Can People With Diabetes Donate Blood?

The short answer is: yes, you can! But it comes with a little nuance, especially if you’re using certain medications while living with a form of diabetes. Some medications may disqualify you, while others might just delay your ability to donate.

Having type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) alone does not prevent you from donating blood in the United States. That surprises a lot of people, and it’s understandable, especially if you’ve been living with it for a long time and were constantly told you couldn’t or were excluded from opportunities to do so!

But here’s the truth—some of what’s circulating about diabetes and blood donation used to be true and was never corrected, while other parts were never true at all. In this guide, we explain where the line is and whether you can head to the blood bank to complete this very important, meaningful task.

What prevents you from donating blood?

Plenty of things can keep someone from donating blood, regardless of diabetes. Most ineligibilities have nothing to do with it, but they may still apply to you because not everything in your body or life has to do with diabetes, even if it feels that way.

According to the American Red Cross’s (ARC) general eligibility requirements, you may not be able to donate blood if:

• You weigh less than 110 pounds
• You’re younger than 16 (17, in some states)
• You’re pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth in the last six weeks
• You have low iron levels
• You got a tattoo or piercing in the last year
• You have any type of cancer or finished cancer treatment less than a year ago
• You’ve used recreational IV drugs or used IV steroids without a prescription
• You have HIV, AIDS, lung disease, heart disease, Lyme disease or another serious health condition

Your blood sugar doesn’t need to be perfect to donate blood

The ARC doesn’t hand donors an exact blood sugar or A1C cutoff. (An A1C is the blood test that shows your average blood sugar over roughly the past three months.) There’s no magic number you need to hit.

What the ARC actually wants to know (and it’s a much simpler answer) is whether your diabetes is well managed. That’s it! It doesn’t matter which medication you’re on, insulin included. You’re also in more company than you’d think. Recent Red Cross data found that roughly 1 in 5 blood donors have A1C levels in the prediabetes or diabetes range, many without knowing until they were tested at the donation site.

Still, try to keep your blood sugar close to your usual target on the day you donate. Running high can lower the quality of the donated blood over time. Ask your healthcare provider (HCP) what target makes sense for you because nobody at the blood bank is going to hand you a number that fits your specific situation. Only you and your endocrinologist or primary care provider (PCP)—whoever supports you in managing your diabetes—can figure that out together beforehand!

Not every country treats insulin the same way, either. The UK still won’t accept blood from anyone who takes insulin. Canada used to run the same blanket rule, but it’s loosened over time. Canadians on insulin can now request an individual assessment from Canadian Blood Services instead of being turned away automatically.

Most diabetes medications won’t hold you back from donating blood

Most diabetes medications will not exclude you from donating blood in the U.S. 

Diabetes medications that shouldn’t be an issue include:

• Insulin: regardless of the type or brand, is acceptable. 
• Injected medications: such as Ozempic or Mounjaro are also suitable. 
• Oral medications: like metformin, can be used. Some individuals with T1D take it, even though it is typically associated with T2D.

A couple of diabetes medications could affect your eligibility to donate blood, but they might not stop you altogether. One medication does pause donations, and that’s warfarin. Warfarin is a blood thinner used to prevent clots, not a cholesterol medication, despite what you may have heard. This medication won’t stop you from donating blood entirely. It will just slow the process. Wait about a week after your last dose before donating blood. Check the current waiting time with your blood center for the most recent guidelines in case they’ve changed. Never stop taking a prescribed medication just to give blood. If you are unsure whether a medicine affects your eligibility, call your blood center or ask your HCP first. 

If you ever took bovine insulin, you might also remember being told you were permanently ineligible to donate blood for life, with no exceptions. This insulin type was derived from cows and was common before synthetic insulin took over. Past bovine insulin use is no longer a reason you cannot donate. 

This eligibility rule usually trips up seasoned T1D veterans, and while that was true once, it isn’t anymore! The FDA updated its guidance in 2020, and blood banks, including the ARC, have dropped that lifetime deferral. Past bovine insulin use is no longer a reason you can’t donate.

Whatever your circumstances, never stop taking prescribed medication just to qualify to donate blood. Always consult your HCP if you’re unsure what’s safe for you or whether you’re eligible to donate blood.

If you have diabetes complications, can you still donate blood?

Having diabetes complications doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but it’s wise to check with your HCP first. The most significant eye problem caused by diabetes is retinopathy. If you have diabetes retinopathy, giving blood briefly lowers blood pressure and blood flow to the eye. If you have advanced retinopathy or another serious complication, talk with your provider.serious diabetes complication, tell your HCP before you sit in the chair. 

Donating blood can impact your next A1C

Before your next blood donation at the lab, it is important to note that donating blood accelerates the production of new red blood cells in your body. The A1C test measures the amount of sugar that has adhered to these cells over their lifespan, which is typically three to four months. 

After donating blood, your body builds new red blood cells faster. Because the A1C test measures sugar stuck to red cells over their lifespan (about three months), your next test reading reflects a slightly younger population of cells and may read a little lower than your true average blood sugar.. This doesn’t mean you should avoid donating blood. However, it is worth mentioning to your doctor that your next A1C might be marginally lower than your true average blood sugar if the result appears unexpectedly good. 

How to prep before you donate

A few small things make donation day go more smoothly for people with or without diabetes.

Use these tips to prepare for your blood draw safely:

• Confirm your personal blood sugar target with your HCP.
• Keep taking all prescribed medicines.
• Confirm how long you have to wait before donating if you take warfarin. 
  • Eat a normal meal beforehand: ideally an iron-rich food, like spinach or greens, red meat, poultry, shellfish, grains, seeds and nuts.
    
  • Stay hydrated: water, not just coffee. Caffeine is dehydrating—nothing replaces water.
    
  • Bring your ID and a list of your current medications: this is for your safety and the clinic’s tracking purposes.
    
  • Mention your diabetes to the staff when you check in: even though it’s rarely an issue, it’s good they know in case you need assistance or something feels off during the blood donation.
    
  • Keep your meter, CGM or fast-acting glucose within reach afterward: these should never be too far away so you or someone else can stay in the know on your levels throughout the blood draw.
• Mention that you recently donated blood at your next A1C test. 

Donating blood with diabetes is possible

Most people with diabetes (PWD) can safely donate blood. Much of what disqualifies people from donating blood has nothing to do with diabetes itself. If you’re still unsure, reach out to your local blood bank or contact the ARC directly for the clarity you need.

Before you: 

• Confirm your personal blood sugar target with your provider. 
• Keep taking all prescribed medicines. 
• Check waiting times if you take warfarin. 
• Eat iron-rich foods and drink water before donating. 
• Tell staff you have diabetes, and keep glucose supplies close. 
• Mention a recent donation before any A1c test. 

According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), blood transfusions save more than 4.5 million lives in the U.S. each year. They report that 1 in 5 people admitted to the hospital will need blood. You could be part of what saves someone’s life! If you feel called to donate, don’t let diabetes stop you. In most cases, it doesn’t have to.

If you want to talk to people who have been through it, including feeling nervous before the first donation, join our Community Apps!