My doctor is trying to stop me from working however I need the medical insurance when I finally do get it. She is saying that type 1 diabetes is a disability and that I can get disability. However Social Security is saying she is wrong. Does she have the right to stop me from working and driving?
Hi Rob! I posted this comment in the chat, but will re post here as well...in case you missed it.
Rob....I would go to another doctor. Yours does not seem right to me....why would a diabetic, of any type, not be allowed to work....unless you had major complications!
Unless there are other issues, there is no reason why someone with diabetes cannot work. Unless there are other issues....I don't want to be perceived as "disabled".
There has been a lot of discussion here about diabetes as a disability, and the agreement is that it is not, especially with social security, even with complications like a lot of low blood glucose levels.
I agree with Linda, you need a new doctor.
On the driving.... that depoends on your state rules. Years ago Virginia required a letter from the doctor stating that my health was good enough to operate a car. Then they stopped doing that. If your state requires that and the doctor won't provide, then yes, she can stop you from driving.
Is there some sort of state program or perhaps some other type of insurance to which your doctor is referring? Looking at http://seniortransportation.easterseals.com/site/DocServer/NC_Physician_s_Guide.linked.pdf?docID=142652, it states "In North Carolina,
physicians are not required to refer their patients for driver medical evaluation. However, NorthCarolina physicians may perhaps be confronted with a legal as well as an ethical dilemma if they have expert knowledge of a patient's medical condition that may be hazardous for driving. While no North Carolina physician has yet been convicted of a criminal offense or successfully sued for failing to report a medically unfit driver, case law in other states has supported an obligation to refer medically unfit drivers for evaluation"
So there'd be some duty on the part of the doctor to report you if she noted in your log or medical history or in some other manner a situation where your management represents a hazard. It appears very low risk for the doctor but, if you drove through a crowd of people or something like that, to the extent that your medical history might be investigated, a plaintiff could perhaps work to "go after" the doctor so the doctor may be prudent and ethical by protecting others if she feels you are a risk.
This probably would not qualify you for SSDI, or federal disability benefits, since they ask different questions like "can you do anything?" At least one Supreme Court justice probably wouldn't buy an argument that you are disabled in that sense.
Diabetes is very challenging but if your doc is taking steps to get your license pulled or restricted, it may be worth taking up the challenge to get your numbers where they need to be. You may also be personally liable for any damages you cause should you injure anyone with a car while you're zonked out.
I think as well...declaring yourself "disabled" opens up a can of worms!
Are you unable to think, to walk, to do things with your hands, to follow an employer's instructions, to get to work on time, and to keep a job? You are not disabled when you can take these actions.
The last generation of people with diabetes, those who had no meters by which to gauge their blood sugars, got horrendous complications. Our generation has meters, continuous monitors, pumps, and we tap into these thereby keeping our blood sugars within a normal target range. We are not disabled. We have a chronic disease that we keep under control! Do you have a bunch of doctors in your area from which you can choose one who knows how to control diabetes? Run, do not walk, from the disability talker.
Rob,
What is your A1c? Where do your blood sugars generally land 2 hours after eating? Has this doctor been working with you a long time but your blood sugars aren't getting under control? Is the doctor working to get your blood sugars under control? Do you see her or her team of helpers often enough to know how to get a handle on your blood sugars - like your fasting one, your BS before meals, your BS 2 hours after meals? - like your sensitivity number, your I:C ratio? Is all this gibberish?
A huge can and once those worms get out, it's almost impossible to get them back in. "Disability" worms are the worst kind.
What's your job? Are you put into situations where the diabetes would be in the way? Like driving/operating heavy machinery--basically situations where a low blood sugar could make you a danger to yourself and your co-workers?
If not, I agree with other people. The doctor is just covering her butt--and SS does not tend to grant disability status for diabetes without further complications.
I know a licensed commercial pilot (flying the big ones) with type 1 diabetes.
Grant you he has to test an enormous amount of times daily, and is under scrutiny,
BUT....he fought for it, and is doing what he loves....and I KNOW there is NO WAY he would consider himself disabled....to the contrary.
Because you have Diabetes doesn't autimatically make you disabled but complications from D are the grounds that might make you want to file for disability. I retired in 1993 after 20 some years with our educational system here where I live. I went on to do parttime work sometimes and eventully I had to stop because of comps. A friend suggested I file for disability. After being denied I appealed and finally got disability. If you complications it will make you eligible for disability and not because you have Diabetes.
I don't consider myself disabled. i can things that everyone else does. My doctor is concerned though about nerve damage to the nerves that control blood pressure, but i have never had an incident where it went to high or to low.
I operate large passenger ships with hundreds of people on them for a living in the most demanding environment on the planet-- and I do it with diabetes--- although like Linda's friend I do have to jump through some extra hoops to document my excellent control. The notion that someone with diabetes couldn't operate heavy machinery is nonsense
If you don't like something your doctor is telling you, the beauty is you can always get a new one and never talk to them again--- and no, your doctor can't stop you from doing anything (in the USA anyway)
My brother had a reaction, died in his hot tub and was brought back to life last July. I just saw him yesterday and his disablity had just been approved.
Since his death and return therefrom, his situation is pretty extreme.
He always warned me not to tell the DMV about my diabetes because they make you jump through horendous hoops. I do approach driving with a lot of respect and luckily the worst diabetic incident I've had while driving was getting lost cuz I was too low, so I pulled over and corrected things. The older I get the harder I fight to stay as close to normal range as possible. Low bg will screw your memory, oxygen is carried to the brain via blood sugar.
Dang I just go on and on and on....lol. Anyways I hope you keep good control. If possible get and keep a union job.
Rob...sorry...not suggesting YOU are calling yourself disabled....but your doctor seems to have a different view. It is she/he that troubles me!
Impressive.
I'm sorry (to Linda and Rob and Sam). I didn't mean to imply that a person with diabetes can't operate dangerous equipment-- planes/passenger ships are plenty dangerous and I'm glad that you and Linda's friend have had the conviction to keep your diabetes under control so you can follow your dreams and be what you wanted to be.
I was just saying that if Rob's job entails something like that (I don't know that it does) I can understand the doctor's concern. Not her actions--she is apparently unaware of what hoops are necessary to get on disability and the fact that diabetes itself is not enough--but her concerns.
My first thought when it comes to diabetes/disability is the hypo issue. Which can be managed, as demonstrated by many people with diabetes. Sam and Linda's friend have to jump through those hoops to show their control. And probably they'd agree that someone who couldn't manage those hoops (I'm not saying that Rob can't do it--this is a random person with Type 1 who is hypo-unaware or has another complication) might not be ready to operate an airplane or a ship.
However, Rob did mention a secondary problem (besides the diabetes) with nerve damage/blood pressure. If his doctor's actions in telling him to stop working have to do with the nerve damage thing, that's different than trying to get on disability with T1.
The nerve damage and blood pressure would have to be excessive for a doctor to imply that you are disabled Rob. Is the doctor not prescribing blood pressure medication?
As do I maybe I should seek another PCD
I dont have a blood pressure problem as of yet. I said in my post that the nerves that control blood pressure are damaged. However I haven't experienced in blood pressure problems.
I've heard some really stupid things said by some really stupid doctors but that has to be right up there on the top of my list. If you are an able bodied person, diabetes or no diabetes, you should be working and not living as disabled for symptoms that might happen. That is absurd. That doctor is part of the reason SS and Medicare are in such big trouble. In my state, " disabilty" is a scam and a way to have someone else provide for you and pay your bills.
Definitely find a new doctor. With that point of view, I'm not sure you'd be getting the best care from that person. I'm guessing that is your PCP or GP. I doubt you would ever hear that from an endo.