Diabetes Misdiagnosis Compensation

Claim For The Misdiagnosis Of Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious condition suffered by people whose blood glucose level is too high. We all need some glucose; it is crucial in breaking down carbohydrates to release the fuel we need to survive. However, glucose cannot be broken down into the bloodstream without the help of insulin, which is made by the pancreas.

With Type 1 Diabetes the body is unable to produce any insulin at all, whereas in Type 2 the insulin your body makes is unable to work properly, or your body simply cannot create enough of it. Symptoms of both types include frequent urination and a high thirst, weight loss, increased infections and slow-healing of wounds. Over a long period of time high glucose levels in the bloodstream can lead to serious damage to the kidneys, heart, eyes and feet. Type 1 diabetes affects around 10% of sufferers, while Type 2 affects around 90% and is commonly caused by lifestyle issues such as diet, lack of exercise and smoking.

In most cases diabetes can be identified from the common symptoms, but it is important to remember that the only way to get an accurate diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes is to test for diabetes-related antibodies. In many cases the symptoms for Type 2 look very similar to those for Type 1, but if appropriate tests are performed it should be apparent to the medical team which version of the disease the patient is suffering from.
Diagnosing the wrong type of the condition can have very serious effects as the drugs that work for one type can aggravate the other. It can also lead to a delay in treatment that can cause symptoms to worsen and quality of life to become reduced.
Some of the complications involved when diabetes is misdiagnosed or if the diagnosis is missed or delayed include cardiovascular disease, retinopathy (trouble with the eyes), neuropathy (damage to the limbs) and nephropathy (damage to the kidneys).
Cases of misdiagnosis are all different and so it is difficult to say how much compensation you might receive, but depending on the severity of the outcome of the misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis the pay-out could be substantial. In one recent case a woman whose diabetes was left undiagnosed for 6 years received nearly £30,000 in compensation.

If you or some you care for has suffered as a result of a missed diabetes diagnosis, or a misdiagnosis, you too could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Contact our highly experienced team of solicitors today to talk through your case and see how we can get you the pay-out you and your family deserve.