Life Insurance and Diabetes: What are Insurers Really Looking at?

If you have Diabetes — whether that is Type 1, Type 2, Gestational Diabetes, or you have been told you are Borderline / Pre-Diabetic — you may be wondering how this could affect your ability to get life insurance.

It is a common concern, and understandably so. Many people assume that a diagnosis of Diabetes will automatically mean very high premiums, or even that cover will not be available at all.

The reality is more nuanced.

In many cases, life insurance is still available. What matters most is not simply the type of Diabetes you have, but how well it is controlled, how long it has been present, and whether there have been any associated complications.

Can You Get Life Insurance with Diabetes?

Yes — in most cases, you can

Having Diabetes does not automatically mean that life insurance is unavailable.

That said, insurers will usually apply more detailed underwriting, and premiums will often be higher than for someone without the condition. The level of increase can vary significantly depending on the insurer and the detail of your medical history.

This is where specialist advice can make a real difference.

Different insurers take different views on Diabetes. Where one may offer more competitive terms, another may be noticeably more cautious.

What Do Insurers Look At?

When assessing Diabetes, insurers will usually look at several core factors.

Type of Diabetes

Insurers will want to understand whether you have:

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Gestational Diabetes
• Borderline / Pre-Diabetes

The type of Diabetes you have will play a part in the underwriting process, but it is only one part of the overall picture.

How Well controlled is your Diabetes?

Control is often one of the biggest factors.

Insurers look at your HbA1c readings to assess how well the Diabetes is being managed and will typically be happy to rely on your most recent reading, assuming it has been taken within the last 12 months.

As a general guide:

• Excellent control: around 48 mmol/mol or below
• Good control: around 49–58 mmol/mol
• Needs improvement: around 59–74 mmol/mol
• Poor control: around 75 mmol/mol and above

These figures are a useful guide, but they are not fixed underwriting cut-offs. Each insurer will assess the overall picture and may apply different limits.

How Long You Have Been Diabetic

Duration is also important.

Someone who has had Diabetes for many years may be more likely to develop related complications than someone who has only recently been diagnosed.

Even if you have had the conditions from birth, it does not mean cover will be declined, but it can affect pricing and the number of insurers willing to offer terms.

Treatment

Insurers will usually want to know how the condition is managed, for example:

• Diet only
• Tablets
• Insulin
• Other injectable medication

Treatment can give an indication of severity and progression, although it is never looked at in isolation.

Related Complications

Insurers will also consider whether your Diabetes has led to any related complications, such as:

• Eye problems, including Retinopathy or Maculopathy
• Kidney issues, including Nephropathy
• Nerve damage, including Neuropathy
• Cardiovascular problems
• Gangrene or Amputation

Where complications are present, some insurers may become much more cautious, while others may still be willing to consider terms. Where complications have arisen, premiums nearly always increase, so doing your research is key!

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed earlier in life and typically requires lifelong insulin treatment.

From an underwriting perspective, insurers will usually focus on:

• Current control
• HbA1c levels
• Any historic hospital admissions
• Complications
• Overall stability

Premiums are typically higher for those with Type 1, but life insurance is still available in most cases.

As with all Diabetic disclosures, insurer choice can make a significant difference in your final premium.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is often diagnosed later in life and can range from relatively mild cases managed through diet or medication, through to cases requiring insulin.

Insurers will usually look at:

• HbA1c
• Treatment
• Weight / BMI
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Any complications
• Length of time since diagnosis

Some people with well-controlled Type 2 Diabetes can still secure competitive terms, particularly where there are no related complications and the wider medical picture is favourable.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is generally viewed more favourably than permanent forms of Diabetes.

If blood sugar levels returned to normal after pregnancy and there has been no ongoing issue since, insurers will take a much more relaxed view and, in most cases, offer cover without any additional premium.

Insurers may still want to know:

• When it occurred
• Whether blood sugar levels returned to normal post-pregnancy
• Whether there has been any subsequent diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes

Borderline / Pre-Diabetes

Being told that you are Borderline Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic does not mean you will automatically be treated in the same way as someone with a formal diagnosis of Diabetes.

In many cases, insurers will simply want to understand:

• Your HbA1c or blood sugar readings
• Whether any treatment or lifestyle advice has been given
• Whether there are any other related health factors, such as high BMI or raised blood pressure

For some people, this may have little impact on the application. For others — particularly where there are additional risk factors — it may still affect underwriting, and subsequent premiums.

Why Outcomes Can Vary Between Insurers

One of the most important things to understand is that not all insurers have the same guidelines when it comes to underwriting Diabetes.

Each insurer has its own, risk appetite, underwriting guidelines and pricing approach.

That means that one company may take a more balanced view of a case, while another may be much stricter.

What About Critical Illness Cover and Income Protection?

This article focuses mainly on Life Insurance, but Diabetes can also affect other types of protection.

Critical Illness Cover

Critical Illness Cover is often assessed more cautiously because Diabetes can increase the risk of a number of serious medical conditions.

Over years in the UK, insurers have come in and out of offering Critical Illness Cover to current Diabetics. The chance of securing this type of product will depend, the options available at that point in time, the type of Diabetes you have and the control.

Income Protection

Income Protection can also be more restrictive.

As with Critical Illness Cover, this type of product can be much more difficult to obtain for Diabetics and knowing where to look is crucial. The outcome will depend on the individual circumstances, including control, treatment, complications and any other risk factors.

The Bottom Line

Having Diabetes does not automatically mean life insurance is out of reach.

Whether you have Type 1, Type 2, Gestational Diabetes, or have been told you are Borderline / Pre-Diabetic, insurers will usually look at:

• How well the condition is controlled
• How long it has been present
• What treatment is required
• Whether there have been any complications
• Your wider health picture

For some people, the impact on premiums may be relatively modest. For others, particularly where there are complications or less stable control, insurer choice becomes much more important.

At Your Life Protected, we take the time to understand your individual circumstances before identifying which insurers are most likely to offer fair and competitive terms.

If you are unsure how your Diabetic history may affect your options, submit an enquiry or speak to one of our advisers today.