people will understand?!?  That's what I love the most about Juvenation!

3

[quote user="Stephanie"]Wow, I'm sorry you had so much trouble.... but isn't it nice to have a place to rant, knowing people will understand?!?  [/quote]

Yes it is! That's why I love this place. People "listen" and understand. :)

4

Next time you should reach through the phone and slap the representative. Talk about being difficult...just do what the person who is willing to pay $ for your product wants to do!

5

My thoughts exactly, Pat.

6

I think maybe that rep should go through some kind of class before stating information that is totally incorrect.  "All diabetics are treated the same"  I don't think so!!!

7

[quote user="Karen"]

I think maybe that rep should go through some kind of class before stating information that is totally incorrect.  "All diabetics are treated the same"  I don't think so!!!

[/quote]

well if you think about it...a T2 goes low, what do you do? Give them sugar. a T1 goes low, what do you do? Give them sugar.

 

Mine doesn't say Type 1. Mine says "Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus", I thought they all came with that instead of being able to put Type 1 or Type 2?

 

Well at least you got it done in the end!

8

[quote user="Batts"]

well if you think about it...a T2 goes low, what do you do? Give them sugar. a T1 goes low, what do you do? Give them sugar.

[/quote]

This is true, but there are other emergencies besides low blood sugar. If ever there is a situation where I'm hurt and can't speak, but Brandan is unharmed, I still want people to know his condition right away. I also have a pet peeve about calling it diabetes, I always say type 1 diabetes. [quote user="Batts"]

Mine doesn't say Type 1. Mine says "Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus", I thought they all came with that instead of being able to put Type 1 or Type 2?

[/quote]

I don't think all that would fit on the back of his along with the member ID and phone number and everything. :) All of his medical alert charms have had type 1 on them. I thought you could get what you want engraved. (With the exception of my experience today!)

9

[quote user="Trish"]

[quote user="Batts"]

well if you think about it...a T2 goes low, what do you do? Give them sugar. a T1 goes low, what do you do? Give them sugar.

[/quote]

This is true, but there are other emergencies besides low blood sugar. If ever there is a situation where I'm hurt and can't speak, but Brandan is unharmed, I still want people to know his condition right away. I also have a pet peeve about calling it diabetes, I always say type 1 diabetes. [quote user="Batts"]

Mine doesn't say Type 1. Mine says "Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus", I thought they all came with that instead of being able to put Type 1 or Type 2?

[/quote]

I don't think all that would fit on the back of his along with the member ID and phone number and everything. :) All of his medical alert charms have had type 1 on them. I thought you could get what you want engraved. (With the exception of my experience today!)

[/quote]

 

I have that on mine, plus a hotline number and ID number on my MedicAlert bracelet. I wasn't aware you could get anything engraved..unless maybe they have special ones that can have additional things engraved?I've only had two bracelets from the Canadian MedicAlert, so I'm not really aware of what they have other than the basic bracelets, anklets, necklaces.

 

And I get what you're saying, I just don't think having Type 1 instead of their normal Insulin Dependent is going to make a difference of life or death if you get hurt. But that's just based on my own experience of having to go to the hospital alone, in ambulances, going through surgeries, having my mom need to go to the hospital when i was younger, getting lost from my mom at the store, etc.

I find it annoying being the diabetic that both are called the same..but I don't think bracelets need to specific type 1. most people who see insulin dependent who are going to be treating that person or taking care of them, know what that means. but again, that's based on my own experience. the medical field in the states is probably a lot different than in canada, but i've never come across that problem and neither has my mom.

 

not meaning to start an argument or anything btw :)

10

as for the pump thing the guy said, going off it is always an option ;) not everyone sticks with it and if he's on a pump NO medical professional is going to touch it(when i went on it for 3months before getting rid of it, i was told for ANY reason i was put under the care of someone else, unless i was physically able to control it..it would be disconnected and i would be put back on shots for my stay. my mom wouldn't even be allowed to control it for me if i was conscious but didn't have the ability to do it myself), and will notice it anyways :)

11

I know, I know. I'm still mad at her. I wasn't asking any crazy requests or anything.  I personally just feel more comfortable knowing that the info is there on his bracelet JUST IN CASE. It's not like adding 'Type 1' in front of 'Diabetes' is that big a deal, ya know? Besides, if he stops using the pump, I'll still have his old bracelet to put back on him. :)

Pat said it best.

12

[quote user="Batts"]I have that on mine, plus a hotline number and ID number on my MedicAlert bracelet. I wasn't aware you could get anything engraved..unless maybe they have special ones that can have additional things engraved?[/quote]

His bracelet he's wearing now has the Medic Alert number at the top and is engraved: (4 lines) Diabetes Type 1 / My name is: / Brandan / his member # 

                                 

13

[quote user="Trish"]

[quote user="Batts"]I have that on mine, plus a hotline number and ID number on my MedicAlert bracelet. I wasn't aware you could get anything engraved..unless maybe they have special ones that can have additional things engraved?[/quote]

His bracelet he's wearing now has the Medic Alert number at the top and is engraved: (4 lines) Diabetes Type 1 / My name is: / Brandan / his member # 

[/quote]

really? well it's good to know you can get things engraved. i doubt i'll ever use that option, but it's good to know :)

 

and like i said, at least you were able to get the person to put that through in the end, though if they didn't, I'm sure a quick chat to the supervisor would've fixed that ;)

14

type 2s can also be insulin dependent. at the hospital i get frustrated when they just say insulin dependent diabetes mellitus because that doesn't tell me if it's type 1 or type 2 or what kind(s) of insulin are being used. especially now that more and more people are being diagnosed as type 1 later in life, you can't just look at age anymore and definitively say "they're type 1" or "they're type 2." you really can't even look at the medications anymore and say that. type 1s are now using some type 2 drugs, and vice versa. i prefer the distinction between the two, but only because it will alter how i educate and speak with the patient about medications and foods.

15

Not sure where to share this story, so I'll do it here:  I went to see my P.A.C. today (who serves the role of endocrinologist/cheerleader for me), and I had a new nurse.  She came in, took my blood pressure, all that normal stuff.  Then she asks why I'm here today - a question I find mildly annoying, since they see me every 6 weeks for the same reason.  She then followed that up with "Do you check your blood sugar?"  Um... what?  You're asking if I do it AT ALL?  I'm guessing one of two things:  1.  she didn't look at my chart very hard to see that I am type 1, not type 2, and 2.  if she did, she needs to have her type 1 diabetes facts brushed up.  It really bothered me, and probably shouldn't have, but that's how it went.  Luckily I bit my tongue and just replied "Yes..  10 to 12 times a day, on average."  Kim can play nice!

16

Trish.....What an ignorant sales person....why did she argue with you...aren't you the paying customer???  Shouldn't you be allowed to get whatever you want on it?  Ignorant fool!!!  Kim......sorry to hear about your appointment......what is wrong with people????

17

[quote user="Kim"]

 Kim can play nice!

[/quote]

haha. that made me laugh :o)

18

Well, since Kim brought it up... ;) When Brandan was about to get his pump he had an appointment at the clinic he's been going to for almost 3 years. The same nurse has always been the one to check his A1C and vitals. I was excited that his pump was on the way and I told her about it. Her response was, "He's so little, why are you making him wear one of those?" Oh, I know my face was red!  But, I actually like the lady, she's been nothing but nice to us for these last few years. I just kindly reminded her how well Brandan adapts to things and informed her that many kids his age and younger have pumps.

19

Kim, I know I should be more patient about the nursing assistants in endo offices and the people who answer the medic alert lines, etc etc, like you were, but I find it hard. When they ask me what my blood sugar was "that day", I ask "which one?" If they say "breakfast" I ask "pre- or post-prandial?" My endo visit last week, I actually complained to the lady's supervisor. The lady was so upset that I was "really low" when she checked my BG ... I was 75. My endo agreed that you're not low until under 70. Also, what do these idiots think about having no working beta cells??? You go on insulin and will run 100 for the rest of your life??? Non-diabetics don't even run that straight!! OK, sorry to get off topic, but apparently I needed to rant too.

BTW, my medic alert says "Diabetes. Insulin Dependent." It's all they would let my Mom put on back in the 1980's for T1, and I've been too lazy to change it since. This discussion makes me think that maybe I should try!

20

[quote user="Trish"]

 and informed her that many kids his age and younger have pumps.

[/quote]

i read an article (quite a few years ago) about a little 6 month old baby wearing an insulin pump! his parents just put it in a little backpack instead of clipping it to his clothes.