Roughly one in five persons develops diabetes every day. In fact, in the past year over 100,000 Australians have developed the disease. 

Scarily, according to Diabetes Australia, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. It can also cause kidney failure and dialysis, limb amputations and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes by up to four times. 

With these confronting statistics in mind, we wanted to shine a light on the relationship between diabetes and TPD claims. If you’re the one in five, help may be available to you.

But firstly: what is diabetes? 

Most people have a general idea of what diabetes is, but there is still a bit to unpack here. Broadly speaking diabetes is an inability to maintain healthy glucose levels in your blood because of difficulties regulating the hormone insulin. Insulin is responsible for converting sugars in your body into energy. So instead of converting sugars into energy, the glucose stays in your blood and results in high blood glucose levels.

Diabetes is a sweeping term used to describe three different types of diabetes, these being:

  • Gestational diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes (commonly controlled with dietary changes)
  • Type 1 diabetes (sufferers need to inject themselves regularly with insulin).

As we mentioned above, diabetes can lead to many serious and complicated health conditions. While it can be managed, diabetes-related complications can severely impact your ability to participate in day-to-day life. Thankfully, if this is the case, you may be able to apply for a TPD payout and receive financial relief. 

When can I make a TPD claim for diabetes? 

If diabetes has affected you to the extent that you can no longer work the jobs you have previously done, you may be eligible to make a TPD claim. 

It’s important to note that each Superannuation fund has a different definition for TPD. Most people, however, are assessed under the ‘unlikely ever’ definition. This definition requires you to show medical evidence that you are unlikely ever to return to work within your education, training or experience. 

What type of things will insurers consider when making a determination on a diabetes-based TPD claim?

Your insurer will likely consider the severity of your condition and how it impacts your ability to work. Some of the things your insurer may consider include: 

  • The type of diabetes you have – Type 1 diabetes often requires more monitoring and can be harder to control, and sufferers of Type 1 diabetes are more likely to experience complications. That’s not to say that sufferers of other types of diabetes are automatically excluded—the success of your claim will always come down to your individual circumstances. 
  • Age – The older you are, the more likely you are to experience diabetes-related conditions.
  • Time of diagnosis  – Insurers are interested to see how you’ve been managing the condition and how long for. 
  • Family history – Is your family generally healthy, or do health conditions run in the family? If it’s the latter, you may be considered less likely to stay 

healthy in the future and a higher risk than a diabetic with no family history.

While ultimately your eligibility for a TPD claim will depend on your individual circumstances, diabetes well and truly has the potential to put people out of work and fall within the category of a TPD claim. So if you’re a sufferer who is unable to return to work, it’s well worth looking into what options are available to you to provide much-needed financial relief. As TPD claims can be quite complex, it’s important to contact WKB TPD Lawyers on 1800 865 225 or visit or website https://wkblawyers.com.au/ to see if you may be eligible. WKB TPD Lawyers are not a generalist personal injury firm – in fact, we only do TPD claims.