Yes, people who control their diabetes with oral meds and nutrition are welcome to donate. Again, they must have well-controlled diabetes and be in good health when presenting to donate blood.
Can diabetics who use insulin (by injection or pump) donate blood?
We accept donors who use insulin to manage their diabetes. Those who use injections or pumps. The most critical factor is that their diabetes be under control and that they be in good health on the day they present to donate.
What are the drugs that prevent a person from donating blood?
In general, SANBS does not accept donors who are on teratogenic drugs. These medications would be classified as X. These drugs are known to cause abnormalities or miscarriages in unborn babies. Many dermatological agents, such as Roaccutane, Neotigason, and etretinate, fall within this category.
What are the Minimum Requirements to Donate Blood?
- For first-time donors, you must be between the ages of 16 and 75.
- You must weigh at least 50 kg (and platelets a minimum of 55 kgs)
- You are in excellent health.
- You live a risk-free existence.
- You believe your blood is safe for transfusion.
- You ate a nutritious meal within four hours of donating blood.
- You have not given blood in the previous 56 days (and platelets in the last 14 days.)
- Your heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute.
- Your blood pressure is less than 180 systolic (first number) and less than 100 diastolic (second number) (180/100mmHg), or it is greater than 100 systolic (first number) and greater than 60 diastolic (second number) (100/60mmHg).
- Your hemoglobin level is higher than 12.g/dL for females and 13.g/dL for males.
Diabetes, unfortunately, has numerous side effects, including heart difficulties, neuropathy, poor recovery, and so forth.
Will any of these negative effects prevent diabetics from donating blood?
Without a doubt. If a donor has diabetes and has a complication as a result of their diabetes, we defer them until the complications are treated and good control of the donors’ blood glucose level is re-established. Individuals in a hypoglycemic coma (because to low blood glucose levels) are postponed for four months from the time of the occurrence. This is to ensure that they have adequate glycemic control. Donors who develop diabetes as a result of another disease process are likewise not accepted by SANBS.
