Many of our kids and many adults with diabeets often want to get piercings or tattoos.
the old taboo against it because your diabetic is way out of date.

What they are finding is afew guidelines helps diabetics get, maintain and enjoy their piercings and tattoos.

While the article that ppeared abot teh young lady you had her nipple pierced, was diabetic and had a major problem afterwards is relatively small.

the guideline are as folows:
Be Logical as to the type of piercing. Avoid belly button piercing as that might be too close to an abdominal port for a pump. if you are not on a pump you can do abelly button. Avoiding heavy large piercings on the brow, as it collects sweat and oils and might be hard to keep clean. Lips too and toungue shoudl really be thought through before doing it.

If you do choose alternate places make sure that you discuss it with your MD and themknow whatyou are planning.
Make sure 1 week prior to the peiercing or tattoo that your blood sugars are normal or slightly below normal.

Use approved cleaning agents for diabetics. BActine or HJohnson adn Johnson woudl wash for piercings is reccomended.
For tatoos use what they reccomend.
Apply antibiotic cream not ointment to the wounds or tatoos.

A tattoo is a surface would of multiple pinpricks and dye. Some peeople may be allergic to the dye.
When choosing a parlor ot have it doen visit as manyas you can!
make sure they ahve a current, recent if possible health certificate. I fpossible make sure the owner or the perosn doing the " job" knows what they are talking about and can discuss it logically!

Make sure that if something goes wrong you can get in touch with them, even ifthat means atthe hospital or doctors office.
Some odd thinsg I found out was some eople ahve an allergic reaction to metals and dyes. Its arre but does happen. Sometimes perfume or body lotion or detergent or fabric lint can getinto a new piercing. And that can cause a problem. These rae rare but again they do happen.

Accoridng to teh AMA, ADA and teh Tattoo associations many diabetics come n and have medical alerts done on a wrist, upper arm or belly. Many ahve small ones done. Piercings are often simple, mostly a nose stud is most often seen in girls, though one had a bridge of his nose done.

So if you or your diabetic teen anst something liek this done, do a bit of research. control is a must, and care afterwards is a bigger must.

Yes, I agree that IF you can keep your BG's normal for the entire healing period, have normal circulation, and will make the extra effort to keep the piercing clean as it heals, you CAN get a piercing as a diabetic.

Many diabetics will and do get infections though, so think it through carefully. Are you otherwise healthy? Fairly young? Do you smoke, are you overweight, or have poor circulation?

I also want to say that of course you can have a navel piercing with a pump!!!! You are to position your pump site a MINIMIM 1 inch radius away from around the navel, meaning at least 1 inch away! A navel ring will never have contact with a pump site!!!! Ever! Plus, many people, such as myself, wear their pump sites on their bum or hip.

Where do you get these ideas!

AMA guidelines, ADA guidelines, American association of Professional Piercers, American dermatology association white papers.

Even in multipl injection sites you never do a 1 inch radius. Its always been at least two inches.
teh reason for the naval ring is multiple reasons, bacteria in teh navel itself, and tugging.
According to tehJournal of Emergency Medicine, teher has been ahigh incidence of infections gravitating to pump ports near naval piercings.

It has become standard practice to let pumpes know that it might not be wise. theer are other consideratiosnas well. Some of the piercing loops, dumbedlls and banans can come dislodged and get tangled up in infusion tubing. YOU may be perfect but a majority of poeple need to have ALL of the information thats in accordance with logical medical practice And in recommendations by those who perform this service of piercings.

Recommended Areas & Absorption Differences:
Because of the differences in absorption of different areas,
basal rate adjustments may need to be made based upon
blood glucose monitoring results.
• Abdominal area
- Best absorption area.
• Hips and buttocks
- Slower absorption than abdominal area, but an excellent
location for people who are very active
or who have low body fat.
• Outer thighs
- Slower absorption than abdominal area, but absorption
may accelerate with activity.
- Use of the interior thigh area can increase the risk
of irritation and infection (i.e. cellulitis).
• Back of the arms
- Slower absorption than abdominal area, but absorption
may accelerate with activity.
- This area is also more difficult to use if two hands
are required for insertion.
Areas to Avoid:
• Scar tissue
• Lipohypertrophy
• Surgical scars
• Liposuction
• Bruising
• High sensitivity
• High activity
• Over a bone
• Under the waistband of clothing
[B]• Immediately surrounding the belly button• Body piercing• TattoosSite Selection[/B]

First of all, NO reputable and government regulated piercer will pierce a diabetic. Every place I have been to asks health questions prior, and if you are a diabetic, you are automatically excluded due to the presumed high infection risk. Some places may do it with a doctor's note. I personally lied on my application and did not disclose that I had Type 1.

Yes, tubing may become caught in the piercing, but that is NOT the reason you gave. I doubt this would happen though. There is a high risk for infection ANYWHERE, not just the navel. And this can occur whether you wear a pump or not.

Could you please post the title of the article you saw? I searched the Emergency Medicine Journal and could not find anything. Is it possible a diabetic simply developed a severe infection (I'm guessing septic shock if she presented at the ER) due to a navel ring, but it had NOTHING to do with the pump?

Please post the title, I want to read the article.

Well, yes. But as we have both pointed out, a pump site is not supposed to be put close to the navel, so automatically it will not be near a navel piercing. This is exactly what I have been saying.

http://tattoojoy.com/tattoo_laws/index.php

this is a listing of each states laws on tattoos, countries as well.
there are only 10 states thathave laws in relation ot diabetics.
Basically where the law stands: Blackwell law books
is if you are in good control and have a doctors note saying you can get peirced, you sign a waiver of indemnification.
Diabetes does not preclude piercings. Guidelines established by teh MA and other governing bodies.
It is up to the parlor to decide. Theguidelines I posted were in accordance to all governing bodies, as I have invited other state officals to look at the postings I have made.

Dr. Julai Sherman Dn, PhT