Before getting any kind of piercing done, most people think about how they should take care of it. But, if we have diabetes, we should know that we must pay more attention. Here is everything we need to know about diabetes and body piercing.
Let’s get one thing straight, having diabetes doesn’t instantly mean that we can’t do body piercing. What we should remember if we do body piercing is to have good control over our diabetes.
Good control over our condition is vital. It is like that since poor control over our diabetes can notably increase the healing times and also the risk of getting an infection.
Also, we should think carefully about which part of our body we want to be pierced. Piercing might be done to almost any part of the body, starting from the ear lobes, eyebrows, belly button, and all the way to private parts.
Diabetes and Body Piercing – How to Take Care Before Piercing
If we have diabetes and we want to get a piercing in different areas of the body, we need to take care of these things before we do it:
- First, we need to keep the blood sugar levels under control. If we don’t do that, the piercing will need a long time in order to heal, and we might end up with infections;
- Try to be stress-free;
- Also, we can consult our doctor before doing any type of piercing just to be safe.
Body Parts We Shouldn’t Get Pierced
We need to avoid certain parts which are in poor circulation. Such parts are:
- Our usual areas for insulin shots or injections;
- Buttocks;
- Shins;
- Ankles.
Also, it is vital to choose an accredited or licensed body pierced to do the work. We should be open and talk to them about our diabetes so they can tailor the aftercare tips and procedures according to our needs.
Body Piercing and Its Common Risks
The risks are similar to those without diabetes. The only addition is that we need to control our blood glucose.
Infection
The pierced area of the body might be infected, in case the venue is not clean, and we don’t keep good hygiene.
High Blood Sugar Levels
In case our blood glucose levels are higher than they need to be, the piercing might take longer to heal, and that in turn might increase the risk of developing an infection.
Needles
In case the needle which was used to pierce our skin wasn’t sterilized, we might be at risk of blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis infections and HIV.
Scarring
We might have scarring after the piercing, or it might cause the formation of a keloid which is a big scar.
Bleeding
The procedure itself might cause bleeding, mainly in parts of our body that have many blood vessels like the tongue.
How to Properly Take Care of Our Piercing
- We should check our blood sugar on a regular basis;
- Take our insulin injections on time and regularly;
- Keep the piercing and the area clean by washing it on a regular basis (for this we can use antibacterial soap or sea salt);
- In case we cannot eat properly, we should take our insulin dose regularly;
- Check ketones regularly, especially for those with type 1 diabetes.
How to Take Care of Piercing in the Tongue and Mouth Area
- In case after the piercing, we think that our blood sugar is above its usual normal levels, we need to increase the insulin dose which we take on a regular basis;
- After consuming any drink, we should wash our mouths with water.
What If We Feel Unwell
In case we feel unwell for a long time, we need to consult our doctor right away. Below we will see a couple of things to help us identify that we are not well:
- We will have a type of green or yellow-colored discharge around that part of the body;
- Redness in that area for a long time;
- Burning effect;
- Swelling in the pierced area for too long.
