You may have realized your responsibilities as a citizen of the country. The very best responsibility that a person may have is blood donation work. Although there are a lot of requirements to donate blood, you may/should have to pass all those criteria to be eligible for blood donation. So, Can diabetics donate blood? "...The answer is "yes" for those taking medications to control their blood sugar level. It has been more or equivalent to four to six months (or as prescribed) if you are not taking insulin, not pregnant, and not going through gestational diabetes." Even if you think you may have a chronic medical condition and are willing to donate blood, You still need to discuss the eligibility with your doctor about it.
Under what conditions can you donate blood, especially if you have diabetes?
Blood donation is one of the prime responsibilities anyone should be free to perform. There can be a lot of medical conditions that may lead to the requirement for blood donation. But, people with diabetes should or need to be extra careful with their medical procedures like blood donation, as it depends on stable blood glucose and insulin levels.Are you eligible to donate blood?
Can diabetics donate blood?
Yes, but when you intend to donate your blood to any needy person, you must maintain your blood sugar level under a controlled level and should have lower risks of blood sugar level complications. This means that you can safely donate blood even if you have diabetes, but it comes with many things to consider. There are a lot of factors that you need to consider before deciding to donate blood the next time. If unsure, you can check with your HCP before heading for your local blood drive.As per NHS, you need to accept specific criteria before donating blood to someone in need. Specific general rules include body weight, age, and health conditions. Moreover, the factors that should be considered are-Type 1 diabetes -
You cannot donate blood if you have Type 1 diabetes. This is because you are using insulin.Type 2 diabetes -
You can donate blood if you have diabetes or Type 2 diabetes or use any medication to control the same. This must include the medications that should not be insulin. You can also donate blood even if you take injectable medicines but not, particularly insulins. The other condition is that you should have taken the same medicine for at least four weeks to control your diabetes. If you have come off insulin or your doctor has changed your medicines, you must wait for another four weeks to donate blood. Also, Read Reverse Your Type 2 Diabetes By Following These Proven Ways.Other types of diabetes
You can still donate blood to any person, but the condition is that you should not be using external insulins. The guidance is the same as for type 2 diabetes (as mentioned above).Pregnancy
You cannot help anyone with blood donation if you are pregnant. If you have a gestational diabetes condition, you will have to wait for at least six months after giving birth to the child.What screenings do you need to go through for blood donation?
Eligibility screening -
Blood donation centers have screening centers where you can undergo specific tests before the donation. A certified blood donation action practitioner will help you measure statistics and essential requirements like temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure. They will also take your small blood sample (from your finger) to determine the hemoglobin level in your blood.The healthcare practitioner certified in the work of blood donation will undertake certain blood screening methods and will ask you specific medical questions-- Are you suffering from any chronic medical condition like high blood pressure, high protein level, high sugar level, or high risk of heart beating rate, heart stroke, etc.?
- If you take medicines to a controlled level of your blood or blood components, you are not the right person for blood donation.
Blood glucose level criteria -
While the healthcare practitioner may help to understand the whole medical condition before taking your blood, you should also be careful with the lifesaving process before donating blood to someone in need. If you are a patient with diabetes and you are taking insulin, that means your blood sugar level is not under control, and you need to go through a further assessment.Adding further, Diabetic People can undoubtedly donate blood to others, but you should be free from insulin injections, medicines, and hypoglycaemic episodes. You must further evaluate your HbA1c to ensure good blood sugar management in your body.Ineligible - diabetes complications -
Most people feel fine immediately after the blood donation, but a few often feel tired and lightheaded. Some other side effects immediately after blood donation can be-- Dizziness,
- Nausea,
- Low energy level, etc.
When are diabetics not allowed to donate blood?
Most often, people maintain a healthy lifestyle even after being diabetic, and they ask the usual question- "Can diabetics donate blood?" Sometimes, the doctors directly say "No" because many times, people with diabetes come with certain complications like-- cardiovascular disease,
- kidney disease,
- retinopathy and
- peripheral vascular disease.
Tips to follow before you donate your blood-
- Drink plenty of water- Hydration is the key to maintaining good health, blood circulation, and sound digestion. It helps you feel light, maintained, and balanced while maintaining valuable nutrients and minerals. So, if you feel indifferent while entering the hospital for blood donation, you may drink a good amount of water to maintain your body's reactions and worries.
- Eat well beforehand- Do not skip breakfast, and be sure you are full of snacks in your pockets while reaching the blood donation camp. This may help you have ready-made snacks if you feel symptoms after the donation work or process. The snacks may help you tolerate the blood donation process well and may help you feel fine the rest of the day.
- Exercise before donating blood- It is OK if you have a routine of going to the gym in the early morning. You can still dominate blood and can stay wise with your afterward reactions.
- Take iron tablets- Iron is one of the best supplements to help maintain a good blood level in your body. If you are a teenage donor, you may become iron deficient immediately after donation. So, it is better to seek advice and let yourself help with some iron tablets.
Things you can expect immediately after blood donation-
Moreover, you must take care of many things and continue eating healthily. You can consider taking iron-rich food and supplements, glucose-rich tablets or toffees, or adding some to your diet for at least two to four days after the donation process.In general, you should:- Be advised to take acetaminophen if your arms become sore after donation.
- Try to keep the area covered with the bandage for at least four hours of the day to avoid any bruising.
- Try taking complete rest if you feel lightheaded.
- Avoid strenuous activity for at least 24 to 48 hours of the day. This may include household chores, heavy exercises, gardening, sitting, standing, or other strenuous tasks.
- Try increasing the intake of fluid in your body. This may include juices, fruits, vegetables like cucumber, tomato, and ripped fruits full of water content.
Conclusion-
Blood donation is one of the lifesaving processes and can help any person directly. Living with well-managed diabetic conditions, you can still donate blood. You can donate blood once every 56 days, even if you are diabetic. If you have begun experiencing the symptoms immediately after the blood donation process, you should connect with your doctor and seek tips. If you feel any diabetic symptoms then go with Raheja Hospital Mahim.
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