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31
Aug 2021
Type 1 diabetes patients being warned that missing GP appointments may lead to cut of vital drugs
Type 1 diabetes patients are being warned by GP practices that if they fail to attend routine health check ups, the drugs they rely on to keep them alive could be cut off.
Patients rely on daily doses of the hormone insulin, which is essential for tuning glucose from food into energy, as their bodies are unable to produce it. Without the hormone, harmful substances called ketones build up in the body, which results in a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be life-threatening if not detected and treated quickly.
Dr Partha Kar, diabetes consultant at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and advisor to NHS England, said that while “the vast majority of clinicians provide excellent care”, some patients were being “held to ransom”.
He went on to say “Insulin has to be taken daily by people with type 1 diabetes, otherwise they suffer harm. Not to mention, this method is unlikely to find success as a way to engage patients.”
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops producing its own insulin, meaning levels have to be topped up with insulin. Unlike type 2 diabetes, which is often associated with obesity, type 1 diabetes is not lifestyle-related.
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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