Diabetes: Misdiagnosis – Consult the legal experts

Sponsored content

Paul Lowry, head of personal injury, Paul Crowley & Co

According to Diabetes UK, diabetes diagnoses have doubled in the last 15 years – with almost 4.1 million people living with the condition in 2021 and many more still to be diagnosed

Getting an early diagnosis is vital but unfortunately, health professionals can sometimes miss the warning signs or misread symptoms. This can lead to life-changing health complications such as loss of sight, heart attacks and nerve damage which if left untreated can lead to limb amputation.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition where your blood glucose levels are too high as a result of your body struggling to produce insulin. There are two main types:

• Type 1 diabetes – Your body doesn’t produce any insulin
• Type 2 diabetes – You don’t produce enough insulin or the insulin you produce doesn’t work properly

Common diabetes symptoms include feeling tired and hungry, weight loss, dry skin, and injuries such as cuts taking longer than usual to heal.

Why is early diagnosis important?

If diabetes is not diagnosed and properly managed, your blood glucose levels will be too high and this can lead to complications such as:

• Heart attacks or strokes
• Diabetic nephropathy or kidney disease
• Diabetic retinopathy (which could lead to loss of sight)
• Amputations due to infections or nerve damage
• Gum disease
• Higher risk of certain types of cancer
• Sexual problems in men and women
• Increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (if you have Type 2 diabetes)

If you have suffered any of these complications after a medical professional has failed to recognise the symptoms of diabetes, you may be eligible for compensation.

How can I claim compensation?

There is generally a three-year limitation period before which a claim must be made. In order to make a claim for medical negligence, you need to prove that the person had a duty of care towards you. All medical professionals such as doctors or nurses will have a duty of care towards their patients, however, you will also need to prove that the doctor breached this duty of care by failing to correctly diagnose your condition.

You also need to prove that this breach of duty caused the pain and suffering you endured. In order to prove the medical care you received was the cause of your injuries, it’s important to start collecting as much evidence as you can to support your claim, such as:

• Letters and emails from health professionals
• A written log with details of your symptoms
• Photos of injuries
• Proof of any financial losses incurred such as travel receipts or loss of earnings

How much is my claim worth?

It is important when making a claim for a medical negligence injury that you receive the correct legal advice, as it can be difficult to estimate the worth of a medical negligence case. The compensation available will depend on your individual circumstances.

If you have suffered because of a delay or failure to diagnose you with diabetes or have had diabetes-like symptoms and have been misdiagnosed as a result, you could be eligible to make a claim for compensation for your losses.

At Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors, our friendly team of medical negligence lawyers will work with you to assess what your claim could be worth and will advise and guide you throughout the legal process to ensure you receive the outcome you deserve.

100% No Win, No Fee

At Paul Crowley & Co we offer a no-win, no-fee agreement, giving you complete peace of mind, if you don’t win… we’re confident you will, and you won’t have to pay a penny. PAUL CROWLEY & CO… ON YOUR SIDE

Related posts:

Personal injury claims – Consult the legal experts First-time buyers risk missing out on free cash bonus The myth of common law marriage: Get the facts from Paul Crowley & Co Bought a car on finance? Paul Crowley & Co explains why you could be entitled to compensation Accidents in the workplace? Consult the legal experts Looking to buy a property? Consult the legal experts