From the Guidelines
Secondary disabilities refer to physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities, often resulting from complications of a primary condition, such as diabetes, and can include mobility disability, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability, and activities of daily living (ADL) disability. According to a recent study published in Diabetes Care in 2024 1, diabetes is associated with a strong increase in the risk of physical disability, with estimates representing up to a 50–80% increased risk of disability for people with diabetes compared with people without diabetes. Some key points to consider about secondary disabilities include:
- Lower-body functional limitation is the most prevalent disability among people with diabetes, affecting 47–84% of individuals 1
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and may cause impaired postural balance and gait kinematics, leading to functional disability 1
- The presence of diabetes increases the risk of mobility disability, IADL disability, and ADL disability, with odds ratios ranging from 1.65 to 1.82 1
- Customized rehabilitation interventions can recover function, allowing for safe physical activity and improving quality of life for individuals with secondary disabilities resulting from diabetes 1
From the Research
Definition of Secondary Disabilities
- Secondary disabilities refer to any additional physical or mental health conditions that are causally related to a primary disabling condition 2.
- These conditions can increase the severity of an individual's disability and are often preventable 2.
Prevalence and Types of Secondary Conditions
- Individuals with disabilities may be at increased risk of secondary conditions, which can influence health status and quality of life 3.
- Common secondary conditions include pain, spasticity, urinary tract infections, fatigue, depression, and sleep problems 3.
- The prevalence of each condition varies widely depending on the studied population and research methodologies across studies 3.
Impact of Secondary Conditions
- Secondary health conditions can interact with existing functional limitations and other medical comorbidities to limit social participation 4.
- Addressing psychologically oriented secondary health conditions may be as important as functional impairment in predicting long-term social health 4.