Type 2 Diabetes – Reasons To Avoid Tanning Beds If You Are a Diabetic

Some people tan very easily in the sun after only a short period of time. Others tend to burn. Many people use tanning salons and beds to develop an artificial tan due to lack of time, or for personal preference.

Here are a few reasons to consider before tanning if you suffer from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes:

1. Firstly, you need to understand what tanning actually does. In simple terms, it makes the color of your skin go darker than it already is. However, people have different skin types. Naturally, different races have skin types that may be affected differently. Caucasian people may have fair complexions or slightly darker ones. Skin may be oily or dry.

All of these factors have to be considered before deciding to get a tan, whether natural or artificial. Tanning beds can be very dangerous for diabetics because your whole body is subjected to intense UV rays. Even though it’s a controlled environment, if you have sores of any kind, they can become worse.

2. Many people with diabetes have some degree of nerve damage and won’t be able to feel if they are getting burned by the rays… until it’s too late. You can easily become dehydrated and that means your body won’t be able to process insulin and food as well as it normally could.

Tanning beds are less likely to cause sunburn than the real sun but it still can happen. It means your body has to focus on healing and, therefore, has a reduced capacity to fight off other problems such as infections and diseases.

It’s vital you speak to the tanning consultant to work out the best settings for the bed if you insist on tanning. Set a specific turn off time and ask the consultant to check on you as well, in case you’re not aware of problems.

3. Tanning can cause skin cancer, eye damage and premature aging if you don’t take adequate precautions. It’s also important not to tan too often as it can become addictive and then you may just ignore the health risks and have more problems as a result.

4. It’s also possible you may develop a rash if you are allergic to the ultraviolet light. There are plenty of ways to treat it, but it’s a strong indicator you should not use a tanning bed.

These are only a few of the reasons to avoid tanning if you suffer from diabetes. If you have any concerns at all, speak to your doctor first. You should also mention to the tanning consultant you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes… then proper safety measures can be taken.