Giving Blood with Type 1 Diabetes

As we creep towards the end of November, we are often reminded of all the things we are grateful for. As we get further into the holidays, we are encouraged to give back to the communities that support us. One great way to give back during this season is by donating blood. 

Here, we look at the ways people living with diabetes mellitus can give back to their community via blood donation and go through the process step by step of how and why we give blood. 

Why do we give blood? 

Blood donations are vital to the healthcare system, as they are the only way to acquire blood for blood transfusions. Blood donations allow people to recover from severe blood loss due to injury or surgery and provide healthy blood for people living with blood disorders. According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone living in the United States requires donated blood. 

(Note: Using some quick math, roughly 150 people in the U.S. need blood in just the time it takes to read this article!)  

Can you give blood with type 1 diabetes? 

The short answer for people living in the United States is yes, but there are things to account for. Under the category of “diabetes” under the Red Cross Eligibility Criteria, the only guideline is that people with diabetes are “well controlled” and on some sort of insulin or oral medication. Being “well controlled” in the context of type 1 diabetes can seem vague, but as long as your blood sugar is usually in range and you are not experiencing a significant amount of hypoglycemic (low blood glucose) or hyperglycemic (high blood glucose) episodes daily, you can give blood. 

However, other countries outside of the U.S. may have different rules and regulations around giving blood if you have diabetes. For example, in the United Kingdom, people who take insulin injections for their diabetes cannot give blood, thus ruling out all people living with type 1 diabetes. Other blood donors with type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes or gestational diabetes can give blood as long as they are not on insulin therapy and meet the rest of the criteria listed by the National Health Service (NHS). 

This is true of most European countries, though countries outside of Europe, like Canada, do allow people with healthy blood sugar levels who are on insulin treatment to donate blood.  

Do I need a certain A1c to be able to give blood?  

No, there are no regulations in the U.S. around whether or not you can give blood based on your A1c level. 

Your A1c refers to the amount of hemoglobin proteins holding glucose, or sugar, in the blood. For someone without diabetes, this would be around 5.7%, but for T1Ds, a healthy A1c is usually considered anything below seven. Knowing your A1c can help you better understand how your diabetes management has been overall and better inform you and your doctor about the state of your blood glucose levels over the last two to three months. 

However, giving blood can falsely lower your A1c, though temporarily. This isn’t dangerous, but it may cause skewed results during an A1c test, so be sure to inform your doctor if you’ve given blood within the three months leading up to the test. 

Concerns around giving blood as a T1D

Even though donating blood is safe and permitted for people with type 1 diabetes, it does not come without risks. Donating blood can have adverse side effects on anyone, such as lightheadedness or nausea, so it's important to watch for these symptoms and let a blood drive worker know how you’re feeling. 

While the occasional sour stomach or dizzy head is not out of the ordinary for the average person, people with diabetes should be aware of additional side effects that might occur. Some T1Ds mention higher blood sugar in the days following a blood donation, so make sure you’re checking your blood sugar routinely to prevent any sneaky hyperglycemic episodes. 

Types of Blood Donations

Depending on whether you meet the criteria, you can make a few types of blood donations. People with type 1 diabetes can participate in all forms of blood donation in the U.S. if they meet the other requirements. 

Whole Blood Donation

A whole blood donation is the simplest form of blood donation and involves donating blood, plasma and red blood cells all at once. To give whole blood you must be at least 17 years old and over 110 pounds in total body weight. You must also be feeling well and in good health, as well as not donating blood for at least 56 days prior. 

Platelet Donation

Platelets are tiny cells in the blood that help form blood clots and stop bleeding. In order to donate platelets, you must meet the same age and weight requirement needed to donate whole blood, but you can donate platelets every seven days. 

AB Plasma Donation

Plasma is the liquid component of blood, usually light tan or yellow in color. Those with AB-type blood can donate their plasma every 28 days as long as they are at least 17 and weigh more than 110 pounds.

Power Red (Double red cell donation)

Lastly, if you are a male, 17 years old or older, weighing more than 130 and are 5’1” or taller or a female, 19 years or older, weighing at least 150 pounds and 5’3” or taller, you may be eligible to do what is called a “power red” or a double red cell donation. This involves donating two rounds of red blood cells during a single donation session. Additionally, you must have O, A negative or B negative type blood in order to donate via a power red donation. Also, certain health conditions like kidney problems, heart disease, or high blood pressure may disqualify you.

Your Guide to Giving Blood 

First, decide on a blood donation method and check to see if you meet the specific criteria. If you do, congratulations! You are eligible to give blood.

The next step is attending a blood drive or American Red Cross donation center. Do your research on the best place for you and book an appointment or sign up to participate in a blood drive. 

• The night before, try to get a solid night’s sleep. 
• Make sure you eat and drink lots of water before donating blood, as this will reduce your likelihood of fainting or dizziness after the blood draw. 
• It's a good idea to bring snacks, a legal form of identification, and maybe something else to do while you get your blood drawn.
• Also, make sure your blood sugar levels are in a safe range before donating.

While most diabetes medications shouldn’t disqualify you from giving blood, be sure to inform the blood draw worker about any medications (kidney problems, high blood pressure, past heart failure) you are on prior to giving blood. To give blood, you will undergo a health screening, so use this time to inform the worker about your condition and any oral medications you may be taking. 

Once you’ve had a full belly, gotten a good night’s rest, checked your sugars, and met the health screening eligibility requirements, the next step is to simply sit down and relax while the blood draw workers begin taking your blood.

You can rest your eyes, listen to music, read a book or watch a show on your phone while you give blood—whatever makes you feel most relaxed and comfortable. 

And then, that’s it! You have officially become a blood donor, potentially changing the life of someone in need.