Can I Give Blood, Even Though I Have Diabetes?
I am 42 years old, and I have diabetes. Can I donate blood or become an organ donor? — Annette, New Jersey How wonderful it is that you are thinking about donating blood or an organ. It is a constant struggle for the blood banks and transplant centers to maintain an adequate supply. The answer to your question is not the same for both organ and blood donation, so I will first address blood donation. Yes, you can donate blood, if you meet the following criteria: Your sugar level is controlled. You are in good health. Your blood pressure is below 180/100. You are not anemic (low red blood cells). The blood banks usually check for donor eligibility through a series of other questions and tests, so keep in mind that you might still be disqualified. For example, if you have received bovine (beef) insulin since 1980, you may not be eligible to donate. That's because some bovine insulin was made from cattle in the United Kingdom and might carry Creutzfeldt-Jakob (or "mad cow") disease. If you are eligible to donate, make sure you have an adequate meal, drink extra fluids to replace the volume being removed, and stay away from caffeinated beverages on the day of your donation. Around that date, it's important to eat iron-rich foods (such as spinach, kale, and lean red meat). And as always, stay away from fatty foods, which might affect some of the tests done to determine eligibility. Regarding organ donation, let me give you some general information. There are various organs and tissues in the human body that can be transplanted to save lives or cure illnesses. The heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver, and intestines can be donated. Besides organs, we can donate tissues such as skin, cartilage, tendons, corneas, veins, and heart valves. The donation of an organ can be life Continue reading >>
Can People Living With Diabetes Donate Blood?
Can people living with diabetes donate blood? National Blood Donor Month was in June; with that we chat to Dr Nolubabalo Makiwane, from the South African National Blood Services (SANBS) about whether people living with diabetes can donate blood. Can diabetes patients using insulin (injection or pump) donate blood? Yes, we accept donors who are using insulin to control their diabetes. Both those using injections or pumps. The most important factor is that their diabetes must be controlled and they must be well on the day they present to donate. Insulin users should also not have any skin complications associated with using injections/pumps. We wont allow a donor to donate blood, if they have a skin infection at the injection site, for example. Can diabetes patients using oral diabetes medication donate blood? Yes, persons using oral medications and diet to control their diabetes are welcome to donate. Again, their diabetes must be well-controlled and they must be well when presenting to donate blood. Most medication used to treat diabetes are classed as category B drugs. Therefore, are considered safe if one should opt to become a blood donor. Understanding the categories of medication Medications are assigned to five letter categories based on their level of risk to foetal outcomes in pregnancy. It can give one a good idea on the level of safety of a drug at a glance. This is of importance in transfusion as a fair percentage of SANBS blood products are used by pregnant women, women in labour or who are post-partum, and, of course, we also supply blood products for use in babies and children. So, category Ais the safest category of drugs to take.Category B medications are medications that are used routinely and safely during pregnancy. The C and D category drugshave sho Continue reading >>
Can Diabetics Donate Blood? What To Know And How.
Can diabetics donate blood? What to know and how. / Can diabetics donate blood? What to know and how. Did you know you can get a free health screening, a mini blood test, burn 650 calories while relaxing, and save up to three lives all in about one hour? Thats right! Donating blood is full of wins all the way around, yet very few people volunteer to give blood and it can be extra confusing for people with diabetes. In the United States alone, someone needs blood every two seconds. If it takes you three minutes to read this, 90 (!!) people will have required or received a blood transfusion. Its easy to imagine the need during disasters and for emergency situations, but many planned procedures and routine treatments use donated blood too. Unlike insulin , blood cannot be made in a lab or factory. The need for donors is constant and not enough people are helping. You might not like to hear this, but like most things with diabetes, it depends. For most collecting organizations in America, like the Red Cross , its all about your blood sugar level and what type of insulins youve used. Blood sugars should be as normal as possible to optimize storage. If youve used bovine (beef) insulin you wont be able to donate more on that in a bit. In Canada, people with type 2 diabetes using pills or diet and exercise can donate. People with type 2 diabetes who use insulin may be able to donate, but it depends on when you started insulin, whether your blood sugars are stable, and any recent substantial changes in insulin dose. People with type 1 diabetes are not allowed to donate. More info... The Australian Red Cross Blood Service website is well done. It says you can donate if you're managing your diabetes well with diet or pills and are free from complications. If you take insulin, the Continue reading >>
Eligibility Criteria By Topic
A donor with an acute infection should not donate. The reason for antibiotic use must be evaluated to determine if the donor has a bacterial infection that could be transmissible by blood. Acceptable after finishing oral antibiotics for an infection (bacterial or viral). May have taken last pill on the date of donation. Antibiotic by injection for an infection acceptable 10 days after last injection. Acceptable if you are taking antibiotics to prevent an infection for the following reasons: acne, chronic prostatitis, peptic ulcer disease, periodontal disease, pre-dental work, rosacea, ulcerative colitis, after a splenectomy, or valvular heart disease. If you have a temperature above 99.5 F, you may not donate. Women on oral contraceptives or using other forms of birth control are eligible to donate. Acceptable if you were vaccinated for influenza, tetanus or meningitis, providing you are symptom-free and fever-free. Includes the Tdap vaccine. Acceptable if you received an HPV Vaccine (example, Gardasil). Wait 4 weeks after immunizations for German Measles (Rubella), MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), Chicken Pox and Shingles. Wait 2 weeks after immunizations for Red Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Polio (by mouth), and Yellow Fever vaccine. Wait 21 days after immunization for hepatitis B as long as you are not given the immunization for exposure to hepatitis B. Smallpox vaccination and did not develop complications Wait 8 weeks (56 days) from the date of having a smallpox vaccination as long as you have had no complications. Complications may include skin reactions beyond the vaccination site or general illness related to the vaccination. Smallpox vaccination and developed complications Wait 14 days after all vaccine complications have resolved or 8 weeks (56 days) from the da Continue reading >>
Why Can't Blood Be Donated If The Donor Has Diabetes?
In any blood donation two issues are taken into consideration. One the safety for the donor and the second is the safety for the recipient. A donor who is a known diabetic can develop hypoglycaemia(low sugar) when he donates blood which is extremely dangerous. Also usually diabetics have associated problems like hypertension(high BP),heart problems,etc.,, which can deteriorate due to blood donation. If a diabetic is taking insulin and that insulin is not of human source then antibodies are formed in the blood which if transfused to the recipient can cause allergic reactions.Also diabetics usually have some minor fungal and bacterial infections of which they may not be aware of. These could get transmitted to the recipient. Hence ,taking all this into account blood donation is not accepted from a diabetic in India,but in other countries they have their own rules. Of course in India too,if the diabetic has a very rare blood group and the blood is required in an emergency ,after taking necessary precautions blood is donated Continue reading >>
Donating Blood And Knowing Your Iron | Diabetic Connect
By Gabby PA Latest Reply2016-07-01 12:43:41 -0500 Well, with all that is going on down here in Orlando, my step daughter and I decided we would donate blood to help out. I had never done it before, but my mom gave regularly even as a type 2. I always heard her talk about her hemoglobin levels and knew they were improtant, but was not sure what the were. They test your hemoglobin to see if you have enough iron to help reproduce new blood cells after you donate. It has to be higher than 11. Mine was a nice 14.4so that was good. But it gets depleted when you donate, so they recommended eating foods with iron in them. I came across this slide show on food that are high in iron. Thought you all might like to take a peek, whether you donate or not, keeping your hemoglobin in a good range can help in your overall health and well being. this was helpful for me to know as I have a particular thing that requires me to carry a red blood card that contains my blood information so if I was ever at a hospital at or in another state they need that info before treating me at all. So I checked out quiet a few things. I eat a few things now that have iron so that was good news but I have to admit, some things were not appetizing to me at all. Thanks Gabby! I eat a lot of foods with iron in them but I also take an iron pill every morning. I took iron pills for a while after surgery last year. Then I started taking prozac.. Not a good combination. Now I don't take either. Iron really stopps me up if you know what I mean. It made my husband very irritable, so he only took it every few days. It's a rough thing to have to take it. It is much better for me to consume it with it's natural foods....there are reasons those don't create the issues a pill does. The combination of the two gave me t Continue reading >>
Can One Donate Blood With Diabetes, Cholesterol, Controlled Blood Pressure And After Cured Tuberculosis?
Medical Conditions and blood donation As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and guidelines from national blood transfusion council the medical conditions mentioned for deferral is vague and incomplete and hence the medical officer has got the discretion to take or defer donation based on recent developments in modern medicine. According to Dr Sunder Periyavan, Additional Professor, Officer in charge, Transfusion Medicine Center, NIMHANS, Bangalore - Diabetes with medication: A. Type I diabetes who is on Insulin (Injection) are to be deferred. This is because these patients can have extreme levels of blood glucose with or without insulin. Lower levels of blood glucose will have effect on blood donation because blood removal will further bring down the glucose level to bring about symptomatic hyplogycemia which is dangerous. And type I diabetes will have higher chance skin infection at the site of needle prick. B. Type II diabetes who is on oral diabetic drug can donate blood. This is because the blood glucose levels are not that extreme and even with 350/450 ml of blood with drawls will not cause symptomatic hypoglycemia. Since their blood levels are fairly maintained the chances of skin infection is less. Diabetes without medication: Since we do not know the blood glucose levels-high or low and at the camp site we do not test for glucose levels it is better to avoid bleeding the donor. High Cholesterol: high cholesterol is an abnormal condition for the donor. If blood 350/450 ml of blood is drawn from the donor and transfused it gets diluted in patients’ blood and the level will not be that high. And the patient can metabolize it brings down the level original level. It is as if the patient has taken a fatty meal. Hence blood donation is acceptable. And if the donor repe Continue reading >>
Can I Still Donate Blood If I Have Diabetes?
20 Books People with Diabetes Should Read Your diabetes should be under controlled before you donate blood To donate blood with diabetes, your blood sugar needs to be in your target range . Your A1C should be less than 7%, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association. If your blood sugars and diabetes are not well controlled, you shouldnt donate blood. Its up to you to let the Red Cross know. If you are unsure about the condition of your diabetes, discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider. They will be able to help you decide if giving blood is a good idea, or if you should wait until your diabetes is better managed. 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 If you have heart complications from your diabetes, there are some things that you ne Continue reading >>
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. Regardless of diabetes, you absolutely cannot donate if You are sick with a cold, flu, infection, etc. Youve gotten a tattoo within the past year You are under 17 years old (16-year-olds need parental permission) You have ever used recreational intravenous drugs or steroids Youve received a new piercing on your body within the past year Youve given birth within the last 6 weeks Youre being treated for postpartum medical issues Youve received a blood transfusion within 1 year Youve undergone surgery recently (many details vary here) Eligibility requirements for people with diabetes In general, people with diabetes can donate blood, but your blood sugar levels , in particular, do matter. When you first arrive at the donation center, youll be taken through a screening process where honesty counts! There is no reason to lie during your screening process. Telling the truth about your blood sugar levels ensures that your blood has the potential to save lives. If you live in the United Kingdom or Canada Both Canada and the United Kingdom do not allow people taking insulin to donate blood. This means anyone with type 1 diabetes cannot donate, but those with type 2 diabetes can as long as they do not require insulin for blood sugar management. You Continue reading >>
Can Diabetics Donate Blood/organs : Diabetes
Realistically, it won't matter even if the recipient has diabetes. Let's assume that the receiving patient has diabetes but their blood sugar is normal. Let's say 7.0 mmol/l. They have 5 liters of blood in their body but lost 1.5 liter. The person that donated the blood had an extremely high blood sugar. Let's say 20.0 mmol/l. The recipient won't have their blood sugar raised to 20 because their blood gets mixed. They end up with a blood sugar in between the original values in proportion to their size. So 3.5 x 7 + 1.5 x 20 = 10.9 mmol/l. It's not perfect but not a problem either. 10.9 is not a value that is dangerous in the short term. And needing a transfusion is such a rare occasion that it won't have long term effects either. Besides this is easily solved by setting the rule that diabetics can only donate if they check their blood sugar before hand and it's under 12.0 mmol/l. In the same situation as earlier, a blood sugar of 12 instead of 20 would only have brought up the recipient's BG to 8.5. but now you have to keep track of the BG of every unit of blood in case the recipient has diabetes It's easy to keep track of if the blood is kept separate from other donations. And if all the blood that is donated from the same type is mixed in with each other it won't matter at all. If the blood with a raised blood sugar is mixed in with other donations and then mixed again in the body of the recipient with their own blood then the blood sugar of the donor would have an effect so small on it it may only go up by 0.1 or 0.2. Continue reading >>
Can I Donate? | | Oklahoma Blood Institute
Frequently Asked Questions about Blood Donation Do I feel good today? That is the first question you should ask yourself when considering blood donation. If you are, generally, in good health, you can usually give blood. Healthy individuals who are 16 and weigh at least 125 pounds (with signed parental permission), are encouraged to donate blood regularly. If your question isnt answered below, or you need more detailed information BEFORE you donate, contact us at 1-877-340-8777 . Click on any question to view its answer. Athletic Performance: Could blood donation affect it? Blood donation can temporarily affect endurance performance. Full recovery of physical performance occurs within 14 days of a standard blood donation. If you are a competitive athlete, it is best to donate during your off-season. Low Blood Count: Can I donate if I have been iron deficient? Your hemoglobin levels may vary over time. Having a slightly low hemoglobin on one occasion does not mean you are chronically anemic and can never donate blood. Your hematocrit (iron) level will be checked prior to donating blood. If your level is normal on the day of donation, you are eligible to give blood. Click here for more information on how to boost your iron level before donating. Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Can I donate? You are still eligible to donate if you have herpes, venereal warts, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis. You are eligible to donate 12 months after completing treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea. HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis B & C prevent you from donating. If youve had a positive test, please call 1-877-340-8777 for further information. Age: Can I be too young or too old to give blood? Anyone who is healthy and older than age 16 can give blood. 16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and pr Continue reading >>
Blood Donation Eligibility Requirements | American Red Cross
This page uses Javascript. Your browser either doesn't support Javascript or you have it turned off. This list is not complete. Specially trained technical staff are available at each blood collection center and details of each donor's health and activities are discussed in a confidential setting prior to blood donation. The majority of donor eligibility rules are specified by the Food and Drug Administration for every collection center in the country. Other rules are determined by the medical professionals at specific blood centers, or with other regulatory bodies. Therefore, these rules may differ between programs. Donor eligibility rules are intended to protect the health and safety of the donor as well as the patient who will receive the transfusion. The criteria listed below are provided as guidelines to assist you in determining whether you may be eligible to be a blood donor. The final determination of eligibility is made at the time of donation. The guidelines listed below were last revised on 08/31/09. There may have been some changes to these criteria since the last revision date. The most up to date eligibility information can be obtained by contacting the American Red Cross blood donation center nearest you. To ensure the safety of blood donation for both donors and recipients, all volunteer blood donors must be evaluated to determine their eligibility to give blood. The final determination will be made on the day of the donation at the blood drive or blood donation center. If you were deferred from donating in the past, you may be able to donate again. The Red Cross recommends that females wait until the age of 19 or older to donate power reds. Please note higher requirements may apply in certain cases. Check with your donor center to confirm. Other aspect Continue reading >>
Common Myths About Blood Donations...
What's holding you back from giving life to your community? Each day, hundreds of people roll up their sleeve to give their incredible and lifesaving gift to area hospital patients. One of the things that keeps many from donating blood is a misunderstanding about their eligibility. In truth, there are very few things that may prevent an otherwise healthy person from donating blood. Here are some of the common myths and truths about blood donation. Myth 1 I can't give blood because I have seasonal allergies. Allergies, even those that need to be controlled by medication, will not prevent you from donating blood. Myth 2 I can't give blood because I have high blood pressure. As long as your blood pressure is below 180 systolic (first number) and 100 diastolic (second number) at the time of your donation, you may give blood. Furthermore, medications that you may be taking for high blood pressure do not disqualify you from donating. Myth 3 I can't give blood because I have high cholesterol. A high cholesterol level does not disqualify you from donating, even if medication is used to control it. Myth 4 I can't give blood because I had cancer. While some types of cancer may disqualify you from donating, there are many circumstances under which you may give blood after an appropriate waiting period. Myth 5 I can't give blood because I'm diabetic. Diabetics may give blood as long as the other medical requirements are met. However, the use of bovine-derived insulin will result in deferral from blood donation. Myth 6 I can't give blood because I have epilepsy or seizures. Epilepsy or seizures do not disqualify you from giving as long as you have had no seizures for one year. Myth 7 I can't donate because I'm anemic. Your hemoglobin (iron) level will be checked prior to donating bl Continue reading >>
How Can Diabetics Safely Donate Blood?
Home Magazine Diabetes How Can Diabetics Safely Donate Blood? Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator with 17 years of experience Expert-reviewed byAshwini S.Kanade, Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator with 17 years of experience Donating blood is one of the most selfless ways of helping others. But when it comes to people with specific health conditions like diabetes, certain factors might make you ineligible for this noble cause. This is because even though people with diabetes are allowed to donate blood, there are quite a few requirements that should be considered. According to Dr. Mihir Raut, Sr. Consultant Diabetologist at Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai, People with prediabetes are eligible for blood donations as long as they do not have any specific heart problems. Dr Raut says that the eligibility your is dependent upon how well you have managed your condition through lifestyle management or diabetes medicines. Heres a checklist of all the requirements you need to fulfil before donating blood: Your sugar levels are well under control, i.e. fasting blood sugars under 140 mg/d. Your HbA1c levels are between 42 and 47 mmol/mol (6.06.4%). You arent on insulin injections since they are more prone to hypoglycemic attacks. You are not anaemic (low red blood cells). You are 18 years or older and up to 60 years of age. If you check all the above boxes are ready to go in for a donation, make sure you: Bring a detailed list of all the medications you are currently taking. Diabetics may give blood as long as the other medical requirements are met. Diabetics who are on medication can donate blood only if their medication hasnt changed in the last four weeks or so. Changes in medication include both, types of medications and dosage c Continue reading >>
Can Diabetics Donate Blood?
Being as a Consultant Physician I would say If you have no complications from your diabetes such as eye, blood vessel or kidney problems and your diabetes is well controlled through diet or oral medication, you will be able to donate. But if youre Type 1 Insulin Dependent Diabetic You are not Allowed to Give Blood Donation because it would harm your Health and you are at Risk of Hypoglycemic Shock. Insulin and blood donation the relation is People who take insulin are not allowed to give blood, which excludes both people with type 1 diabetes and people with type 2 diabetes who are insulin-dependent. The affect of blood donations on insulin levels is considered a risk to the donor's health. Regards While little data is available on the subject, and i am sharing it first before i make my personal suggestions: Stainsby D et al after acknowledging the limited data on this subjects have not found much issues with diabetics donating blood. Reference: Stainsby D et al. Safety of blood donation from individuals with treated hypertension or non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes - a systematic review. Vox Sang. 2010 Apr;98(3 Pt 2):431-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.2009.01275.x. I personally interpret that if a perosn is otherwise fit and not taking insulin or heavy anti-diabetic drugs or is having other co-morbid conditions then he can give donate blood Diabetic patients can donate blood as long as they are not insulin dependant (therefore, type 1 patients are automatically unsuitable for donation). This is because the use of insulin is considered hazardous for de recipient. Other conditions that may impair a diabetic patient from donating blood are: Heart disease, diabetic ulcers (past or present), and pancreatic tissue transplant. The rationale behind it is the same, it is cons Continue reading >>
