Can I donate a kidney if I have diabetes?

If you have diabetes, you might be wondering whether you can still donate a kidney. Living kidney donation is an incredible gift that can save or transform someone’s life, but the safety of the donor is always a priority.

Diabetes can affect your eligibility to donate because it increases the risk of kidney and heart problems in the future. If you have diabetes, doctors will look very closely at your long-term health before making a decision. This page explains why diabetes often means you cannot donate, what the NHS guidelines say, and what the assessment process involves.

Why Diabetes Often Excludes You from Donating 

Diabetes is a condition that can damage small blood vessels in the body over time, including those in the kidneys and heart. This increases the chance of developing kidney disease or heart disease later in life. 

If you donate a kidney, your remaining kidney has to do all the work. If it becomes damaged in the future – for example, because of diabetes – your health could be seriously affected. For this reason, most transplant centres will not accept people with diabetes as living donors. 

This is not a reflection on how well you manage your diabetes – even people with good control can still face long-term risks. The decision is made to protect your future health above all else. 

What the NHS Says About Donating a Kidney If You Have Diabetes 

According to NHS guidance, people with diabetes are generally not eligible to be living kidney donors. This is the standard approach at all transplant centres across the UK. 

There may be very rare situations where someone with diabetes is considered for donation. In these cases, your doctors will carefully review your health, medical history, and how well your diabetes is managed. They will also look at your risk of developing kidney or heart disease in the years to come. 

Even if you’re considered, the process will be detailed and cautious. The main aim is to make sure donation will not harm your health now or in the future. 

The Medical Assessment for Potential Donors With Diabetes 

If you have diabetes and are being assessed for living kidney donation, you will need to go through a series of medical checks. These are likely to include: 

• Blood and urine tests to check how well your kidneys are working now 

• Blood pressure monitoring over a period of time to make sure it’s within a healthy range 

• Heart health checks, which could include an ECG or other scans 

• A review of your diabetes management, including recent blood sugar results 

• A detailed medical history to understand your overall health and any other conditions 

These tests help the transplant team decide whether donation would be safe for you both now and in the years ahead. 

What If You’re at Risk of Developing Diabetes? 

Even if you don’t currently have diabetes, you might be at a higher risk of developing it in the future. This is important because doctors want to be sure that donation won’t put your long-term health at risk in any way. 

You may be considered at higher risk if you: 

• Have a close family member with diabetes 

• Are overweight or have obesity 

• Had gestational diabetes during pregnancy 

If you’re in one of these higher-risk groups, you will likely have extra tests during the assessment process. These can help show whether it’s safe for you to donate and whether you might be at risk of kidney or heart problems later in life. 

Alternatives If You Can’t Donate Due to Diabetes 

If you find out that you cannot donate a kidney because of diabetes, it doesn’t mean you cannot make a difference. There are many other ways to help kidney patients and raise awareness about the need for donors. 

You could: 

• Raise awareness – Talk to friends, family, and your community about kidney donation and encourage others to consider becoming donors. 

• Learn more – Learn why we need more living kidney donors, and the importance of kidney health, to help you to have valuable conversations with others about kidneys and how important they are for our health. 

• Follow us – Raising awareness can be as simple as following us on social media and liking or sharing our posts. 

• Share personal stories – Real-life experiences can inspire others to explore living donation. 

Every action you take can help bring attention to the need for more donors and improve the lives of people living with kidney disease. 

Key Takeaway 

Having diabetes often means you cannot donate a kidney because of the extra health risks it brings. While there may be rare exceptions, the NHS and transplant centres focus on keeping donors safe and healthy for the rest of their lives. 

If you’re interested in helping kidney patients but cannot donate, there are still many valuable ways to offer your support. By raising awareness, volunteering, or fundraising, you can play an important part in improving lives and supporting the NHS.