Can you get a tattoo with diabetes? Absolutely, but it’s important to take several precautions so you can stay both safe and healthy throughout the procedure.
While people with diabetes are familiar with needles due to frequent blood tests, tattooing comes with a few additional challenges. Our guide will break down what you should know before getting a tattoo, which precautions to take, and how our team will take care of you.
What Are The Challenges Of Getting A Tattoo With Diabetes?
All types of diabetes require you to take a few precautions before you sit in the tattoo chair. We highly recommend you meet with your doctor before deciding to get a tattoo, but the following precautions are great places to start.
Weakened Immune System While Healing
The first challenge with getting a tattoo with diabetes is your increased risk of infection due to a weakened immune system.
At The Fall Tattoo, we adhere to rigorous safety standards before administering tattoos, such as sterilizing tools and wearing protective equipment. Where your risk increases is during tattoo aftercare when the skin is flaking and peeling as it heals. People with diabetes may experience slower healing or higher levels of skin irritation after the procedure.
Keep an eye out for abnormal healing signs such as:
- Chills
- Fever
- Itchiness
- Strangely colored drainage (light yellow or clear is normal)
- Rash around the tattoo
Slower Circulation On Certain Body Parts
Steady blood circulation is essential for the body to heal, which presents another challenge for people with diabetes. A tattoo that takes longer to heal increases the risk of infection, so people with diabetes should avoid getting tattoos on areas with slow circulation like:
- Shins
- Ankles
- Feet
You should also avoid getting tattoos on areas where you inject insulin or use glucose monitoring (commonly the arms, stomach, or thighs). If you cover these areas up, it’ll be difficult to spot any possible infections or irritation at the injection site.
Completing A Blood Test Before Tattooing
Can a person with diabetes get a tattoo without a blood test? This isn’t medically advised since the test determines your blood sugar and risk level – it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Acceptable blood sugar levels in an AIC blood test for type 1 and type 2 are usually between 5 to 7. That said, you should always get the final sign-off from your doctor. You should also get regular blood pressure checks to keep an eye on slow circulation issues.
What Are The Best Tattoos For People With Diabetes?
Since people with diabetes need more time to heal, smaller tattoos will require less aftercare than complex ones. Body parts with higher circulation you can consider for a tattoo are your upper back, neck, hands, and upper shoulder (as long as it’s not an injection site).
An increasingly popular tattoo idea is creating a small tattoo that tells a potential medical professional your condition (in case you lose your medical papers or medical jewelry).
The FALL Will Help You Safely Get A Tattoo With Diabetes
At The FALL, we want to ensure you’re getting a tattoo that’s both meaningful and safe. Alongside industry-standard tattoo and piercing safety procedures, we go above and beyond to create a safe environment for all clients.
We’ve remained committed to additional safety precautions such as pre-appointment health screenings, online consultation, and masking during appointments. If you have any questions about getting a tattoo with diabetes, we’re happy to help.
Book a cosmetic tattoo appointment with us and get closer to the tattoo you’ve always wanted.
