Filing For Disability Benefits With Diabetes
By Attorney Chris Sharry on September 19th, 2013 in Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body cannot produce enough or effectively use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose from food to enter the body’s cells where it is converted into energy needed by muscles and tissue to function. When glucose is not absorbed properly, the glucose stays circulating in the blood damaging tissue over time.
Types of Diabetes
Type I: The body can no longer produce the insulin it needs. Without insulin, people with Type I diabetes will die.
Type II: Most common, usually occurs in adults, body is able to produce insulin but it is either insufficient or body is not responding to its effect, leading to a buildup of glucose.
To qualify for disability benefits, you must meet or equal a listing or qualify under a medical-vocational allowance. Although there is no listing in the Social Security’s blue book for diabetes, you may still qualify for benefits if you have complications arising from your diabetes that meet or equal a disability listing, or you qualify under a medical-vocational allowance.
Complications from diabetes include increased risk of developing a number of serious health problems affecting:
- Heart
- Eyes
- Kidney
- Nerves
- Lower limb amputation
