The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases defines diabetes as “a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high.” Sometimes, our bodies don’t make enough insulin (a hormone that helps the glucose from food be used for energy), they don’t make any at all, or they don’t handle it properly.
When this happens, the glucose stays in the bloodstream and never makes it to the cells where it can be used for energy. Over time, having excess glucose in the blood can lead to a variety of health problems, some of which are serious.
High blood glucose can lead to the following health problems:
- Stroke
- Heart or kidney disease
- Oral health problems (dental issues)
- Nerve damage
- Eye (e.g. blindness) or foot problems
- Amputation
There are a few different kinds of diabetes, including Type 1 (childhood diabetes), Type 2 (adult onset), and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and are experiencing serious complications, you may be concerned about what the future holds, including your ability to work and earn a living. If someone is telling you that diabetes is not a serious disease, they are wrong, dead wrong.
According to the page, “Diabetic Myths,” on the American Diabetic Associations’ website, it says: “Diabetes causes more deaths per year than breast cancer and AIDS combined, and having diabetes nearly doubles your chance of having a heart attack. The good news is that managing your diabetes can reduce your risk for diabetes complications.”
Related: SSDI: What is Substantial Gainful Activity?
Filing a Social Security Disability Claim
Diabetes is on what’s called the Adult Listing of Impairments under 9.00 Endocrine Disorders. This means that the Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes diabetes as a serious medical condition, which may meet the SSA’s definition of a “disability.” If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, this is good news for you. To file a claim for disability because of your diabetes, contact The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC today.