Published by Term Insurance Brokers — an independent brokerage licensed in 35+ states, representing 30+ top-rated carriers. Updated August 2026.
Quick Answer: Yes, you can get life insurance with type 2 diabetes — often at better rates than expected. Underwriters focus on three factors: (1) control (A1c level), (2) complications (eyes, kidneys, neuropathy, cardiovascular), and (3) age of onset. Well-controlled diabetes (A1c under 7.0) diagnosed after age 50 with no complications can often qualify for standard rates. Poorly controlled diabetes with cardiovascular complications shifts to table-rated coverage or guaranteed issue. These are general industry patterns — actual thresholds and outcomes vary by carrier.
How Do Underwriters View Type 2 Diabetes?
Underwriters aren’t looking at a diagnosis — they’re looking at the full picture of how well diabetes is managed. The condition itself isn’t the disqualifier. Poorly controlled diabetes with complications is a very different risk profile than a well-managed case caught early. The three things underwriters focus on most are control, complications, and age of onset.
What 3 Factors Drive Your Type 2 Diabetes Underwriting Outcome?
1. Control (A1c Level)
A1c is the single most important number. General industry patterns, though specific cutoffs vary meaningfully by carrier:
- A1c under 6.5-7.0: Strong control — many carriers offer standard or near-standard rates, and some will consider Preferred Plus with an otherwise clean profile.
- A1c 7.0–7.5: Good control — standard rates are achievable at many carriers, though this is exactly the range where carrier selection matters most, since one carrier may offer standard while another applies a table rating for the same A1c.
- A1c 7.5–8.5: Moderate control — table ratings become more common, though some carriers remain more flexible than others.
- A1c above 9.0: Limited carrier options; underwriting becomes considerably tougher and some carriers may decline.
2. Complications
Diabetes-related complications significantly tighten the carrier pool:
- Retinopathy (eyes) — typically adds to the rating, with the impact depending on severity.
- Nephropathy (kidneys) — significant impact, especially with elevated creatinine or proteinuria.
- Neuropathy — typically a smaller add-on rating than kidney or cardiovascular involvement.
- Cardiovascular involvement (CAD, prior MI, stroke) — generally the biggest underwriting concern; see our guide on life insurance after a heart attack.
3. Age of Onset
Later onset is generally more favorable. Type 2 diabetes diagnosed in your 50s or 60s tends to be viewed more favorably than diagnosis in your 30s, because the cumulative duration and complication risk is lower.
What Else Do Carriers Look At?
- Treatment regimen. Diet-controlled or metformin-only is generally viewed more favorably than multiple oral agents or insulin, though insulin use alone does not disqualify you.
- Build (BMI). Diabetes combined with an elevated BMI compounds risk. See our guide on life insurance with obesity.
- Blood pressure and cholesterol. Controlled numbers are favorable; uncontrolled numbers stack risk. See our guide on life insurance with high blood pressure.
- Smoking status. Smoking combined with diabetes is a significant underwriting penalty — see our guide on life insurance for smokers.
- Consistency of follow-up care. Regular endocrinology or PCP visits with documented A1c trending is a strong positive signal.
What Do Rates Actually Look Like Compared to Standard?
To illustrate a real baseline: a healthy 50-year-old non-smoker male in Nevada with no diabetes history and standard health currently qualifies for roughly $127 per month for $500,000 of 20-year term coverage across the carriers we checked as of August 2026.
A type 2 diabetes history typically results in a rated premium above that healthy baseline, and the size of the increase depends heavily on A1c control, complications, age of onset, and which carrier reviews the case. A well-controlled case with no complications may see only a modest increase over the healthy baseline at a diabetes-friendly carrier; a less controlled case, or one with cardiovascular or kidney complications, will typically see a larger increase, and severe cases may be limited to guaranteed issue coverage. The exact size of any rating varies significantly by carrier for the same case, which is exactly why carrier selection matters so much for diabetic applicants.
What Can You Do To Improve Your Application?
- Get your A1c down before applying. Several months of improved A1c can meaningfully change your rate class.
- Stabilize blood pressure and cholesterol. Controlled comorbidities offset diabetes underwriting penalties.
- Document complete medical records. Underwriters favor seeing consistent endocrinology follow-up with trended labs.
- Quit smoking (12+ months). One of the biggest non-clinical things you can do to improve your rate.
- Don’t wait too long. Diabetes generally progresses over time. Applying while well-managed is almost always better than waiting.
- Use an independent broker who knows diabetic cases. Pre-screening with underwriters before a formal application protects your record and ensures the right carrier match.
Key Takeaways
- Type 2 diabetes is not a disqualifier — most applicants qualify for traditional coverage.
- The three factors that matter most: A1c control, complications, and age of onset.
- Well-controlled diabetes with no complications can often qualify for standard or near-standard rates, though thresholds vary by carrier.
- Compounding factors (smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease) tighten the carrier pool.
- Carrier selection is critical — different companies have very different appetites for diabetic cases, sometimes for the exact same A1c.
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