What If You Get Turned Down For Some Reason To Donate Blood With Diabetes
If you are unable to give blood when you have diabetes, whether due to unmanaged blood sugars, or complications of diabetes, you can still help by donating money to the Red Cross. Your donation will help the Red Cross with providing supplies for blood donation banks, providing support to families in crisis who are in need, and helping to educate people on lifesaving techniques. There are many things that the Red Cross does to help others. Your donation will help them fulfill their mission. 4
Testing For Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes
If diabetes is confirmed by the results of a blood test the type of diabetes you have is usually determined by factors like weight , age at diagnosis, family history and how quickly any symptoms came on.
The test results can also indicate if you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes even if you dont have it now.
If youre being tested for type 1 diabetes then further blood tests can check your blood ketone levels. Following this you may be sent to hospital for further assessment.
What Are The Types Of Diabetes
Diabetes refers to a collection of diseases in which the human body has some sort of issue with insulin. In some instances of diabetes, the body doesnt make enough of the crucial hormone whereas, in other situations, the body cant appropriately use whatever insulin is created. In other cases, a combination of both occurs. Each of these situations inhibits the body from drawing sugar out of the bloodstream and distributing it to the cells. This results in high blood sugar levels that require medical attention and management.
We draw a majority of our energy from glucose, which is found in the bloodstream. Insulin helps manage this and, when unavailable, sugar continues to build up in the bloodstream, creating a wide variety of health problems and issues.
You May Like: Can You Control Diabetes With Diet And Exercise
If You Ignore The Signs Of Diabetes
Its hard to ignore the signs of type 1 diabetes because symptoms can often appear quite quickly. But leaving it untreated can lead to serious health problems, including diabetic ketoacidosis, which can result in a potentially fatal coma.
Although the majority of people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed in childhood and early adulthood, the symptoms are the same at any age. Adults with type 1 diabetes may not recognise their diabetes symptoms as quickly as children, which could mean their diagnosis and treatment may be delayed.
Type 2 diabetes can be easier to miss as it develops more slowly, especially in the early stages when it can be harder to spot the symptoms. But untreated diabetes affects many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Being diagnosed early and managing your blood sugar levels can help prevent these complications. Use our Know Your Risk tool to check your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Who Should Be Tested For Diabetes
Anyone who has symptoms of diabetes should be tested for the disease. Some people will not have any symptoms but may have risk factors for diabetes and need to be tested. Testing allows health care professionals to find diabetes sooner and work with their patients to manage diabetes and prevent complications.
Testing also allows health care professionals to find prediabetes. Making lifestyle changes to lose a modest amount of weight if you are overweight may help you delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Treat Diabetic Sores
Youre Packing Extra Pounds
Carrying around excess fat, especially in your middle, raises the chance youll become resistant to insulin, which is a major risk factor for developing diabetes. Being overweight puts stress on your pancreas to produce enough insulin and it makes it harder for the insulin you produce to do its job, says Halprin. When your belly is the main site of your weight gain, it means you have fat around your organs, which can also nudge you closer to the diabetes danger zone.
One smart way to trim belly fat: Eat more vegetables. You can use the plate method, where half your plate is filled with vegetables, a fourth is protein, and a fourth is a whole-grain starch, says Halprin.
How Is Diabetes Treated
Diabetes can be treated in several ways. Diet, physical activity, and careful monitoring are important if you have diabetes, no matter which type of diabetes you have.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to take insulin for the rest of your life. Thats because your pancreas doesnt produce the insulin your body needs.
If you have type 2 diabetes, it may be possible to control your diabetes with lifestyle changes, such as diet, weight loss, and exercise. You may also need to take oral or injectable medications, including insulin or metformin, to manage your blood sugar levels.
If you have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, youll need to carefully track your diet to prevent your blood sugar levels from getting too high. This generally means watching your carbohydrate intake as well as limiting over-processed, low fiber foods, such as:
- sugary sodas
- fruit-flavored yogurt
- flavored coffee drinks
Your doctor will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan to help you control your blood sugar levels.
Recommended Reading: Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms In Adults
Why Would Diabetes Affect Life Insurance
People with chronic illnesses, like diabetes, are often concerned that their disease will stop them from getting life insurance. Why? Because these health issues can increase risk for the provider. And while that’s true, it doesnt mean getting life insurance is impossible.Around 6 in 10 Americans have a chronic disease. If chronic illness = disqualification, then 60% of people would be without life insurance. Luckily, thats not the case.CDC statistics show more than 30 million people have diabetes. Thats nearly 10% percent of the population. Yet many of these people are able to find life insurance.
How Can I Prepare For Donating Blood
Before you decide to donate blood, there are a few ways you can prepare to make sure your donation is successful. You should:
- Drink plenty of water leading up to the donation. You should increase your water intake a few days before your scheduled donation.
- Eat iron-rich foods or take an iron supplement one to two weeks before the donation.
- Sleep well the night before your donation. Plan on getting eight or more hours of sleep.
- Eat balanced meals leading up to your donation and afterward. This is especially important when you have diabetes. Maintaining a healthy diet that keeps your blood glucose levels low is key to having control of your condition.
- Limit caffeine on donation day.
- Bring a list of the medications you are currently taking.
- Carry identification with you, such as your drivers license or two other forms of identification.
After the donation, you should monitor your blood sugar level and continue to eat a healthy diet. Consider adding iron-rich foods or a supplement to your diet for 24 weeks following your donation.
In general, you should:
- Take acetaminophen if your arm feels sore.
- Keep your bandage on for at least four hours to avoid bruising.
- Rest if you feel lightheaded.
- Avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours after the donation. This includes exercise as well as other tasks.
- Increase your fluid intake for a few days following your donation.
If you feel sick or are concerned about your health after the blood donation, contact your doctor immediately.
Read Also: Can We Cure Type 2 Diabetes
Do I Have Hyperinsulinemia
Guest over a year ago
How does a person know if they have hyperinsulinemia? I think I may be diabetic but I am afraid to go to the doctor. I hate to have my blood drawn and I know that is what they will do to find out if I am diabetic. I really don’t want to find out I am diabetic either. I do and I don’t. I will follow a diabetic diet if it means I will get better. I have been feeling very fatigued lately. I drink water, pop, juice… you name it…. all the time. I just also feel thirsty. I also want to pee a lot during the day and night. I brush my teeth and I gargled because I have a funny taste in my mouth. I chew gum a lot to help it too. My eyes seem to get more blurry at times, which leads me to believe that I have hyperinsulinemia. I am very frightened about it. I just want to wish it all away. So do you think with all of my symptoms that I should go to the doctor anyway?
Loading…
ybanks522310520 over a year ago
Loading…
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
The OGTT measures blood glucose after you fast for at least 8 hours. First, a health care professional will draw your blood. Then you will drink the liquid containing glucose. For diagnosing gestational diabetes, you will need your blood drawn every hour for 2 to 3 hours.
High blood glucose levels at any two or more blood test times during the OGTTfasting, 1 hour, 2 hours, or 3 hoursmean you have gestational diabetes. Your health care team will explain what your OGTT results mean.
Health care professionals also can use the OGTT to diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in people who are not pregnant. The OGTT helps health care professionals detect type 2 diabetes and prediabetes better than the FPG test. However, the OGTT is a more expensive test and is not as easy to give. To diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, a health care professional will need to draw your blood 1 hour after you drink the liquid containing glucose and again after 2 hours.
Also Check: Why Do Diabetics Legs Swell
How Much Can You Receive From The Disability Tax Credit:
If approved for the DTC for diabetes, you can receive one or more tax refunds, depending on how long you have lived with the condition. To find out how much you can stand to receive from the DTC, use our highly accurate Disability Tax Credit Calculator. However, to give a rough estimation, here is how much you could earn from the DTC:
The Disability Tax Credit consists of a Federal portion and a Provincial portion. The Federal portion is the same across Canada, while the Provincial portion is different in each Province.
If found eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, you could receive:
- Annual refund If found eligible, you can claim a refund annually when you prepare your taxes. An adult can receive around $1,500-$2,000 per year, while a childs caregiver can receive up to $4,000 per year.
- Retroactive One-time Refund If youve been living with diabetes for years before your approval for the DTC, the CRA will evaluate your application to see when your symptoms started. If applicable for prior years, you could receive a one-time lump sum payment for up to the past ten years. If you or your supporter have been paying federal taxes during those years, you will receive up to $20,000, or up to $40,000 youre under 18.
FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TORECEIVE THE DISABILITY TAX CREDIT!
Importance Of Early Diagnosis
An early diagnosis may help prevent complications.
Recognizing the early signs of type 2 diabetes can allow a person to get a diagnosis and treatment sooner. Getting appropriate treatment, making lifestyle changes, and controlling blood sugar levels can greatly improve a persons health and quality of life and reduce the risk of complications.
Without treatment, persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to severe and sometimes life-threatening complications, including:
Don’t Miss: When Does Type 2 Diabetes Need Insulin
When To See A Dermatologist
Diabetes can cause many other skin problems. Most skin problems are harmless, but even a minor one can become serious in people who have diabetes. A board-certified dermatologist can recognize skin problems due to diabetes and help you manage them.
Are all dermatologists board certified?
No. See what it takes to become board certified.
ImagesImage 1: Image Courtesy of Clark C. Otley, MD. All Rights Reserved
Images 3, 7, 8, 9: Used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.
Image 2 from DermNetNZ
Some images used with permission of Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
ReferencesCohen Sabban, EN. Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus from A to Z. Focus session presented at: 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology March 4-8, 2016 Washington D.C.
Duff M, Demidova O, et al. Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus. Clinical Diabetes. 2015 33:40-8.
Kalus AA, Chien AJ, et al. Diabetes mellitus and other endocrine disorders. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008:1461-70.
McKinley-Grant L, Warnick M, et al. Cutaneous manifestations of systemic disease. In: Kelly AP and Taylor S. Dermatology for Skin of Color. . The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. China, 2009:481-4.
Morgan AJ and Schwartz RA. Diabetic dermopathy: A subtle sign with grave implications. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 58:447-51.
Diet Control And Exercise Workout
Your diet is the key to stabilizing blood sugar levels. Almost every treatment plan for diabetes type 2 stresses upon the importance of dietary changes. This is especially true if youre overweight and need to lose extra weight to help your body respond better to insulin, which will lower blood glucose levels.
For anyone newly diagnosed, heres a summary of the easiest diet recommendation for diabetics:
- A low carbohydrate diet helps prevent blood sugar spikes.
- Eat only heart-healthy fats to keep cholesterol levels in check and also keep cardiovascular disease at bay.
- Choose your grains wisely, opting for the least processed versions that are full of essential fiber as well as some healthy protein.
- Cut down portion sizes, especially if you are overweight. Losing a little weight can go a long way.
- Include more fresh vegetables and some low-sugar fruit into your diet
- Substitute soda with unsweetened low-cal beverages sparkling and infused water can be a great thirst quencher
- Maintain a food diary so you can identify foods that can affect your blood sugar levels negatively. This can be critical, since not everyone reacts to the same foods in the same way.
You May Like: What Foods Help Produce Insulin
How Can I Reduce My Risk
While there are currently no known ways to reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes, there are several lifestyle changes you can adopt to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes:
- Eat healthily: Following a healthy meal plan is the first step in reducing your risk. Be sure to make these foods staples of your diet: fruits, vegetables, plant-based proteins, whole grains, dairy, lean meats, oily fish, nuts and healthy oils.
- Exercise regularly: Maintaining an active lifestyle has an array of health benefits, both physical and mental. If you work at a computer all day, limit the amount of time you spend sitting by standing up and moving around every 20-30 minutes.
- Maintain a healthy bodyweight: If you have prediabetes and are overweight, losing five percent of your bodyweight can delay or even prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.
You Should Be In Good Overall Health Before You Donate Blood With Diabetes
Besides having your blood sugars in control, you should also have other conditions under control. For example, your blood pressure should be less than 180/100 mmHg to give blood, which is higher than 140/90 mmHg that is the recommended blood pressure for people with diabetes. Conversely, if your blood pressure is less than 90/50 mmHg, you wont be able to donate blood.
Besides diabetes, they will also ask you about other conditions, and medications which you may be taking. Diabetes medications generally wont keep you from giving blood in the US, but there is a Red Cross list of other medications that shouldnt be taken if you are donating blood, including blood thinners. The Red Cross representative will screen you for conditions and medications which may affect your ability to donate blood with diabetes and related health conditions.
Another thing to know is that if you plan to donate platelets, you should not take aspirin or blood thinners for several days prior to your donation. 1
Heart disease and donating blood
If you have heart complications from your diabetes, there are some things that you need to know. Heart disease will generally not stop you from donating blood if you have diabetes, but if it has been less than six months since you have had symptoms related to your heart disease, then you may not be able to donate.
Other factors that affect whether you can donate blood
How long does it take to donate blood?
How can I prepare for donating blood?
Don’t Miss: What Are The 4 Types Of Diabetes
You Get A Surprising Number Of Yeast Infections
High blood sugars create an environment in your vagina thats ripe for yeast infections. Glucose is fuel for yeast. The more thats around, the more they can multiply, says Kellis.
If youre having two to three yeast infections every few months or if the standard treatments just arent working, its time to see a doctor. Once blood sugar is controlled, the frequency goes down, says Goundan.
Extremely Dry Itchy Skin
Dry, itchy skin
If you have diabetes, youre more likely to have dry skin. High blood sugar can cause this. If you have a skin infection or poor circulation, these could also contribute to dry, itchy skin.
Take action
- Tell your doctor about your extremely dry skin. Gaining better control of diabetes can reduce dryness.
- If you continue to have dry skin after you gain better control of your diabetes, a dermatologist can help.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Screen For Diabetes