How Does Diabetes Influence the Impact of Aging on the Probability of Employment?

This paper examines how diabetes and complications from diabetes affect the impact of age on the probability a person nearing retirement age remains employed. The results presented here indicate that diabetics, especially those with complications tend to leave the workforce prior to 62 and becoming eligible for Social Security benefits. Diabetes and complications from diabetes also reduces the ability of people to remain in the workforce to increase their Social Security benefit. Increases in the eligibility age for receiving Social Security benefits would impose substantial hardships on diabetics. Programs that reduce the number of people with diabetes and eliminate diabetic-related complications could expand the workforce and stimulate economic growth. These benefits should be counted when considering the cost of programs to reduce diabetes.