Tattoos & Piercings With Diabetes
Diabetics can get tattoos and body piercings if they exercise caution and common sense. In fact, diabetics may choose to have their medical information permanently inked on themselves as a fail-safe notification in case of emergency. Does this Spark an idea?
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Expert Insight
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In an interview on DiabetesHealth.com, Dr. William Levy, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California's San Francisco Medical Center, stated, "There's no harm in getting a tattoo as long as you take the necessary precautions." However, be sure to avoid tattooing or piercing areas with poor circulation (such as ankles, shins, and buttocks) or your favored insulin injection areas. Choose a licensed or accredited tattoo artist or piercer. For a piercing, go with the best quality jewelry.
Considerations
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See your doctor while in the planning stages, particularly if you suffer from neuropathy (nerve degeneration caused by diabetes). Diabetes blog dLife notes that some artists will not work on a diabetic unless a doctor signs off on the procedure.
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Time Frame
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Before, during and after your body-modification experience, keep a close eye on your blood glucose levels. This is essential for the multi-hour sessions some tattoos require.
Prevention
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Be sure to let your artist or piercer know about your condition so that they can tailor the actual experience and aftercare tips for you.
Warning
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The aftercare period is crucial to lifelong enjoyment of your tattoo or piercing. Already prone to infection, diabetics must be vigilant about keeping their new bodily addition clean and covered.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Diabetic Tools image by painless from Fotolia.com
