According to Diabetes UK, cases of diabetes diagnoses have doubled in the last 15 years, with 4.3 million people in 2023 now living with a diagnosis of diabetes, with many more still to be diagnosed.
Getting an early diagnosis is vital but unfortunately sometimes health professionals miss the warning signs or misread diabetes 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’s glucose levels are too high as a result of your body struggling to produce insulin.
There are 2 main types:
Type 1 diabetes is where your body doesn’t produce insulin at all
Type 2 diabetes is where you don’t produce enough insulin, or the insulin you produce doesn’t work properly.
Common diabetes symptoms include feeling tired and hungry, losing weight, dry skin, and injuries such as cuts taking longer than normal 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.
Paul says: “It is important that you receive the correct legal advice when making a claim for a medical negligence injury, as the compensation available will depend on your individual circumstances. At Paul Crowley & Co, we understand the problems that a misdiagnosis can cause, call our medical negligence legal team and we will advise you on your best course of action”.
Paul Lowry, Director
Paul Crowley & Co solicitors
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 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 the 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 the compensation available will depend on your individual circumstances, it can be difficult to estimate the worth of a clinical negligence case.
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 clinical negligence lawyers will work with you to assess what your claim could be worth and will advise you throughout the legal process to ensure you receive the outcome you deserve.
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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, you won’t have to pay a penny.
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