Diabetic and Blood donation

[SUBA]

Hi,

Can a diabetic person (non-insulin dependant) donate blood?

Is it obvious that persons taking regular insulin cannot donate blood?

How can a diabetic person become regular blood donor? Even if they can donate, do they face any after health risks?


suba

[Shan Xue]

Hi,

Can a diabetic person (non-insulin dependant) donate blood?

Is it obvious that persons taking regular insulin cannot donate blood?

suba

a diabetic person who is not on medication should be able to donate blood. see quote from blood bank website.


Persons with the following conditions are not eligible to donate blood:

Diseases of the heart or lungs (Asymptomatic Asthma individuals are eligible).

Cancer

High blood pressure on medication (except diuretics)

Diabetes on medication

Abnormal bleeding tendency or blood disorder

Major surgery (can donate after 6 - 12 months)

AIDS or symptoms of AIDS, such as unexplained fevers, severe night sweats, unexpected weight loss, swollen glands, chronic diarrhoea or rare cancer

Uncontrolled seizures after infancy

Hepatitis B or C

Syphilis
http://www.hsa.gov.sg/html/consumer/ctm_how_to_be_a_donor.html

the following is from UK website. it provides a detailed explaination.


Q. Can someone with diabetes donate blood in the UK?

A. If your diabetes is treated by diet and lifestyle changes alone, then you will be able to donate blood in the UK, providing you do not have any other medical condition (eg heart disease) that might prevent your giving blood. If you do have another medical condition besides diabetes, then a doctor will assess your individual case at the donor session.

If your diabetes is treated with tablets or insulin, then you will not be able to give blood. This restriction is because the National Blood Service is concerned about the health of the blood donors, and arises from fears that giving blood may affect a person’s blood glucose control, or aggravate any undiagnosed diabetes related conditions such as neuropathy or heart disease.


Q. What if I’m taking another medication but only treat my diabetes with diet, can I still give blood?

A. The National Blood Services will usually look at why a person is taking medication rather than what medication that person is taking. This is to protect the health of blood donors. For example, a person taking beta-blockers would not be able to donate blood if they were taking the beta-blockers for high blood pressure, since giving blood could have an adverse effect on their own health. However, if the beta-blockers were being taken to treat irritable bowel syndrome, providing someone was otherwise healthy, they should still be able to donate blood.

With the exception of a few drugs (eg Teratogenic), most medicines do not affect the quality of the blood sample. Most of the blood plasma, where the drug would be located in someone’s blood, is removed from the blood sample that is taken from a donor before the blood is used.

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/infocentre/inform/bloodorgan.htm

[Shan Xue]

Hi,

How can a diabetic person become regular blood donor? Even if they can donate, do they face any after health risks?

suba


in america, diabetic person can still donate regularly. if one follows the recommended donation interval, should not face any health risk.

The American Red Cross states that individuals with diabetes may donate blood if they meet the following guidelines:

Have not had an initial dosage of insulin or change of insulin dose in at least two weeks.

Have not received an injection of bovine (beef) insulin made from cattle from the United Kingdom since 1980.
The following whole blood donation intervals are recommended for people with diabetes:

8 weeks (56 days) between donations.

3 days after routine plateletpheresis.

28 days after routine plasmapheresis.

http://diabetes.about.com/cs/lifestyle/a/blood_donation.htm