The medical listing that pertains to this disease is below. It refers to
other parts of the listings which can be found on my medical listing page. I will define some of the terms used here. Neuropathy is peripheral nerve dysfunction. Acidosis
is excess acid in the body fluids. Retinitis proliferans is inflammation of the retina. Diabetes Mellitus can
affect motor function and eye sight as demonstrated by the listing. To prove you meet this listed impairment it would
be a good idea to show your treating doctor the listing with the other sections it refers to. A Doctor who writes a
report on how you meet one of the below requirements will go a long way to help proving your case. This listing has
changed recently and you can show you meet or equal a listing by showing diabetes affects an area of the body to the extent
required by the listing of that body part. Below is some examples given by the listing but make sure to read the whole
listing for diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus and other pancreatic gland disorders disrupt
the production of several hormones, including insulin, that regulate metabolism and digestion. Insulin is essential to the
absorption of glucose from the bloodstream into body cells for conversion into cellular energy. The most common pancreatic
gland disorder is diabetes mellitus (DM). There are two major types of DM: type 1 and type 2. Both type 1 and type 2 DM are
chronic disorders that can have serious disabling complications that meet the duration requirement.
You may have serious complications resulting from your treatment, which we evaluate
under the affected body system. For example, we evaluate cardiac arrhythmias under 4.00, intestinal necrosis under 5.00, and
cerebral edema and seizures under 11.00. Recurrent episodes of DKA may result from mood or eating disorders, which we evaluate
under 12.00.
For example, we evaluate diabetic
peripheral neurovascular disease that leads to gangrene and subsequent amputation of an extremity under 1.00; diabetic retinopathy
under 2.00; coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease under 4.00; diabetic gastroparesis that results in abnormal
gastrointestinal motility under 5.00; diabetic nephropathy under 6.00; poorly healing bacterial and fungal skin infections
under 8.00; diabetic peripheral and sensory neuropathies under 11.00; and cognitive impairments, depression, and anxiety under
12.00.
Severe hypoglycemia can lead to complications,
including seizures or loss of consciousness, which we evaluate under 11.00, or altered mental status and cognitive deficits,
which we evaluate under 12.00.
Even if your DM is not severe enough to be found under the medical listing
the symptoms of diabetes can cause significant functional limitations. These limitations can be used to show you can't
work. Some of the common ones are decrease in eye sight, kidney dysfunction, neuropathy. These symptoms can show
both exertional and non-exertional limitations. One may have difficulty walking, standing for long periods of time,
or may have to elevate their legs. An individuals ability to lift weight may be affected. If decrease in vision
occurs this could result in difficulty doing things like using a computer, reading, working with small objects or avoiding
hazards in a work environment. It is also common for those with significant diabetes to have loss of feeling or burning
in hands and/or feet. Numbness in hands can be especially useful in showing one can not do sedentary type work like
typing, writing or dealing with small objects. It is important to remember that many people have diabetes mellitus with
few if any limitations in function. The limitations I have noted above usually occur in those with uncontrolled DM over
time.
Interesting facts about Diabetes Mellitus
About three percent
of the population has the disease. It is one of the leading cause of blindness. It increase your risk of stroke
and heart attack. There are two types labeled Type One and Type Two. Type 1 also know as juvenile diabetes most
often occurs before age 30. They are dependant on insulin injections. Type 2 also called adult onset diabetes
most often affects those over 30. In this type the body does not produce enough insulin to maintain proper glucose level
and is often able to be controlled by diet and/or pills.
