Argentina, Valentina Zurita

[M.A.R.]

An 18-year-old girl died from undiagnosed type 1 diabetes after doctors reportedly attributed her symptoms to anxiety

I would like to share a heartbreaking story from Argentina that raises important questions about the recognition of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), diagnostic delays and patient safety.

Valentina Zurita was just 18 years old. She died on 15 October 2026 in Buenos Aires after several days of severe chest pain and repeated visits to healthcare facilities.

According to reports published by the Argentine newspaper *La Nación*, Valentina was seen at Hospital Fernández, Sanatorio Güemes and Hospital Rivadavia.

Her parents say that during earlier consultations, her symptoms were attributed to anxiety or psychological problems, and psychiatric treatment was recommended.

But Valentina's condition continued to deteriorate. She developed vomiting, difficulty eating and problems keeping fluids down.

Her family says they were eventually told that she had type 1 diabetes, a condition she had never been diagnosed with, and that she was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis.

She died at Hospital Rivadavia.

Her family is demanding justice

Valentina's father, José Luis Zurita, has publicly questioned the medical care his daughter received.

The family has reported suspected medical negligence and is seeking an investigation into the circumstances of her death.

The case also raises concerns about whether appropriate diagnostic tests were considered during her earlier hospital visits.

In a television report I watched on Telefe Noticias, her father expressed his desire for accountability and for improvements in public healthcare.

These concerns deserve to be heard. However, the investigation must establish exactly which tests were performed, whether the standard of care was met and whether earlier intervention could have changed the outcome.

Could a simple blood glucose test have made a difference?

This is the question that troubles me most.

Diabetic ketoacidosis can be the first presentation of type 1 diabetes, including in teenagers and adults who have no previous diagnosis.

Symptoms may include excessive thirst, frequent urination, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, rapid or deep breathing, weakness and confusion.

Some symptoms, particularly rapid breathing, palpitations and chest discomfort, may overlap with those associated with anxiety or panic attacks.

But anxiety should not automatically be assumed to explain persistent or worsening physical symptoms.

A bedside blood glucose measurement is quick and can provide an important diagnostic clue. Suspected DKA requires further assessment, including blood ketones and acid-base testing.

Early recognition and prompt hospital treatment can be lifesaving.

A wider question about healthcare

Valentina's death has also prompted discussion about pressures on Argentina's healthcare system, including overcrowded emergency departments and healthcare funding.

These are legitimate public health concerns, although it has not been established that budget restrictions directly caused the decisions made in her case.

Her family deserves answers based on a thorough and transparent investigation.

Why I am sharing this story

I am from Argentina and I help run a Spanish-language diabetes community ca.

I wanted to bring Valentina's story to this British forum because I believe it carries a message that crosses national borders.

Type 1 diabetes can develop without a previous diagnosis. DKA can be its first recognised manifestation. And serious physical symptoms must never be dismissed without appropriate clinical assessment.

I hope Valentina's story encourages greater awareness of DKA, especially among people who do not yet know they have diabetes.

My thoughts are with her family.

No family should have to lose a loved one before receiving answers about what happened.

Sources

La Nación, Argentina, 21 October 2026:

“Dijeron que era psicológico”: investigan a tres guardias porteñas por la muerte de una chica que acudió con dolor de pecho

La adolescente falleció el jueves pasado en el Hospital Rivadavia; durante los cuatro días previos había transitado también por el Hospital Fernández y el Sanatorio Güemes

www.lanacion.com.ar

CDC — Diabetic Ketoacidosis:

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is serious and can be life-threatening. Learn to identify and treat it.

www.cdc.gov

The allegations concerning Valentina's medical care remain under investigation. This post does not presume that medical negligence has been legally estab

 

[EllieM]

Such a sad story. This used to be a relatively common occurrence in the UK but suspect/hope it wouldn't happen now.
I was diagnosed (early) in 1970 thanks to a T1 mum who almost/did reach DKA on diagnosis.

All they would have had to do is one bg test?

 

[M.A.R.]

Thank you for your thoughtful response and for sharing your own experience of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1970.

I agree that a simple blood glucose test could have provided an important clue. According to Valentina's family, her symptoms were repeatedly attributed to anxiety, while her condition continued to deteriorate.

Her family is now demanding a thorough investigation into the medical care she received. They want accountability and improvements in the healthcare system so that similar tragedies can be prevented.

What makes this case particularly heartbreaking is that diabetic ketoacidosis is a recognised medical emergency, and early diagnosis and treatment can save lives.

Your experience also reminds us how important awareness of type 1 diabetes has always been, even among people who have never been diagnosed.

Thank you again for contributing to this discussion. Greetings !

 

[KennyA]

From personal experience I know of one person within the last five years in the UK whose DKA symptoms were dismissed on two occasions over a two week period by his general practice as "food poisoning". Finally went into a coma and blue lighted in, but left with permanent damage.

 

[Zhnyaka]

Oh, what a horror! Don't they do a general blood test at the hospital? Hyperglycemia will be immediately visible there. And I really don't understand how diabetes can be confused with anxiety, because with DKA, a person smells of acetone.

But I have a friend who lost consciousness from hyperglycemia, but it was his high school graduation and the doctors decided that he had been drinking too much and decided to fix it with the introduction of glucose. But when he only got worse, they realized that it was diabetes.

 

[Tony337]

I was diagnozed in the 70s and for this poor girl to lose her life is beyond sadness.
There must have been so many things that could have been done to prevent this.

I have a glucose monitor that has seperate strips to check for keytones.
Its that simple.

Such a sad story.

Tony

 

[M.A.R.]

Look, the situation is this: Argentina is underfunded. The government is starving healthcare and education of resources; the roads are all in disrepair, and the national highway authority does nothing to fix them. As a result, there are more and more traffic accidents—accidents that could be avoided if the roads were in good condition. Personally, I am part of the healthcare system for retirees and pensioners, and they refused to provide me with blood glucose test strips. I went to my annual check-up with my diabetes specialist (I have Type 2 diabetes), and the lab results showed a normal glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 5.7. However, the doctor didn’t renew my registration in the program, and because of that, they won’t give me any test strips. I’ve gone 50 days without being able to check my glucose levels. Out of desperation, I started searching online and found a marketplace site where I can buy them at a more affordable price. Even though I’m very confident in the diet I’m following, I still need to monitor my glucose. I have an appointment with my primary care physician on November 14th, and I’m going to ask him to renew my registration—my HbA1c is fine, but my fasting glucose level came back a bit high. There will be elections in a year, and I truly hope we get a change in government; the current administration focuses solely on increasing economic reserves, but the cost of this is that they fail to look after the people.

 

[lovinglife]

Pretty much same here in the UK, roads, education, healthcare - (though I consider us extremely lucky to have the NHS free at point of use) It’s extremely rare here too for anyone with T2 diet controlled or even in some meds to get test strips and we have to self fund.

I’m not sure we have a T2 member who is diet only or on non hypo inducing meds that get strips on prescription & don’t have to self fund. Definitely wouldn’t get them for pre diabetes

 

[M.A.R.]

Thank you for your response. It surprises me to learn that the United Kingdom also faces challenges regarding roads, education, and healthcare, and that many people with type 2 diabetes there have to purchase their own test strips.

I would like to clarify a detail regarding my diagnosis. Although my profile indicates "prediabetes," I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2020, with an HbA1c level above 9% and blood glucose levels exceeding 400 mg/dL.

By changing my diet, I managed to significantly reduce those figures. My most recent HbA1c was 5.7%, and today my fasting blood glucose was 6.2 mmol/L. Since these results fall within the ranges typically used to identify prediabetes, I personally interpreted this as my current status. My diabetes specialist never clearly explained the distinction between well-controlled diabetes and potential remission.

However, I would like to return to the original reason for this conversation: the death of Valentina Zurita.

When I shared the difficulties I am experiencing with PAMI, my intention was not merely to debate whether or not I am entitled to test strips; rather, I wanted to illustrate the healthcare context in Argentina.

My concern is that budget cuts, difficulties in accessing medical professionals, and delays in care can leave patients in highly vulnerable situations.

The government of Javier Milei has made the reduction of public spending one of its primary economic priorities. I believe it is necessary to examine the impact of this policy on healthcare services and the ability to provide timely care to patients.

I cannot definitively state that a lack of funding was the direct cause of Valentina’s death without knowing the full results of the investigation into her case. Yet, her death raises a fundamental question: what happens when a person requires urgent medical attention and the healthcare system fails to respond appropriately?

That is the issue I wanted to share with you.

The discussion regarding my test strips is important, but the fact remains that Valentina lost her life. And I believe their story warrants an investigation not only into potential individual responsibilities, but also into the conditions under which our healthcare system operates.

 

[Jaylee]

I was diagnosed in the summer of 76 after a week of what seemed like flu rapid weight loss/ unquenchable thirst & rapidly getting worse.
My mum & I were fobbed off by a GP, then needing a second opinion raced round by my dad by car to a kiddie ward to a nurse (maybe a ward sister?) my mum knew, given a bed & banged on a drip..

It’s sad to hear this sort of malpractice still happens.

 

[EllieM]

Fifty years ago my mother told me that most/many GPs had someone die through undiagnosed T1 before they became more aware of it. I think there is much more awareness now, but sadly it still happens.

This is a really interesting article about T1 worldwide.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168822725002918#b0130

Some highlights

The estimated missing prevalence (i.e. the number of additional people who would be alive with T1D if their mortality matched general population rates) in 2025 is 3.4 million, including an estimated 669,000 dying due to non-diagnosis at clinical onset.

The estimated remaining life expectancy of a 10-year-old diagnosed with T1D ranges from 6 to 66 years depending on which country they live in and thereby access to care, is a stark reminder of the impact of T1D, particularly in less-resourced countries.

So surviving/living with T1 is very much a geographical lottery.

After 56 years of T1 in good if not perfect health I feel very much like a lottery winner.

 

[M.A.R.]

Dear EllieM:

I would like to sincerely thank you for sharing this important research and for bringing both a scientific and a human perspective to our conversation about Valentina Zurita.

I was deeply struck by the disparities in life expectancy for children with type 1 diabetes, depending on the country in which they are born. Your term "geographical lottery" perfectly captures a reality that should concern us all.

When I spoke about the challenges within our healthcare system in Argentina, I was trying to highlight something that extends far beyond individual experiences: the consequences that a lack of timely and adequate medical care can have on people's lives.

Your contribution helps us understand that this is not just an Argentine issue, but a global inequality.

I am also very glad to hear that you have been living with type 1 diabetes for 56 years and have managed to maintain good health. Your experience is truly valuable and deserves to be heard.

Thank you for enriching this conversation with your knowledge, sensitivity, and respect. It means a great deal to me that we can reflect on these issues together—especially as we remember a young woman who is no longer with us.

Sending you a warm embrace from Argentina.