Diabetes Misdiagnosis Claims

Statistics gathered by Diabetes UK reveal that the number of people diagnosed with diabetes is continuing to rise and that the number of diabetes-related amputations has now reached the staggering figure of 20 a day. When well managed, diabetics can lead a relatively normal life as the condition is well understood and easy to treat.

The problems occur when a patient is not diagnosed, wrongly diagnosed, not given the right amount of support or given the wrong treatment. Diabetes UK’s research suggests that 4 out 5 of the amputations referred to above, could be avoided as 80% of diabetic amputations start life as ulcers, which are largely avoidable or more treatable if found earlier.

Not Diagnosed

Failing to refer a patient for tests or to a specialist doctor or nurse when they have displayed possible symptoms of diabetes can lead to further complications.

Common signs of diabetes include:

• Urinating more frequently
• Feeling very thirsty
• Tiredness
• Weight loss
• Cuts or wounds that take longer to heal

Misdiagnosis

Diagnosing a patient with the wrong type of diabetes can cause serious injury. For example, diagnosing a patient as type 1 when they are type 2 will result in the patient injecting insulin when it is not needed. This can cause the patient to go hypoglycaemic.

Diagnosis of something else could lead to a patient’s blood sugar levels going far too high through not having insulin. This can cause blindness and other problems.

Lack of Support

Learning to live with diabetes takes some getting used to and patients will require a lot of training and support while they get used to being diabetic. Failure to offer this can cause a patient to become very ill.