Diabetes and blood donations.

[Nigel Worc's]

There is probably a very simple answer to this, but I don't know it, and I was asked by a teenage child today, and I thought one of you is bound to know.

If you are a type two diabetic (as I am), and you inject insulin (into fatty tissue obviously, as I do), why are you not allowed to give donations.

But, if you're a type two that doesn't inject ..... you can.

Many thanks in advance

[LMC]

Its for your safety. All that blood being taken from you can alter how your insulin works. Your usual daily (or twice daily) dose of insulin may send your bm too low and risk you getting hypoglycaemia.

They don't think your a leper !!

[Nigel Worc's]

Many thanks.

I'd never questioned it, it was a long time ago,(I still have my blue book with the sticky leaves in it, they haven't used for years), I was just short of my silver badge.

Both of my young daughters, along with my wife donate (like many people), and my youngest daughter asked the question of my wife, she's a nurse and didn't know, I asked her to ask one of the doctors at work, but apparently she has better things to do !