Can People with Diabetes Donate Blood?

A wide population is prone to diabetes these days. Diabetes, more than a disease, is a body condition that occurs due to improper intake of sugar. People with diabetes do not need to panic and think of themselves as patients. A positive mindset and balanced lifestyle will help them live a healthy lifestyle. There are many myths and misconceptions about diabetes. People need to be well aware of accurate medical facts related to diabetes. Accurate facts about diabetes will help people live a normal life even if they have diabetes.

The most common confusion among people related to diabetes is that can diabetics donate blood? This blog will help you find an answer to those questions. Also, this blog will help you learn about some measures and procedures that people with diabetes need to follow. 

Yes they can!

According to various medical facts, donating blood is completely safe. The only condition is they need to have normal health conditions. Anyone with diabetes needs to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. If their blood sugar levels are normal at the time of blood donation then they are completely fit to donate blood. 

But then people who have used cattle-derived insulin to treat their diabetes are refrained from donating blood. Diabetes can also cause some other complications. It can have an impact on the eyes, blood vessels, and kidneys. If a person with diabetes has any of the above complications is not eligible to donate blood. But if the person has not suffered from any of these then he/she can donate blood. 

Process of Blood Donation

• Health Screening: Every blood donation center carries out a screening process for the donors. In this process, the donors need to inform about their all pre-existing health conditions. A person with diabetes may be asked some additional questions. The person needs to have proper information about the medications he/she is consuming to cure diabetes. 
• Blood Donation: The process of blood donation takes about an hour to complete. You will be made to sit on a comfortable chair at the time you donate blood. Then a needle is pricked and inserted inside your arm. After that, the blood is taken from your body. 

How to Prepare for Blood Donation?

Now the misconception about can diabetic patients donate blood is clear. Here are some tips that describe how a person can prepare himself for blood donation. These tips need to be followed regardless of their health conditions. Here are some of them:

• Increase the intake of water in your body. You need to begin this before a few days of blood donation.
• Include iron-rich food into your diet. You can also take some iron supplements before a few weeks of blood donation.
• Assure a proper sleep before the night of donation. 
• Stick to a healthy and balanced diet pre and post your blood donation. Those with any medical conditions need to ensure this more. A healthy diet helps maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Also, limit the intake of caffeine in your diet on the day of donation. 
• When you go for a donation, carry the prescription or list of medications that you are currently taking. Also, make sure you carry identity proof along with yourself.

These were some of the tips that will help you in preparing for blood donation.

What to expect after Donating Blood ?

As mentioned above pre and post-blood donation you need to consume a lot of liquids. Also, you need to assure intake of a healthy diet. Apart from those, there are some general post-blood donation tips that donors can follow. Here is a quick list of all those basic points:

• Consider taking acetaminophen in case your arm feels sore.
• To prevent bruising on your arm consider keeping the bandage for a minimum of 4 hours.
• Take proper rest in case you feel lightheaded.
• Post 24 hours of blood donation, donors need to avoid any kind of exhausting activity. This even includes exercising.
• Increase the intake of fluid in your diet after donating blood.

These were all the tips that you can consider after you donate your blood. In case you face any health complications post-donation then do consult a doctor immediately. Because this will help you get the right health advice for your body post blood donation. 

Bottomline

Can diabetics donate blood or questions like can diabetics donate plasma is a major confusion among people? People should never indulge and believe in the facts that they can get from irrelevant sources. Always consider reliable sources for health advice. Make sure you are always well aware if you have any kind of medical conditions to deal with. This will keep you informed and help you live a healthy lifestyle.