Diabetes can be a difficult disease to manage. While many people can manage it appropriately, it can also be unpredictable. You should apply for disability as a truck driver with diabetes if your condition prevents you from completing any full-time work for at least a year.
Qualifying for disability based on a diabetes diagnosis or related complications can be difficult and often requires meticulous care when completing your application. If you have questions about your eligibility or feel you were unfairly denied, an Oklahoma City Social Security Benefits Attorney with the Law Center for Social Security Disability may be able to help.
Diabetes May Impact Your Commercial Driver’s License But Not Your Ability to Work
If you are a truck driver managing diabetes, you may worry that your condition will impact your CDL, leaving you unable to work as a truck driver. Historically, having insulin-dependent diabetes was a disqualifying factor for obtaining your CDL, but after a 2018 ruling, simply requiring insulin is no longer a problem. You may keep your license by undergoing an annual exam by an FMCSA-approved physician who can certify that your condition is well managed.
In the event that you are struggling to manage your condition and you cannot get the necessary documentation, you may lose your CDL. However, this alone does not qualify you for disability, as you may still be able to work in other capacities.
Signs That You May Qualify for Disability as a Truck Driver with Diabetes
Diabetes complications that may allow you to qualify for disability are often those that develop over time and may have already prevented you from driving a truck professionally. Some of these Social Security Administration-approved reasons include:
- Peripheral neuropathy that prevents you from safely walking, standing, or operating machinery and vehicles with hand or foot controls
- Chronic Nephropathy or kidney failure that causes significant fatigue or requires regular dialysis treatments that may prevent you from working
- Cardiovascular or circulatory damage that has led to a significant risk of heart attack, or even limb amputations
- Slow healing wounds or infections
Additionally, you may qualify if your condition is unmanaged to a degree that you require the assistance of others, despite following your provider’s directions.
Other Considerations Before You Apply for Disability
Diabetes alone is not an adequate reason to qualify for disability, and an inability to drive trucks does not mean you are unable to work at all. However, when determining whether a diabetic truck driver can receive Social Security Disability, the SSA may also consider other factors like your age, employment history, and education. If you have only worked in truck driving for the last 20 years and do not have education beyond high school, it may be reasonable to find that you are unlikely to find full-time work.
The key to gaining disability is medical evidence. Some of the documentation that can help your claim is medical records showing A1C testing, blood sugar logs, nerve studies, test results for kidney function, eye exams, and failed DOT tests or missed work due to your symptoms. These are difficult claims to win, but not impossible, if you can clearly demonstrate how your symptoms inhibit your ability to work.