The diabetes awareness tattoos on this page are as permanent in our lives as living with diabetes.
In November 2006, a group of people with diabetes wanted to do something different to raise awareness about diabetes. decided to get diabetes tattoos. for some, it was a challenge. others saw it as a fantasy come true. however, for everyone it was a very public display of love.
We have since updated this gallery of fantastic diabetes tattoos to include many more designs.
please enjoy art and love stories. If you’re considering getting a diabetes tattoo, we’ve got a few things to consider before you go.
Once you make the decision to get a tattoo, we’d love for you to share your design with us!
the diabetes tattoo that started it all
this is where this page started, with my own tattoo. here is my story.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month, so November 2006 seemed like the right time to create a diabetes awareness tattoo.
No one in my immediate family had any idea I was considering this. my oldest son was shocked. my youngest son told me i looked like him and i was tough! Despite the initial shock, the reaction to my diabetes awareness tattoo has been the same: wow!
the tattoo artist created two hearts for my two children, equal in my love. he added a splash of color that reflected his birthstones. she kept the tones soft and loving while adding a diabetes awareness ribbon. the drop of blood reflects the blood my son separates with each time he checks his blood glucose levels.
the fit is perfect for my shoulder. the concept is a reflection of my heart.
In June 2017, I had the image retouched as 11 years of rain had washed away the original work.
more information on diabetes tattoos
If you’re considering getting a tattoo and you have diabetes, be sure to also read our informative articles on when to get a tattoo when you have diabetes and what you need to know before getting a tattoo.
tattoo gallery
here are many diabetes and diabetes awareness tattoos that have been sent to us over the years. They have come from people all over the world. These diabetes tattoos are on people with type 1 diabetes, those with type 2 diabetes, as well as many family and friends who support them on their diabetes journey. they are symbols of love and provide some with a new level of comfort not found in traditional jewelry.
You can scroll down to read the individual stories behind the art here.
more tattoo stories
here are the many tattoos that have been submitted to us over the years and their stories.
Share your work with us by sending it to advocacy@diabetesadvocacy.com
aimee
hi, my name is aimee and i have had type i diabetes for 23 years at the time of this photo. I decided to get this tattoo because it had to mean something to me. Since I have lived with diabetes for most of my life, I thought why not. just wanted to share the picture…it’s kind of a unique design. I am a big advocate for diabetes and finding a cure. I work as a nurse and I am always in contact with people who have this disease. having it myself allows me to get to know them at their level and better understand what they are going through. thanks for letting me share.
alex
I just got this diabetes tattoo. It makes me feel more confident and I really like the symbol, so I think it makes a pretty good tattoo?
alexandra
my name is alexandra and i was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 8 and am now 23 years old. This tattoo idea came to me when I was sketching some ideas and I didn’t really like just the diabetes ribbon as a tattoo. instead I came up with a loop and put the medical symbol in the center of the knot. I thought I created a unique design. having developed complications in the past from not taking care of myself, this tattoo means a lot. I inspire people every day when I’m out and that makes me feel great.
Andrew
Hi, I wanted to share a photo of my diabetes tattoo for your site. I was diagnosed about 1.5 years ago and my flying career was ended. I decided I didn’t like medical alert bracelets and was going to get a tattoo. after looking at your site for inspiration i made a design and here is the final product. Thank you! Andrew, Utah
anna sofie
I’ve been diabetic for about three years and got tired of wearing and worrying about my medical ID bracelets. so i got a tattoo! I chose a more personal design for myself than the more classic medical alert tattoos I’ve seen, and I love it. I feel so free!
anna
I wrote a blog for www.therollercoasterrideofdiabetes.com about how I finally got my diabetes tattoo last month… this year I will be 51 years since I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. my love of advocacy… helping others as a mentor… and meeting other diabetics when I travel the world… encouraged me to do this. I chose the cat for my pseudonym… fatcatanna… plus I had the artist wrap the cat’s tail in a blue circle… which is most recognized as the symbol of diabetes.
anthony
I was diagnosed with diabetes a little over a year ago. I got tired of wearing my bracelet and forgetting it when I left the house. I thought a tattoo around my wrist would be the answer.
andy
my name is andy. i was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in july 2014. diabetes runs in my family, but it still surprised me a bit because i thought that if i ate well and stayed active, it wouldn’t happen to me. I was wrong and realized that no matter how well you take care of yourself, it can still happen. I changed my way of eating and checked my blood sugar frequently, after a few months it was well controlled. I thought “I have this” and so I stopped monitoring my blood sugar but continued to diet etc. I was wrong again. after two years, i slowly started to feel bad and in about six months the symptoms came back. he had high blood sugar levels and was completely out of control. I decided that I would never underestimate diabetes again. my tattoo is a medical alert and daily reminder for me. some people say it could be mistaken for a “cool tattoo” and ignored by emergency services. it’s on my left arm, with medical alert symbols they recognize and clearly labeled “type 2 diabetic.” doctors, nurses, and emergency medical workers have all said that this tattoo could one day save my life. It has never been mistaken for anything else, and I would support anyone who wanted to get one. yeah it hurt but i would do it again because it’s an awesome bad a$$ tattoo.
baxter
betopamplona
This is my tattoo that brings me calm in emergencies. I am Brazilian and I have type 1 diabetes.
bob
This is my new ink. i have been a type 1 diabetic since april 17 2009. i have been in construction my whole life so i cant wear medical bracelets so this is my answer to that. I’ve been to your website several times to see other’s illustrations and get ideas before I finished mine. I love your site and can’t wait to see all the other ideas people come up with.
This is the tattoo I got a while ago. I don’t like bracelets, necklaces, etc. so for a long time I never used anything. i guess i thought an emt could figure it out seeing my pump & cgm. my wife, who is a fan of tattoos, was getting one and said, come on, I’ll buy you the first one. we made the date that she thought she wouldn’t go to, but i did. thinking about what to wear, I thought of a medical alert. I found this site and got some ideas along with what I had in mind and came up with this. cliff, one of the owners of oshkosh tattoo and good girl piercing (and a really talented and cool guy) tweaked my design a bit and put it on. I have had type 1 diabetes since I was four years old, which was in 1957 when I had a physical for kindergarten entry and was diagnosed. the last 54 years are history. my father’s father had diabetes and was the second person in wisconsin to use insulin and my mother was a nurse so early diagnosis didn’t allow me to pick up many bad habits. I was also lucky to have a mom and dad who were knowledgeable, willing, and able to help me from the start. bob marquart .oshkosh, wisconsin
bob
bobby
bobbie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
brad
Hello, I have been diabetic for 23 years. I am an electrician and I am not allowed to wear jewelry of any kind at work. I’ve broken and lost so many med alert chains and pendants over the years it’s ridiculous. I wanted my daughter-in-law to create a leather-like chain to wear around my neck for a medical alert pendant when she suggested I get a tattoo. Never again will you have to worry about losing or forgetting to put something on! after a variety of different designs and a great tattoo artist, here it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brento
my name is brent, i have been diabetic for 8 years, i have 3 tattoos and this is the only one visible, it serves as a great reminder to take care of myself and to start a conversation with people in society. I haven’t received any negative feedback from anyone either.
brian
I am 17 years old and about to move out of my house away from my dad, who is 39 years old. he has had diabetes for 37-38 years, and the reason he got it is because of the insulin they gave him as a child to prevent disease. typical baby shots, right? wrong. apparently his body reacted badly to the injections and caused his pancreas to fail, giving him type 1 diabetes. a perfectly normal baby became diabetic almost before he could walk. I designed this tattoo myself, and it’s on the inside of my wrist if you can’t see it, it’s in honor of my dad and everyone with diabetes in the world. I hope they find a cure so my dad doesn’t have to endure (or anyone for that matter) multiple injections every day. or taking a pill every day. I, Brian J. kilgore, i am a proud diabetes advocate from san diego ca.
for brian
in 2004, my father brian became seriously ill. We were not aware of what was wrong. I will never forget that day in March when he came home from the doctors and told my mom in the hallway that he had been diagnosed with diabetes… his doctor said he had a rare case, he is between type 1 and type 2, his pancreas is still produces insulin, but other times you will need the injection. he can control it if he monitors it. He always told me that he couldn’t get me a tattoo until I was 18 because he didn’t want me to and I regretted it because he didn’t want it anymore. So in 2009, after I graduated from high school, my mom and I went together to get our first tattoo. i bought the diabetic butterfly just for him 🙂 he had no idea what he was getting so it was a surprise for him when i got home to show him. he was very proud and did not think that one of his children would have so much respect for him. I am 19 now and I will never regret this tattoo, it means a lot to me, it will always remind me of how strong it is and the influence it has on my life. I am blessed to call him my dad…jaime
brian
my name is brian. i was diagnosed with t2 diabetes in december 2009. i struggled to accept my “new normal” until i took charge of it in february 2013. at which point i became involved with the ada and her cycling cure tour. event. It was an experience that changed my life and has influenced me a lot. her logo spoke directly to my heart and gives me a visual reminder that there is new life after diagnosis. a life well lived with diabetes. this visual reminder will remain permanently to help me stay up to date and vigilant daily in my management. Thank you for all you do in the diabetes community!
for brody
my son brody was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in september 2007 at the ripe old age of 7 years. It was a total shock to us as he was found during a basketball physical. It has totally changed our lives as we are now experts in counting carbohydrates, blood sugar checks, insulin, needles, etc. He’s been very brave and I’m very proud of him for dealing with it the way he has. he is my inspiration, that’s why I decided to get a tattoo in honor of him and all the children who live with this terrible disease. is the “kids with diabetes” ribbon within their zodiac sign “gemini”
brooklyn
my name is brooke, i have type 1 diabetes. i was diagnosed 3 days after my 8th birthday. I am now 17 years old. I got this tattoo as a symbol of support for myself and others.
street
I was diagnosed with a serious but rare case of diabetes almost 2 1/2 years ago in April 2011 where I am basically type 1 and 2. not only does my pancreas not produce insulin but neither does my body. use it very well, in which case I am prone to extremely high glucose levels and need twice the amount of insulin that a type 1 called “normal” would need. I didn’t even want to deal with bracelets or necklaces, so my mom gave me the idea to tattoo it. She is allergic to bees and penicillin and has the medical symbol on the top of her doll with bees on one side and a pen on the other. I decided to buy mine in a way that it would look like a real bracelet because hers has faded in a way that at first glance looks like a cool tattoo instead of a medical ID. november is diabetes awareness month, so we hope to post another image here soon. ~callie~
carol
chelsea
chris
chris
christopher
chris
I received my ink after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I am now aware and taking care of myself, I am ‘in good hands’.
cindy
cody
my son, cody, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on august 15, 1999. he was 6 years old. it is completely heartbreaking to see a child have to live with this disease. Cody is now 17 years old and still battles diabetes on a daily basis. i got a diabetes ribbon tattoo during the summer of 2004. cody told me last night that he wanted to get a diabetes tattoo on his wrist. I found his website and wanted to share my story. thanks
collin
Collin was inspired by our page to get his own tattoo! “I got this tattoo a couple of weeks ago. It turned out great and I’m happy with it. hopefully, it’s still readable. he made me tim forbus incognito in pasadena ca. make sure your ignorant boss knows it’s a medical alert and not for fun or something…”
craig
I’m type 2 diabetic and wanted to share my tattoo. i am a strong supporter of the american diabetes association and want to further its cause and awareness. ~craige
short
my name is curt and i wanted to share my medic alert tattoo with you. i have been a juvenile diabetic for 34 years since the age of 7. i traded the snake heads for wrenches because i am a hardware superintendent and i wanted my tattoo to be a little different. this website gave me some inspiration for design and making it.
david
david
my name is dave fisher. July 22, 2012 I was diagnosed with sugar of 1138. and now I stopped my insulin 5 months ago. And I just got a tattoo. I have lost 60 pounds. and went from a 45 waist to a 34. never say you can’t! almost 1yr type ii and i love riding road bikes and did 63 miles on the philadelphia tour to cure diabetes.
david
My wife has literally saved my life. she alerted me to all my diabetes symptoms and begged me to get checked out. I gave in after about 3 years (yes, I can be dense sometimes). after a 14 hour fast, my blood glucose was 675, and when my a1c checked, it was over 14%. after about 4 years on oral medication my pancreas finally died and i am now insulin dependent. Instead of buying and losing one necklace or bracelet after another, I finally got a tattoo on my right forearm. and I think she did an excellent job…much, much better than the design I gave her.
debby
I wanted to share my unique diabetic tattoo. my tattoo artist designed it himself, with a little guidance from me, and I love it! it’s so pretty and delicate, but big and obvious enough for people (hopefully doctors) to notice. I wanted a tattoo because, unlike a bracelet/necklace, you can never forget to wear it or lose it.
debby
diamond
no
I was told I had type 2 diabetes in December. 2009. He had been tired and thirsty, but I didn’t notice the symptoms. then medication, diet, and exercise to keep it under control. my kids were after me for something to wear, but i didn’t want anything i could lose. so I chose to get a tattoo. I got a design, changed it a bit and put it on the bottom of my left wrist. now we all feel better, and I have a ‘sign’ in case you have a problem. 80 and taking care of myself.
elizabeth
I’ve been diabetic for 19 years and thought since I’m allergic to metal around my neck and wrists, I might as well get the medical symbol for diabetes. i was rushed to the emergency room in september 2008 and if my sister hadn’t been there the paramedics and doctors would have had no idea to check my blood sugar and rush me because i had dka. Elizabeth
helena
Ellen’s mom sent her daughter to college. Among the tools she sent from her to help her manage her diabetes was the address of this website. Much to Ellen’s mom’s dismay, she was inspired to get the word “diabetic” tattooed on her wrist… so my mom told them about my new tattoo! LOL ! It’s amazing, I feel really inspired to have it. believe it or not its like a constant reminder to do the things i sometimes forget to do, its better to have a tattoo to remind you than a dad sometimes lol! it’s great not wearing a medical bracelet, my wrist feels so free!” ellen w
emily
Erica
My daughter has been type 2 diabetic for 10 years and I did the same about 5 years ago. I’ve tried several different bracelets, but they don’t seem to like my skin very much. so i started looking for tattoos online and found some that i liked so i took one i found and made it my own. there are 2 parts to this 1) for medical purposes 2) for my daughter and awareness of any type of diabetes. perfect example: my tattoo artist asked me how many types were there and what was the difference, and what are the signs. While he was doing my tattoo, I had an audience of tattoo artists asking questions. She so far she is doing her job!
eve
for gail
Tonight went well…although I wouldn’t recommend anyone get a shoulder tattoo. hurts! now some might say “duh” but honestly my lower back tattoo didn’t hurt at all, um…thank goodness there were other people watching so I kept being brave…ouch. now after showering tonight i felt so much better rinsing and wiping myself off, but remind me next time i mention how it felt to do this… all because of gail. the things we do for our children (lol) everything went very well, the people from television did not go, thank god. I think I was more nervous about her presence than anything else, but the paper was and they took about 50 pictures, so who knows what will end up in the paper.
heather
hunter
for jacob
here’s a bit of our history! ? having to watch your child battle this disease day and night makes it easy to see the downside of it, but there are also some positive outcomes for t1 diabetes in our lives. Today, I would like to draw your attention to solidarity and compassion. To this day, I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed as much support and understanding as in the t1 community, whether it comes from the doc, online forums, t1 blogs, or even facebook groups.
at age 4 (about 8 months after his diagnosis), our son jacob started using a medtronic insulin pump. he was new and had great jelly skin, but needless to say he still felt completely alone on his diabetic planet. I guess not having many t1 kids in and around our hometown didn’t help. Even if he loved using the bomb on him, I could tell that he felt like an outcast, different from all the other kids. Indeed, one day he came to me and said: “Mom, why can’t I be like the other children? Am I the only one in the whole world who uses a bomb?”
That broke my heart! I tried to explain that all children had their own differences. that kellyann had surgery to resize one of his ears, noah wears an earpiece to help him hear, edward can’t eat fish, nuts, or even drink milk because of his allergies, other kids wear glasses or move around in wheelchair. then I told him that we all have our own differences, that’s what makes us all the same!
after that conversation, i turned to my husband philippe and said, “we have to do something, we need to find a solution so that jacob doesn’t feel so alone.” It was at that moment that the idea of a tattoo came up!
Diabetes does not define who we are, but it is definitely part of our lives. As long as Phil and I walk this earth, we will do everything in our power to make sure our sweet little boy thrives and becomes the best human he can be. This tattoo symbolizes the bond between the three of us and is also a symbol of love, life and hope. I’m sure every parent of t1 has said at some point, “I’d take care of his illness in a heartbeat if I could!” of course it’s impossible, but what is possible is to show compassion, support and love with all your heart!
I firmly believe that the day will come when there will be a cure for all people with diabetes. on that day my sweet boy will be free along with millions of other people. Even then, Phil and I will proudly wear our heels for the rest of our days in solidarity with the greatest hero we know!
It’s hard to describe how excited Jacob was when he first saw our pumps. All I can tell you is that the feeling we got from his emotions was larger than life! We promised you that you would never again be alone in the world to use a bomb. promise made, promise kept! camille, phil and jacob
jake
jake’s tattoo he got in 2011. he has been a type 1 diabetic since he was 4 years old. done by matt pearl at dead serious tattoo in western springs, il
jake m
This is the tattoo I got a year and a half ago. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 5 years ago and it completely changed my life. Not negative but it has changed. growing up i was surrounded by diabetes, my dad was type 2 and my close cousin was type 1 so it was nothing new to me. but he always joked with my dad about getting matching tattoos of a diabetic theme. well, knowing a friend who is a tattoo artist and also a diabetic, he was totally on board with this idea, so this is what he came up with and I fell in love with it. so now three people have this matching tattoo. It reads “death by sugar” at the top, but underneath it has my meaning of life and the tools to live to maintain the balance I need.
james
for jaime
for my brother jaime. He passed away on May 2, 2011. I miss him more and more every day. he was only 33 years old: ‘(amanda
January
jan got this tattoo so she doesn’t have to wear a med alert necklace.
janos
from hungary diagnosed on 2012.06.18
for jayde
this tattoo was done at hosstyle tattoos in fredericton, nb by hoss locke. my daughter jayde kasia was diagnosed in november 1996. gina m, boiestown, nb
jeannetta
jeff
jenny
jerry
jevonda
My name is Jevonda and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in January 2010 at the age of 30. I have never liked jewelry on the wrist, but I ordered a bracelet anyway. Needless to say, I’ve only used it 2-3 times in a year, so I decided to get the tattoo instead.
jocelyn
I have mine in case I ever lose my medical ID. I feel much safer having it permanently on my body. I’m type 1.
john
my name is john solberg, i have been a type 1 diabetic for 32 years. I’ve always hated having things on my wrist or around my neck, but I knew I needed to have a way to notify someone in an emergency. This was purchased for me by my family and was done by Leif Goldrick of Lunatic Tattoo in Vancouver, WA. this was so much better and more than i expected and i love this tattoo!
jonathan
my name is jonathan. I am 30 years old. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 5 years old. I was recently diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy. I recently visited diabetesadvocacy.com, it was an inspiration to me and shows that we are not alone. god bless you all!
jonathan
I’m 25 years old. my name is Jonathan. I have 8 tattoos and this is my newest tattoo! i have been diabetic since april 21, 2010. i got this tattoo in daytona on friday night.
jordan
my name is jordan f and this is my diabetic tattoo. I have had this disease for 10 years (diagnosed in 2000 when I was 7 years old) and I have always wanted to have a tattoo that marks this day forever. When I go to work in the medical field, it helps that I don’t have a real ID because life can get a little crazy. I love my tattoo because I know that anyone will know that I am diabetic. when they develop a cure that is completely safe, I want to have the date of my diagnosis and the date of cure with the word cured in the middle. I love my tattoo even if it marks a day that changed my life.
julia
my name is julie g and i have had type 1 diabetes for over 25 years. I just got this tattoo in honor of diabetes awareness month. Although having the disease is a daily struggle and I have been affected by many of the complications of the disease, it has made me a strong, resilient and conscientious person. other people I have talked to with juvenile diabetes have often said that we feel like members of a special club.
justine
for Karin’s mom
In memory of my mother who passed away after years of complications from her diabetes!
katia
I’m katia. I have been diabetic since about the fifth grade. i was diagnosed in september 2003. i’m 17 now, so it’s been about 7 and a half years. I have wanted this tattoo for about three years. I finally got it, so I wanted to share it with you.
kavan
kavan was diagnosed in october 2009 with type 1 diabetes. he always disliked wearing jewelry, so his doctor mentioned another patient who had gotten a tattoo instead. Kavan found Diabetes Advocacy while searching for ideas and headed to Evolution Tattoo in Santa Rosa, CA to get the tattoo. po, a Taiwanese artist did the job. he didn’t know what diabetes was until kavan explained that his body doesn’t process sugar and po realized his good friend had the same condition! Kavan has noticed that on the first day of having his tattoo, people already recognize him and a friend of his said that he was definitely good as a bracelet or necklace.
kelly
kim
Kim didn’t like any of the medical bracelets out there, so she checked out our tattoo page and decided this was the way she could wear her medical bracelet.
kim
I was diagnosed with type i diabetes in 2009. I had been through so many bracelets and necklaces that it was getting too expensive! i work in the ems business so i knew a tattoo was the way to go! it will last forever! i searched and searched online to see what everyone else had and i knew i liked the three dimensional look. I found this one and I loved it! I’m glad I got it!
code
my son kody was diagnosed last year at the age of 6. he changed our lives forever. Most people don’t realize the sacrifice children and adults make daily with this affliction. kody is so brave that he already learned how to test himself and give himself injections in less than a year. he held us, his parents, together when we didn’t know what to do. my tattoo is of my two children, but kody did the colors and the final design of the dragon. he’s an amazing artist and he wanted to do something that shows my kids will always have my back, but shows the strength they have no matter what they face. whenever everyone asks, i tell them the story so they know how serious type 1 diabetes is.
ring is the ring with the diabetic logo. the nautical star is for good luck in our travels/future. medical alert symbol, because now he is with us forever. the date on the left is kody’s birthday. the date on the right is kody’s dx date. both dates are dates that changed my life forever! type 1 child says it all.
for Christian
Kristen’s sister Stephanie got this tattoo. my name is steph, i got this tattoo last summer for my little sister, kristen, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes seven years ago when she was ten years old. she has the word “nakupenda” which in Swahili means “I love you”. Kristen taught me that word a few years ago because she has always been fascinated by Africa and she was very interested in learning Swahili. this is for my sister, showing that she loves her and supports type 1 diabetes awareness.
kristy
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2008. In 2009 I decided to get a diabetes tattoo. Since I have several tattoos, I didn’t have to think about getting one for diabetes. I put it on my inner left wrist.
kyle
I’m kyle 16 I live in chicago. i got this tattoo a little over a year ago at the age of 15 because my mom was scared to let me leave the house because she frequently left my medicine. home alert bracelet tattooing also helps raise awareness and i think all diabetics, old and young, should consider getting a medical tattoo.
for lendy’s sister
my little sister was diagnosed at age 3 with type 1, after a so called near coma with acidosis and a misdiagnosis by a now unemployed ER doctor. she completely changed our lives. my tattoo is hers novopen jr. she is the toughest girl (now 5) i know. I am so proud of how far she has come and how she has allowed me to help other people’s lives. -lendy
for libby, alex and tom
based on barb’s tattoo, dadane got this shoulder tattoo for her family in november 2007. a work of art… a labor of love. Thanks again for sharing with us!
libby
Libby’s tattoo was designed by her. the stars represent the birthstones of her parents.
cute
hello! my name is lindsay and i am 24 years old; 15 years ago I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and have worn a med alert bracelet every day since… that was until this week when I got my med alert tattoo! i designed it myself on the computer and inked it at a shop in ithaca, new york. I also wanted to thank the people responsible for putting this site together; This is the place where I found the inspiration to get my own tattoo!
smooth
The stories on this website inspired me to finally get my tattoo. last august was my 19th anniversary of having type 1 diabetes. i was 8 years old when i was diagnosed and now i am 27. i am proud of how well living with a chronic disease like this has been and want to raise awareness of the fact that 1 One in 2 Americans will have some type of diabetes by 2020. Exercise and eat in moderation. control your glucose levels as best you can and educate those who refuse to recognize the dangers of uncontrolled diabetes. As everyone knows, it is not an easy disease to live with. I am proud of the group of people who have shared their stories. you are all true inspirations. xoxo lisa
smooth g
hi, my name is lisa. i was diagnosed in 1984 at the age of 17 with type 1 diabetes. i was always noncompliant but seemed to manage it, a major case of non-acceptance until last year when i finally got a pump. Before that, I never wore any medical alerts, I hated bracelets, necklaces. while I was in the hospital installing the pump, the diabetes educator addressed me directly for not having any med alert identification. the next day i searched in jewelry stores, pharmacies and online etc for something suitable, the only thing i liked was a gold bracelet costing AU$1,300 which i couldn’t afford. my husband yelled from the other room “…why don’t you get a tattoo…” – so that was it! what a great idea, it has marked my ‘out’ of denial and I have now fully accepted my condition and finally started taking care of myself, thanks to the pump! this tattoo means a lot to me.
lucas
lynn rae
mark
martin
my name is martin m, I am 34 years old and at 16 I have type 1 diabetes, I am insulin dependent I live in buenos aires argentina, and this is my tattoo. the site is very interesting.
matte
michael
“I love the site, keep up the good work!”
mike
hi, I love the website. I got a lot of inspiration for my tattoo from here. I designed the overall design with the finished product done by Matt Mooneyham of Hot Rot Tattoo in Chandler, AZ. this was my second tattoo and i wanted it to be a diabetic id, along with a more artistic and personal feel. feel free to post it! Sincerely, Mike C. 19, z
for Mike
my name is kim and i got this tattoo in honor and memory of my late husband mike and to raise awareness for diabetes.
mike
i have type ii diabetes…had it for years but just started taking insulin (lantus) with my victoza and metformin. I’ve worn medical bracelets, an Italian bracelet with a large medical charm for diabetes, and two different bracelets from survivalstraps.com. after a while i tend to forget to put them on, i don’t want to put them on anymore, and they just end up on my bathroom counter. I’ve been thinking about getting a diabetes tattoo for a while and recently the tattoo parlor around the corner from our house fell victim to an arsonist…they lost all of their equipment in the fire. luckily they were in the process of opening a second studio and were able to continue operations there until they got everything settled with insurance and rebuilt the studio. To support them during this time, my wife and I made appointments at the new store…on Monday I sat down with the artist and came up with this design. it is quite simple, but very visible and bright. it is located inside my right wrist.
monica
nate
natan
my name is nathan denton. I’m 17 years old. diagnosed at age 5 with type 1, juvenile diabetes. he got the tattoo in 2010, a few weeks after classes started. my father helped me design the tattoo. Since then, they have helped other diabetic friends design their own tattoos.
nickname
my name is nick masters. i have been living with type 1 diabetes since i was first diagnosed in 1994. i just turned 18 and wanted to get a tattoo to help promote diabetes awareness. I originally wanted to get this because I didn’t like wearing the bracelet or necklace. most of my family members have type 1 diabetes, and I did this to help them through their struggle too.
for nicky g
my 8 year old son nick was diagnosed on June 23rd. I have become an advocate for him and other children who battle type i diabetes daily. 80 walkers joined us for the jdrf walk for a cure in denver and we raised $6,000. a month ago, nick told me that he didn’t care about the new diet, the tests, or the needles…however, he did care about being different. I told him that he can do everything that his friends do, but at school, when he has to leave class to take a test or an insulin injection, it’s a little different. I promised him that he would do something that would make Dad a little different so we could be “different” together. the result was what you see here. the design was a collaboration between robyn emlen and myself at elemental ink in denver. robyn made it her personal goal to design this tattoo – he did a great job! i showed my son last night how we are both a little bit different…he hugged me so tight he almost broke me in half and said “i will never forget this dad”.
nicole
My name is nicole and I am a 21 year old nursing student. I thought I would never lose a tattoo, unlike a bracelet or necklace, there is no breeding ground for bacteria and in the event of an “annoying patient” I would not rip it off or get caught in the machinery. . I was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999. I just wanted to show others my tattoo and let them know that medical ID tattoos are becoming more and more common. Don’t just look for a bracelet!
olivia
I just turned 18 and have had type 1 diabetes for almost 10 years. I’m going to college soon and instead of having to wear a medical ID bracelet all the time, I wanted to get a tattoo. Not only will this come in handy in an emergency situation, but it’s also a constant reminder to check your blood sugar levels frequently and keep things under control. I also think the caduceus is a very beautiful symbol.
wow
my name is pam and i was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2006, purely by chance as i saw a different doctor than i used to see when i was sick with the flu. he just looked at me and said “you’re diabetic, did you know that?” he then tested it by checking my blood sugar level with a finger prick and then a series of blood tests followed. type 2 runs in my family as my mother has it and so does my grandfather. I was inspired to get my next tattoo after visiting this website and thought it was a great idea since I have to clean a metal detector at work. my tattoo came true after i was recently put on insulin.
patricia
I love your website and wanted to share mine which I just received today. thanks
patti’s daughter
my daughter begged for years ever since she saw a couple of kids at camp with them. I grew up viewing tattoos negatively. even though they became more and more popular, I was still very skeptical. I worry that jobs, scholarships, etc. may be limited as a result. but I have to say, especially with the positive feedback we’ve received and the recent stories I’ve read, I wish I’d allowed it years ago.
paul b
paul
this is my first tattoo, done by great tattoos in la guerche de bretagne. i am a type ii diabetic and take eucreas and glimepiride, i was showing my kids the tattoos on your site and they offered to pay me to get one. the shop owner had never done a medical related tattoo so he was eager to get it done and add it to his portfolio so he got the tattoo done at a very good price. I didn’t realize how much it would hurt. I think it was a great tattoo for me first. the bottom of the dagger on my wrist hurt and most of the right side, although the left side was fine. If I had known how much it would hurt, I don’t think I would have done it, but now I’m glad I did. I like it a lot, but I’m going to make it put some red on the word diabetic. that will make it stand out a little more. I decided to go with the English spelling. I felt “diabetic” was a bit too much. paul
peyton
my son peyton was just diagnosed with prediabetes on january 5, 2010, three weeks shy of his 4th birthday. the specialist says that his pancreas is failing and there is nothing we can do to stop it. i feel so powerless for my son so i support diabetes research with my new ribbon butterfly tattoo
randall
Two weeks ago, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I already had several plus tattoos before I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, so I was pleasantly surprised when the doctor said I could still get one. when my mom was giving birth to one of my brothers. she had to receive a blood transfusion to save her life. my dad was a blood donor. one of his donations saved a girl. I followed in my dad’s footsteps of being a blood donor. I have the attached tattoo for 3 reasons. parents are deceased. tattoo remember that they are with me, because part of his blood is in me, remember to continue donating blood and platelets, and encourage others to donate blood
reba
reenie
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in October 2003. It was controlled with diet and exercise until January 2011. I decided to get a tattoo on 11/3/2011 because I didn’t like medical alert jewelry and wanted something permanent. .
rick
steal
rob got this tattoo in july 2010
robin
I became diabetic at the age of 9. I have had it for 20 years. one of the rare times I used my chain, it saved my life. They called the police because they reported me drunk. when they got to the scene i was unconscious and luckily they found my necklace and called the paramedics. even since then, i still hate using it, actually i don’t even know where it is. the emt recommended a tattoo, and after several years i finally got one. the letters are bold and ugly, but I wanted them to be clearly legible and visible. it is more than a work of art. robin m
robin
my name is robin and i was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1987 at the age of 11. this is my way of making others aware of diabetes. I got it yesterday and it’s my first tattoo!
samantha
I just got this tattoo today. I love the bold font and how it manages to be readable and interesting. i am type 1 since october 2011. i don’t like bangles so this is perfect for me!
sarah
I got this tattoo after some of my friends got law tattoos and I considered it for 2 years before passing out at work. It made me realize the importance of always having a medical ID.
sarah
I have had diabetes for about 16 years. I’ve been through countless bracelets, anklets, and necklaces over the years and I’m not one to keep up with jewelry well. Medical IDs are expensive and I had a hard time keeping one, so for $40 and about an hour of my time, I was permanently marked. It’s not like it will never go away! and now that my 3-year-old son has diabetes, he sees and understands what “mom’s brand” is and he feels included since he matches what he wears on his necklace. he now he knows that he is not the only one who is different.
sara g
I work in the school system and needed something that would catch everyone’s attention in case something happened. I have lost and broken more bracelets than anyone should. the blue ring is my version of the universal symbol for diabetes. I wanted something more real than a flat circle as this disease is too real in my life. the dragonfly is for the changes that are coming my way, and just to embellish this horrible word that is now part of my life. this is my medical alert. pretty but elegant.
for savannah
mindy king and ryan spenser’s dead child due to mindy’s diabetes
scott
A reminder of your time in the hospital.
service
for stephanie’s mom
I lost my mother to diabetes complications in December 2008. I hope they continue to search for a cure…..stephanie v
submitted by stephanie
submitted by stephanie
stuart
This is my tattoo I got in July 2008. I am 19 years old and was diagnosed when I was 16 months old. I’m pretty tight on control and still very active, I’m a college football player and I don’t let diabetes interfere with the sport I love. I got the tattoo so that in case the emergency paramedics could see that I am diabetic and then take the corresponding measures. Since I got it, I realize that not many people know what diabetes is, so the tattoo helps me educate those around me about the disease.
suzanne
This is my new piece of art: the heart represents my precious family. love how the awareness ribbon was incorporated into the heart. my son michael was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four. It has been almost 13 years since type 1 diabetes came uninvited into our family, bringing with it the ups, downs and struggles that are part of type 1 diabetes. Fortunately, it also brought new friends who share the same journey. We are grateful for the technology available today to make managing Type 1 easier, but we hope and pray that a cure is not far off.
tj
tanyss
thomas
tina
todd
tracy
vinícius
I’m from Brazil. i am type 1 diabetic. i was diagnosed when i was 9 years old and now i am 25 years old. I got the tattoo at the suggestion of my parents. They saw the idea on TV and I also liked the idea. To be a bit different from the usual, I decided to make the blue diabetes symbol, with watercolor details. Vincius J. r
wendy
I had to put candy worms and a suction cup on it.
will
medical wrist tattoo
xenia
zach
my name is zach f. I have had diabetes since I was 6 years old. I’m 18 now. I got this tattoo when I was 16 because I played sports and I wasn’t allowed to wear med alert bands so I thought no one could tell me to take it off haha. It definitely helped me with sports and now I feel safer if any complications happen in the future.
for zakk and bella
ribbon tattoo
I have been a type 1 diabetic for 20 years. after a near death experience at work (which would have been on the freeway had it happened an hour later) there was no reason not to do this! I don’t wear my medical alert bracelet at work.
If you’re considering getting a tattoo and you have diabetes, check out our article on things to consider before proceeding.
Please share your tattoo with us.
Out of respect for individual privacy, only first names have been used. Everyone involved in this project has provided diabetes support with their written consent to use their stories. names and stories may not be borrowed or used without the express written consent of diabetes advocacy and the parties involved. diabetes advocacy does not sell names, mailing lists or other information about those who share their information with us.
