Dauphin County mom arrested for not helping diabetic son with insulin, landing him in ICU: police

A Lower Swatara mom was arrested and charged with a felony for not helping diabetic son with his insulin, landing him in ICU last week for the third time in 3 months, police said in court documents.

Meghan Diffendall, 36, was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of children, according to charging documents filed by Lower Swatara Township police.

Police said her 13-year-old son, who has type 1 diabetes, had to use expired insulin, which resulted in him going into “severe” diabetic ketoacidosis on Nov. 13, which is a life-threatening exacerbation of uncontrolled diabetes. While hospitalized, the teen was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

His parents said he took an evening dose of his long-acting insulin, but due to an insurance denial because his brand of insulin wasn’t listed on their health plan, the medicine he took was “potentially expired insulin.” His parents found it in the fridge and were hoping it would still be effective, according to police.

On the morning of Nov. 13, the teen was having chest pain, vomiting, and abnormal breathing, so his parents brought him to Penn State Children’s Hospital.

He had just been released from the hospital three days prior, on Nov. 10, for diabetic ketoacidosis. In all, he has been hospitalized three times in the past three months for not having enough insulin in his body, police wrote in court records.

The child has since been discharged from the hospital, the affidavit said.

The parents told police the teen primarily administers his insulin by himself at home, but they check when they are at home.

Police said there was “concern regarding the teen’s level of supervision for his insulin administration as he has at baseline elevated sugars beyond what is appropriate for a type I diabetic child.”

Though diabetic ketoacidosis can be a consequence of even well-controlled type 1 diabetes, police said the teen is not currently well-controlled due to management of his diabetes or lack thereof and his hospitalizations raise concerns about his safety.

The clinic said that diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when the body doesn’t have enough insulin to function. While illness can trigger symptoms like vomiting, DKA is usually preventable with proper ketone monitoring and insulin use.

A doctor told police puberty may have played a role in the medical crisis, as puberty substantially increases insulin resistance, noting “typical challenges” parents face while trying to transfer responsibility for care to the child.

However, the doctor said the primary issue, due to the teen having “ADHD and psychiatric problems,” is that he needs adult supervision.” Police said a doctor requested the parents attend diabetes education in September, but the dad was the only one who showed, even though the mom is the primary caregiver home during the day.

The dad told police his wife didn’t show because she was “home sleeping.” He said she also likes to sleep during the day and stay awake late into the night.

The last time their son’s long-acting insulin was filled was in January 2025. The doctor said it was a miracle the teen had not gone into diabetic ketoacidosis many more times without the additional insulin he should have had.

Type 1 diabetes requires daily insulin to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis, low blood sugar, and long-term damage to organs. Without proper management, it can be life-threatening.

Diffendall’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 26, according to online court documents. She was released without having to post any bond.