The short answer to the question is yes, there are people who receive Social Security disability for diabetes. However, they do not get disability just because they have been diagnosed with diabetes. And that makes sense because plenty of people who have diabetes work and lead pretty normal lives. People who receive disability due to diabetes generally receive it because their diabetes was uncontrolled for some period of time and it caused damage to their body. The symptoms from the damage cause the person to be unable to work and they qualify for disability.

One of the most common complications of uncontrolled diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. The nerves in the hands and feet are damaged and you might feel pain, tingling or even numbness if the neuropathy is really severe. The nerve damage may cause you to be unable to use your hands for things like buttoning your shirt or tying your shoes. You may lose your balance easily and need a cane to walk if your feet are numb. Another complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. This affects your vision and can permanently damage your eyesight. Other organs can be damaged by diabetes, including your kidneys. If your kidneys fail you will need dialysis. All of those complications can certainly affect your ability to work and if they are bad enough, you may qualify for disability.

If you are a diabetic and you are not taking your medication and you are not following your doctor’s instructions regarding your diet and exercise, it can make it harder for you to get approved for disability. If you have diabetes and it is uncontrolled, the first thing you need to do is talk to your doctor and try to get your blood sugar levels under control. Your symptoms may get better or go away entirely. But what if they don’t? Sometimes the damage from diabetes is permanent. If it is, then you may qualify for disability because the symptoms are still there and they prevent you from working.