Many people labor under the incorrect assumption that only certain medical conditions will qualify them for Social Security Disability benefits. In reality, any medical condition, even common ones, could result in someone qualifying for Social Security Disability.
What really matters is how severely the condition impacts the person involved. If a medical condition is severe enough to prevent someone from continuing to work, that may be enough reason to seek Social Security Disability. The applicant simply needs to provide medical documentation of how severely the symptoms of their condition impact their daily life.
There are millions of Americans with diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2. The average person with diabetes can continue to work their job with no problem. For a small number of people, however, the symptoms of diabetes can become so severe that they can no longer work like they once did. Those without good health insurance may be particularly at risk for progressive symptoms that become debilitating.
Uncontrolled diabetes can have severe symptoms
Most people with Type 1 diabetes know from a young age that they must alter their diet and take special medication. However, Type 2 diabetes develops over time. Your body’s ability to handle sugar degrades over time, which may not prompt you to go to the doctor. People may go long periods of time without treatment, during which their symptoms only get worse.
In some cases, the symptoms and consequences of untreated and uncontrolled diabetes can end up causing lasting disability. In some cases, people may experience strokes or heart attacks as a result of diabetes. These medical emergencies can leave someone in a condition where they can no longer work or even care for themselves.
Other times, neuropathy can result from diabetes, which can cause issues with comfort and job performance. Nerve damage due to diabetes is also a concern. If you develop nerve damage, it can leave you in pain performing even simple tasks on the job.
Those who suffer a diabetes-related amputation may qualify as well
Diabetes sometimes causes nerve damage and pain in your extremities. It can also reduce your body’s ability to fight off infections and heal itself. The combination of these two side effects of diabetes can result in severe tissue damage to the lower extremities. Many times, it is the feet that are affected.
Patients may and up requiring the amputation of one or both feet in order to stave off worse symptoms, progressive infection or other medical consequences. Adjusting to life after an amputation is difficult. Many people may not be able to return to their job. In this case, the person who suffered a diabetes-related amputation may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.