Diabetes Crisis Looming

Pressure has been mounting on all medical professionals during this pandemic at unprecedented levels.

Many hospital appointments have been cancelled/postponed/delayed as a result, none more so than those with Diabetes.  The NHS has been managing as best as they can, however, the consequences of this will undoubtedly result in a number of Diabetes patients suffering adversely.

In 2019, there were 3.9 million people diagnosed with diabetes all of whom at a higher risk of suffering from medical conditions in comparison to patients without the condition.

• Diabetics are two and half times more likely to have a heart attack and twice as likely to have a stroke than a non-diabetic.
• 169 avoidable amputations of “significant severity” occur each year due to diabetes referrals being missed.

It is therefore important that diabetes patients are quickly diagnosed and without delay.

There are 2 types of diabetes, each of which has different consequences if left undiagnosed.

• Type 1 diabetes, prevents the body from producing insulin which is required to adequately regulate blood glucose levels. The onset of symptoms for type 1 diabetes start quickly.
• Type 2 diabetes, the more common of the two, has a slower onset of symptoms makes your body produces increased glucose blood levels.

More information on complications of Diabetes can be found in our factsheet on diabetes.

Diabetes UK confirmed in 2019 that “there are almost a million more people living with type 2 diabetes who don’t know they have it because they haven’t been diagnosed yet, bringing the total number up to more than 4.8 million.” This number will undoubtedly have increased to the present day and the effects of the potential delays will remain for years to come.

Patients are entitled to appropriate care at all times, even when a pandemic is present and circumstances are unprecedented. If you have any concerns in respect of a delay in diagnosing diabetes, or concerns in respect of the treatment you have been offered, please contact our Medical Negligence team.

Call 0800 088 6004 for a free informal discussion.