How Diabetes Affects a St. Louis Workers’ Compensation Claim

The ability to claim workers’ compensation benefits may be affected by certain factors, including a pre-existing medical condition.

If you have a health condition such as diabetes, it can impact your workers’ compensation claim. The insurance company may raise a question about whether your injury is work-related or due to having diabetes. Factors that are considered include the extent of the illness, job duties, and work environment.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a medical condition in which a person has higher than normal blood glucose levels. The condition is caused because:

• the body does not produce enough insulin
• the body does not respond to insulin the way it should

Types of Diabetes

• Type 1 – The body does not produce enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes is uncommon and affects 10 percent of people with diabetes. Persons with Type 1 diabetes are dependent on insulin shots and must follow a special low-sugar diet.
• Type 2 – The body does not react to insulin the way it should. About 90 percent of diabetics have Type 2 diabetes. It usually worsens over time and the person has to regularly monitor blood sugar levels.
• Gestational diabetes – Affects pregnant women and happens when the woman has high blood glucose levels and the body is not able to produce insulin fast enough.

Effect on Workers’ Compensation Claims

Diabetes can be managed with proper treatment and the right diet; however, it can have an adverse effect on your work. If you are injured at work, it may have an impact on your workers’ compensation claim. Key factors that come into play when a diabetic patient files a workers’ compensation claim include:

• Whether diabetes is the cause of the inability to perform job functions such as those involving the use of arms or legs
• Whether the employee’s work activities caused the injury or are the result of progressive diabetes
• Whether the worker should receive disability benefits as a result

Influencing Factors & Denied Claims

photo credit: TheeErin