Can we be blood donors?

[Nic:)]

I just wondered if you can give blood if your diabetic? There seems to be conflicting answers on the internet

 

[Northerner]

Not if you are on insulin Nic Type 2s on oral medications can, as long as the pills won't cause hypos. There's nothing wrong with our blood, it's just that they can't take the risk of us having a hypo when they are taking the blood, so it is for our safety.

 

[pav]

As Alan says it depends on what meds you are on, as I am on a cocktail of various meds I can't give blood.

 

[LeeLee]

I gave blood on Tuesday, but that's because I'm metformin/diet/exercise only, so very low hypo risk. I always get grilled by the screening nurse very carefully to make sure it's safe for me to donate.

 

[Nic:)]

Ahhhh that rules me out then thanks guys

 

[Copepod]

You can sign up to donate organs after death, though.

 

[trophywench]

It's not to do with hypos Alan!

'They' reckon 'we' take far longer to make up the blood loss. This is actually untrue but those are 'their' rules.

The Wolfson Unit at Bham University who are responsible for the QA in all the labs that do our A1cs, are fuming about it, but they can't get them to change their minds despite various T1s and T2s on insulin having been initially allowed to give blood specifically for that purpose, and not suffering any harm. I can confirm that I was fine, and I loved it - I hated having to stop doing it when I was diagnosed. Also normally I'd have been considered too old to start - but as it was just for this and because I'd been there done that before, they said OK.

Furthermore you do have to be careful not to have your A1c done again within at least the next 3 months after donating, because you will have more NEW blood cells than normal following it, so you'll have got rid of some of the glucose stuck to the haemoglobin in the pint you gave .......

 

[Northerner]

Interesting, thanks TW. I wonder what their comparative figures are? They must have based it on something? Where's HelenM to tell us the research? 🙂

 

[LeeLee]

It would be good if they shared the real reason with the staff at the blood transfusion centres - I was repeating what I'd been told!

 

[BigMalc]

Furthermore you do have to be careful not to have your A1c done again within at least the next 3 months after donating, because you will have more NEW blood cells than normal following it, so you'll have got rid of some of the glucose stuck to the haemoglobin in the pint you gave .......

If that is true, why dont they recommend that we give blood - what a good way to get rid of glucose! 🙄

 

[Northerner]

Hold on a minute though, is it the insulin or sulfonylureas that 'cause' the decrease in new blood renewal? It can't be just down to having diabetes if T2s on D&E or metformin can donate?

 

[macabee]

I gave blood a couple of weeks ago. I do get miffed at the questions, for example, I tend to take the occasional Ibuprofen as I have some arthritis in my neck, I had taken a couple about four days previously.

The donor carer, not a nurse asked me why did I take the Ibuprofen, this was after I had advised her of the meds that I take, so I told her ' As there was some very stormy weather coming' you should have seen her face, I mean why do people take pain relief! yes I know it also reduces fever.

It would appear that if you are just on Metformin there is no problem in giving blood.

 

[HelenM]

No research but a long thread from health professionals in different countries about which people with diabetes are and aren't allowed in their country. They give varied reasons.
http://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_diabetic_people_donate_blood

The US seems to be the one country that doesn't have any problem with insulin users. They're allowed unless they have used bovine insulin since 1980.
(but most of us though would be barred there because we have lived in the UK from 1980-97. Many countries ban us for that)

One person gives a reference to a trial that suggests that donation may help people with metabolic syndrome. (improved lipids, lowered BP and lowered HbA1c at 6 weeks [perhaps not surprising] but no change in insulin sensitivity)
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/10/54

 

[Northerner]

Thanks Helen, I knew I could rely on you to shed a bit more light on things 🙂

 

[trophywench]

You are banned here too if you have had a blood transfusion within so long previously - is it 5 years?

 

[Reggie]

Blood Donation.

I asked a Nurse from the Blood Transfusion Service when they were at my local Hall and she stated that unfortunately not if you are on Insulin.