You are probably here because you have diabetes and you’re wondering if diabetics can get a tattoo.
Tattoos are fun and cool. And almost everybody would get them if it wasn’t painful. But if you are ready to take in some bittersweet pain for that inked design on your skin, you deserve one. You are already very frustrated with your condition and so we would not add another reason to hate being a diabetic.
The answer is here: YES! Permanent tattoos are safe for diabetics.
But wait before you get too excited and jump right away to your tattoo artist. It isn’t completely safe given some risks that are linked to it. But also, don’t worry, there are some very minor precautions and rules that you would need to take to be one hundred percent safe. Read along to unfold them.
What precautions should diabetics take while getting a tattoo?
Although the American Diabetes Association (ADA) hasn’t given a situation on body craftsmanship yet, diabetes specialists pull from brilliant proposals dependent on clinical information on how somebody with diabetes might recuperate and the intricacies they might confront.
Diabetes does not preclude you from getting a tattoo, but you must be healthy and have your diabetes under control before getting one. For example, high blood sugar levels might make the healing process of the permanent tattoo more difficult and make you prone to infection. Hence, blood pressure should be maintained within the specified goal range as well.
Ensure that your glucose is in acceptable control. This implies blood glucose tests and hemoglobin A1C, or a list of normal blood glucose for the past three to four months should be in the objective reach. Your hemoglobin A1C ought to be under 7%.
On the off chance that you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you might have an altogether expanded danger of fostering a disease, as well.
Converse with your doctor first. Talk about your specific case with your primary care physician so they can survey your singular danger. Including your primary care physician is considerably more significant as the American Diabetes Association, which would ordinarily offer direction, has given no authority position proclamation right now about tattoos.
One special care that you need to take is about the tattoo studio you chose to get inked in. Before proceeding with your tattoo, ensure that the studio is authorized or licensed. To diminish the danger of any issues emerging from the tattoo application, you ought to likewise attempt to explore the organization’s standing and cleanliness and security rehearses.
You also need to ensure that your tattooist must know about your diabetic condition so they can tailor the method and aftercare data to best suit your necessities/condition.
Although permanent tattoos can be applied to virtually all aspects of the body, for individuals with diabetes, some regions should be avoided. These areas should not be incorporated with tattoos as they have a helpless blood flow. Tattoos in these spots as a rule set aside more effort to mend, which can prompt inconveniences (for example skin infection or contamination).
Some of the body parts to avoid are hindquarters, shins, lower legs, feet, and normal insulin infusion locales like arms, midsection, and thighs.
As people generally select a permanent tattoo design based on things that are significant to them, diabetics can take this to their advantage. They could incorporate clear clinical images or potentially text that shows their condition or maybe that may give them some kind of positive message towards their body. This will help in their healing process as well.
Do tattoos affect sugar levels?
It is no new story for diabetics to experience high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in certain conditions. High blood sugar levels might be caused by something as acute as cold, flu, or another common sickness.
Blood sugar levels are unaffected by tattoos, although they may have an impact on your tattoo-getting experience. In such cases, it’s not a surprise that as your tattoo is being done, your blood sugar level may rise. Because this treatment can be lengthy, uncomfortable, and stressful, it must be stable before the procedure begins. The pressure should, however, be back to normal the next day.
If your blood sugar is low or high enough to make you dizzy or nauseated, getting tattooed may exacerbate your symptoms: you may find yourself holding your breath unnecessarily, in an awkward stance, or experiencing an endorphin rush, all of which can exacerbate dizziness and nausea. If you’re planning on staying for a long period, it’s possible that your meal schedule will be disrupted, affecting your sugar levels.
If you’re diligent with aftercare and sanitation and keep an eye on your glucose levels (and carry any necessary mediation items, such as medication or a suitable snack), you should be fine.
Bonus Tips:
One way you can avoid triggering your blood sugar levels is by choosing a small and simple tattoo design to cut on the time and intensity of the whole inking process. Also, when getting your first tattoo, remember to pack sugary food to keep your blood sugar levels up. Low blood sugar levels in the fat chair can lead you to pass out, causing your tattoo to be incomplete.
Risks of having tattoos for diabetics
There are a lot of risks associated with diabetes and tattoos. Some common ones are unfavorably susceptible responses where you might experience a response to the substances utilized in the inks and hardware.
Now let’s look at some of the principal dangers of diabetics getting a tattoo:
Skin infection
The inked space of skin might become contaminated if the studio or potentially tattoo gear isn’t spotless or legitimate aftercare isn’t applied. A tattoo must heal properly to avoid skin infection; therefore, if you have chronically raised blood sugar, you should avoid getting a tattoo.
Before getting a tattoo, it’s crucial to talk to your doctor about your blood sugar levels. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you may be at a much higher risk of contracting an infection. Because of this risk of infection, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed severe hygienic regulations on tattooing.
Allergic reactions
Having allergic results after getting inked is quite possible. And Type 1 diabetics getting a tattoo are more prone to such unfortunate situations. To avoid something like this, make sure you take a patch test and ensure it isn’t going to be harmful to your body.
The non-machine patch test, sometimes known as an “ink rub,” is a type of non-machine patch test. This entails dabbing a little amount of tattoo ink on bare skin around the location of your first tattoo, in the colors you intend to use. The machine patch test, sometimes known as the “dot test” since it requires having a small dot tattooed on your skin, is the second type of test.
Keep an eye on the region and don’t get the tattoo if you have any negative reactions. If you show any signs of allergy, you should postpone getting the tattoo at least until you figure out what kind of inks and tattoos are safe for diabetics and what their sensitivity is. Redness, rash, swelling, burning, itching, and/or irritation are all symptoms of an allergic reaction.
People who are allergic to food colors, clothes dyes, or hair dyes are more likely to develop ink allergies. If you have allergies like these, take extra precautions. Allergies to tattoo ink are uncommon, but of those who are, many exclusively experience problems with red and yellow ink. You might wish to avoid them until you’re sure you’re not allergic to tattoo inks.
Scarring
Tattoo application can cause the development of a curiously large scar known as a keloid, which can be touchy and somewhat agonizing. It is a condition that has a variety of causes. Due to issues that arise during the tattooing and healing processes, some people develop tattoo scars from their first tattoos.
Aftercare is critical after getting a new tattoo to avoid scarring. Scratches and scabs that grow around the tattoo should not be scratched or picked at. Wear a bandage over the tattoo for the first 24 hours for extra protection. You should also avoid getting your tattoo wet.
There’s not much you can do once a tattoo heals and a scar appears. With time, the scar will fade. You can also try some home cures and antiseptics, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll entirely eradicate it.
Blood-borne diseases
Getting a tattoo can put you at the risk of coming into contact with blood-borne germs and other potentially infectious materials. If the tattoo needle or ink has not been sanitized, it could put you in danger of blood-borne ailments like HIV and Hepatitis B or C. There is also a risk that diabetics should be aware of, in which an infection can lead to a gangrene infection. Hence, make sure the studio you are choosing is certified and uses high-quality materials. It is also essential for diabetics to get a tattoo from artists who have completed an OSHA bloodborne pathogens certification course to minimize any such risk.
Delay in wound healing
Within a few days, a tattoo may appear to be healed. However, it’s critical to maintain a consistent aftercare regimen: It is possible that the healing process will take up to 6 months.
Every tattoo heals differently based on the person and the location of the tattoo. The healing process is divided into four stages, each of which comprises oozing, itching, peeling, and aftercare. Some strangely undeniable degrees of blood glucose could postpone recuperation of the inked skin and increase the danger of disease.
To make sure your tattoo doesn’t become infected, it’s critical to be constant and adamant about looking after it. Proper aftercare is critical for preventing infection and ensuring that your tattoo heals properly. If you see any signs that your tattoo isn’t healing properly, consult your doctor right away.
Side Note:
It’s a human tendency to dislike things after we have them. A shift in your perspective can happen anytime so ensure you are 100% certain with regards to your tattoo. Keep in mind that having a tattoo eliminated is a lot harder and also more costly than having one done!
Conclusion
Before you get inked, you might like to ask yourself a few questions.
Are you in command of your situation? Don’t risk fate if you don’t have to. Have you ever encountered problems with healing? Do you get red, puffy, and infected quickly from paper cuts, hang-nails, scratches, cuts, and other such things? If you do, you may not be able to get tattoos. Are you trustworthy enough to look after your tattoo while it heals? It is significant, particularly for us. Don’t ignore the directions that your artist offers you!
Although an infected tattoo is uncommon, diabetics getting a tattoo are more susceptible to infections—and if your tattoo does become infected, it can impact your life forever. So before you take the plunge, take this FREE Controllability Test & Check the Possibility of Regulating Sugar Levels with The Help of Ayurveda:
