Diabetes is a chronic but manageable disease, and early identification plays a critical role in preventing long-term complications. Accordingly, monitoring for signs and symptoms of diabetes is a fundamental responsibility for healthcare providers, particularly in patients with known risk factors such as obesity, family history, sedentary lifestyle, or a history of gestational diabetes. When doctors fail to investigate telltale symptoms or ignore abnormal lab findings, they may miss the opportunity to diagnose and manage the disease before it causes permanent harm. If you suspect that a failure to recognize or respond to early signs of diabetes contributed to your health decline or that of a loved one, you should speak with an attorney about your potential claims. The seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group are experienced in handling claims involving diagnostic failures, and if you retain us, we will pursue every available legal avenue to help you recover just compensation.
Monitoring for signs and symptoms of diabetes requires a careful and proactive approach, particularly because the disease often develops gradually and presents with nonspecific symptoms. Common early indicators include frequent urination, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. In many cases, patients also present with signs of insulin resistance, elevated blood glucose levels, or abnormal results on routine lab work. When patients present with these findings, physicians are expected to conduct confirmatory tests, such as fasting glucose, HbA1c levels, or glucose tolerance testing, and to follow up appropriately with a diagnosis, education, and management plan. The failure to do so can result in serious, avoidable harm.
The harm associated with inadequate monitoring for signs and symptoms of diabetes can be severe and systemic. Undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney disease, cardiovascular events, and even limb amputation. In some cases, the first sign of diabetes may be a catastrophic complication, such as a stroke, heart attack, or coma. These outcomes are particularly tragic when they result from a physician’s failure to recognize warning signs or to respond to clearly abnormal test results. Patients who might have managed their condition through lifestyle changes and medication can instead find themselves permanently disabled or facing shortened life expectancy.
Patients harmed by a provider’s failure to monitor for signs and symptoms of diabetes may be able to recover damages for their losses via a medical malpractice claim. As the injuries caused by medical malpractice are typically the result of carelessness, most claims against healthcare providers will set forth a theory of negligence. Under Maryland law, a plaintiff alleging negligence must prove four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Duty is the obligation every healthcare provider owes to their patient to deliver care consistent with the standard of care, which is the care a competent professional working in the same specialty would offer in a similar situation.
A breach occurs when a provider fails to meet this standard of care. Causation requires the plaintiff to show that this breach was a substantial factor in causing the harm. For example, if a physician fails to diagnose diabetes despite clear indicators and the patient later suffers kidney failure or blindness, the plaintiff must establish that timely diagnosis and treatment would have prevented or mitigated the injury.
Generally, a plaintiff must present a qualified expert to testify regarding the applicable standard of care, the manner in which it was violated, and the causal connection between the provider’s actions and the resulting harm.
Once causation is established, the plaintiff must demonstrate damages. These may include economic losses such as the cost of hospitalization, ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lost income. Non-economic damages, such as pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life, are also recoverable.
The failure to properly monitor for signs and symptoms of diabetes can result in permanent and devastating harm that could have been prevented through timely and competent medical care. If you or someone you love was harmed because a physician failed to recognize and respond to the signs of diabetes, you have the right to seek compensation, and you should speak to an attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, our skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys are deeply committed to helping victims of negligent medical care obtain justice, and if we represent you, we will zealously pursue any damages you may be owed. Our office is located in Baltimore, and we serve clients throughout the city and surrounding areas. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online today.
