Are you considered to be disabled if you have Type 2 diabetes? It’s a rather complicated question! A person who has diabetes that hasn’t progressed to serious physical damage and who can function normally in society isn’t a person that most people would see as being disabled.

At the same time, people who need to use medication as a treatment for diabetes are protected by the Equality Act. In Northern Ireland, the relevant law has a more descriptive name: the Disability Discrimination Act.

These laws ensure that you are protected from workplace discrimination. In practice, they mean that your employer can’t deny you the right to get the support you need in order to live a life that’s as normal as possible.

Is Type 2 diabetes considered as a disability in the UK? In this sense, it is, but what about disability benefits? Do they apply to you too? Let’s investigate!

What Benefits Can I Claim With Type 2 Diabetes?

In the UK, your medical needs are covered. This includes free eye exams to ensure that you aren’t developing diabetes complications that could lead to vision impairment or blindness. If you need medication to lower your blood glucose levels, you are also entitled to free prescriptions.

As for your eligibility for other benefits, that depends on your circumstances. It depends on the degree to which diabetes might be impairing your lifestyle and health. And, since many people with Type 2 diabetes lead a very normal life, they might not apply to you.

Here are some circumstances that might make you eligible for further benefits:

You Have Serious Mental Health Issues

Diabetes doesn’t necessarily affect your mental health, but studies show that people who are living with diabetes are two to three times more likely to suffer from depression. That’s not just a matter of feeling sad. It’s a mental health condition that can affect your ability to do everyday things.

You Have Serious Complications

Diabetes can have some very serious complications that make it difficult or impossible to work. For example, neuropathy (brought on by damage to your nerves owing to high blood sugar levels) can be a disability if it affects you to the point where you’re not able to do the work because of pain, discomfort or reduced sensation.

Other complications may be even more serious and offer a more clear-cut need for  benefits. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the risk of problems like visual impairment, blindness, leg ulcers, kidney damage or amputations and these serious complications would severely affect someone’s ability to work as they used to.

In all instances, the guiding principles used to determine whether you’re eligible for benefits will include deciding whether your disability prevents you from being able to work and whether it means you need extra care to do things others take for granted.

Not sure if you fit the bill for disability benefits? Use the Turn2Us calculator to get a better idea of what you’re eligible for.

You Need to Care for Children With Diabetes

Children with diabetes usually have Type 1 diabetes, but Type 2 diabetes is possible, although more usually in adolescents. If your child’s diabetes means that they have trouble doing everyday things and involves a heavy burden of extra care, you might be able to claim benefits to help you provide the necessary assistance.

Acting as a Carer for Someone With Diabetes

When a person with severe diabetes complications is disabled, they’ll need help to do simple things. If you’re a person who is caring for a disabled person with diabetes, you may be eligible for a carer allowance. When evaluating your claim, the need for care will be considered as well as the amount of time you need to spend on it. If it’s taking a minimum of 35 hours a week out of your time, you may be able to claim this benefit.

Is Type 2 Diabetes a Disability? UK Context

Type 2 diabetes is considered to be a disability. As such your rights to treatment and protection from discrimination are protected by law. You may be eligible for further benefits if your diabetes results in a physical or mental disability that affects your ability to live a normal life - but if you get an early diagnosis and manage your diabetes well, it may never progress to that level.

So, although your condition is regarded as a disability, don’t resign yourself to worst-case scenarios such as becoming unable to do ordinary things, having to live on benefits payments, or an early death. You can fight back! By managing your diabetes well, losing weight if you’re overweight, getting healthy exercise, and managing your blood sugar levels you can enjoy a long and healthy life.

Getting Life insurance With a Preexisting Condition

No matter how well you manage your diabetes, some things can be unnecessarily hard to achieve, and getting life insurance provides a practical example of this. Although you aren’t necessarily disabled, most insurance companies are going to treat you as a high-risk client and will expect you to go to a whole lot of extra effort and wait a whole lot longer while they think about whether they’re willing to offer you cover. But are you high risk?

Blueberry Life doesn’t think that’s necessarily true. After all, a reasonable person is going to do everything in their power to make the most of the health they have and avoid unpleasant complications. That’s why we specialise in life insurance for people with chronic conditions.

We believe that getting the peace of mind that comes with having life insurance should be easier, quicker, more cost-effective, and altogether more user-friendly than it generally is for people living with Type 2 diabetes. After all, you’re sure to be working as hard as you can to avoid the worst possible outcomes. We’ve got your back!

Get life cover that was developed with you in mind. Get it fast. Let it be fair to you. You have every intention to be as strong and as healthy as possible. But if, for some reason, you were to pass away unexpectedly, your foresight and your insurance through Blueberry Life will protect your family. Get a same day quote for Type 2 diabetes life insurance.

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Reviewed by Dr. Kingshuk Pal