Tattoos for injection rotation?

A

AnnaE

Newbie
Messages
2
I always forget where I have and have not recently I texted insulin on my abdot. I am considering getting a tattoo on my abdomen to a. Help with this and b. Look cool.

Are there any reasons why o shouldn't? Will the tattoo interfere with insulin absorption?
 
Jaylee

Jaylee

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
18,232
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi @AnnaE ,

Welcome to the forum.

There's no reason why you shouldn't get a tattoo done. Though I would be wary regarding disturbing it during the healing process? (As part of the aftercare.)

I do have some ink on my upper leg, though I've never injected into it. (More on the side of the thigh.)

Another thought is logging injection sites into an app? I use a freestyle Libre with the Glimp app on my phone as a reader which gives L/R flank or L/R navel in stomach then offers the next site as an option. Same with finger rotation too..
Other logging apps alow the user to take notes which can help.

You may not have a flash sensor, but the free app (no adds.) may help in the interim whilst you decide on the right ink work for you..

I'll tag in @therower & @LooperCat to say hello, who I think are inked..
 
  • Like
Reactions: Juicyj
LooperCat

LooperCat

Expert
Messages
5,223
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
Get a tattoo just to look cool, you’ll possibly forget which bit of it you’ve injected in anyway :D
I’ve got a few, but enough spare space to stick my pump and CGM so I don’t tend to make holes in the ink. Probably because there’s always the risk of an infected site (I’ve had just one in the 14 months I’ve had a pump) which would spoil it - plus lumps and bumps that we can develop over the years. They do recommend not to inject/pump/apply CGM onto ink, so I don’t unless it’s completely avoidable. That has influenced where I’ve had tattoos to an extent. All this talk makes me want another one...:rolleyes:
 
therower

therower

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,922
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I’m not sure I’d be wanting to inject into an inked area on a regular basis and definitely not within a few months of having a new tattoo.
I occasionally inject upper arms where I do have tattoos but they have been there 30 yrs +. Never had any problems, but they are quite old tattoos.
 
DCUKMod

DCUKMod

Master
Staff Member
Messages
14,298
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I'm don't inject insulin, but isn't there also a risk of lipohypertrophy in any given area used a lot for injections? I'm wondering if laying down a "map" could increase the chances of over using any given area?
 
Juicyj

Juicyj

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
9,034
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Hypos, rude people, ignorance and grey days.
I have heard of a map being used for injections to help people - am sure @himtoo knows about this so he's been tagged :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: himtoo and porl69
Antje77

Antje77

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
19,472
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Wouldn't it be easier to make something like this to use?
Dr9WxeiWsAA821e.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: porl69
himtoo

himtoo

Well-Known Member
Retired Moderator
Messages
4,805
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
mean people , gardening , dishonest people , and war.
why can't everyone get on........
the picture just above my post is an injection grid.
If you are interested I can post some out to you ---the tattoo isn't a terrible idea but using a grid is much easier , quicker too as you wouldn't need to wait for a tattoo to heal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Antje77
Jaylee

Jaylee

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
18,232
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Antje77 said:
Wouldn't it be easier to make something like this to use?
Dr9WxeiWsAA821e.jpg
Click to expand...

When I was first diagnosed back in the mid 1970s. Leg injections were the advised "thing" for me..
I had a printed image given to me at the time of two human legs which was mapped out like a "butcher's choice cut" for days of the week, to help site rotation..

I have this tattooed image in my head now of angel wings either side of the belly button with Monday, Tuesday etc enscribed in the feathers...? :cool: :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Struma and Antje77
Antje77

Antje77

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
19,472
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Jaylee said:
I had a printed image given to me at the time of two human legs which was mapped out like a "butcher's choice cut" for days of the week, to help site rotation..
Click to expand...
When starting injections my practice nurse offered me something like the picture above but I declined.
 
Jaylee

Jaylee

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
18,232
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Antje77 said:
When starting injections my practice nurse offered me something like the picture above but I declined.
Click to expand...

It'd be quite fetching as it's coming up to Halloween.. Jason from Friday the 13th? ;)
 
Jaylee

Jaylee

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
18,232
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
AnnaE said:
Thanks for all the responses! This is all really helpful
Click to expand...

No problems.Sorry about some of the"humour..." :)

Take your time with your idea &choose what is right for you..

On reflection, if I had placed my "biomechanical" style tatt on my stomach & mirror'd it? It may have served to aid rotation of the sites...

Good luck with your choice & get references from a reputable artist. ;)
 
Top Bottom