Silly question

[Raymond]

This may seem very obvious but I have always tried to give blood whenever possible as I'm type O negative and it's in very short supply. Got a letter from local Transfusion service on Saturday asking me to come in to donate. Can I if my sugar level is within normal range?

 

[AlisonM]

Not at all a silly question and something I think you'd need to ask them about. I don't know the answer myself as I'm not allowed to donate because of the anaemia.

 

[Copepod]

Sadly Raymond, people with type 1 diabetes are not allowed to give blood under any circumstances. Seems a shame not to allow donations from those able to maintain adequate blood glucose levels, but the rules are inflexible.

 

[Ellie Jones]

No if you'll T1 diabetic you can't donate blood due to injectied insulin.

Some T2's can give blood but it does depend really if you are on medication or not..

Try not to be too upset about it, There are many like us who would donate if we could..

I had arranged with friends to go and give blood, but alas found I was pregnant so had to pull out at the last minute then I became a T1 diabetic so dashed it all..

My mum was never allowed to donate blood due to having Scarlet Fever as a child...

But my ex-father-in-law he gave over 50 points of blood

 

[Casper]

I always donated blood before my diagnosis nearly 11 years ago, but if you are type 1, they won't have your blood because of injecting insulin into bloodstream.

So unless restrictions have changed, then no, type 1s can't donate. Still check with the local blood centre to be sure though, especially as your blood type is in demand.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

This may seem very obvious but I have always tried to give blood whenever possible as I'm type O negative and it's in very short supply. Got a letter from local Transfusion service on Saturday asking me to come in to donate. Can I if my sugar level is within normal range?

Hi Raymond,
your best bet is to ring up the service and ask 🙂 We can all give our own opinions on this but who knows who is right or wrong.
Found this for you https://secure.blood.co.uk/c11_cant.asp

 

[Raymond]

I kinda thought that may be the case. Pity, as I think only 7% of the population have my blood type and it can be given to anyone.

Thanks

R

 

[Northerner]

I kinda thought that may be the case. Pity, as I think only 7% of the population have my blood type and it can be given to anyone.

Thanks

R

Yes, I'm another who used to donate regularly before diagnosis. I'm pretty rare as a B+ so it is a shame. Having said that, if it's a rare type then there is less demand for it! My Mum is AB- and they would only take her blood when there was a specific requirement for it. I'm not sure whether you can donate plasma though, might be worth enquiring.

 

[Raymond]

O Negative blood is used in emergencies when they don't know a persons blood type but need an urgent transfusion. I'll look into the plasma thing. Cheers!!

 

[Caroline]

No question is silly, especially when we learn from it. Please feel free to ask as many silly or otherwise questions as you like. It is for the benefit of our health, and some times the health of others.

 

[imtrying]

how do we know what blood group we are???

I used to go with my mum every time she donated blood, and always wanted to be able to follow in her footsteps...think that was one of the things I was most gutted about when I was diagnosed and then found out i wouldn't be able to

 

[Caroline]

I found out when I was expecting and asked.

Do you know what blood group your mum is? I was told most people are the same blood group or a group that is compatible to the mothers, but I am not sure about the sceintific/biological stuff involved with it.