Diabetes Complications

Many nursing home residents suffer from diabetes. While diabetics can live comfortable lives with proper care, when diabetes is not properly managed it can lead to critical complications. If you or a loved one suffered harm due to diabetes complications while living in a nursing home it is advisable to confer with an attorney regarding your right to pursue compensation. The dedicated Cape Cod nursing home negligence attorneys of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, advise you of your options and assist you in the pursuit of the full amount of damages recoverable under the law. Collectively, our lawyers have over fifteen decades of practice representing people in nursing home lawsuits and we will work diligently to help you pursue a favorable result. Our assertive advocacy has led to the recovery of numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Diabetes is a disorder that causes extended periods of high blood sugar levels. It may be managed with diet in less severe cases but, typically, people with diabetes must take medication or receive insulin injections. Nursing homes caring for residents who have diabetes can help prevent diabetes complications by ensuring residents undergo routine testing of their blood sugar levels, eat a balanced diet, and take the accurate dosage of prescribed medications at the correct time. Improper management of diabetes can lead to critical complications. For example, it can cause kidney failure, glaucoma, skin infections, neuropathy, and stroke. In many cases, unmanaged diabetes can shorten a person’s life as well. A nursing home may cause a resident with diabetes to suffer injuries by failing to manage diabetes properly, but it may also cause injuries by failing to notice complications or take the action necessary to address any new concerns.

Nursing homes must abide by state and federal laws and regulations in caring for their residents. Among other things, this requires nursing homes to employ adequate staff members to meet residents’ needs, provide meals sufficient to meet nutritional deficiencies, and develop a medical care plan. Nursing homes are also tasked with grooming residents who cannot bathe or dress themselves, administering medication, and providing medical examinations and evaluations when necessary. When a nursing home fails to ensure its staff is providing residents with care that complies with state and federal standards, the nursing home may be held liable for any harm that ensues due to the neglect.

In most instances, people seeking damages for harm sustained in a nursing home will assert a negligence claim in a civil lawsuit. Under Massachusetts law, a plaintiff alleging negligence must demonstrate that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care, which is generally the duty to abide by the standard set by state or federal law. The plaintiff then has to establish that the defendant’s omissions or actions demonstrate a breach of the standard. Finally, the plaintiff must show that the defendant’s departure from the standard of care caused the plaintiff to suffer measurable harm. The defendant’s actions do not have to be the sole reason the plaintiff sustained injuries, but they must be a substantial factor in bringing them about, and the plaintiff must show that without the defendant’s behavior the harm would not have occurred.

In cases involving an underlying condition such as diabetes, a nursing home will typically argue that the disease's natural progression or some factor other than negligence led to the plaintiff’s harm. As such, a plaintiff may need to hire an expert to offer testimony explaining the standard of care and the ways in which it was breached. An expert can also demonstrate causation between the defendant’s behavior and the plaintiff’s harm. Finally, a medical expert may be needed to explain the damages the plaintiff suffered and what medical treatment was required and will be needed in the future.

Diabetes is a serious disease, and when it is not properly monitored or managed, the consequences can be grave. If you or your loved one suffered harm in a nursing home due to diabetes complications, you may be owed damages, and it is advisable to schedule a conference with an attorney to discuss your rights. The dedicated lawyers of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are adept at helping people hurt by nursing home negligence. We proudly uphold a record of obtaining successful outcomes, including many verdicts exceeding one million dollars. We represent people in lawsuits against nursing homes on Cape Cod, and we are also available for consultations in Hyannis and Plymouth. You can contact us via our online form or by calling (888) 262-6664 to schedule a meeting.