Everyday People Matter

DIABETES IS NOW INCREASINGLY A YOUNG ADULT’S DISEASE

| Oct 7, 2019 | Diabetes

A popular misconception is that type 2 diabetes is a disease that affects only older persons. This is increasingly being proven false by strong evidence. Data indicates that the number of teens and young adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is increasing.

As many as 1 in 8 new diagnoses of type 2 diabetes now involve persons between the age of 18 and 40, compared to a rate of 1 in 10 less than two decades ago. Besides, younger females between the age of 18 and 40 now seem to have a higher incidence of diabetes compared to women above the age of 40. Another study also found that teens who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were at a high risk of diabetes-related complications in their twenties.

If you are a diabetes patient, you likely have concerns about the way your health will impact your ability to work and earn an income. Persons with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of several complications. These include

  • Diabetic retinopathy that can cause severe or total vision loss
  • Diabetic nephropathy which can cause kidney damage, even causing kidney failure or death
  • Amputations as a result of abscesses in the feet that become infected or as the result of nerve damage

These complications can be life-altering if they occur in older adults. However, when these complications strike someone in their twenties or thirties, the implications can be frightening.

If you suffer from diabetes, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. However, a diagnosis by itself will not be sufficient for your claim to be approved. The Social Security Administration will require evidence that your condition makes it difficult, if not impossible, for you to work and earn a sustainable income.

If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, contact my law firm about your eligibility for disability benefits.