Social Security Ruling, SSR 14-2p; Titles II and XVI: Evaluating Diabetes Mellitus, 31375-31380 [2014-12601]

Agencies

• Social Security Administration

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31375-31380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12601]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2013-0047]


Social Security Ruling, SSR 14-2p; Titles II and XVI: Evaluating 
Diabetes Mellitus

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Social Security Ruling (SSR).

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SUMMARY: We are giving notice of SSR 14-2p. This SSR provides 
information about the types of impairments and limitations that result 
from diabetes mellitus (DM). It also provides guidance on how we 
evaluate DM in disability claims under titles II and XVI of the Social 
Security Act.

DATES: Effective Date: June 2, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl A. Williams, Office of Medical 
Policy, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, (410) 965-1020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Although 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1) and (a)(2) do 
not require us to publish this SSR, we are doing so under 20 CFR 
402.35(b)(1).
    SSRs make available to the public precedential decisions relating 
to the Federal old-age, survivors, disability, supplemental security 
income, and special veterans benefits programs. We may base SSRs on 
determinations or decisions made at all levels of administrative 
adjudication, Federal court decisions, Commissioner's decisions, 
opinions of the Office of the General Counsel, or other interpretations 
of the law and regulations.
    Although SSRs do not have the same force and effect as statutes or 
regulations, they are binding on all of our components. 20 CFR 
402.35(b)(1).
    This SSR will be in effect until we publish a notice in the Federal 
Register that rescinds it, or until we publish a new SSR that replaces 
or modifies it.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Program Nos. 96.001, Social 
Security--Disability Insurance; 96.002, Social Security--Retirement 
Insurance; 96.004--Social Security--Survivors Insurance; 96.006, 
Supplemental Security Income.)

    Dated: May 22, 2014.
Carolyn W. Colvin,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

Policy Interpretation Ruling

Titles II and XVI: Evaluating Diabetes Mellitus

    Purpose: This SSR provides information about the types of 
impairments and limitations that result from diabetes mellitus (DM). It 
also provides guidance on how we evaluate DM in disability claims under 
titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act).\1\ We provide 
information about endocrine disorders other than DM, explain the types 
of impairments and limitations that result from them, and provide 
guidance on how we evaluate endocrine disorders in disability claims 
under titles II and XVI of the Act in SSR 14-3p.
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    \1\ For simplicity, we refer in this SSR only to initial claims 
for benefits. However, the policy interpretations in this SSR also 
apply to continuing disability reviews of adults and children under 
sections 223(f) and 1614(a)(4) of the Act, and to redeterminations 
of eligibility for benefits we make in accordance with section 
1614(a)(3)(H) of the Act when a child who is receiving title XVI 
payments based on disability attains age 18.
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    Citations (Authority): Sections 216(i), 223(d), 223(f), 1614(a)(3), 
and 1614(a)(4)of the Social Security Act, as amended; Regulations No. 
4, subpart P, sections 404.1505, 404.1508, 404.1509, 404.1512-404.1513, 
404.1520-404.1520a, 404.1521, 404.1522, 404.1523, 404.1525-404.1530, 
404.1545, 404.1546, 404.1560-404.1569a, appendix 1, and appendix 2; and 
Regulations No. 16, subpart I, sections 416.905, 416.906, 416.908, 
416.909, 416.912-416.913, 416.920, 416.920a, 416.921, 416.922, 416.923, 
416.924, 416.924a, 416.924b, 416.925, 416.926, 416.926a, 416.927, 
416.928, 416.930, 416.945, 416.946, 416.960-416.969a, 416.987, and 
416.994-416.994a.

Introduction

    On April 8, 2011, we published final rules in the Federal Register 
in which we removed the listings for evaluating DM in adults and in 
children from the Listing of Impairments (listings) because they no 
longer accurately identified

[[Page 31376]]

people who are disabled.2 3 We added listing 109.08 for 
children from birth to the attainment of age 6 who have any type of DM 
and who require daily insulin. We removed the prior listings for DM and 
stated in the preamble to the final rules that we would continue to 
recognize DM as a potential cause of disability. We also stated that we 
would provide more detailed information about the types of impairments 
and limitations that result from DM, how we evaluate DM in disability 
claims, and how we would address the seriousness and difficulty of 
managing DM in children. We are publishing this SSR to provide the 
policy guidance we said we would provide in the preamble of the final 
rules.
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    \2\ 76 FR 19692 (2011). The final rules were effective on June 
7, 2011.
    \3\ The listings are in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.
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Policy Interpretation

I. DM

A. General

    DM is a chronic condition characterized by high blood glucose 
levels that result from the body's inability to produce or use insulin. 
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. When the body cannot 
make enough insulin, a person takes it by injection or through the use 
of an insulin pump. Although DM usually requires lifelong treatment, 
medical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of DM have resulted in 
better management of DM in adults and children.

B. Two Major Types of DM and Their Treatments

    1. Type 1 DM. In Type 1 DM, previously known as juvenile-onset DM 
or insulin-dependent DM, the pancreas does not produce insulin due to 
an autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing cells. This results 
in increased blood glucose levels. The onset of Type 1 DM usually has 
the following symptoms: Polydipsia (increased thirst); polyphagia 
(increased appetite); polyuria (increased urination); unexplained 
weight loss; fatigue or drowsiness; and blurred vision.
    Type 1 DM develops most often in children but can occur at any age. 
People with Type 1 DM must take daily insulin to live. They generally 
check their blood glucose levels prior to each meal and at bedtime; 
however, more frequent checking may be necessary as prescribed by a 
physician (for example, DM management of young school-aged children may 
require more frequent blood glucose level checks). Many children with 
Type 1 DM experience significant day-to-day variability in their DM, 
usually due to variations in activity. Depending on the child's age, 
this may necessitate daily, or even hourly, decision-making and 
intervention either by an adult or under the close supervision of an 
adult.
    For each insulin dose, the decision regarding the amount and type 
of insulin the person needs is based on: Current blood glucose level 
(high, normal, or low); knowledge of the timing and type(s) of insulin 
the person had earlier in the day; the amount of food the person 
expects to consume; and the nature of activities the person planned for 
the next several hours. The total insulin administered each day may 
consist of various combinations of rapid-acting, short-acting, 
intermediate-acting, and long-acting insulin.
    2. Type 2 DM. In Type 2 DM, previously known as adult-onset DM or 
non-insulin-dependent DM, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, 
or there is failure in the transfer of insulin into the body cells 
(insulin resistance). People with Type 2 DM have symptoms similar to 
those of Type 1 DM, but the symptoms are usually not as obvious. Other 
symptoms include cuts or bruises that are slow to heal, numbness in the 
hands and feet, or recurrent infections of the skin, gums, or bladder.
    Type 2 DM is more common in people with obesity and those who have 
a family history of DM. The first line of treatment is management of DM 
through diet and exercise. Oral medication or daily insulin is usually 
required when the weight loss and diet alone fail to manage blood 
glucose levels.

C. Hyperglycemia

    Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) means a person does not have 
enough insulin in his or her body. It can occur when a person does not 
take his or her insulin, eats too much, or does not exercise enough. It 
can also occur when a person is sick or is under stress. Symptoms of 
hyperglycemia include frequent urination, increased thirst, blurred 
vision, headaches, difficulty concentrating, abdominal pain or nausea, 
and ``fruity-smelling'' breath.
    1. Chronic hyperglycemia leads to DM complications such as diabetic 
retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic 
neuropathy. These complications occur more often in adults than in 
children because body system and organ changes due to DM develop over 
time.
    2. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute complication of 
hyperglycemia and is potentially life-threatening. It is not uncommon 
for people with Type 1 DM to initially present with DKA. DKA occurs 
when there is a shortage of insulin, resulting in toxicity in the 
blood. DKA may result in dehydration and an altered metabolic state 
with potential neurological, renal, respiratory, or cardiac 
dysfunction(s). When not appropriately treated, DKA may lead to chronic 
neurocognitive changes, coma, or even death.

D. Chronic DM Complications

    1. Diabetic retinopathy, caused by damage to the small blood 
vessels in the retina, can result in leakage of blood into the eye and 
growth of abnormal new blood vessels, leading to vision loss over time. 
Symptoms may include pain or increased eye pressure. Nonproliferative 
retinopathy is an early stage of diabetic retinopathy. Although damage 
to the eyes from diabetic retinopathy may be permanent, some types of 
treatment, such as laser surgery, may alter the progression of the 
retinal changes. Diabetic retinopathy is a specific vascular 
complication of DM that may develop over time. Glaucoma, cataracts, and 
other disorders of the eye occur earlier and more frequently in people 
with DM. See 2.00 and 102.00 in the listings for guidance on evaluating 
vision loss.
    2. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects the heart and blood vessels 
and is more common in people with DM than in people without DM. CVD is 
a major cause of morbidity and mortality for individuals with DM. 
People with DM, especially Type 2, have abnormal blood cholesterol and 
fat levels, which accelerates the development of CVD such as coronary 
artery disease or peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Amputation and 
foot ulceration are common consequences of PAD. See 4.00 and 104.00 in 
the listings for guidance on evaluating CVD.
    3. Diabetic nephropathy is damage to the kidneys caused by chronic 
hyperglycemia. When the kidneys are damaged, protein leaks out of the 
kidneys into the urine. Damaged kidneys can no longer remove waste and 
extra fluids from the bloodstream. Diabetic nephropathy is a leading 
cause of end-stage renal disease. Careful management of blood glucose 
levels, together with the reduction of a co-morbid condition such as 
high blood pressure, may slow the damage. See 6.00 and 106.00 in the 
listings for guidance on evaluating genitourinary impairments.
    4. Diabetic neuropathy is permanent nerve damage. The most common 
types of diabetic neuropathy are peripheral and autonomic. It can 
affect every organ

[[Page 31377]]

system in the body and produce abnormal function or a loss of sensation 
in the affected nerve area distribution. See 11.00 and 111.00 in the 
listings for guidance on evaluating neurological impairments.
    a. Peripheral neuropathy (also known as sensorimotor neuropathy), 
nerve damage that affects the feet, legs, or hands, can cause pain, 
numbness, and tingling in toes, feet, legs, hands, and arms, which may 
subsequently cause difficulty walking and holding onto objects. A loss 
of sensation, combined with poor blood circulation, makes it common for 
a person with DM and neuropathy to be unaware of an injury to a lower 
extremity, where cuts or blisters can turn into ulcerations. The 
ulcerations may become infected and have difficulty healing. 
Complications of these ulcerations can include cellulitis (a painful 
inflammation of the skin and tissues, usually from an infection), 
gangrene (decomposing soft tissue that often results in amputation), 
and sepsis (an infection that spreads through the blood stream, 
potentially causing shock, widespread organ failure, or death).
    b. Autonomic neuropathy, nerve damage that affects the heart and 
blood vessels, digestive system, and urinary tract, can cause 
dizziness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, and infrequent or frequent 
urination. It can also cause hypoglycemia unawareness due to nerve 
dysfunction that affects the body's ability to secrete epinephrine (the 
hormone adrenaline). Autonomic neuropathy is strongly associated with 
CVD in people with DM.

E. Hypoglycemia

    Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) means that a person has abnormally 
low levels of blood glucose (also known as ``insulin reaction''). It 
causes acute symptoms and signs, such as weakness, hunger, sweating, 
trembling, nervousness, palpitations, and difficulty with 
concentration. In young children, other symptoms may include 
inattention, fainting, falling asleep at inappropriate times, 
unexplained behavior, and temper tantrums. Hypoglycemia can occur when 
a person takes too much insulin (or a drug that increases insulin 
resistance), misses a meal, or exercises more than usual. It can also 
occur when a person takes medications for other health conditions. 
Episodes of hypoglycemia occur commonly in people with Type 1 DM and 
occur in some people with Type 2 DM. Episodes of hypoglycemia can occur 
during sleep or while a person is awake. During sleep, a person is 
unaware of hypoglycemia, but on awaking may be confused, disoriented, 
or may complain of a headache or extreme fatigue. Family members or 
observers may note that the person during sleep is restless, sweating, 
or even having seizure-like movements. The only sure way to assess for 
hypoglycemia is to check blood glucose levels while the person is 
sleeping. This checking does not prevent hypoglycemia; rather, it 
identifies the acute need to increase blood glucose levels by consuming 
something like orange juice.
    If not treated promptly, hypoglycemia can become severe, causing an 
inadequate supply of glucose to brain cells, which can lead to 
complications including seizures or loss of consciousness, altered 
mental status, cognitive deficits, permanent brain damage, or death. 
Complications of hypoglycemia occur more frequently in young children 
because they are not able to recognize and respond to symptoms of 
hypoglycemia, and they depend on an adult to check their blood glucose 
levels. Because children's bodies are growing and developing, they are 
more sensitive to fluctuations in blood glucose levels brought on by 
eating, physical activity, and illness.
    Daily insulin doses are based on a person's anticipated food intake 
and physical activity. Proper dosing of insulin requires complex 
decisionmaking 24 hours a day. For children, it may be difficult to 
predict daily insulin doses. If an adult administers insulin to a child 
based on the expectation that the child will consume a certain amount 
of food and engage in certain activities, but the child does not eat or 
exercise as expected, the amount of administered insulin may exceed the 
child's needs and lead to hypoglycemia. Additionally, during episodes 
of illness, a child's need for insulin will most likely change from his 
or her customary need.
    Hypoglycemia unawareness means a person with DM either cannot 
recognize or does not experience the symptoms of hypoglycemia. It 
generally occurs in people who have had DM for a long time and 
experienced many episodes of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia unawareness 
interferes with a person's ability to control blood glucose levels and 
puts a person at risk for severe hypoglycemia-related complications. It 
can result in prolonged hypoglycemia if not treated immediately, 
resulting in seizure, loss of consciousness, or brain damage.

F. DM and Obesity

    Obesity is a complex, chronic disease characterized by excessive 
accumulation of body fat. It may increase the severity of coexisting or 
related impairments to the extent that the combination of impairments 
meets or medically equals the criteria of a listing. Therefore, a 
person with DM and obesity may have more severe complications than the 
effects of each of the impairments considered separately.\4\ For 
example, in adults, neurovascular complications of DM may result in an 
amputation of a lower extremity. The neurovascular impairment, along 
with obesity, may make successful rehabilitation with prosthesis more 
difficult. Although neurovascular complications are rare in children, 
obesity increases the likelihood of developing these complications.
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    \4\ See SSR 02-1p. For the complete titles of all SSRs cited in 
this footnote and those following, see the CROSS-REFERENCES section 
at the end of this SSR. SSRs are available at: https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings.
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II. The Sequential Evaluation Process for Adults

    We follow a five-step sequential evaluation process when we make a 
determination or decision whether an adult is disabled due to DM.\5\
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    \5\ See 20 CFR 404.1520(a) and 416.920(a).
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A. Work Activity

    We determine at step 1 whether an adult with DM is working and, if 
so, whether the work activity is substantial gainful activity (SGA).\6\ 
If an adult is engaging in SGA, we will find that he or she is not 
disabled. If an adult is not engaging in SGA, we go on to step 2 of the 
sequential evaluation process.
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    \6\ See 20 CFR 404.1510 and 416.910.
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B. Severe Medically Determinable Impairment(s)

    We determine at step 2 whether an adult has a medically 
determinable impairment (MDI) that is severe. An MDI must be 
established by medical evidence consisting of signs, symptoms, and 
laboratory findings, not only by a statement of symptoms.\7\ When we 
evaluate the severity of DM, we consider any symptoms, such as fatigue 
or pain, that could limit functioning.\8\ If the effects of DM, alone 
or in combination with another impairment(s), significantly limit an 
adult's physical or mental ability to do basic work activities, we find 
that the impairment(s) is severe. We find, however, that the 
impairment(s) is ``not severe'' if it has no more than a minimal effect 
on the adult's ability to do basic work activities. If an adult does 
not have

[[Page 31378]]

an MDI that is severe, we find that he or she is not disabled. If an 
adult does have a severe impairment(s), we go on to step 3 of the 
sequential evaluation process.
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    \7\ See 20 CFR 404.1508, 404.1520(c), 404.1521, 416.908, 
416.920(c), and 416.921.
    \8\ See 20 CFR 404.1529 and 416.929; and SSR 96-3p.
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C. Evaluating the Effects of DM Under Other Body Systems

    We next determine at step 3 whether the impairment(s) meets or 
medically equals a listing, which also considers the medical severity 
of your impairment(s). DM is not a listed impairment for adults. 
However, the effects of DM, either alone or in combination with another 
impairment(s), may meet or medically equal the criteria of a listing in 
an affected body system(s).\9\ Below are some examples of the effects 
of DM and the body systems under which we evaluate them:
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    \9\ See 20 CFR 404.1509, 404.1525, 404.1526, 416.909, 416.925, 
and 416.926.
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     Amputation of an extremity, under the musculoskeletal 
system listings (1.00).
     Diabetic retinopathy, under the special senses and speech 
listings (2.00).
     Hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart failure, 
under the cardiovascular system listings (4.00).
     Gastroparesis and ischemic bowel disease (intestinal 
necrosis), under the digestive system listings (5.00).
     Diabetic nephropathy, under the genitourinary impairments 
listings (6.00).
     Slow-healing bacterial and fungal infections, under the 
skin disorders listings (8.00).
     Diabetic neuropathy, under the neurological listings 
(11.00).
     Cognitive impairments, depression, anxiety, and eating 
disorders, under the mental disorders listings (12.00).

D. Assessing Residual Functional Capacity

    1. When the effects of DM, alone or in combination with another 
impairment(s), are severe but do not meet or medically equal the 
criteria of a listing, we assess an adult's residual functional 
capacity (RFC).\10\ RFC is the most an adult can do despite his or her 
limitation(s).
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    \10\ See 20 CFR 404.1545 and 416.945; and SSR 96-8p and SSR 96-
9p.
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    2. The combined effects of DM and another impairment(s) can be 
greater than the effects of each of the impairments considered 
separately. We consider all work-related physical and mental 
limitations, whether due to an adult's DM, other impairment(s), or 
combination of impairments. For example, adults with peripheral sensory 
neuropathy may have difficulty walking, operating foot controls, or 
manipulating objects because they have lost the ability to sense 
objects with their hands or feet. Adults with chronic hyperglycemia may 
experience fatigue or difficulty with concentration that interferes 
with their ability to perform work activity on a sustained basis.
    3. We then proceed to step 4 and, if necessary, step 5 of the 
sequential evaluation process. We use the RFC assessment at step 4 to 
evaluate whether an adult is capable of performing any past relevant 
work (PRW) as he or she actually performed it or as the job is 
generally performed in the national economy. If an adult's RFC 
precludes the performance of PRW (or if there was no PRW), we use the 
RFC assessment to make a finding at step 5 about his or her ability to 
perform other work that exists in significant numbers in the national 
economy. The usual vocational considerations apply.\11\
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    \11\ See 20 CFR 404.1560-404.1569a and 416.960-416.969a.
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III. The Sequential Evaluation Process for Children

    We follow a three-step sequential evaluation process when we make a 
determination or decision whether a child is disabled due to 
DM.12 13
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    \12\ The process described in this section applies to 
determinations and decisions made for children under title XVI. See 
20 CFR 416.924.
    \13\ Under title II, we use the adult definition of disability 
to make disability determinations or decisions for people under age 
18.
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A. Work Activity

    We determine at step 1 whether a child is working and, if so, 
whether the work activity is SGA.\14\ If a child is engaging in SGA, we 
find that he or she is not disabled. If a child is not engaging in SGA, 
we go on to step 2 of the sequential evaluation process.
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    \14\ See 20 CFR 416.910.
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B. Severe Medically Determinable Impairment(s)

    We determine at step 2 whether a child has an MDI that is severe. 
An MDI must be established by medical evidence consisting of signs, 
symptoms, and laboratory findings, not only by a statement of 
symptoms.\15\ When we evaluate severity, we consider the effects of DM 
on the child's functioning, including: Limitations as a result of 
treatment (for example, insulin); and the kinds and extent of help, 
support, and supervision the child needs compared to that of children 
the same age who do not have impairments.\16\ If the child's DM, alone 
or in combination with another impairment(s), causes more than minimal 
functional limitations, we find that the impairment(s) is severe.\17\ 
We find that the impairment(s) is ``not severe'' if it causes no more 
than minimal functional limitations. If a child does not have an MDI 
that is severe, we find that he or she is not disabled. If a child does 
have a severe impairment(s), we go on to step 3 of the sequential 
evaluation process.
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    \15\ See 20 CFR 416.908 and 416.924(c).
    \16\ In 20 CFR 416.924a(b), we provide guidance on factors that 
are relevant whenever we evaluate a child's functioning.
    \17\ We presume that all children with any type of DM who 
require daily insulin and have not attained age 6 have more than 
minimal functional limitations because they are unable to alert 
adults to their symptoms of hypoglycemia. Some children age 6 and 
older with DM who require daily insulin, and who have not developed 
the cognitive ability for recognizing and responding to hypoglycemia 
symptoms, also have more than minimal functional limitations.
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C. Meets or Medically Equals a Listing, or Functionally Equals the 
Listings

    1. Evaluating DM under the endocrine disorders body system. We have 
one childhood listing for DM, listing 109.08. We find children with any 
type of DM who require daily insulin and have not attained age 6 
disabled under this listing. We presume such children have not 
developed adequate cognitive capacity for recognizing and responding to 
their hypoglycemia symptoms; that is, they have hypoglycemia 
unawareness. This means they are unable to participate in their own 
care at the most basic level because they are unable to alert adults to 
their symptoms of hypoglycemia. Parents and other caregivers must have 
near-constant visual contact with these young children to watch for 
fainting or other signs of impending hypoglycemia so that they may 
intervene to prevent their children from having a hypoglycemic seizure 
or becoming comatose or dying. This level of help satisfies an example 
of functional equivalence in our functional equivalence regulation: The 
requirement for 24-hour-a-day supervision of a child for medical 
reasons.\18\ Listing 109.08 presumes this level of help is satisfied.
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    \18\ See 20 CFR 416.926a(m).
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    2. Evaluating the effects of DM under other body systems. DM is not 
a listed impairment for children who are age 6 or older and require 
daily insulin or for children of any age with DM who do not require 
daily insulin. However, DM may be of listing-level severity in these 
children. We determine whether the effects of DM, alone or in 
combination with another impairment(s), meet or

[[Page 31379]]

medically equal the criteria of a listing in an affected body 
system(s).\19\ Complications of DM that are linked to chronic 
hyperglycemia (for example, diabetic retinopathy or nephropathy) 
develop gradually, making them rare in children. However, some 
adolescents may start to develop or have early-onset eye or kidney 
complications or have impaired growth. Below are some examples of the 
effects of DM and the body systems under which we evaluate them:
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    \19\ See 20 CFR 416.909, 416.924(a), 416.925, and 416.926.
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     Growth impairments, under the growth impairment listings 
(100.00).
     Diabetic retinopathy, under the special senses and speech 
listings (102.00).
     Cardiac arrhythmias, under the cardiovascular system 
listings (104.00).
     Gastroparesis and ischemic bowel disease (intestinal 
necrosis), under the digestive system listings (105.00).
     Cognitive impairments, depression, anxiety, and permanent 
brain damage, under the mental disorders listings (112.00).
    3. Evaluating the effects of DM under functional equivalence. When 
the effects of a child's DM, alone or in combination with another 
impairment(s), are severe but do not meet or medically equal the 
criteria of a listing in any affected body system(s), we determine 
whether they result in limitations that functionally equal the 
listings.\20\ By ``functionally equal the listings,'' we mean that the 
child's impairment(s) must be of listing-level severity. In evaluating 
the effects of a child's DM, alone or in combination with another 
impairment(s), on his or her functioning, we consider what the child 
cannot do, has difficulty doing, needs help doing, or is restricted 
from doing because of his or her impairment(s). We must explain any 
limitation in a child's ability to function age-appropriately on the 
basis of an MDI(s).\21\
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    \20\ See 20 CFR 416.926a; SSRs 09-1p and 09-2p.
    \21\ See 20 CFR 416.924a(b) and 416.926a.
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    a. Determining the medical need for 24-hour-a-day adult supervision 
for children age 6 and older. Children of any age need some level of 
adult supervision or support in managing their DM that requires daily 
insulin. However, the mere need for adult supervision does not 
establish disability.
    We presume children with DM who require daily insulin and are under 
age 6 have not developed the cognitive ability for recognizing and 
responding to hypoglycemia symptoms and, therefore, have impairments 
that meet listing 109.08. Generally, children develop the cognitive 
ability for recognizing and responding to their hypoglycemia symptoms 
by age 6. However, developmental abilities of children vary greatly. 
Some children age 6 and older may have the same medical need for adult 
help and continuous supervision as younger children. We evaluate on an 
individual case basis whether children age 6 and older have developed 
cognitive awareness of their hypoglycemia symptoms. Without this 
awareness, children who require daily insulin are unable to alert 
adults to their symptoms, and require 24-hour-a-day adult supervision 
for medical reasons.
    When we find that a child with DM has hypoglycemia unawareness, we 
consider how long the child has had or will have the medical need for 
24-hour-a-day adult supervision. For example, a child in elementary 
school who has only recently been diagnosed with Type 1 DM may require 
more time to develop awareness of his or her symptoms of hypoglycemia 
than an adolescent who has been newly diagnosed.
    Some children may have a mental impairment(s) or another physical 
impairment(s) in addition to DM that also may require 24-hour-a-day 
adult supervision for medical reasons. We find any child who requires 
24-hour-a-day adult supervision for medical reasons disabled under our 
functional equivalence rules.
    b. Determining functional equivalence for all other children with 
any type of DM. Children with DM that does not meet or medically equal 
a listing or children who do not have a medical need for 24-hour-a-day 
adult supervision may nevertheless have impairments that functionally 
equal the listings under our rules for evaluating disability in 
children.
    To functionally equal the listings, an impairment(s) must be of 
listing-level severity; that is, it must result in ``marked'' 
limitations in two domains of functioning or an ``extreme'' limitation 
in one domain of functioning. Domains are broad areas of functioning 
intended to capture all of what a child can or cannot do.
    When we determine whether a child's impairment(s) functionally 
equals the listings, we use the following six domains:
     Acquiring and using information;
     Attending and completing tasks;
     Interacting and relating with others;
     Moving about and manipulating objects;
     Caring for yourself; and
     Health and physical well-being.
    When we evaluate a child's functioning in these six domains, we 
consider how the child functions compared to children the same age who 
do not have impairments. The first five domains describe the abilities 
a child uses to develop the skills that he or she uses to function in 
day-to-day activities. In domain six, we consider the cumulative 
physical effects of physical and mental impairments and their 
associated treatments on a child's health and functioning. This domain 
does not address typical development and functioning. Rather, it 
addresses how such things as recurrent illness, the side effects of 
medication, and the need for ongoing treatment affect a child's body; 
that is, the child's health and physical well-being.
    DM, alone or in combination with another impairment(s), may affect 
a child's functioning in any domain. We evaluate each child's 
limitations by considering all relevant information from acceptable 
medical sources (for example, a pediatrician or psychologist), other 
medical sources (for example, a physical or an occupational therapist), 
and non-medical sources such as parents, teachers, and other people who 
know the child.22 23 We also consider factors such as the:
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    \22\ See 20 CFR 416.913(a).
    \23\ See 20 CFR 416.924a(a).
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     Kinds and extent of help, support, and supervision a child 
with DM needs that exceed what a child the same age would typically 
need; and
     Effects of DM medications and other treatments, including 
adverse and beneficial effects.
    Some children with DM may have limitations in the domain of 
Acquiring and using information due to fluctuating blood glucose 
levels. They may find it difficult to concentrate on and participate in 
classroom work while at school when they experience low or elevated 
blood glucose levels. They may miss enough classroom time to affect 
their learning if they frequently seek help outside of the classroom 
from a school nurse or other adult for treating hypoglycemia or 
hyperglycemia. Children with DM may also miss school due to frequent 
doctor visits, emergency room care, or hospitalizations.
    Frequent episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia may also result 
in a child having limitations in the domain of Attending and completing 
tasks at school, at home, or in the community. If a child often does 
not feel well due to low or elevated blood glucose levels, it may be 
difficult for him or her to stay focused on activities long enough to 
complete them in an age-appropriate

[[Page 31380]]

manner. For example, a child with DM who requires insulin may have 
difficulty maintaining attention to details and may make mistakes in 
his or her schoolwork due to an inability to concentrate.
    Children with DM may have limitations in the domain of Interacting 
and relating with others because they are self-conscious about checking 
their blood glucose levels throughout the day, administering insulin, 
and following a special diet in the presence of their peers. They may 
find it difficult to maintain social contacts or participate in sport 
activities because they believe their peers may not understand their DM 
care requirements and will bully or tease them because of their 
requirements.
    If DM or its treatment causes fatigue or weakness that limits a 
child's fine or gross motor functioning, we evaluate those effects in 
the domain of Moving about and manipulating objects. For example, a 
young child who experiences weakness and trembling as a consequence of 
hypoglycemia, or nausea due to hyperglycemia, may have difficulty with 
coordination, climbing up and down stairs, and running.
    Other children who have DM may have difficulty meeting their 
emotional and physical wants and needs in ways that are age-appropriate 
and in comparison to other same-age children who do not have 
impairments. For example, a child who refuses to use insulin as needed 
because of embarrassment about injecting it in the presence of peers 
may have limitations in the domain of Caring for yourself because this 
action would endanger his or her health.
    The ongoing effects of DM and its treatment may affect a child's 
health and physical well-being. For example, we evaluate the effects of 
hypoglycemia or DKA in the domain of Health and physical well-being. 
Managing DM in young children, particularly, requires intensive care 
from an adult to maintain the child's health and physical well-being. 
We evaluate such medical fragility in this domain. It is important to 
remember that the cumulative physical effects of DM and its treatment 
can vary in kind and intensity, affecting each child differently.
    The effects of DM may differ from child to child. We evaluate the 
effects of a child's DM, alone or in combination with another 
impairment(s), including the effects of medication or other treatment, 
in all relevant domains. When considering the functioning of a child 
with DM, we use the ``whole child'' approach to evaluate the particular 
effects of DM on a child's activities in any and all of the domains 
that the child uses to do those activities, based on the evidence in 
the case record.
    We find a child disabled if the effects of his or her DM, alone or 
in combination with another impairment(s), result in ``marked'' 
limitations in two domains of functioning or an ``extreme'' limitation 
in one domain of functioning.
    Effective Date: This SSR is effective on June 2, 2014.
    Cross-References: SSR 96-3p: Titles II and XVI: Considering 
Allegations of Pain and Other Symptoms in Determining Whether a 
Medically Determinable Impairment is Severe; SSR 96-8p: Titles II and 
XVI: Assessing Residual Functional Capacity in Initial Claims; SSR 96-
9p: Titles II and XVI: Determining Capability to do Other Work--
Implications of a Residual Functional Capacity for Less Than a Full 
Range of Sedentary Work; SSR 02-1p: Titles II and XVI: Evaluation of 
Obesity; SSR 09-1p: Title XVI: Determining Childhood Disability Under 
the Functional Equivalence Rule--The ``Whole Child'' Approach; SSR 09-
2p: Title XVI: Determining Childhood Disability--Documenting a Child's 
Impairment-Related Limitations; SSR 09-3p: Title XVI: Determining 
Childhood Disability--The Functional Equivalence Domain of ``Acquiring 
and Using Information''; SSR 09-4p: Title XVI: Determining Childhood 
Disability--The Functional Equivalence Domain of ``Attending and 
Completing Tasks''; SSR 09-5p: Title XVI: Determining Childhood 
Disability--The Functional Equivalence Domain of ``Interacting and 
Relating with Others''; SSR 09-6p: Title XVI: Determining Childhood 
Disability--The Functional Equivalence Domain of ``Moving About and 
Manipulating Objects''; SSR 09-7p: Title XVI: Determining Childhood 
Disability--The Functional Equivalence Domain of ``Caring for 
Yourself''; SSR 09-8p: Title XVI: Determining Childhood Disability--The 
Functional Equivalence Domain of ``Health and Physical Well-Being''; 
and Program Operations Manual System (POMS) DI 22001.001-DI 22001.035, 
DI 22505.001, DI 22505.003, DI 24510.005, DI 24510.006, DI 24515.061-DI 
24515.063, DI 24570.001, DI 25005.001, DI 25010.001, DI 25015.001, DI 
25025.001, DI 25201.005, DI 25220.010, DI 25225.001-DI 25225.065, DI 
25505.025, and DI 25505.030.\24\
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    \24\ SSRs are available at: https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings. 
POMS are available at: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/partlist.

[FR Doc. 2014-12601 Filed 5-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P