Diabetes Blindness
If you or your loved one has suffered sight loss because of diabetes, you need to consider whether medical negligence is to blame.
If you suspect medical practitioners could be at fault, please get in touch with us today. One of our medical negligence solicitors will clarify the matter for you, saying whether or not there is a case of negligence. If so, you will be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation.
Diabetes retinopathy
Diabetes retinopathy is when the retina (in the eye) becomes damaged because of high glucose levels associated with diabetes. The retina enables us to see, so any sort of retina damage will adversely affect vision, potentially resulting in blindness in one or both eyes.
Retinopathy is common amongst diabetes patients. This is because if diabetes is not controlled properly, the glucose will become stuck in the bloodstream. Normally glucose will be broken down by insulin, but diabetics do not produce enough insulin.
High blood glucose levels can be overcome by controlling the condition with injections or medication. But if this is not done effectively, the glucose will remain in the blood, rather than being transferred to the cells. The cells will begin to die, and the red blood cells will not work properly.
Red blood cells transport oxygen around the body, meaning areas of the body will become starved of oxygen. This will cause all sorts of problems, one of which is retina damage – or retinopathy.
Whose fault is diabetic retinopathy?
Sometimes diabetic retinopathy will be made worse because the patient does not monitor their condition fully. The patient needs to help themselves by taking their medication, controlling their diet, checking their blood glucose levels and attending check-up appointments.
However, there are also times when a patient does all these things, but medical practitioners fail the patient in some way. There are many ways in which this can happen, including:
- Repeated failure to spot the early signs of retinopathy
- Repeated failure to treat retinopathy
- Poor quality treatment, such as substandard surgery
- Failure to monitor and give insulin to a patient admitted to hospital
- Failure to communicate the importance of eye checks and acting upon symptoms
- Failure to offer eye checks
Whatever the circumstances, if you believe that medical practitioners are responsible for your loss of vision, please get in touch with us today. We will say if you are able to pursue compensation for the terrible damage you have suffered.
Contact us
For expert legal advice about diabetes blindness claims, please get in touch with us at Glynns Solicitors.
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