Diabetes Talking

Question:

We took my step-daughter in for an ear cartilege piercing this weekend, and in reading the consent form, I noticed one of the clauses was "I do not have diabetes."  What are the risks with piercing a diabetic?  (Should I tell my (younger) diabetic daughter that future piercings are just "out" for her?)   — Angi Long of House Windstalker

Response:

: We took my step-daughter in for an ear cartilege piercing this : weekend, and in reading the consent form, I noticed one of the clauses : was "I do not have diabetes."  What are the risks with piercing a : diabetic?  (Should I tell my (younger) diabetic daughter that future : piercings are just "out" for her?) : Increased risk of infection.   Also, the pain and stress of getting the tattoo could conceivably change her sugar balance dramatically. Many persons with Diabetes get all sorts of body modification.  Ultimately it should be a personal choice made with realization of how severe the condition is.   I definitely do not think that body modification is one of the four major food groups.  It is something which is not really necessary and should not, generally, put someone at risk of severe injury or mortality.   Others may disagree with me on this but I feel especially strongly where a child is concerned. I would consult with a doctor and get an opinion from someone who really knows and knows her history before proceeding. Even if this is over cautious, teaching patience and healthy attention to her medical conditions is not a bad thing anyway. Geoffrey

Response:

Angi wrote : We took my step-daughter in for an ear cartilege piercing this : weekend, and in reading the consent form, I noticed one of the clauses : was "I do not have diabetes."  What are the risks with piercing a : diabetic?

to which Geoff replied Increased risk of infection.   Also, the pain and stress of getting the tattoo could conceivably change her sugar balance dramatically.

Wounds heal longer if one is diabetic. The following is by no means complete.  If anyone comes across more info, please let me know so that I can add it.  right now, I’m just doing searches in my spare time — and with the new fiscal year days away, I haven’t worked on my site in over a week. Anyway, Angi, I hope this helps   http://www.bmeworld.com/rebekah/diabetes.html ~ Rebekah (EMailed & posted) http://www.bmeworld.com/rebekah/reasked-home.html "The glass is always half-empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped a tooth."   janeane garafolo AOL now has kill files for online readers

Response:

says… What are the risks with piercing a diabetic?

I am diabetic and have quite a lot of ink, and a couple of piercings.   The short answer is that if your step-daughter’s blood sugar is under control, then there is no more risk than for a non-diabetic. The mechanism (in out-of-control diabetics) is that high blood sugar causes the blood to thicken (like syrup) leading to reduced blood flow through capillaries, leading to increased healing time.  This is especially problematic in the extremities, most notably the feet. In addition, out-of-control diabetics may develop a condition known as diabetic neuropathy which causes numbness of the extremities. The combination of diabetic neuropathy and poor circulation means that you can get a sore on your (numb) foot and not know it.  Not knowing that you have a sore means that you probably won’t take extra care to clean it, and because of the increased healing time due to impaired circulation, there is a high likelyhood for it to get infected.  Gangrene is the typical result. That’s why it is very common for out-of-control diabetics to lose a foot somewhere along the way. Having said all that, the simple solution for a piercing is to look at it every day and keep it clean.  Oh…and keep your blood sugar under control. — Guinness

Response: