Life Insurance With Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)

In many cases, yes. Plenty of people living with diabetes hold life cover, TPD and income protection. Insurers look at the full picture rather than the diagnosis alone, so the type of diabetes, how well it is managed, how long you have had it, whether there are any complications and your other health factors all feed into the decision. Type 1 and type 2 are assessed differently, and even within each type two people can receive very different terms. The honest answer is that outcomes vary, which is why it is worth having your specific situation reviewed rather than assuming the result.

It can, but not always, and it is far from the only possible outcome. Depending on the insurer and your circumstances, the result could be standard rates, a premium loading (a higher price to reflect the assessed risk), an exclusion for certain related conditions, or cover for some products but not all. There is no single fixed answer that applies to everyone with diabetes. The same person can receive noticeably different terms from different insurers, which is the main reason a one-size-fits-all assumption is unreliable here.

Generally, how well your diabetes is managed is one of the things insurers consider. Factors such as your HbA1c results, how stable your condition is, whether you have complications and how long since diagnosis all form part of the assessment. Good management is viewed positively as part of the overall picture, though it is one factor among several and does not guarantee a particular outcome on its own. Keeping your records up to date and being ready to share recent results can help an application be assessed accurately.

Often, yes. A single decline or a heavy loading from one insurer is not the final word, because another insurer may view the same situation differently. A broker can take your case to multiple insurers and seek the most suitable terms, rather than you being tied to the verdict of the first place you tried. We can also help present your information clearly and completely so each insurer is assessing an accurate, well-documented picture. Whether better terms are available depends on your circumstances, so the next step is a conversation about your specific case. For the broader picture across health conditions generally, see our guide on life insurance with pre-existing conditions.

Yes. When you apply for cover you have a duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation, which means answering the insurer's questions honestly and completely, including about diabetes, your management of it and any related medication. Full, honest disclosure is essential. Leaving out or understating relevant information can affect a future claim, which defeats the purpose of holding the cover. If you are unsure how to describe your situation, it is far safer to ask than to guess.