Can You Donate Blood If Your Diabetic

Check You Are Able To Give Blood

Use this quick list to check you can give.

You can also read some of the most common eligibility questions we receive from blood donors.

If you have a health condition, have travelled out of the country recently, or if you answer “yes” to any question on your Donor Health Check questionnaire, please call 0300 123 23 23 or check the health & eligibility or travel section for further advice about whether this affects you donating blood.

The common reasons donors should check if they can give blood are:

• if you are receiving medical or hospital treatment
• if you are taking medication
• after travelling outside of the UK
• after having a tattoo or piercing
• during and after pregnancy
• if you have cancer
• after receiving blood, blood products or organs

If you have any questions then contact us by completing a web form or call us on 0300 123 23 23.

Outbreaks And New Infections

New infections can emerge at any time, so our rules can change at short notice. Please check back each time you’re preparing to give blood.

Every time you come to give blood we will ask you: whether you were born abroad whether you have lived or worked abroad for more than six months and whether you have had any illnesses during or after travel abroad.It is very important you tell us about your recent travel, if you were ill while abroad, or shortly after you came back. Different rules may apply if you have lived in one of these countries for more than six months. Please get in touch before coming along to give blood.You should also check our additional eligibility criteria before giving blood. Talk to one of our advisers before coming along to give blood, on 0345 90 90 999.

• Australia
• Austria

• French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• Fuerteventura

• Greece and the Greek Islands
• Greenland

• South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
• Spain

• West Bank

You Should Prepare For Donation Day Appropriately

Donating blood takes a toll on the body in general and can be more tiring for diabetic patients. You can still donate blood as long as you prepare your body for donation day in the weeks prior to donating. Eat regular, healthy meals and stay hydrated with plenty of water in the days approaching your donation date.

Its wise to see your doctor for a quick checkup prior to donating blood for the first time. Your doctor will examine your heart rate and weight as well as your blood sugar levels while discussing your lifestyle with you. Get your doctors approval before donating blood.

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Your Overall Health Must Be Good

In order to donate blood, you must be in overall good health. Your weight needs to be at least 110 pounds, and you should have been on an insulin regimen if applicable for at least two weeks prior to donating blood. If your insulin dosages have been recently changed, wait two weeks to donate until your body has adjusted appropriately. This protects both your health and the health of the person who receives your donated blood.

Q10 How Often Can I Donate Blood

Since the blood completely replenishes itself within 4 8 weeks, you can donate blood every 56 days. You are allowed to donate plasma every 28 days, up to 13 times a year, and platelets can be donated once every 7 days, up to 24 times a year. Red blood cells can only be donated 3 times a year, with a gap of 112 days in between.

Hence, the act of blood donation is not only noble and humane, but it can also help you live a healthier life by getting checked for diseases regularly. So, get an health insurance in advance, so that in case you are diagnosed with any illness, you can get the best treatment possible without draining your savings.

Disclaimer:The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

This blog has been written by Diwaker Asthana Health Insurance industry experience of 20 yearsDiwaker Asthana recommends buying my:health Suraksha Insurance to get the benefit of a wide range of coverage that the plan offers. For some unique benefits like cashless home health care and in-patient treatment for mental illness, he believes this plan will benefit customers in the long run.

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You Should Be In Good Overall Health Before You Donate Blood With Diabetes

Besides having your blood sugars in control, you should also have other conditions under control. For example, your blood pressure should be less than 180/100 mmHg to give blood, which is higher than 140/90 mmHg that is the recommended blood pressure for people with diabetes. Conversely, if your blood pressure is less than 90/50 mmHg, you wont be able to donate blood.

Besides diabetes, they will also ask you about other conditions, and medications which you may be taking. Diabetes medications generally wont keep you from giving blood in the US, but there is a Red Cross list of other medications that shouldnt be taken if you are donating blood, including blood thinners. The Red Cross representative will screen you for conditions and medications which may affect your ability to donate blood with diabetes and related health conditions.

Another thing to know is that if you plan to donate platelets, you should not take aspirin or blood thinners for several days prior to your donation. 1

Heart disease and donating blood

If you have heart complications from your diabetes, there are some things that you need to know. Heart disease will generally not stop you from donating blood if you have diabetes, but if it has been less than six months since you have had symptoms related to your heart disease, then you may not be able to donate.

Other factors that affect whether you can donate blood

How long does it take to donate blood?

How can I prepare for donating blood?

What Do I Need To Know Before I Donate Blood With Diabetes

Its good to know the Red Cross guidelines when you plan to donate blood with diabetes. The Red Cross will take blood donated from people with diabetes in the United States if the person has their diabetes under control. It doesnt matter if you are on insulin, have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, as long as you are well managed, and are in generally good health.

Donation process

The donation process is fairly easy, and you should be in and out within the hour.

Screening for blood donation with diabetes

The general age to donate blood is 16. Age does vary by state, so check with your local Red Cross blood banks for the age cut-off to donate blood in your state.

Will your blood sugar or your A1C be tested before you give blood? No, they will not go to such extremes, therefore, it is your responsibility to be honest with the Red Cross when attempting to donate blood with diabetes.

At the blood bank, a Red Cross representative will check your vital signs, including your temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, and weight. They will check your blood to determine your Hemoglobin. This lets the Red Cross know if you are anemic, which means that you have a lower number of red blood cells than is considered normal. If you are anemic, you wont be able to give blood until your red blood cells return to the normal number. You will have to treat your anemia before you consider donating blood.

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What If You Get Turned Down For Some Reason To Donate Blood With Diabetes

If you are unable to give blood when you have diabetes, whether due to unmanaged blood sugars, or complications of diabetes, you can still help by donating money to the Red Cross. Your donation will help the Red Cross with providing supplies for blood donation banks, providing support to families in crisis who are in need, and helping to educate people on lifesaving techniques. There are many things that the Red Cross does to help others. Your donation will help them fulfill their mission. 4

Deep Sleep Diabetes Remedy

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This value-packed program encompasses these sections and more:

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How Do You Prepare To Donate Blood If You Have Diabetes

Whether youâre pre-diabetic, taking certain types of blood thinners, or have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, itâs a good idea to take certain precautions before and after blood donations. Getting medical advice is a good idea if you also have any other medical conditions that may affect you during or after the donation process. And whether you have health conditions or not, itâs likely a good idea to follow these handy tips and tricks before and after a blood donation.

Can People With Diabetes Donate Blood

Donating blood once or on a regular basis saves lives. Just one session of blood donation can impact many lives but as a person with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you may wonder: do they want my blood, too?

Does the American Red Cross want blood from a person with diabetes if their blood sugars arent perfect? If you have diabetes-related complications? If you have other conditions, like a thyroid disorder or Celiac disease or high cholesterol?

Lets take a closer look at the rules and guidelines of blood donation for people with diabetes.

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For Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Some patients with type 1 diabetes report higher blood sugar levels during the few days after donating blood. This could be related to hydration levels since becoming dehydrated can easily raise your blood sugar.

This means its extra important that you drink plenty of water after donating blood as a person with diabetes.

Can Type 2 Diabetics Donate Plasma

Being a diabetes patient doesnt put you at any risk of donating to a type one diabetic or a person with type two diabetes. You can give out blood as far as your diabetes condition is properly regulated and managed.

However, any person on insulin will not be allowed to donate blood, excluding both types of diabetes patients who depend on insulin. People who depend on insulin are usually not allowed to donate blood, be it an insulin pump or insulin injections.

Diabetes is not a barrier in donating blood as far as you are healthy, and your diabetes is properly managed.

Diabetes patients are often screened thoroughly before they are allowed to donate, and you are asked about the medications you are taking currently to control your diabetes.

This wont prevent you from giving out blood. However, there are few requirements to meet before you are allowed to donate, whether you are a diabetes patient or not. They are

• Be between 16years to 80years of age
• Your weight should be at least 110 pounds
• You should be in good health before and on that day

If you want to donate plasma, here are some tips to follow to have a successful donation

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Does It Matter If You Have Type I Or Type Ii Diabetes

No, it doesn’t matter what type of diabetes you have. Whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, your ability to donate blood is usually the same. This is because your ability to donate blood will depend on whether you meet the eligibility requirements and have steady blood sugar levels, not the type of diabetes you have. Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor before you decide to donate.

Before Donating Blood You Should Try Your Best To:

• Keep blood glucose levels within your normal range the week of donation.
• Hydrate, and make sure that you drink enough water before your donation. Itâs also a good idea to increase your water intake a few days before your scheduled donation.
• Make sure you get eight hours of sleep the night before you donate blood.
• Donât plan a strenuous workout just before youâre donating blood.
• Eat balanced meals leading up to your donation. This is especially important when you have diabetes. Maintaining a healthy diet that keeps your blood glucose levels stable is key to having control of your condition.
• Cut back on the coffee immediately before you donate blood. You donât need to skip it but try not to add any extra cups of coffee or tea to your diet the day that you donate.
• Prepare a list of the medications that youâre on so you have them ready during your donation. Include any vitamins or herbal supplements.
• Cut out cigarettes before your donation, and try not to indulge after you donate either.
• Remember that whether you have diabetes or not, you canât donate if you have alcohol in your system. Due to side effects that may occur after the donation, try not to drink that day at all.
• Eat iron-rich foods such as meat, eggs, spinach, beans, and whole grains before the donation.
• Carry identification with you, like your driverâs license.

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Donating Blood Might Improve Diabetes

Produced by

Heart attack, stroke and type II diabetes have all been shown to be less common in individuals that regularly donate blood. But, according to a new study led by researchers at King Abdullah International Medical Research Center , just a single blood donation can temporarily improve a persons insulin production and glucose tolerance.

KAIMRC pathologist Anwar Borai led an international team that tested the levels of several key diabetes-related biomarkers in the blood of 42 healthy male donors.

Biomarkers, including those related to glycaemic status , insulin production and iron levels, were tested before donation and then one day, one week, three weeks and three months after giving blood.The results show that regular, repeated blood donation is not required to see a beneficial effect on the donors glucose tolerance. The glycaemic status of the donor can be mproved even after a single blood donation, Borai says.

The improvement was particularly evident three weeks after donation. By three months, most of the tested biomarkers returned to their pre-donation levels. Borai says improvements could continue if donors made healthy lifestyle changes after donation.

Can Diabetics Donate Blood

November is American Diabetes Month. Millions of people around the world live with diabetes or know someone living with diabetes. A common misconception is that being a diabetic means you cant donate blood, but thats not necessarily true.

If you are healthy and your diabetes is under control you may be able to become a blood donor. You should check with your doctor before you make an appointment to donate blood.

Being a diabetic does not mean you cant donate blood, but there are some factors related to your diabetes that could cause you to be deferred.

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Can Giving Blood Actually Help Diabetes

You may have read that donating blood can actually be beneficial if you have diabetes, and weâre sure youâre curious about what this means for you. New studies show that donating blood can lead to a short window of improved insulin production and glucose tolerance. Data showed a difference in test subjects for up to three weeks after a donation. Some studies believe that this may in part be due to lower ferritin levels in your blood after a donation. Studies show that this increases insulin sensitivity, but more research is necessary before any claims can be established.

While all these studies look promising, itâs important to note that thereâs still research to be done. And remember that this is not a âcureâ for diabetes, so donât start visiting the blood bank as a form of diabetes management. If youâre donating blood, you should not be doing so more than every 56 daysâif your diabetes is under control and youâre healthy. Remember that whether you have other health conditions or not, itâs always a good idea to consult with your doctor to make sure itâs a safe option for you.

Can You Donate Blood If You Are Diabetic

Diabetes, in simple terms, is a health condition when a person suffers from high blood sugar, because the pancreas do not produce sufficient insulin in the body. People who have a total lack of insulin are type 1 diabetes while people who cannot use insulin effectively are type 2 diabetes. It is generally safe for people with diabetes to donate blood under normal health conditions. People with diabetes can donate blood, as long as they maintain healthy blood sugar levels at the time of blood donation, according to Dr Sanjay Reddy, Consultant Diabetologist, Fortis Hospital at Cunningham Road, Bangalore. However, the ones who have used bovine insulin in the past are refrained from donating the blood due to the risk of mad cow disease. Apart from it, if a person has no complications caused by diabetes which has affected their eyes, blood vessels or kidneys, the person is eligible to donate blood. Here are common misconceptions about blood donation.Things a diabetes patient needs to take care of before donating blood:

• Make sure youve had enough sleep.
• Eat a healthy meal.

Things a diabetes patient needs to take care of after donating blood:

• Monitor your blood sugar level.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Include iron-rich foods or a supplement for 24 weeks following your donation.
• If you feel sick or are concerned about your health after the blood donation, contact your doctor immediately.

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