As someone who is Type 1 and has Tattoos and is a practicing Tattoo artist i would just like to give you a few points from both sides....
As a diabetic your role in this should be to make sure your blood sugars are stable, high bloods sugars increase the risk of extended healing times and risk of infection. I find that as time goes on i take longer to heal.
LISTEN to Tattooist when they tell you the after care.
If your going for a big piece do it in stages (not so relevant in smaller pieces), lining first then let that heal, then go back and get shading done and let that heal, then if your going colour get that done then let that heal. It prolongs the process but it makes for a safer experience. Remember your creating an open wound and trauma to the skin so you need to be patient.....
Make sure your tattoo artist knows your diabetic and disclose this information on the disclaimers provided.
HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT BEFORE GOING TO GET YOUR TATTOO
When you go to get your work done take your testing equipment and test regularly also take hypo treatment incase your sugar level drops.
IF YOU NEED A BREAK ASK FOR ONE being a hero benefits no one !!
Your Tattoo artists role in this should be to respect all of the above and help make your experience in their chair as stress free and as comfortable as possible (all things considering)
Hope this helps Marra
happy tattoo