Undetected Type 1 Diabetes Leads to Tragic Death
An article that appeared today in the online version of the British newspaper, The Times, tells the heartbreaking story of a 29 year old naval officer who died from undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.
Lieutenant Emma Douglas had sought medical attention for her symptoms which included a recent weight loss of over 50 pounds, oral thrush and vomiting. Unfortunately she was not tested for diabetes and was told to rest and come back if there was no improvement in symptoms.
Sometime later, a fellow shipmate saw her lying on the floor of her cabin, semiconscious and "gurgling" and merely closed her cabin door, assuming she was drunk or sleeping off a hangover. She died from diabetic ketoacidosis.
This tragic story could have easily had a different end, if Douglas had been tested for diabetes. Unfortunately type 1 diabetes is not always the first thing that comes to mind when someone of Douglas's age presents with these symptoms. Knowing the symptoms of diabetes and being aware that type 1 can strike anyone of any age can go a long way towards preventing a devastating death like Emma Douglas.
What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?
Read the article by Simon de Bruxelles that appeared in The Times Online...
Comments
She had CLASSIC symptoms. Those docs were IDIOTS and her family should sue!
My nephew, 21, died recently of undiagnosed diabetes and acute pancreatitis. No one knew he had diabetes until he went to the emergency room, and he died less than 48 hours later. Our whole family is in shock. He apparently had excessive thirst and urination, but never recognized the systems.
More diabetes education would help inform the public about how deadly untreated diabetes can be.
doesn’t seem to matter how often these mistakes happen they still seem to happen within and outwith the armed forces