— Annette, New Jersey How wonderful it is that you are thinking about donating blood or an organ. It is a constant struggle for the blood banks and transplant centers to maintain an adequate supply. The answer to your question is not the same for both organ and blood donation, so I will first address blood donation. Yes, you can donate blood, if you meet the following criteria:
Your sugar level is controlled.You are in good health.Your blood pressure is below 180/100.You are not anemic (low red blood cells).
The blood banks usually check for donor eligibility through a series of other questions and tests, so keep in mind that you might still be disqualified. For example, if you have received bovine (beef) insulin since 1980, you may not be eligible to donate. That’s because some bovine insulin was made from cattle in the United Kingdom and might carry Creutzfeldt-Jakob (or “mad cow”) disease. If you are eligible to donate, make sure you have an adequate meal, drink extra fluids to replace the volume being removed, and stay away from caffeinated beverages on the day of your donation. Around that date, it’s important to eat iron-rich foods (such as spinach, kale, and lean red meat). And as always, stay away from fatty foods, which might affect some of the tests done to determine eligibility. Regarding organ donation, let me give you some general information. There are various organs and tissues in the human body that can be transplanted to save lives or cure illnesses. The heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver, and intestines can be donated. Besides organs, we can donate tissues such as skin, cartilage, tendons, corneas, veins, and heart valves. Q. 2 What can I do to help with the healing of cuts? I have type 2 diabetes and it seems to take forever for any wounds to heal. — Sally, New York You raise an important issue. Wounds are more difficult to heal in people with diabetes for various reasons: Wounds are infected quite easily; blood circulation to the wound might be poor; some diabetics might have nutritional deficits; and often wounds are managed poorly. More importantly, having high glucose levels causes poor immune response and makes the cell walls become rigid. As a result, the flow of much-needed oxygen and nutrients is impaired. Feet in particular are more vulnerable to wounds that heal poorly, especially among diabetics who have lost sensation due to nerve damage. My first recommendation is to examine your hands, feet, and other vulnerable areas such as insulin injection sites daily for any sign of early skin breaks. Second, if you have identified worrisome areas, seek immediate medical attention. A callus or scrape on your feet, and especially any sign of infection in the toe webs (the connective skin between your toes) should be taken care of early by a foot specialist or your doctor. This is a very important step to prevent the development of ulcers or a skin infection called cellulitis. Third, if you have a skin break on your feet, try to stay off your feet. If you have a wound anywhere else, prevent pressure that will further compromise blood circulation. Fourth, always maintain adequate nutrition and hydration. Fifth, and most importantly, maintain a close-to-normal glucose level. Once you have an ulcer, close follow-up with your doctor or a wound specialist is important. You might need to apply an antibiotic ointment or take an antibiotic pill if the wound is infected. Also, the wound should be kept moist. Finally, your doctor might prescribe other agents that are applied to the wound to speed up healing. The donation of an organ can be life saving for many people in need, and tissue transplantation can give them a chance to see, walk, or otherwise have a second chance at life. One can be a living donor or donate after death. Live donors, for example, can give a kidney or a part of their liver. Diabetics are excluded from being living donors, though. Here’s why: Diabetes impacts the kidneys, the pancreas, and other organs, and the procedure exposes the donor to surgical risks. However, you are eligible to donate your organs after death. This is because each organ is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and many parts of the body not affected by diabetes can be used to sustain life. Q. 3 I’ve just read about how you can get false readings at high altitudes. I’ve been a type 2 diabetic for more than three years now and do keep my A1C at a very good level, and I’m well within my weight range. I’ve lived at a high altitude over seven years now and would hope that I’m getting the proper reading. Is it true that altitude can affect your readings? — Joan, Colorado Yes, it is true, and you are right to be concerned about the accuracy of your glucose meter readings. Self-monitoring of blood glucose is a very important aspect of managing your diabetes. You should know that the performance of the device you use is affected by a number of factors: altitude, humidity, temperature, oxygen saturation of blood, low atmospheric pressure, and a change in red blood cell count, as well as errors by the user. Some devices underestimate or overestimate the sugar level. Others have been shown to give accurate measurements at high-altitude places similar to Penrose, located at or above 6,000 feet. You have been using your glucose meter for the last three years and have maintained good control. This probably means the device is giving you accurate or very close to accurate readings, or you have found the correlation between the glucometer readings and your hemoglobin A1C levels. The manufacturers of the devices can give you performance-related information on the specific glucometer you are currently using. In general, the difference in performance at high altitudes for many of the devices is small and not detrimental. However, if you find a discrepancy between your glucometer readings and your hemoglobin A1C values, then you must start troubleshooting and consider that a possible cause for the discrepancy may be high altitude. Try the printable Diabetes Glucose Log (PDF) right here on Everyday Health if you need help keeping track of your values. Q. 4 There is a history of diabetes in my family, and I’ve been worried about getting it. Now my older sister just got diagnosed, and I feel it’s hit my generation for the first time. I’m a little overweight but not too much, and I try to watch what I eat. Is there a specific diet I should try to follow so that I don’t end up getting diabetes, too? — Susan, New York Congratulations! First, you recognize the predisposition you carry to the disease. Second, you are motivated to beat the odds. The good news is that there is something you can do to prevent diabetes. Two recent large studies have found that healthy habits can stave off diabetes among those who are at risk. These habits include eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight. Of course, I understand if your eyes are glazing over, since this is the same mantra for everything from improving skin health to reducing the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. But seriously, a healthful diet should accomplish several things: There are many registered dietitians who can help design a plan for you. The specific composition of a diet that meets your body’s needs depends on your age, current health condition, and health risks, including diabetes. But simply put, if you make sure that every meal contains a variety of sources of vitamins and minerals, two of your meals contain one source of protein, and you use olive or canola oil (in lieu of animal fat), you should be able to meet most of your needs. A quick way to ensure that you are consuming all that your body needs is to make your plate as colorful as you can. The colors of vegetables and fruits are an indication of the different vitamins they contain. You should also think outside the box when it comes to protein sources, which should include not only animal products such as meat, chicken, fish, cheese, milk, and eggs but also plant-based products such as soybeans/tofu, nuts, and legumes. Generally, the more plant-based protein sources you ingest, the fewer calories you consume. While you concentrate on including vitamins, minerals, and proteins in your diet, you mustn’t forget that carbohydrates matter. We need carbohydrates as energy sources, and whole grains as a source of various vitamins and fiber. There are two categories of carbohydrates: simple and complex. If you remember anything, remember this: Avoid simple carbohydrates such as white bread, white-flour pasta, cakes, candy, and table sugar. Instead, focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products that contain complex carbohydrates and are a great source of energy. More words to the wise: Don’t forget to pay attention to portion sizes and cooking methods, as both are very important in limiting caloric intake. Again, you must determine the amount of energy you need to reach your ideal body weight and adjust your caloric intake accordingly. A registered dietitian can help, but the rule of thumb is that regular exercise is key to maintaining weight loss and reducing sugar levels. I know I have given you a general guide instead of a specific diet, in the hope that you can craft a plan that meets your particular needs, and one that you can maintain over the course of your life. Diabetes risk is a lifelong risk, and the changes you make in your diet and exercise plan should be long-term behavioral adaptations. Remember — an overall healthy diet, good weight maintenance, and regular exercise are key in reducing the odds of developing diabetes. Learn more in the Everyday Health Type 2 Diabetes Center.
