Meghan Elizabeth Diffendall, 36, and Anthony Albert Edwin Diffendall, 41, of Middletown, were each charged with Felony Endangering the Welfare of Children after investigators say their son suffered two severe episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) within one week, ultimately requiring ICU-level care at Penn State Children’s Hospital.
Allegations of Dangerous Lapses in Medical Care
According to the affidavit, the boy—identified as L.D.—has Type 1 diabetes, autism, ADHD, and hypoglycemia unawareness. He had been recently discharged from the hospital on Sept. 10, 2025, following a life-threatening DKA episode. Police say the parents told doctors they used expired insulin after an insurance denial prevented them from obtaining his prescribed long-acting insulin.
On Sept. 13, 2025, the teen experienced chest pain, vomiting, and abnormal breathing before being rushed back to the hospital, where he was again found to be in severe DKA with elevated potassium and concerning cardiac changes, requiring intensive treatment.
Doctors flagged concerns about chronic poor oversight of the teen’s diabetes regimen, noting “baseline elevated sugars beyond what is appropriate” and “2 significant hospitalizations in the past week” due to “management of his diabetes or lack thereof.”
Medical Experts Report ‘Concerns for Medical Neglect’
In a letter cited in the affidavit, Dr. Daniel Hale—Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes—reported the child had three DKA hospitalizations in three months, calling the repeated episodes “a state of insulinopenia, meaning the body does not have enough insulin to survive.”…