diabetes and disability - Diabetes Message Board

julio · 04-23-2002, 07:24 AM

My 51 year old husband was diagnosed at age 3 with type 1 diabetes. He has battled this disease for 48 years. He suffers from most of the results of longtime diabetes. He has worked all of his adult life but now finds that due to the lack of any feelings in his hands and feet (neuropathy), failing vision and he's had all five toes on his right foot amputated, he is having a hard time finding work that he can do. I have been pleading with him to apply for disability payments and I've tried to explain to him that people like him is what it's there for, but his male pride is suffering greatly. Are there any other long time diabetics who have applied for disability that can give me some advice? Thanks in advance. N

mlgable · 04-24-2002, 08:30 AM

If you husband has not seen a counselor at your counties department of vocational rehabilitation call and make and appointment now. They will help you tremendously either by helping him find a job he can do or by getting him the help he needs. They will also help with any assistive devices he may need. Look in your yellow pages or do a seach on the web for your states DVR and get that appointment made. If he is already seeing someone from DVR then go with him on his next appointment and mention your concerns to them. Good Luck.

deedee2074 · 04-26-2002, 12:01 PM

I have an acquaintance who is blind and has no legs from diabetes complications. He had some wild times in his youth which caused the complications he deals with today. Believe it or not, this guy snagged a job as a computer programmer. He has special braille and voice equipment on his computer. He's been doing this for years and been making fine money doing it. He does not work crazy hours and seems to be happy. i don't know what type of work your husband does now or if he would be interested in computers, but perhaps this type of job could help the situation. It can also give him a better sense of self-worth. I am sure he is grappling with feeling useless right now, and being able to do something-perhaps helping people with a similar problem will do wonders for him. Unfortunately, I don't know how you break into a field like this, but I will do some asking around. Maybe you can also check with your local chapter of ADA for some leads if you and your husband are interested.

brfnewsman · 04-26-2002, 12:50 PM

ccc

brfnewsman · 04-26-2002, 12:51 PM

any kind of complication from diabetes that is debilitating definitely satisfies social security disability..even though you have tried hardest to manage blood sugars....dopn't be fooled..A good attorney should be able to win you payments for life