Okay so I had laser hair removal scheduled today and was turned away because I am diabetic. She told me as long as I was on insulin she would not be able to treat me... I can understand that if my sugar levels are out of control but my A1C was 5.1 this last testing period. I have a pretty good handle on my levels. So I am unsure what that would have to do with someone like me. Can someone explain this to me??? I am truly curious to the science behind it and reasoning.
Liability..! We are considered fragile and high risk for everything. Funny but I had some laser hair removal done myself about a decade ago or so. They never questioned anything but I can see why someone would. I'm sure you could find someone willing to do it.
This is from http://www.4laserhairremoval.com/article/laser-hair-removal-requirements/
"The next individual that is not eligible for laser hair removal is anyone with diabetes who is insulin-dependent. Insulin-dependent diabetics are much more susceptible to infection, meaning that they cannot risk a potential reaction in laser hair removal. For the most part, laser hair removal is quite safe without any side effects. However, there is no way to guarantee how a body will react, and there is potential for swelling, blisters, or infection. If an insulin-dependent diabetic has an infection reaction from laser hair removal, it may be very difficult and dangerous for them in getting the wound to heal completely. "
It sounds like a totally canned answer to me. I never have a hard time healing wounds and hardly ever get infections. The salon probably wants to avoid all diabetics for liabilty purposes.
Yeah, I think you are right... It's purely liability.... I could understand if she required a doctor's consent, but if you are on top of your levels I can't see you having an issue. Hell, I had foot surgery last year and no issues whatsoever.I healed up right on time, if not quicker than anticipated.
I think it's like the signs banning diabetics from the tepid hot tubs at health clubs. They assume that everyone has neuropathy and circulatory issues so bad that they'll boil themselves and sue the club. A healthy diabetic with good control, good circulation and no peripheral sensation impairment should be fine in what is essentially a big bathtub, but the rules are there to protect the club from liability.
My wife did the Jenny Craig diet and I tried to do it with her for support and it would have made things simple there are just the two of us, the kids moved out years ago.
They flat turned me down because I was T1D...and I hand to ask my doctor for a permission slip,like for sports at school.
Yeah, I think it is one of those things that they just want to sum up as the worst case scenario... Ugh!
Great JeanV, you just got me pissed off about something I had no clue about! LOL... I cannot believe the ignorance that is going around and these people are supposed to be educated.
I thought Jenny Craig had the diabetic version???
I saw a report recently that said that the folks at spas that do this have minimal training and lots of folks get burned (end up with scars). I suspect that since many folks with D don't always heal that well, this would increase their liability.
Cora
I'm thinking that the burns and scarring could happen to a non-diabetic... Considering the only nightmare story I have heard of was of a non-diabetic... My diabetic friends who had this done had zero issues... But like you said, I should be thanking my lucky stars because she probably didn't know what she was doing. LOL
Sorry about that! LOL
They really do like to heap us all in the same basket, eh?
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Yeah, I don't think I'd risk a laser in the hands of anyone but a board certified surgeon with DEEP pockets in case something went horribly wrong.
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things like this are precisely why I don't usually disclose that I have diabetes. I would go to a different place and not say anything (but bring a friend in case you go low, lol). If you get an infection, chances are it's because the salon isn't as sanitary as they need to be, not because of your diabetes.
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That is just silly! I have had laser hair removal done for 7 years now on all different areas of my body and never had a problem. I have gone to two different places and that was never even an issue and they are fully aware I am a type 1 diabetic.
Yo can get it done as long as you are under control. I was getting laser hair removal when I didn't know I was type 1 and I got burned bad! Turned out my blood sugar was 400, so once I got it under control I finished my treatment with no problem.
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i'd say go to someplace other than a spa..not only is there a concern with the laser, but also the numbing cream they use. people have actually died from the numbing stuff they use...i, myself, would never go to a spa or anyone other than a true plastic surgeon.
In situations like this, I don't disclose that I have diabetes. If they don't know, they are not liable. The vast majority of the time, there is no medical reason that you cannot do something because you're diabetic -- it's just because they don't want to be sued if anything happens.
I had laser hair removal done, but I did it in a doctor's office (not a spa). I did not tell them I was a T1 diabetic. My sugars were fine, and I used EMLA numbing cream with no problem.
I've discovered over the years that you can be refused just about anything if you're a T1. It's like people think we're going to implode or something if they touch us! Seriously, it's absurd at times.
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i had to bring a note from my doctor but then they were o.k. when i whipped out that checkbook. i went to Sona Med Spa btw.
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I did it, they didn't care. Laser is pretty gentle and non-invasive. You shouldn't be developing wounds with laser, unless they are doing something really wrong. Same with electrolysis, although that's more likely to produce wounds. Just a note: Laser didn't do anything for me because I have red undertones in my hair. Its effective for brunettes and blondes, but it doesn't work for red-heads, I don't think. I thin they do a lot of type IIs because unwanted hair growth is more common in women that are overweight - thus, there's a correlation with type II, I think.
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