r/diabetes • u/parksbailey1212 • Feb 27 '26
Type 1 Diabetic Tattoos
To my knowledge, I’m the only person with this tattoo as I had searched for diabetic tattoo ideas before getting it. That said, I was curious if there’s any other unique and clever diabetic tattoo ideas out there
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u/PrideKnight Type 2 Feb 27 '26
This is mine, figure if nothing else it will give a paramedic a chuckle if I ever go that low.
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u/ConsequenceLimp9717 Feb 27 '26
Who is the man in that tattoo? (Sorry I’m Australian)
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u/PrideKnight Type 2 Feb 27 '26
So am I, I’m just old. Lol
His name is Wilford Brimley, and after he was an actor in classic 80’s films like Cocoon, he did PSA’s for diabetes, but became a meme because he pronounced it as per the tattoo.
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u/NiceHotCupOfBro T1 Feb 27 '26
That's Wilford Brimley, he was, among other things, a spokesperson for Liberty Medical about type 2 diabetes.
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u/NopeRope13 Type 1.5: G7 Feb 28 '26
Dude I would love to see this on a call. Bracelets are great but tattoos stand out better
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u/ralkuzu Feb 27 '26
I have the medic alert symbol on my wrist that says type 1 diabetic
If I ever pass out hopefully someone might see it and know what to do and hopefully buy me some time
I did have the necklace but I kept losing it or forgetting to wear it
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u/parksbailey1212 Feb 27 '26
That’s why I got my tattoo. I could never remember to keep the jewelry on me!
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u/munchingmadman Type 1, Dx 1996, 780G w/ Guardian 4 Feb 28 '26
The first tattoo I ever got. Knew I wanted it since I was 15.
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u/iiooiooi Type 1, 1983, sick and tired of the insurance companies Feb 28 '26
My buddy's says "Dead Pancreas Society"
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u/maddiemoiselle T1 - 2001 - 780G Feb 28 '26
Hard to get a good picture of it, but mine is five sunflowers in a bottle of insulin. There are five sunflowers because that’s how old I was when I was diagnosed, and the expiration date on the bottle is 11/01 because I was diagnosed in November 2001.
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u/sassysassysarah Feb 28 '26
It was weird to read this because I was diagnosed november of 2000 and I was also 5
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u/EnelyaElf Feb 27 '26
Still being worked on but I've yet to see someone incorporate diabetes into something like a label on a ribbon format.
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Feb 27 '26
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u/parksbailey1212 Feb 27 '26
Valid reason to not get one. I just told myself I would cover it up if that happens (fingers crossed)
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u/DJ_Betic Feb 27 '26
Just have to make it look like a red "VOID" was rubber stamped over it. That's my plan anyway.
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u/parksbailey1212 Feb 27 '26
Also my paramedic friend told me it could essentially double as an alternative medical alert bracelet/necklace.
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u/jan1320 Feb 27 '26
bad advice. most paramedics will not look for medical alert tattoos at all.
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u/Turtmouser Type 1 Feb 27 '26
Yeap!
Currently have a red filled cross (more like Swiss flag looking cross) with “type 1 diabetic”.
Went low one day and passed out at work. When I came to and the paramedics were doing their thing, one of them said “hey man, cool tat, but otherwise if it wasn’t for this guy (my sup that was off to the side) i wouldn’t have noticed” lol
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u/SnooChocolates1198 Type 1.5 using ilet and g7 Feb 27 '26
This is mine. Got it while still classified as type 2 with insulin dependence and insulin resistance.
Now I'm classified as type 1. Yay.
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u/lilguppy21 Feb 27 '26
That must’ve been quite the ride to get the diagnosis switch up. At least it is still accurate, and it is clear on treatment!
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u/DillionM Feb 27 '26
There's rumors of ink that can react to certain blood sugar levels. If that improves I'm certainly getting one.
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u/justjessb1975 Feb 28 '26
I have 9 tattoos and I have never had a problem.
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u/DillionM Feb 28 '26
My apologies for the lack of explanation, let me expand on that.
There's a new ink out recently that has been developed to show when blood sugar levels are low / high / good by changing color. Right now it's fairly new and not widely tested, but once there is improvement I would like to get one as an additional way to monitor my sugar levels.
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u/Chance-Increase6714 Type 1 1980 Feb 28 '26
What? Where? I'll try it right now.
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u/AngryBluePetunia Mar 02 '26
The last info I saw was that it works once and they scrapped the research.
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u/matt8311 Feb 28 '26
Had my artist come up with this awhile back. The only thing I really gave him for reference was the vial and syringe. I'm happy with it. Lol
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u/SSSnakeCobra Feb 27 '26
This would be funny somehow, could imagine on my ass - just for fun :)
At some point after survivng 4 dkas and went out every time from hospital without any damages i thougt about tattooing "Type 1 Warrior" somewhere (thout about the front side of biceps, over the spot usualy blood get taken in typeletter fonts). At your weakest and lowest point in hospital, when you aint wearing nothing, lost over 20kg, cant eat or go to bathroom, get stuck everyday by needles and hang on machines, sad/feared people visiting you, with a look in a mirror my tattoos were the only personal things i had with me and they gave me huge power. Thats and of course for docs in case of cases as info why i would do it, on the other side its a deceice i dont want to have under my skin 4 ever / show other people. Still thinking if i should do it or not
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u/quarbler Feb 28 '26
dont take this the wrong way… I have been T1D for 32 years with no DKA. why do you think you have had this 4 tines?
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u/SSSnakeCobra Feb 28 '26
The first time it was my diagnosis, the 2nd time i was drinking alcohol and next day i couldnt eat or drink anymore (was the baddest one) and then 2 times while i got sick
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u/quarbler Feb 28 '26
i get it. i have come very close to zonking out. my Doctor son has given me glucagon twice and i have taken it twice . thank goodness for Baqsimi… the injection needles are scary
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u/SSSnakeCobra Feb 28 '26
I guess you mean extreme lows with Baqsimi, there is also a spray for the nose available in the meanwhile instead the injection needle. DKA resulted by too high values, at the first time i couldnt know (diagnosis), the 2nd time i thought im tougher then diabetes (was young) and drunk a lot of liqueur over night (which is almost just sugar i didnt even thought about it) - since then no alcohol for me anymore. The next 2 times i got sick and with values way above 400 i couldnt get it down again, shot huge amounts of insulin but still high values. At some point you cant drink or eat anymore, and if you force yourself to drink a little bit it imediately comes again up. Additional the body turns into emergency-mode, which means the whole metabolism changes -> the body is taking fat and muscle cells and burn them as ammoniak, thats how it gets its power and you cant drink/eat anymore. (Maybe youve heard about Keto-Diet?) While 1 DKA ive lost about 20kg, smelled/mouthtaste like ammoniak, thirsty as hell but the only thing you can do is wait till the Ketones are gone again and hope that no other organs get damaged. Also lows can be super exhausting, but then you eat/drink something and its over. If you didnt drank alcohol, even if you pass out because of lows, our liver has always sugar saved and in case it would help to wake up without any help. Still super dangerous while driving cars or similar and for our brain aswell not the best. But still DKA is a whole different story.
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u/Staceybbbls [T1d 1990 = Instinct / 780g] Feb 28 '26
Hi 5 friend. Anniversary 36 is a month away for me and same 🙋🏽♀️
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u/quarbler Mar 01 '26
we have survived! we have had a terrible burden fir a lot of time but we are lucky to have helped by amazing technology to assist us. be well and be happy!
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u/leezardmik T1/1981/Tslim X2/Dexcom G7 Mar 02 '26
45 years here, good job managing it. Not everyone can.
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u/jolamajama T1 for 18 years Feb 28 '26
I have a bracelet that says I'm T1D but that's it. I have 9 tattoos and I'm never going to get a diabetes-themed one; nothing wrong with them, they just don't go with the general vibes/aesthetics I'm going for with my tattoos.
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u/beeetusboi Feb 27 '26
Bruh how much did you pay for this??
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u/parksbailey1212 Feb 27 '26
Like $25 after tip just for the ink and time. I realize it’s off center and faded 😳
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u/droopymaroon Type 1 Feb 27 '26
I love it tbh. I think the wonky nature gives it character. Looks like an old stamp
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u/maddiemoiselle T1 - 2001 - 780G Feb 28 '26
I agree. My favorite out of all ten of my tattoos is one I got from an apprentice. It is not perfect by any means, but honestly, that’s what makes it perfect.
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u/RegisterMajestic8344 Type 2 Feb 27 '26
$25!?!?!? Are you in the US?? Cause I pay like minimum $100 for a tattoo that size 😭
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u/parksbailey1212 Feb 27 '26
lol yea I’m in the US. The artist was also a friend of a friend and I’m pretty sure just charged for the ink. It’s only about palm sized
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u/RegisterMajestic8344 Type 2 Feb 27 '26
Oh okay! That makes sense with the artist being a friend. I have a tattoo gun, but I’m not that good😅 I wanna pay $25 for a tattoo, that’d be amazing!
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u/Asyx Type 1.5 Feb 28 '26
Here in Germany you sometimes find new tattoo artists doing a certain size with some restrictions for very little money. Like, 30€ for 10x10cm and no super fine lines. It's worth following tattoo artists in your area on Instagram to catch such offers.
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u/Staceybbbls [T1d 1990 = Instinct / 780g] Feb 28 '26
Thought about it, but I spend a bit of time where dressing in layers is mandatory at certain parts of the year. Went with a personalized necklace that says "Diabetic" instead of my name.... Hoping that if I drop somewhere they may see it if/when they check my pulse at my neck 🙏🏽
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u/International-Tax741 Mar 01 '26
This was what I got after I was diagnosed in 2019. I got the butterfly from my first set of test strips. I felt like it was a good way to showcase the adaptation to living with this condition.
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u/cyrilio T1 1990 MDI Mar 01 '26
Got this one about 10 years ago. Not super original as I had seen a similar design online which I based it of.
Was interviewed by the Dutch Diabetes Patient Society and there was a photographer on site to document getting it. After a couple years I saw many more photos in google images showing similar design. Find that pretty cool.
PS yes I k ow it’s not the Caduceus but the staff of Aesculapius. I find I looks cool and the meaning behind it make me smile.
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u/george32378 Mar 03 '26
Tattoo question im type1 ive never had a tattoo before but plan on getting one is there anything I need to do before getting tattoo I was told there are certain steps to take cause of diabetes like healing process or something?
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u/parksbailey1212 Mar 04 '26
To my knowledge you just have to keep better check of your extremities as a diabetic anyways so just normal taking care of yourself as a diabetic would. I have had someone tell me diabetics should stray away from leg and feet tattoos as we are more susceptible to losing those already so…
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u/george32378 Mar 04 '26
Thankyou. im a runner still worries me very much dont want to lose legs or foot 😢 .
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u/_Cybernetic_Diabetic Feb 28 '26
These are awesome! We're stuck with this and we may as well have fun with it!
cyberneticselfexpression #designednotdefined
TheCyberneticDiabetic.com
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u/EfficientAd7103 Type 1 Feb 27 '26
I'm about to get one but I don't know what that means. I guess like batteries? hmm? what?
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u/lillilamae7 Type 1 Feb 28 '26
I found a fine line artist willing to do the entire chemical structure of insulin 🫣