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Teenager with type 1 diabetes died after GPs incorrect ear infection diagnosis

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A teenager with type 1 diabetes who died after experiencing extremely high blood glucose levels had previously been sent home by her GP with an ear infection, an inquest has heard. Rosie Umney, from Kent, died aged 15 having fallen seriously ill on 2 July 2018. She had been hyperventilating and was taken by her mother, Georgia, to see her GP, Dr Sadaf Mangi. When Rosie tested her blood glucose on her own meter, her readings were normal. Dr Mangi ruled that Rosie had an ear infection and prescribed her medication. Rosie and her mum returned home. Later that night, Rosie was still very unwell. She collapsed, and Georgia called for paramedics. One paramedic tested Rosie's blood glucose on a separate meter and it was higher than 30 mmol/L. Rosie was rushed to hospital, but tragically died later that night. A post-mortem found that she died of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a dangerous complication of overly high blood glucose levels. Speaking at an inquest at Canterbury Magistrates' Court on 6 February, Dr Mangi accepted she did not know the warning signs nor the action to implement regarding poorly children with type 1 diabetes. "I would like to say to the family I deeply regret I fell short of my responsibilities as a GP. I whole-heartedly apologise," Dr Mangi said. Dr Peter Wilson, a GP clinical advisor with NHS England, told the inquest Dr Mangi’s notes failed to include Rosie's respiratory rate or blood pressure. He added that Rosie would have had a "much better" chance of living had she been referred directly to hospital following the visit with Dr Mangi. Stories such as Rosie's are a devastating reminder of the need for greater awareness regarding the symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes, as well as the warning signs of children with existing diabetes. Earlier this year, a man with type 1 diabetes died on holiday having had an incorrect diagnosis from his GP and not receiving a warning about how serious his condition was. In 2016, Beth Baldwin called for the NHS to introduce routine testing for type 1 diabetes after the death of her 13-year-old son. Last year a report carried out by the Petitions Committee backed her petition. The inquest into Rosie’s death has been adjourned until a later date. Picture credit: Kent Live

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What a sad, sad tale. This shouldn't be happening in the 21st century, not with the technology and speed of testing available today. Those poor parents.
 
So very, very sad. I am so sorry for the family. I'm also sorry for the GP, a human who has set out to help people and yet has made a mistake. GP's have been put under unrealistic pressure: required to see too many patients for a 10min consultation which is not long enough in many cases, and worse not having an allocated GP, resulting in lack of continuity, missing signs of disease progression, and simply know ing nothing about their patients.
 
I once asked a nurse in charge (off and on due to being BANK staff) of a residential/nursing home about DKA and she didnt have a clue about any of it. She knew diabetes was caused by obesity. Well her training told her that.
Dangerous times, me thinks.

God help me if I'm left in their care. What else does she have wrong?
 
I once asked a nurse in charge (off and on due to being BANK staff) of a residential/nursing home about DKA and she didnt have a clue about any of it. She knew diabetes was caused by obesity. Well her training told her that.
Dangerous times, me thinks.

God help me if I'm left in their care. What else does she have wrong?

Maybe the question is, what does she have right?

Does she know anything?
 
What I don't understand is way her BG was normal on her meter. (I expect if she was on SGLT-2 inhibitors it was have been reported.)

If the BG had tested high at the GPs, it is very likely the GP would have phoned the diabetes team for advice
 
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