[Nejeda]

So being a type one diabetic there are tons of rumors I've heard, and I wanted to know what's the deal. I heard that diabetics (typr one) couldn't get tattoos because my body would absorb the ink, and break it down or something along those lines.

Can someone please get me some information, and let me know if this is true or more rumors? What exactly is the deal with tattoos and diabetics...?

[duck]

A lot of us have tattoos. I have a few. And things pierced. And I eat sugar still.



You'll find a lot of rumors are just that, especially if you are in any semblance of control.

[Dewey]

I have some....never bothered me, and most still look as bright as the first day I got them.

Also have my tongue pierced (and my ears, lol).

[poodlebone]

My tattoo looks fantastic 11 years after I got it. I was not in good control when I got it (not testing, 2 shots a day) and I still healed perfectly. I wouldn't recommend doing it if you're not in control, though. I just got lucky.

[SueM]

The only things you have to remember with tattoo's is to make sure the equipment is sterile and you keep the wound clean. Basicly it is wound care as a tattoo involves cutting the skin.
Oh and make sure your blood sugars are in reasonable control when you have one done.
I had one done aprox 25 yrs ago and had no problems with it.

[Nejeda]

I see... I was always told that the ink wouldn't take because of my diabetes... or that because my immune system is so weak that my body would try and fight off the ink.

I've also been told that if I ever wanted a perm, my hair wouldn't take it because of the diabetes... which never made sense to me since I dye my hair and it takes...

[poodlebone]

Originally Posted by Nejeda

I see... I was always told that the ink wouldn't take because of my diabetes... or that because my immune system is so weak that my body would try and fight off the ink.

I've also been told that if I ever wanted a perm, my hair wouldn't take it because of the diabetes... which never made sense to me since I dye my hair and it takes...

Both of those sound like some wacky old wives tales! Someone explained to me once how tattoos work but I can't remember the explanation.

When one of my sisters & I both decided we wanted one our brother took us to a place near his house, when he lived in New Jersey. He said the place was clean & inspected and he had work done there himself several times. Everything was just as clean and sterile as a doctor's office. They checked IDs to make sure you were over 18 and I felt very comfortable getting mine done there. I'd never go into one of those hole-in-the-wall places.

[Lex4153]

I have one strategically placed tattoo on my lower back . . . I got it when I was in Costa Rica at the age of 17! My blood sugars were definitely NOT in control and I think (?) they sterilized everything. I don't know it was years ago now. Had my first HIV test recently though, came back negative. Wanted to get it done just in case. Anyways, I never heard any of that about diabetics and tattoos. Mine is fine, no problems ever with it.

[Tim_Roy]

If you don't believe you catch diabetes from eating too much sugar, take other such things you hear about diabetes with a grain of salt.

Oh yeah, when I was a kid I heard that there was "sugar diabetes" and that some distant relative of my friend's had "salt diabetes." My opinion at the time was A) sugar diabetes would be much worse b) my friend was a year younger than me, so he probably didn't know what he was talking about.

[SugaryOne]

I'm fifteen and just got a navel piercing last week. My A1C is 8.7 [not great] but I heal well and I haven't seen any problems with it. Those are old wive's tales, I don't see why you couldn't get a tattoo in 2 years if you wanted one.