As you already know, any time of the year is good when it comes to donating blood since reserves are always needed. Blood has an expiration date, something that must always be kept in mind in order to donate more or less regularly over time.
When you consider donating blood, there are many doubts that may arise, especially if you have a pathology that may prevent you from doing so. Diabetes is one of the causes of most questions in these cases, and many diabetics rule out the idea of going to donate because they think that their blood will not pass the necessary controls. But is that true? Can you donate blood if you are diabetic? We are going to see the indications that you should know to carry out this process.
Diabetics and blood donation
In the case of diabetics, we cannot definitively say whether they can donate or not, because everything will depend on the type of diabetes they suffer from. If you are type 1 (diabetics who inject insulin) you cannot donate blood. The reason is that a vascular event or a possible hyperglycemia of the donor must be avoided and, on the other hand, a high glucose concentration in the recipient must be avoided.
However, if the diabetes is type 2, there will be no problem donating blood. Of course, you must bear in mind that diabetes has to be very controlled, and glucose levels must be normal, just as it happens with other diseases such as hypertension.
In any case, when you go to donate blood they will ask you a series of questions about your health and that is when you must indicate that you have diabetes. They will carry out a test to check your levels, so it is recommended that you bring a certificate issued by your doctor that shows the treatment you are undergoing and that affirms your good health.
In short, as happens with other diseases or pathologies, there are studies that have shown that donating blood can benefit the patient by improving their levels. Throughout Europe and in Spain, type 1 diabetics who inject insulin will not be able to donate blood, but type 2 diabetics whose disease is being treated orally can.
Frequently asked questions when donating
The donation process is something new for many people, although it is still a great help for everyone who needs blood at some point. These are the most frequent questions we ask ourselves when donating:
How long does the donation last?
The blood donation process includes answering the questions that you are asked with a short interview, then the blood extraction and subsequent recovery. With all this it can take approximately half an hour, although in certain cases it can take a little longer.
Why can’t I donate if I weigh less than 50 kg?
As a general rule, the amount of blood that is extracted is 450 cc. per bag. This is an amount that cannot be obtained from a person weighing less than 50 kg, which is why these people cannot donate at any time.
Should I go fasting?
Contrary to what we might think, the answer is a resounding no . You will read many times that you should not eat, but this is not a blood test . The Spanish Red Cross recommends not donating on a completely empty stomach, although you should avoid a meal rich in fat. Therefore, when you go to donate blood, do not forget to go with some food in your stomach if you do not want to go through unnecessary dizziness.
