Can diabetics get life insurance? The good news is YES, they can!

But it’s not that straightforward.

First and foremost, you need to tell your independent life insurance agent if you have Diabetes Type 1 or Type 2. This is critical information because the underwriters consider these conditions differently.

You may be wondering why. Let’s see how to get the best life insurance for diabetics. 

Types of Diabetes: Three Categories

There are three major categories of diabetes:

• Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common, followed by…
• Type 1 diabetes
• Gestational diabetes affects women during pregnancy, but the good news is that it’s usually temporary.

Can Diabetics Get Life Insurance: Type 1 Diabetes 

Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in childhood—it used to be called juvenile diabetes—although adults can be diagnosed. This lifelong condition keeps the pancreas from producing adequate insulin, the hormone needed to carry sugar to your cells for energy.

Unfortunately, Type 1 diabetes doesn’t have a cure, so patients rely on insulin supplementation and diet and lifestyle restrictions to prevent serious medical issues or death.

This condition can also create other medical issues, so the applicant’s health has to be evaluated in greater detail. There’s no getting around it. Someone with Type 1 diabetes is considered to be a much higher risk to insure than someone with Type 2 diabetes.

If you’re insulin-dependent, insurers want to know about any change to your prescribed insulin dosage. For example, if your insulin prescription has not increased within six months, you may be eligible for up to $500,000 of term insurance with Canada Protection Plan.

Can Diabetics Get Life Insurance: Type 2 Diabetes 

Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1 – but the good news is it’s more manageable. If you’re diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, your pancreas does produce insulin, but your liver and fat tissue are insulin resistant, which means glucose isn’t regulated properly. This may cause health issues, especially if it’s not well controlled.

The earlier you pinpoint this medical condition, the better because it’s progressive and can cause substantial damage to the pancreas. Insulin injections may be the only way to control your blood sugar if it goes unchecked.

Early diagnosis allows patients to make diet and lifestyle changes to improve their situation. It’s amazing what good food and exercise can do to control Type 2 diabetes. Many life insurance applicants with well-managed type 2 diabetes can get standard, non-smoking rates.

Can Diabetics Get Life Insurance: Gestational Diabetes 

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is usually temporary. The placenta makes hormones that can spike the glucose in your blood. For most people, the pancreas produces enough insulin to handle the increase, but if it doesn’t, gestational diabetes results.

This condition is tested throughout your pregnancy to ensure a healthy birth. If you have gestational diabetes, some simple changes help manage your blood sugar.

After delivery, gestational diabetes typically resolves itself. The kicker is it can be a marker for future type 2 diabetes, so this medical issue is something an underwriter will take note of. 

What about Pre-Diabetes? 

There are warning signs before you get Type 2 diabetes, and prediabetes is one of them. If you keep up with your yearly physicals, you may get a blood test that reveals a diagnosis of prediabetes.

This is a serious medical condition defined by elevated blood sugar levels. It’s not severe enough to be called Type 2 diabetes, but that’s not to say there are not some profound health implications.

Sadly, most people don’t know they have this, but as with Type 2 diabetes, there is an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. 

Underwriting Life Insurance for Diabetics

Life insurance for diabetics is a very complicated topic. That’s why you must call Policy Architects today. Every life insurance company views diabetes differently, which means some are more lenient than others. But that’s not all.

…it depends on your circumstances and how well-controlled your diabetes is. 

Underwriting Diabetes Type 1

If you have type 1 diabetes, this is a much tougher situation to underwrite. Even if you get underwritten because your diabetes is well controlled, you’ll likely be rated and have to pay more in premiums. The question is, how much more? Underwriters will be interested in the following:

• Height & Weight
• A1C levels (past and present)
• Age of diagnosis
• Type of Insulin prescribed
• Units per day
• Other medications
• Any complications related to your diabetes
• Any other health issues (i.e., heart disease, neuropathy)

You may have a shot at affordable life insurance rates if:

• Your diabetes is well managed, and you’re proactive and compliant with your treatment 
• There are no complications related to your diabetes
• Age 30 or above when diagnosed
• For adult-onset, one year has passed since the diagnosis
• A1C level less than 8

Can insurance companies deny coverage if you have type 1 diabetes?

Depending on your answers to the questions above, you may want to consider a no-medical-exam policy first. Once an insurer rejects your application, this becomes part of your Medical Information Bureau (MIB) record for other companies to see.

In cases with type 1 diabetes, we often test the market to see how underwriters view your application. No medical coverage is a great option and is usually on par or cheaper than the life insurance rates you would receive through traditional medical underwriting.

Underwriting Diabetes Type 2

You have a perfect chance of obtaining an underwritten policy if you have well-controlled Type 2 Diabetes and no other medical issues. Although, again, I can’t overstate how important it is for you to work with an independent life insurance agent to find the right company for you

Every carrier views your diabetes differently. The strategy we use to obtain life insurance for diabetics or those with chronic issues is different than for healthy individuals.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, we have access to the best life insurance companies in Canada and know how each one looks at your situation. Underwriters will be interested in:

• A1C levels
• Height & Weight
• Age of diagnosis
• Medication and dosage
• Any complications related to your diabetes
• Any other health issues (i.e., high blood pressure, cholesterol)

As far as insurance carriers are concerned, life insurance for diabetics is entirely about control. They like to see:

• Your A1C levels are well-stabilized
• You’re proactive when it comes to your treatment
• A healthy diet and lifestyle
• regular self-testing
• regular follow-ups with your doctor

“Did I mention underwriters love notes? Document your treatment and make sure your doctor is doing the same. A consistent trail of reliable health records communicates to underwriters that you’re someone who takes your health seriously. It can mean the difference between getting the best life insurance rates for diabetics or not.”

Underwriting Gestational Diabetes

If you have gestational diabetes and apply for life insurance, insurers will postpone your application until after you’ve had the baby.

At that point, you may get a standard rating if everything returns to normal. Remember, having gestational diabetes puts you at greater risk of having type 2 diabetes later in life, so this is taken into consideration too. 

Medical Issues That Underwriters Are On The Lookout For

Age is one of the biggest factors when underwriting life insurance for diabetics. The younger you are when you’re diagnosed, the more risk you represent. For example, someone in their 50’s with Type 2 diabetes that’s well controlled may even get a standard rate!

Control is vital to getting a standard rate (and not having Type 1 diabetes). Diabetes creates a lot of stress on the body, which leads to other more serious health issues – so if you are working to maintain good health, these variables may never come to fruition.

Underwriters also consider your height and weight because of the impact weight has on this chronic medical condition. I discuss this in greater detail below. There’s a lot you can do to manage your diabetes.

Red Flags for Diabetes

If you’re concerned about Type 2 diabetes, there are some red flags. I do, however, want to add a caveat. Although some markers make you a candidate for this diagnosis, there’s a very strong lifestyle component.

Just because you have a family history or even if you’re prediabetic, you’re not necessarily destined for a lifetime of being unwell. That being said, I am sharing the red flags for Type 2 diabetes now: 

• You are overweight 
• Over 45 years of age 
• A family history of type 2 diabetes 
• You live a sedentary life 
• Diagnosed with gestational diabetes 
• Your baby weighed more than 9 LBS 
• A diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome 
• African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, & Some Asian Americans have a higher risk 

Why Underwriters Worry About Diabetes

As mentioned above, diabetes causes other health conditions that complicate life insurance coverage. This is why treatment is so necessary. Underwriters must weigh your situation before approving, rating, or declining you.

The following medical issues go hand in hand with diabetes:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Kidney disease 
• Neuropathy 
• Eye damage
• Foot issues that are caused by neuropathy

Ouch! These are some very serious issues. This is why it’s so crucial for you to consult with an independent life insurance agent BEFORE you apply for insurance.

We will review your medical history to find the best life insurance company. This can translate into thousands of dollars of savings throughout your policy. 

The Medical Exam & How You Can Help Yourself

Diabetes And When No Medical Exam Life Insurance Makes Sense 

No medical life insurance for diabetics makes sense when you have other additional health issues like heart disease or neuropathy. Suppose you’re seriously worried about being declined for traditional life insurance. In that case, a simplified-issue policy is a great way to get coverage in place quickly before you investigate medically underwritten options.

This tactic ensures guaranteed protection if you are declined or highly rated.  

Another issue is cost. Sure, no-health-exam life insurance is more expensive, but that’s because the company takes on more risk when they insure you. That being said, being rated 150% plus also hits your wallet hard. Depending on personal circumstances, no-health-exam life insurance for diabetics may be the most cost-effective. 

Lifestyle Changes & Diabetes

I’m a big advocate of lifestyle changes when you feel things are going south. This past Spring, I turned 56! It’s a huge milestone; I still feel like I’m 15. The thing is, my body doesn’t know that. As you age, things you take for granted start to change.

The biological clock isn’t the same for everyone, but a lot of this depends on how we live our lives. There’s a genetic component, and life isn’t always easy.

…but the good news is you can take the bull by the horns and turn things around. 

If you’ve been recently diagnosed with prediabetes, losing 10 – 15 lbs if you’re overweight can help. Yeah, I know losing weight is never simple, but you can increase your daily physical activity to 30 minutes per day and cut out the junk, and before you know it, you’ll see the extra weight melt off.

Can Diabetics Get Life Insurance: Diet 

Because you’re dealing with blood sugar issues, a healthy diet is one of the best tools you have in the fight against diabetes. Using food as medicine doesn’t have to be a drag, either. You can make fresh, nutritious food taste amazing in many ways. 

First, you want to eliminate croissants and unhealthy carbohydrates in favor of healthy carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

Sadly, your morning muffin or refined cereal breaks down into blood glucose, so you want to choose foods that don’t add to that load. You also need to make sure you get enough fiber in your diet.

This is another way for your body to control A1C levels. If you eat enough fruit, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, this should be a no-brainer.

It would help to incorporate heart-healthy fish such as salmon at least twice weekly. 

Good fats are another important part of the equation. Avocados, nuts, and olive oil are also great additions. Many people report success adhering to the Mediterranean diet because it has all the components you need to live a healthy life and manage your weight.

Foods to avoid include the following usual suspects:

• Refined sugar 
• Fried foods 
• Saturated and Trans Fats 
• Red Meat 
• Hot Dogs, Sausage & Bacon 

Don’t Forget to Exercise 

The American Diabetes Association recommends two types of exercise to combat diabetes – aerobic exercise and strength training. 

“Aerobic exercise helps your body use insulin better. It makes your heart and bones strong, relieves stress, improves blood circulation, and reduces your risk for heart disease by lowering blood glucose and blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels.”

American Diabetes Association 

As I mentioned above, get outside or go to the gym for 30 minutes daily—and if you can’t manage that, five days per week. This will make all the difference in the world.

…and don’t go crazy. Moderate intensity is all you need. Remember, slow and steady always wins the race. Biking is my favorite way to get out and about in warmer weather, but you can also go swimming, hike, or maybe even do some gardening. It all counts toward your final goal. 

Strength training is another way to lower blood glucose and ward off age-related issues.

Let’s face it: The healthier you are heading into your later years, the better they will be. Strength training is beneficial if done at least twice weekly. Squats, weights, lunges, sit-ups, and healthy gardening can increase stamina. 

Why You Need Policy Architects

As you can see, life insurance for people with diabetes is a big topic. Again, this is why you must contact an independent life insurance agency like Policy Architects.

We have relationships with the best life insurance companies in Canada for diabetes.

Always consult someone who knows the ins and outs of the underwriting process. 

You also need to take an honest look at your medical history. I will be completely transparent with you – if you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll be rated and possibly declined. This doesn’t mean that you are uninsurable. No medical exam life insurance for diabetics may be the best path for you.

Get in touch with Policy Architects Today!