Some long term health problems and serious illnesses mean we can’t accept you as a donor.
Conditions that stop you giving blood include:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Chronic lung disease (except asthma)
- Some neurological diseases and disorders, including myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and multiple sclerosis
Please get in touch so we can let you know if you are able to give blood.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol
- You can give blood while being treated for high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.
- If your blood pressure medication changes you have to wait at least four weeks before giving blood.
Diabetes
- You can give blood if you have diabetes but do not need insulin treatment.
- Complications caused by diabetes may mean you will be unable to give blood.
- Please make sure you tell your diabetic team if you give blood. This is because blood donation may affect the tests used to monitor diabetic control (HbA1c levels). If possible, it’s best to avoid giving blood in the two months before a routine diabetic review, so your HbA1c levels have not been affected by donation.