beef insulin/donating blood

[trajan27]

I am a 25 year diabetic (type I) who recently tried to give blood.   I was given an "indefinite deferral letter" by the red cross because i used insulin made from beef products manufactured by squibb/novo.   apparantly I can't give blood til i convince them that none of the beef came from the british isles due to the possibility of mad cow disease.

I believe that in the period in question (late 1980's, early 1990's) the beef came from american stockyards, where the big producers were located.

can anyone help?

[tiredmama5]

I tried to give blood about two or three years ago and i was told i couldnt give blood due to living in germany. i was born there in 1982 my dad was in the army i lived there til 1987. any way because of this i cant give blood, i might carry mad cows disease?.! What? why wouldnt i be told of this possibilty before? well it ***** but they told me i would never be able to donate blood. So i know how you feel. i even asked since im borderline anemic cant i give blood to store for myself if i need it in the furture so i wont have to use someone elses. so theres more for others..lol... of no to that too...lol

[Dot.Calm]

"I can't give blood til i convince them that none of the beef came from the british isles due to the possibility of mad cow disease. "

Why don't you contact Squibb/Novo and get a letter as to where their cattle came from? Or change to a non-beef by-product insulin.