Diabetes Negligence Claims

If you have developed complications from diabetes arising from medical negligence, you may qualify to make a compensation claim. If diabetes is not diagnosed correctly or properly managed, it can lead to serious health problems such as kidney failure, or even require amputation of limbs. 

At JMW our experience in handling diabetes negligence claims means we understand your situation and are well-placed to help you secure the compensation you are owed. We have a strong track record of success in negligent diabetes treatment and diabetic amputation claims, and we can help you claim compensation for the full value of your losses.

We take many cases on a no win, no fee basis. For a free, no-obligation assessment of your case, call JMW on 0345 872 6666 or fill out our online enquiry form and a member of our medical negligence team will call you back.

How JMW Can Help

At JMW, our medical negligence solicitors understand that a diagnosis of diabetes can affect all aspects of your life. We will listen to your story in complete confidence and use the information provided to reach a settlement that will enable you to cope with the avoidable injuries caused by the negligence of a clinician. 

JMW’s medical negligence team is headed by leading solicitors Eddie Jones and Angharad Hughes, and includes members of the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitors panel and the Law Society’s specialist panel for clinical negligence solicitors. We have a strong track record of securing compensation for incorrect treatment of diabetes, missed or delayed diagnosis, or significant risk factors being overlooked.

Whether you have experienced sight loss due to diabetic retinopathy, foot complications or longer-term side effects like cardiovascular disease, we can help you to make a diabetes negligence claim.

Meet Our Team of Diabetes Negligence Compensation Claim Experts

JMW's medical negligence team has a wealth of experience and knowledge in acting for individuals who have faced avoidable harm due to negligent diabetes care. Our strong track record of successful claims attests to our understanding of this complex area of the law.

Am I Entitled to Make a Diabetes Negligence Claim?

There are a number of different negligent actions that can lead to complications from diabetes. Compensation claims are made on the basis that if the negligent treatment had not occurred, harm may have been avoided or a better outcome could have been achieved. As such, there are many different types of negligent treatment that can lead to a claim for compensation:

Delays in diagnosis 

If doctors and nurses do not heed signs and symptoms of diabetes or misdiagnose your illness, this can lead to a delay in diagnosis and the condition going untreated, which can cause significant harm.

Diabetes misdiagnosis

A misdiagnosis can lead to patients receiving the wrong treatment for their condition, which can result in them experiencing unnecessary harm.

Poor treatment or advice on diabetes management

Prompt diagnosis of diabetes is crucial, but proper care and management of the condition can make the difference between remaining healthy and developing serious side effects. Healthcare professionals must offer advice and treatment that allows patients with diabetes to stay safe in order to prevent injury.

Negligent medical care

If someone with diabetes develops complications, such as problems with their feet caused by the blood flow being restricted, medical professionals must provide an acceptable standard of care to avoid irreparable damage. In the most serious cases where symptoms are ignored, a diabetic foot ulcer can result in the need for a lower limb amputation.

Inadequate aftercare

Some diabetic patients require additional support to manage their condition and any complications that have arisen as a result. For example:

• Vulnerable individuals may need regular visits from a district nurse
• Elderly patients in a care home environment will need a high level of care 

If this care is not delivered to a reasonable standard, this can lead to serious health problems and injuries that could have been avoided.

What Diabetes Complications Can Be Caused By Medical Negligence?

Diabetes has two forms, type 1 and type 2, and a person with either type of diabetes needs to carefully manage and control their condition with medication and good care. When there is a failure to manage the diabetes, complications can include:

• Damage to the small vessels in the body 
• Neuropathy 
• Avoidable limb amputation
• Vision loss or complete blindness
• Heart disease
• Nerve damage
• Brain damage
• Death

The number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is rising significantly in the UK. As such, there is a higher risk of facing diabetes negligence by a healthcare or medical professional. If you have experienced problems in your treatment, speak to our team about whether or not you are eligible to make a claim for compensation.

It is important to recognise that these serious side effects are not an inevitable result of diabetes. By adopting healthy eating and exercise habits, people who have type 2 diabetes can dramatically improve their wellbeing and, in some cases, even reverse the condition. In the infographic below, we examine the different ways in which your health can be improved through diet and exercise.

Find out more by clicking the image below:

Q

What are the early symptoms of diabetes?

A

Diabetes is a serious condition that needs to be carefully managed and controlled with medication and good care. However, being aware of the early warning signs and symptoms of diabetes can help you get a head start on seeking the help you need.

The symptoms of the onset of diabetes include:

• Continually feeling very thirsty
• Frequent urination, particularly at night
• Extreme tiredness
• Unexpected and unexplained weight loss (type 1 only)

If you report experiencing any of these symptoms to your doctor, but you do not receive a referral for a blood test or any other follow-up, this could entitle you to make a diabetes medical negligence claim.

You can also find out more about the warning signs of diabetes in our video: 'How much do you know about diabetes?'

Q

What are the potential outcomes of diabetes?

A

With good medical care and medication, diabetes can be controlled safely and those with the condition can lead a normal life. Patients must monitor blood sugar levels and may need to change their diet, take tablets or take regular injections of insulin in order to avoid the harmful effects of diabetes.

Insulin and other medications are designed to limit blood sugar and protect the blood vessels. High blood sugar levels can cause damage to the veins and arteries and, over time, this damage can restrict the blood supply to the limbs. It can also affect the eyes, the heart, and other internal organs, and result in serious problems that include:

• Heart disease
• Limb amputations
• Blindness and vision problems
• Memory problems

In addition, because people with diabetes rely on medication to maintain their blood sugar at a healthy level, any mistakes made with the administration of insulin can cause glucose levels to drop to an unsafe point. This can cause hypoglycaemia (very low blood sugar), which can lead to the person falling into a diabetic coma if not treated promptly. Hypoglycaemia can also cause brain damage and is potentially fatal if not treated with extreme urgency.

Q

What is type 1 diabetes?

A

Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition of the immune system. The immune system exists to protect us from disease or infection, but with autoimmune conditions such as diabetes, the system mistakenly attacks healthy cells.

In the case of type 1 diabetes, the system attacks cells in the pancreas, which is responsible for producing insulin to process blood sugar. It causes damage or even the destruction of those cells, which means that the pancreas cannot produce insulin. In turn, this leads to excess sugar amassing in the blood.

Although researchers have yet to determine what causes type 1 diabetes, it is thought to be hereditary and those with a close family member with the condition are at greater risk.

Q

What is type 2 diabetes?

A

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition where the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin it does produce doesn't work properly. This leads to high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, which can cause serious health problems over time

Far more people are affected by type 2 diabetes than type 1 diabetes. The disease is often associated with obesity and people who are overweight, and is caused by lifestyle factors rather than any underlying hereditary problems. However, there are many more factors than obesity that put people at risk of type 2 diabetes. We explore the various reasons why some people may be more susceptible to the condition, including their family history, ethnicity and age, in our infographic: ‘Who is at risk of type 2 diabetes?'

Q

What is gestational diabetes?

A

Gestational diabetes affects women during pregnancy when unusually high levels of glucose are developed within the blood. The amount of glucose in the blood is usually controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, but during pregnancy your body becomes more resistant to the hormone, so that the extra glucose and other nutrients are able to pass to the unborn baby and help it grow.

To counter this, the body should produce more insulin. However, some people cannot produce the amount of insulin required to ensure the glucose is transported to the body's cells. This is called gestational diabetes.

You are at increased risk of gestational diabetes if you:

• Are overweight
• Are of South Asian or African descent
• Are over 25 years of age
• Have a parent with type 2 diabetes
• Have been diagnosed with prediabetes
• Have previously given birth to a large baby

Gestational diabetes brings with it a number of signs and symptoms including:

• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Increased thirst
• A dry mouth
• Recurring infections
• Needing to urinate frequently

According to the NHS, every pregnant woman with one or more risk factors should be offered a screening test for gestational diabetes at their first antenatal appointment. In addition, a glucose tolerance test should take place between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy to see how your body is dealing with the heightened level of glucose.

If you were not offered these tests and developed gestational diabetes, or if you were offered the tests and you were misdiagnosed, you could be entitled to make a claim for financial compensation. 

If the condition is not treated appropriately or is misdiagnosed, it could affect you and your baby, causing complications that can include:

• Premature birth
• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth
• Low blood sugar and other health problems following birth
• Newborn jaundice
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Increased chances of developing type 2 diabetes
• Macrosomia - your baby weighing more than 4kg
• Shoulder dystocia

Our infographic explains the various factors that can make a woman more likely to develop the disease. These include their age, ethnicity and medical history. View the infographic here. Get in touch with the team at JMW for advice on whether or not you are entitled to make a gestational diabetes medical negligence claim.

Q

Can I claim for a loved one who died of diabetes following medical negligence?

A

If medical negligence sadly led to the death of a loved one, you may be entitled to claim compensation on their behalf. You must begin the claims process within three years of the person's death. Contact JMW to learn more about who can claim compensation on behalf of a loved one and what the process involves.

Q

How much compensation can you receive?

A

The amount of compensation you can receive for a diabetes negligence claim is tailored to your specific situation, and depends on a number of factors. The first is the nature of the harm you experienced and the associated pain and suffering. 

Financial losses relating to the harm you experienced are also taken into account. These might include lost income during your recovery, the costs for any medical devices or aids you need, expenses related to adapting your home to accommodate a disability, and even money you spent on travel to and from medical appointments.

At JMW, we will use our experience to calculate fair compensation based on all of the relevant details and financial losses you experienced due to negligence. It takes the skill of a specialist solicitor to ensure patients and families who have faced medical negligence receive the maximum compensation they are owed.