Red Cross Finds 1 in 5 Blood Donors Have Elevated Diabetes Risk

Free A1C testing during March aims to catch prediabetes early

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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New data from the American Red Cross shows that one in five blood donors had elevated hemoglobin A1C levels, a sign of prediabetes or diabetes, during the organization's free A1C screening program in 2025. The Red Cross is now expanding the screenings nationwide, turning routine donation trips into potential early warning checks for metabolic risk.

Why it matters

Catching elevated A1C levels at blood drives could become an important way to steer people toward medical evaluation and treatment for prediabetes, which often goes undiagnosed. Early intervention through lifestyle changes has been shown to delay or prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.

The details

The Red Cross findings are based on tests on more than 920,000 donors in 2025, which showed that about 80% of donors with elevated A1C fell into the prediabetes range. The organization is providing free A1C screening on all successful blood, platelet and plasma donations from March 1 through 31, and donors will receive their results within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or online donor portal.

  • The Red Cross testing and screening program ran throughout 2025.
  • The free A1C screenings will be offered from March 1 through 31, 2026.

The players

American Red Cross

A nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid, including collecting and distributing blood and blood products.

Dr. Pampee Young

The chief medical officer of the American Red Cross.

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What they’re saying

“By sharing personalized health insights, we're empowering people who come in to save someone else's life to also potentially save their own.”

— Dr. Pampee Young, Chief Medical Officer, American Red Cross (American Red Cross)

What’s next

Anyone who receives an elevated A1C result from the Red Cross screening is urged to follow up with a primary care provider for confirmatory testing and guidance on next steps.

The takeaway

The Red Cross initiative highlights the potential for blood drives to serve as an important early detection point for prediabetes, which often goes undiagnosed. By making free A1C testing widely available, the organization aims to empower donors to take proactive steps to address their metabolic health.