It’s always a risk that a medical provider could miss the symptoms and signs of a serious illness, but it shouldn’t be. Those who take their training seriously and who focus their time on really listening to their patients should be able to identify symptoms of serious illnesses or, at the very least, know when to order testing and specialist services.
One of the common medical issues in America is diabetes. There is often a misconception that diabetes only affects young people, but anyone, at any age, can be affected. Some of the common signs of the illness include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Feeling hungry despite eating
- Urinating often
- Feeling extremely thirsty
These symptoms are often a sign that the body is not using its insulin correctly or is not producing insulin at all.
The types of diabetes may make diagnosis more difficult
The two main kinds of diabetes develop differently, so there may be a time when misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses are more likely. For instance, while type I diabetes tends to come on quickly, type II is more likely to develop over time. In some cases, those with type II won’t have symptoms at all.
Diabetes doesn’t have to be linked to a family history of the illness, either, so no medical professional should rule it out just because those around you haven’t had it. Viruses have been known to cause symptoms of diabetes. Problems with the pancreas may also lead to the development of this illness.
Gestational diabetes is a third type to watch out for during pregnancy
Gestational diabetes also causes issues for women in pregnancy in some cases. At-risk women need to be tested, but even those who are not at risk should consider seeking a test if they have signs of diabetes, such as fainting (from low blood sugar levels) or feeling extremely thirsty.
Missing this diagnosis could be dangerous or deadly to patients. Complications could be serious and include seizures, comas or death. If your medical provider didn’t listen to your concerns and you were later diagnosed with this disease, you may have a case against them for malpractice and negligence.