A teenager died unnecessarily because her mother was in denial about her diabetes.
Police say 14-year-old Emily Hampshire was banned from taking the medication to treat her condition by her mother Amber, resulting in her death from diabetic ketoacidosis.
Ketoacidosis arises when the body produces high levels of blood acid, poisoning the sufferer from the inside-out, and if left untreated can lead to a diabetic coma, and even death.
The teen was hospitalised in November after she discovered not breathing at home. She was taken to a hospital in St. Louis, Illnois, where she passed away two days later.

Amber allegedly told doctors that Emily has been hospitalised in February due to high blood sugar levels, but never mentioned her diabetes diagnosis.
She had been diagnosed in 2013, but doctors in the hospital were not informed of this until after her death. This is despite them requesting her medical records, which Amber prevented them from obtaining.
Her mother has now been charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the life of a child.
Prosectors claim that the 39-year-old “‘was fully aware of Emily’s diabetic condition but took measures to conceal Emily’s diabetes and failed to provide Emily with appropriate medical treatment and medication.”

Emily’s school had also been informed of her diabetes diagnosis, but Amber insisted it was a mistake.
After the teen’s death, police found medication and equipment used to manage diabetes at the family home.
If found guilty, Amber could face up to 14 years in prison for manslaughter and ten years for endangering the life of a child.
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