How do you know when you have a diabetic disability? According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes is considered a disability when it limits one or more of a person’s major life activities. Major life activities are defined by the ADA as “basic activities that an average person can perform with little or no difficulty, such as eating or caring for oneself.” A person also is considered to have a diabetic disability when the disease causes side effects or complications that substantially limit a major life activity.

Allsup.com gives very clear explanation of the guidelines used to determine if a diabetic disability qualifies for Social Security insurance. The complete explanation can be found on Allsup.com. In short, it states that the determination is a five-step process in which the following factors are reviewed:

  1. Whether the person is currently working or “engaging in substantial gainful activity”.
  2. Whether the disability