Giving blood

[Becky1984]

Am due to do this soon, anyone done this as a diabetic. Any extra precautions big wise?

 

[Rosiecarmel]

What medications are you on? I know type 1s and type 2s on insulin cannot ever give blood. If you're type 2 you have to have been on the same medication for 4 weeks before you can give blood. It explains it here: https://my.blood.co.uk/knowledgebase/Index/D

I can't help with regards to precautions as I cannot donate blood anymore. I can't since my diagnosis unfortunately but hopefully another type 2 can help with that

Good for you Donating blood. I really wish I still could. Your blood will save lives 🙂 nowadays you even get a text telling you where your blood has gone eg what hospital

 

[Hazel]

As a T2 only on Metformin, years ago, I was not allowed to donate blood, plasma, nothing.

I was not it was for own health in case I had 'a bad turn'.

Was never too sure - but as now on insulin too - it's a definite no no

 

[Ljc]

Hi. I am 8 years out of date on health, medications suitability etc
I believe this number is the one to contact for such queries in England , not sure about Wales or Scotland.
0300 123 23 23
Other than that it's best to eat and drink normally. You'll be given advise on how long to rest afterwards, it used to be 10 mins but it could have changed. Make sure you partake of any refreshment offered afterwards.
Don't worry you'll be fine.

 

[Ljc]

As a T2 only on Metformin, years ago, I was not allowed to donate blood, plasma, nothing.

I was not it was for own health in case I had 'a bad turn'.

Was never too sure - but as now on insulin too - it's a definite no no

Hi It was for health reasons, think it was hypo's they were concerned with, but it's so long ago since I worked for them I can't be sure. I too had to stop when I went onto Metfartin, was really miffed about that at the time.

 

[trophywench]

And they like you to sit and drink as much water as possible before you donate - never used to bother about that in 1968 to 1972 LOL

 

[Ljc]

And they like you to sit and drink as much water as possible before you donate - never used to bother about that in 1968 to 1972 LOL

We did on my team, more so in hot weather , we offered orange or lemon squash.
Other teams followed the rules .

 

[trophywench]

Not in the permanent centre in Brum, back then !

 

[Ljc]

Not in the permanent centre in Brum, back then !

My team were rebels lol. We travelled around , though my base was at Tooting. I loved it, their was never a dull moment.

 

[Pine Marten]

Good for you, @Becky1984, it's a wonderful thing to do. I gave up for quite a while as I thought I couldn't donate any more, then discovered I could as I had given up my Metformin! They interrogated me thoroughly and I donated two or three times. Then I had trouble with a vitamin D deficiency 🙄, got that sorted but then my donation was rejected because of some freak result in the test batch... So then I donated again, and then the freak test happened again! So I'm off the register for three years. <sigh>

Make sure you eat something beforehand and just enjoy the experience 🙂 !