Blood donation may double as diabetes treatment, study suggests
NCT ID NCT03696797
First seen Jun 14, 2026 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested whether regularly donating blood to lower iron levels can improve blood sugar control and reduce fatty liver in people with prediabetes or diabetes. 132 adults aged 40-75 were assigned to either donate blood or a control group. Researchers measured changes in blood sugar (HbA1c) and liver enzymes over 6 to 12 months.
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-2100, United States
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Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
blood donation (phlebotomy)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a simple, low-cost way to improve blood sugar control and liver health in people with diabetes and fatty liver disease.
What could go wrong
This is a completed trial with 132 participants, so results are limited in size. The intervention (blood donation) may not be effective for everyone and carries minor risks like dizziness or bruising.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.