ERISA & Social Security Disability: Southern California Lawyers

Disability Benefits for Diabetes?
Diabetes is caused by problems with insulin. In Type I diabetes (often called “childhood” diabetes), the pancreas makes too little or no insulin, and in Type II diabetes (“adult” diabetes), the problem is “insulin resistance, “often from obesity, where the insulin doesn't work well. 

The body needs insulin to transport glucose (sugar) into the cells of the body. When there is too little insulin or there's insulin resistance, glucose cannot get into the cells of the body, and the sugar in the bloodstream becomes elevated. When glucose can't get into the cells of the body, multiple metabolic problems occur, because cells (such as muscle cells or brain cells) need glucose to generate energy.

Genetic factors play a huge role in the development of Type I diabetes. They are also important in Type II diabetes, but life-style (weight gain, lack of exercise) is also very important. 

Diagnosis of Diabetes

Diabetes is diagnosed by doing lab work and finding high levels of glucose in the blood stream. There is another test, called the A1C, that measures and averages what the blood sugar has been running for the past 3 months or so. It's a “look back” test, and it is useful in diagnosing diabetes along with a fasting glucose. 

Complications of Diabetes

Diabetes may cause retinal problems in the eyes, including blindness, neuropathy in the feet, vascular problems in the lower extremities, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke, increased susceptibility to infections, and kidney disease (sometimes requiring dialysis).  If the glucose in the blood rises to very high levels, that can cause “diabetic acidosis” and result in coma and death.

Documenting your limitations:  

How does your condition affect you? Be specific to articulate to your physician details of your physical limitations and how they impact you on a daily basis with regard to your daily living activities, your ability to stand/walk, lift/carry, and even sit for extended periods of time and need for breaks or rest from pain or fatigue. These are important factors and details regarding your functional capacity and important in evaluating whether you can perform your work or any work.