People withdiabetescan donate blood if they meet certain eligibility requirements.
In general, people with well-managed or controlled diabetes can donate blood.
In this article, youll learn the factors contributing to whether or not someone with diabetes can donate blood.
Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty Images
This means youre able to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
This requires dailydiabetes management with lifestyle habitsthat include a range of nutritious foods, exercise, and stress management.
For some people, it may also require taking certain diabetes medications.
Many medications are acceptable.
Gestational Diabetes and Donating Blood
People with gestational diabetes cannot donate blood due to pregnancy.
The American Red Cross recommends waiting six weeks after giving birth before donating blood.
You must consider how to prepare and recover.
In addition, you may be asked a few additional questions about your health history.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you feel unwell after donating blood or have difficulty managing blood sugar.
Some tips for after-care include:
Can Donating Blood Lower Your A1C?
This may lead to inaccurate interpretations of blood sugar control from their healthcare provider or diabetes specialist.
Taking diabetes medications doesn’t usually interfere with a persons blood donation eligibility.
Speaking with your healthcare provider about the next steps is a great place to start.
This may take two to four months, according to one observational study.
Yes, its safe for people with diabetes to get tattoos.
However, this is only true if the diabetes is well-managed or controlled.
Otherwise, above-average blood sugar levels can complicate your tattoo healing process and even increase the risk of infection.
Improvement was particularly noticeable three weeks after donating blood.
However, more research is needed to determine how blood donation can benefit people with diabetes.
American Red Cross.Eligibility criteria: alphabetical.
Americas Blood Centers.Blood donation FAQs.
OneBlood.Can I donate blood?
American Red Cross.What donors should know about iron and blood donation.
2017;12(1):e0170802.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170802
American Red Cross.Tips for a successful donation.
American Red Cross.What to do before, during, and after your donation.