Diabetes Awareness Month was November: Knowing How To Control is Key

November was Diabetes Awareness Month, an opportunity for Americans to share their stories of coping with their illness. Most households in the country are affected in some way by this disease, as diabetes has become more and more prevalent in the last twenty years. Over 30 million Americans have been diagnosed, and millions more have been identified as suffering from pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

As important as raising awareness of the disease is, it is perhaps more important to raise awareness of how to properly manage diabetes. Though diabetes cannot be cured, symptoms can be managed in a variety of ways, including:

• Watching your diet and exercise to control your blood sugar, paying careful attention to “fast” carbohydrates
• Considering a daily medication such as metformin to help control your blood sugar
• Using insulin, including insulin monitors and other technology, to manage any spikes in blood sugar

Controlling diabetes is important, as failure to do so is correlated with increased risk of amputations and other major health complications. Your doctor or other medical professional is an important link in the chain of managing your symptoms. Your doctor will order regular tests, including the A1C test to monitor how well you have been maintaining your blood sugar levels.

Unfortunately, sometimes doctors do not do what is needed for their patients, either failing to order necessary tests or not providing proper guidance on symptom and disease management. In these situations, a person with diabetes can suffer a variety of ailments, most of which are preventable with proper care.

If you or someone you love has suffered due to a medical failure to manage your symptoms, it is important that you contact a qualified attorney. Your doctor owes you reasonable care, including ordering necessary tests and providing necessary guidance on medication. Failure to do so is a breach of your trust, and an experienced lawyer can help you hold your doctor accountable for this failure.