Can I Sue the Nursing Home for My Parent’s Hypoglycemia Complications?
You entrust the nursing home staff to care for your loved one as you would. When they don’t, it can lead to medical complications that could risk your loved one’s life. Find out what hypoglycemia is, how it occurs in a nursing home environment, and your options following medical complications from it.
What is Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is a medical condition that occurs when the blood sugar or glucose levels drop out of the safe range. Hypoglycemia can arise from improper nutrition or as a complication of diabetes. With almost 20% of nursing home residents having diabetes, hypoglycemia may be more common than you think.
The symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- Increased heartbeat
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Extreme hunger
- Dizziness
Glucose is the body’s main energy source. When it drops beyond a safe range, it can cause the body to shake uncontrollably. Some residents may also sweat, develop anxiety, and become irritable. Caregivers should be able to recognize these signs, especially in the residents who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
How Caregivers Should Treat Hypoglycemia
Most cases of hypoglycemia can be avoided. Those with diabetes will often show signs before the hypoglycemia gets worse. Caregivers should not only routinely monitor residents’ blood sugar levels, but also be prepared to take action when the levels exceed the normal range.
Caregivers should provide residents with high-sugar snacks to quickly get the levels back into the normal range. Then, they should arrange for the resident to have a medical evaluation follow-up.
It’s also important to note that while snacks and drinks can be used for minor drops in glucose, they shouldn’t be used when the levels get too low. If residents are at risk of losing consciousness, they should never be given consumable items. Instead, caregivers will need to administer a glucagon shot.
This is similar to insulin, but does the opposite and brings the levels back up rather than reducing them. After administering this shot, the resident should be taken to a hospital where they can receive more in-depth treatment and monitoring.
When is a Nursing Home to Blame for Hypoglycemia?
Caregivers can’t necessarily prevent hypoglycemia from occurring. A person with diabetes experiences routine ups and downs in their glucose levels. Some drops are expected, but a timely response helps prevent dangerous glucose levels. Caregivers should regularly check diabetes’ residents’ blood sugar levels. They should also conduct frequent checks to identify any changes in the resident’s condition or behavior.
Ignoring low blood sugar levels can be extremely dangerous. Not only can it lead to hypoglycemia, but it can also lead to a loss of consciousness. Caregivers who don’t routinely monitor residents with diabetes may be at fault for neglect.
Nursing home neglect occurs when caregivers or nursing home staff don’t properly monitor and care for their residents. If your loved one ends up in a hospital with hypoglycemia, there’s a chance that it could be from neglect. The mismanagement of certain medical conditions may occur from understaffing or undertraining. Either way, both causes can be considered nursing home neglect. If you believe your loved one was the victim of nursing home neglect, contact a lawyer today.
Contact a Paterson Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer to Discuss Your Case Today
Seniors in nursing homes and other care facilities deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Additionally, nursing home staff needs to ensure that patients are safe and secure at all times. If your loved one suffered an injury, or worse, due to nursing home abuse or negligence in New Jersey, you need to speak with a qualified attorney. The experienced nursing home neglect attorneys at Sugarman Law Firm represent clients throughout New Jersey, including Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Elizabeth. Call (866) 657-5660 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a free consultation today. We have an office conveniently located at 80 East Main Street, Somerville, NJ 08876, as well as an office in Marlton, NJ.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
