The Social Security Administration (SSA) lists diabetes as a qualification for social security disability. As Chicago disability attorneys, we want to educate you on how to best apply for diabetes disability. Here’s the information you should know.
What is Diabetes?
It’s classified as a medical disorder in which a person has increased levels of glucose (blood sugar). There are three types of disability, including Type 1, or juvenile Diabetes, Type 2, or “adult-onset” Diabetes and finally, Gestational Diabetes.
Side effects of diabetes include high blood pressure, eye damage, kidney disease, heart disease, blindness and stroke. A long-term diabetic may even lose limbs to amputation because of poor circulation.
Symptoms
Diabetics typically experience a frequent need to urinate combined with extreme thirst, chronic hunger between meals, fatigue, weight loss and/or general feelings of irritability.
Qualifying for Diabetes Disability
Your doctor must diagnose you with either Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes in order to qualify. Your doctor also must diagnose you with one of the following conditions:
- Neuropathy: a nervous system abnormality that significantly affects two extremities to the extent of a “sustained disturbance” of movement.
- Acidosis: results from an abnormal increase in the body fluid acidity occurring at least once every two months. Blood tests will document this.
- Diabetic retinopathy: damaged blood vessels in the eye that result in a significant loss of peripheral vision or visual acuity in the better of the two eyes.
If your diabetes is preventing you from working, there’s a chance you could be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. Our Chicago disability lawyers want to get to know you and your case, so we can best help you during this process.
