What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a life-long condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. As we consume food and drink, it is broken down into sugar (or glucose) that then enters our bloodstream. The pancreas then produces insulin, which helps to regulate how much sugar remains in our blood by converting it into energy.

People who suffer from diabetes do not produce enough insulin or are unable to use the insulin produced by their bodies. This results in blood sugar levels rising, which can cause serious problems if not addressed properly.

According to Diabetes UK, over 4.3 million people in the UK currently live with diabetes – and it’s estimated a further 850,000 people could be undiagnosed.

What are the different types of diabetes?

There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes: this is a rarer form of diabetes and is classed as an auto-immune condition, as the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells responsible for producing insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes: far more common and accounting for 90% of all diabetes diagnoses in adults, this is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body is unable to use them correctly

Due to the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, there can be quite a difference in the way they are treated. Those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, for example, will require insulin injections for the rest of their lives to manage the condition.

For those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, however, the condition may be able to be managed through a healthy diet, exercise and regular monitoring. It can get worse over time, and some people will require medication to help manage their symptoms.

What is a diabetes misdiagnosis claim?

It’s important that anyone presenting with the symptoms of diabetes to be provided with the appropriate care, from testing and examinations, through to monitoring and treatment. Where this doesn’t happen, and you or a loved one has suffered as a result, you could be entitled to compensation.

What constitutes diabetes misdiagnosis or negligence?

The impact that diabetes can have on a person’s quality of life is significant. Day-to-day symptoms can include things like feeling excessively thirsty, exhaustion, frequent urination, weight and muscle loss and blurred vision. Undiagnosed and untreated diabetes can cause a number of different complications, including heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss, circulatory issues and amputations, to name just a few. It is vital that those suffering from diabetes receive the correct level of care to ensure they are not put at risk of developing further issues, and to ensure they are able to manage their condition effectively.

Unfortunately, there are times when medical professionals make mistakes, such mistakes may include:

• A failure to identify the symptoms of diabetes and perform the necessary tests and examinations
• Incorrectly interpreting the result of tests, resulting in missed opportunities to provide treatment
• Misdiagnosing diabetes as another condition, including misdiagnosing diabetes as the wrong type, meaning no treatment or the incorrect treatment is prescribed instead

If you or someone you love has suffered avoidable harm as a result of negligent diabetes treatment, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Can I make a diabetes claim?

To bring a successful diabetes claim, you’ll need to be able to prove that medical professionals responsible for your care acted negligently and breached their duty of care, and that this subsequently caused you avoidable harm. Our expert diabetes lawyers can help you collect all the evidence you need to support your case, including medical records, independent expert opinion, and witness statements.

What can be included as part of a diabetes claim?

For some, it can be difficult to consider making a compensation claim, especially if your illness or condition has been made worse. While compensation cannot undo the damage that has been done, it can help to provide the financial support you and your family need.

When you submit a diabetes claim, a number of different areas will be taken into consideration when determining how much compensation you should be awarded. For example, these could include:

• The severity of the illness or pain you’ve suffered as a result of medical negligence
• Any financial loss you’ve suffered because of your illness. For example, you may have had to take time out of work or pay for additional treatments and equipment around your home
• How likely it is that you will make a full recovery from any injuries caused by the medical negligence
• The impact on your emotional and mental wellbeing (including any hobbies or social activities you may have missed out on)
• The impact on your family and loved ones

Why should I choose Slater and Gordon’s diabetes lawyers?

At Slater and Gordon, our diabetes lawyers have many years’ experience in handling diabetes claims, from the straightforward to the complex, and work hard to ensure our clients not only achieve the best financial outcome, but can rest easy throughout the process knowing everything is well taken care of.

Our industry-leading team are consistently ranked highly in independent legal directories, such as Chambers and Partners, and the Legal 500, and are proud to have helped numerous clients achieve the compensation they deserve.

Our team members also include trained nurses and medical professionals who provide us with expert in-house knowledge and work collaboratively with our lawyers. This results in an excellent team that can be relied upon to investigate a medical negligence claim correctly and effectively. This means our clients can focus on their recovery with some of the best care available, while we handle their claim.