Diabetes — both Type 1 and Type 2 — requires consistent, evidence-based clinical management across primary and secondary care. Failures in diabetes care cause real and preventable harm: diabetic ketoacidosis that is not recognised and treated in time, retinopathy that progresses to blindness because screening was missed, foot infections that lead to avoidable amputation, and gestational diabetes that is not identified or managed correctly. When diabetic care falls below the required standard and causes harm, a clinical negligence claim may be available.
Common types of diabetes negligence
Missed or delayed diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) — the potentially fatal metabolic emergency that can occur when Type 1 diabetes is undiagnosed or undertreated — is commonly misdiagnosed as gastroenteritis, a viral illness, or abdominal pain. The classic triad of polydipsia, polyuria, and weight loss in a child or young adult should prompt urgent blood glucose testing. Failure to check blood glucose in a patient with these symptoms, or to send blood glucose results back in time, and DKA resulting from delayed diagnosis, may give rise to a claim.
Diabetic ketoacidosis mismanaged
DKA requires fluid resuscitation and insulin infusion following established protocols. Errors in DKA management — too rapid or too slow insulin infusion, failure to replace potassium, failure to monitor for cerebral oedema in paediatric DKA — can cause cerebral oedema, hypoglycaemia, cardiac arrhythmia, and death.
Hypoglycaemia mismanaged
Severe hypoglycaemia in an inpatient — caused by too-high an insulin dose, failure to adjust insulin when a patient is eating less, or failure to monitor blood glucose — can cause hypoglycaemic brain injury. Where the management falls below the required standard, a claim may succeed.
Diabetic retinopathy not treated
Annual diabetic eye screening is a core NHS service. Where a screening result showing sight-threatening retinopathy is not acted upon — the patient is not referred or followed up — and vision is lost as a result, a claim may arise.
Diabetic foot care failure leading to amputation
Patients with diabetes who develop foot ulcers, cellulitis, or osteomyelitis require urgent multidisciplinary diabetic foot team assessment. Delayed referral, failure to treat infection aggressively, and failure to arrange vascular assessment can cause avoidable amputation. See /amputation-medical-negligence-claim.
Gestational diabetes not screened or managed
See /pregnancy-gynaecology-negligence-claim.
Insulin prescribing errors
Insulin is a high-alert medication — errors in type (long-acting vs short-acting), dose, and timing are among the most dangerous prescribing errors in hospital. See /types-of-medical-negligence/medication.
SCRIPT 67 — Bowel Surgery and Negligent Colonoscopy Claims
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim if DKA was misdiagnosed as gastroenteritis?
Yes — if the failure to check blood glucose in a patient with symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes fell below the required standard and caused harm from delayed treatment.
Can I claim if a hospital gave me the wrong insulin dose and I suffered a hypoglycaemic episode?
Yes — if the insulin dosing error fell below the required standard of medication management.
Can I claim for my foot amputation caused by delayed treatment of a diabetic foot infection?
Yes — if the delay in referring to a diabetic foot team, arranging vascular assessment, or treating infection aggressively fell below the required standard.