According to the American Diabetes Association, about 25.8 million American children and adults suffer from some form of Diabetes. The full name of this condition is diabetes mellitus, and there are two major types: type 1 and type 2. Both are chronic disorders that can result in serious complications. One may be entitled to social security disability benefits if complications from a diabetes mellitus diagnosis prevent that person from working. Diabetes mellitus is listed under listing 9.00 of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Impairment Listing Manual.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus disrupt the body’s production of several hormones, including insulin, which is important for absorbing glucose from the bloodstream into body cells. This disruption is generally manifested in 1 of 2 ways: Hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, both of which carry their own complications that may result in a person’s inability to work.
Both types of diabetes mellitus cause hyperglycemia, or an abnormally high level of blood glucose, which can produce acute and long-term complications. These complications include Diabetic ketoacidosis which may result in complications like dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and insulin deficiency. Several problems can result from treatment, including cardiac arrhythmias, intestinal necrosis, and cerebral edema and seizures. Further, chronic hyperglycemia can result in disabetic retinopathy, coronary or artery disease and peripheral vascular disease, diabetic gastroparesis, diabetic nephropathy, as well as others. Each of these individual complications resulting from hyperglycemia due to diabetes mellitus are evaluated under different listings by SSA.
Another complication resulting from diabetes mellitus is hypoglycemia, or an abnormally low level of blood glucose. This can lead to complications including seizures, loss of consciousness, or altered mental and cognitive functioning, which are evaluated by SSA under separate listings.
Proving disability based on a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus may be complex because the claim will likely be based on multiple complications rather than a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus alone. Our law office frequently deals with disability claims arising out of a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Enlisting the help of an experienced social security disability attorney may be essential to your claim for benefits. Feel free to call should you have any questions.
