A man who was newly diagnosed with diabetes and died while on holiday was not warned about how serious his condition was, an inquest has heard.
Shaun Dobinso, from Washingto, Tyne and Wear, was aged 21 when he died in New York in 2016. He suffered two cardiac arrests caused by complications of his condition.
A post-mortem examination found he died due to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a condition that develops when the body starts to run out of insulin.
Prior to this, the former engineer had visited his GP, Dr Nandu Bhatt, as he suspected something was not right.
He had been experiencing an unquenchable thirst and frequently needed the toilet; two significant symptoms of diabetes. He already knew of type 2 diabetes because both his mother and grandmother had been receiving treatment for the condition.
A blood test at the doctors confirmed Mr Dobinson had diabetes, but a urine test was not carried out to determine whether he had type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
When asked why a urine test was not conducted, Dr Batt, of Victoria Road Health Centre in Tyne and Wear, said: “I realise now it was a mistake. It was important but somehow it slipped my mind at the time.”
Mr Dobinson had been given metformin, usually prescribed to lower blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes, and referred to a diabetes clinic. His sister, Kirsty – who claims she was with her brother at the time – told Sunderland Coroner’s Court that he asked the doctor if he could still travel to the US to celebrate his birthday.
Dr Batt told the hearing he was never made aware of Shaun’s travel plans and if he had been told, he would have advised him to postpone it.
Mr Dobinson’s sister added that the doctor appointment was one of her final memories of her brother and she was certain he had told Dr Bhatt about the holiday because he was so excited and there was “no-one he had met that didn’t know”.
The hearing continues.

Get our free newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest news, research and breakthroughs.

You May Also Like

Conversation about doctors’ appointments occurring virtually rumbles on

More than half of GP appointments are still being delivered remotely in…

Type 2 diabetes found to be a ‘significant risk factor’ among stroke victims

More evidence has been published which supports that diabetes is a “significant…

Top diabetes professor drafts risk assessment document for frontline COVID-19 staff

The health and wellbeing of frontline NHS staff has been prioritised among…