Diabetes Community

I went on disability 9 years ago because of many health issues but the judge honed in on the diabetes..Go for it but get a good lawyer who does disability cases.

You can apply for disability (SSDI) online at the ssa.gov website (if you are here in the US). It is not difficult to apply if you have all the information about your condition and you have your list of doctors/hospitals and some test results right at hand. I did it and was approved within a few weeks, no lawyer was required. I do have a condition which the SSA considers eligible for a "compassionate allowance" which means it qualified for a quick decision.

You need to not be working because of your disability and keep in mind that there is a 5-month waiting period from the time that SSA determines your eligibility date. Also, you must have worked and contributed to SSA enough fiscal quarters to qualify. I had worked for 30 years, so I had no problem meeting this part of the eligibility requirements.

I believe diabetes is covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act. That means your employer must allow reasonable accommodations for you. For example, you may be working someplace that doesn't allow food in the work station. Your employer would need to allow you to go somewhere and have a snack if you needed one to maintain your blood sugar. It might mean providing a stool for a normally standing job if you have neuropathy and can't stand but could perform the job equally well by using a stool. Accommodation may not apply if you work in a small company, I'm not sure if company size factors into the picture.

If you take care of your diabetes, and are well controlled, NO it is not a disability.

If you let it go, and your numbers are frequently too high, have many complications, miss work a lot, etc it can become a disability and liability.

I would think that your diabetes is something that is none of your employer's business as a rule. He doesnt have to know that unless you are having a lot of issues and problems at work.

Hooty

Glad it worked for you. I had several health issues including diabetes. I was medically retired on a pulmonary disease. I filed twice and was turned down. Got a lawyer and then got it. I live in Ga. don't know if that has any thing to do with it. Just be ppatient if you apply.
Paul

Unless you work where it is required to report any illness.
Paul

In my case, diabetes is a disability. My diabetes is uncontrolled and my numbers are constantly high. I have been hospitalized and been to emergency rooms too many times to count. Either my numbers were high or i had pains related to my diabetes. Social security has denied my benefits every time i applied. I have applied 4 times since being diagnosed 10 years ago. The state even one time sent me to their "doctor" who asked me to "spell the word "world" backwards"! What does knowing how to spell words backwards have to do with being diabetic? After that i recieved my denial letter. Correct me if i am wrong, but diabetes is not cureable and will result in my death, which are two of the requirements.

Why are your sugars always high? Are you on insulin? Are you eating correctly? If you are doing everything you should, then your numbers wouldnt be high all the time. Diabetes shouldnt be a disability. I know for me it isnt, and I'm not planning on dying because of it.

I would suggest you seek out a specialist who will work with you on getting your sugars down and also get you on a medication for the neuropathy. There is no need to go to the hospital so much, or to try for disability of you can get your health better.

Spelling "world" backwards shows if you have cognitive decline.

Can an employer require me to take medical tests in order to be hired?Under the Americans with Disabilities Act , you cannot be required by an employer to take a medical examination before you are offered a job. Following a job offer, however, an employer can condition the job offer on your passing a required medical examination, but only if all entering employees for that job category have to take the exam and the exam is job-related and consistent with the employer's business needs. (You cannot be singled out for an exam merely because you have, or your employer believes you have, a disability.)


However, an employer cannot reject you because of information about your disability revealed by the medical examination, unless the reasons for rejection are job-related and necessary for the conduct of the employer's business. The employer cannot refuse to hire you because of your disability if you can perform the essential functions of the job with an accommodation.


The results of all medical examinations must be kept confidential and maintained in separate medical files apart from your regular personnel files.




Can my employer require me to take medical tests in order to keep my job?Under the Americans with Disabilities Act , once you have been hired and started work, your employer cannot require that you take a medical examination or ask questions about your disability unless they are related to your job and necessary for the conduct of your employer's business. For example, if you appeared to be homicidal or suicidal, your employer might have a duty to require a psychological exam and/or inform your coworkers, to keep the workplace safe.

I honestly have a paper called "Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)" from my doctors office. That is question #3 on this test which is used as part of the determination of whether you are disabled.
What does it have to do with your disability of diabetes - absolutely nothing. It is just SSDI's way of disqualifying you for disability. This test consists of 11 questions for a total of 30 points. Your question was a 5 point question and one of the hardest on the test.. Believe me a child between the ages of 7-9 years of age could get a perfect score because these questions are that ridiculous.
As I was personally told by an Occupational Vocational Rehabilitation employee from the county I live in -"you have to learn how to work the system". Translation even though you know the answer act confused and get it wrong. I personally do not understand the issues except that the longer they reject you they hope you will give up. Also, if your under 50 yrs old you might as well forget it.
I am 53 - have been diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands even after one and was operated on, suffering from major depression and have in the past year found out that I have uncontrolled diabetes. Doctors have submitted the forms requested by disability stating the I have less then a year before I will have no use of my hands. Yes, I was denied disability. All these factors have been submitted to the appeal board by a lawyer and I have been waiting for 8 months - was told maybe I will get a hearing in early 2013. Common sense should be part of the decision because by the time I get to the hearing the year will be up by 5 months. Maybe when I get there and have no use of my hands at all because of the games they play I will be able to get disability and also need a live in caretaker which will have to be supplied by the state because I am absolutely broke at this point. Personally I am at the point of giving up because I really can not stand to go on like this - the depression is taking its to but I am working with doctors on this issue.
My one bit of advice is google - disability secrets and see if under any of the info posted can give you a clue as to another way of working the system. I personally found out that some of the info posted there many of us would not know about. but a good lawyer does. That is part of it - you need a lawyer and if they are good you shouldn't have any up front fees. I worked for 33 years and made a middle class salary - the most I will have to pay the lawyer is $6,000.00 if a win the case. The lawyer gets absolutely no money if he loses the case. So if you find a lawyer like this you know they won't likely take a case they don't feel they can win. Best of luck to you!!!

I

MzTaz313 You made the comment to Hootyowl to correct you if you were wrong - I can tell you that it is reversible and does not mean death for me. (See Dr Dansingers posts/blogs on Conquering Diabetes).

I was diagnosed in 2007 with type 2, was put on Metformin 2,000mg daily - but I was determined to stop it in it's tracks. I am disabled for many reasons and diabetes is not one of them.

With hard work, change of Drs, the right medication and dietitian, little exercise and determination I put my diabetes in remission that was March of 2010. I still am medication free and my numbers are normal. Yesterday was the first time I had a day time low (63). I knew to eat carbs to bring it up.

It may not be curable BUT it can be controlled and reserved to the point you can be normal again. It does not have to be a death sentence for anyone. Many on this board have been diabetic for many years and manage their diabetes well.

If your numbers are not coming down perhaps you need to see another Dr or have your medications switched a good dietitian can help as well.

Diabetes contributes greatly to your death only if you give up and let it. It's all about control. All that is needed here is more education.

The sentence "his numbers are high because as the man said it contributes greatly to your death" makes no sense. High sugars does contribute to complications which could result in death, but the fear of death from these complications shouldnt make sugars high. Eating the wrong foods, being on the wrong medications, and not taking care of yourself all contribute to high sugars, and all can be controlled.

I have been diabetic since I was 16, so for 13 years now, and am a type 1. I have *no* complications from being diabetic, and my last A1c was 6.1. I studied endocrinology while in college in getting my degree. I've taken classes taught by CDEs and continue to see an educator at least once a year. I think I understand the disease pretty well.