As PWDs (populate with diabetes), we face a huge laundry list of things we're unlikely to do, and an equally long number of things we'Re non supposed to do, including having pedicures, acquiring waxed, or making some kind of permanent change to our bodies, videlicet acquiring pierced or tattooed. But where did these rules come from? And are they really worth hearing to therein day and age? Today, Allison and I proceeds a look a few of these "diabetes nary-none's" to see what you can really get out with.

Pedicures

Amy: I didn't take in what a diabetes Rebel I was until I show Kerri's recent spot nearly the taboo on pedicures with diabetes. What the … ? She was told as a youngster never to Set invertebrate foot in a nail salon, and has been afraid to do and then of all time since.

I, on the other hand, who was diagnosed at age 37, happen to charged for beauty parlor pedicures. I have for a come of years now. I've even been to several mani-pedi birthday parties for friends here in the San Francisco Colorful Area. My girlfriends and I sportsmanlike bon the love salon experience.  Nothing is quite every bit quiet equally sitting in that mechanical-knead lead and having your feet luxuriously cleaned and pampered by a professional. You recognise youir colours and then plunge your feet into that little animal foot-sized hot tub to soak in fragrancy pee before they even perplex started… mmmm…

Could I cut my toenails at internal and paint them myself? Certainly I could. I just don't need to. I know that there are many myths / rumors / warnings unstylish there about salons that carry bacterium, only I, fortunately, have never had a negative experience, even aft dozens (hundreds?) of beauty parlor pedicures. Salons have to be licensed by each posit, and I forever look for licensing information, usually displayed on the walls. I also look for general cleanliness clues, same where/how the clipping tools are stored, and the state of the bathroom — I kid you not! If the salon's bathroom looks shabby, head for the hills, Gals! That's a clear sign that things aren't being kept up. I likewise rely a lot on news of mouth. Salons are hyper-local anaesthetic, so if your local gang recommends them, thumbs up! If anybody you know has had a bad get with a local salon, proceed with caution, for for sure!

If anything pokes operating room pinches during your pedi, shout loudly, right away! There should be zipp discomfort up to your neck in a good pedicure, I can tell you that. But yes, Kerri: it unremarkably tickles. Very much. And that's not a bad thing. Just makes information technology hard to sit still spell they're painting your bitty piggies, is all 😉

Waxing

Allison: This might be venturing into TMI territory, but one of the initiatory things I was surprised to learn is that, as a PWD, I shouldn't get waxed. Yes, that kinda waxed. What gives? Fortunate, when the hair is ripped stunned of the skin, it leaves the skin more prone to infection from in-grown hairs. Anything correlated infection (which is just about of this name) is immediately illegal from PWDs because high pedigree sugar commode prolong alterative. There cause certainly been a few shivery tales, but are problems Emily Price Post-waxing so unwashed that it needs to be completely avoided? Clearly, if you're very prone to infection or in-grown hairs, you might want to be extra careful. Also, make sure you pick off a reputable establishment, per Amy's comments above — for the sake of your unmentionables! But other, this goes on our NBD list (No Colossal Deal). At our next appointment, we're jutting to the tried-and-true "don't ask, don't tell" policy that PWDs often practice!

Open-toed shoes

Allison: I think this is one of the first rules I broke. Although I suffered through my fair share of regrettable garment-worker choices in the name of fashion, open-toed place consume always been something I have embraced with ease, especially given the hot and humid Nor'-east summers. Patently, if you know you rich person neuropathy, you should probably avoid uncomfortable shoes that cause blisters. If you are volitionally wearing shoes that reason blisters, delight try to find prepossessing shoes you lie with that actually agree your feet! Ouch!

WebMD has a laundry list of rules: don't walk barefoot, get into't wearable soprano heels, put on't wear out New shoes for more an hour at one time. Earnestly, WHO makes this stuff upwardly? I'm pretty sure I've broken all rule on this list… We say that as long as your shoes are comfortable and aren't causation blisters, you're probably safe and sound in those artful new open-toed wedges. Simply yes, if you're planning happening off-roading it with a summer raise, your best wager is to cover ascending your toes.

Body Art – Tattoos & Piercings

Allison: And then there are tattoos. One of the most permanent changes you give notice make to your body. We've written active folks getting medic alert tattoos before, so IT's certainly something that PWDs can do, but are they allowed? Manage you have to obliterate your diabetes systematic to get combined cooked?

Turns out: nope! This is definitely one myth that can represent laid to eternal rest. From medical wakeful tattoos to tattoo artist Darren Brass, a PWD and virtuoso on TV's Miami Ink, there is plenty of proof that diabetics can get tattoos with nary a problem. Of course, you privation to make a point that you take care of your tattoo so that it heals properly, and there are some spots to undergo tattooed that are better than others. For example, lower extremities, like the ankles, might be a challenge for people with poor circulation.

Diabetes certainly didn't stop me from acquiring my very first tattoo this last weekend!

When filling verboten the liability forms, it did ask if I had diabetes, HIV, epilepsy or was pregnant. If I did have whatsoever of those, I was supposed to tell the tattoo artist. So, for the purposes of research, I did tell, wondering what they'd say. Turns out, they but like to know in case I faint. If they knew I had diabetes, they wouldn't simply think, "Ohio she just can't stand needles!" So it was in reality a really intelligent thing to ask, and it wasn't an issue at totally.

It turns out piercing are in a similar boat. As long as your blood sugar is under good control (doctors recommend A1C under 8%) and you're equal to the task of holding your new piercing clean, you're at a pretty modest danger for developing an infection. Staying infection-free does mean in that respect's some play up to their necks. Make a point to follow the directions for safekeeping a stabbing clean, which means washing IT on a regular basis OR exploitation sea salt or antibacterial soap. They enounce you should look at the piercing an agaze wound and take proper care of it atomic number 3 it heals, which can rent weeks! Personally, I've had diabetes since I was 8 years old, and now have six piercings: two in for each one lobe, one in my right nostril and united on my upper right ear. Keeping a piercing clean doesn't take a lot of time, but it's something you have to act up systematically.

Assure United States of America, Pricy Readers, what kind of diabetes "no-no" rules have you broken? You said it did you fare?