Diabetes and Social Security Benefits
The American Diabetes Association says there are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. Approximately 14.6 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes; however there are 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) who are unaware that they have the disease.
What You Need to Know
Diabetes mellitus, often referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which an individual has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin for the body, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that the body produced.
Insulin is a hormone that the body uses to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes remains a mystery. Genetics plays a role in individuals developing Type 1 and Type 2. Environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise plays a large role in people who develop Type 2 diabetes.
TYPES AND THE SYMPTOMS
There are two major kinds of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 results from the body’s failure to produce insulin. People develop Type 2 from a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin, combined with relative insulin deficiency.
Symptoms of both Types include
- frequent urination,
- excessive thirst,
- extreme hunger,
- unusual weight loss,
- increased fatigue,
- irritability, and
- blurry vision.
To learn more about the disease, visit the American Diabetes Association website at www.diabetes.org/home.jsp.
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
If your diabetes is not under control, it can certainly affect your daily living activities and prevent you from working. Social Security will provide benefits for individuals that meet the criteria for diabetes. For example, if your condition causes any of the following, you could qualify for social security benefits:
- Retinopathy – visual impairment
- Neuropathy – problems using the hands, fingers, legs, and feet
- Acidosis – diabetes condition when the blood sugar is not under control.
You need to apply for Social Security Disability benefits as soon as you and your doctors agree that you have an injury that will prevent you from working. Unfortunately, many people have to wait for a while to see what happens with their medical condition and treatment. During that time, men and women usually run into a great deal of financial trouble.
Talk With Us About Your Injury
The best way to learn about SSD and SSI after an accident is to talk with one of our Social Security Disability Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm. 803.252.4800 Call us for free and find out if you are eligible to receive benefits.
