Part of our guide: Impaired Risk Life Insurance Underwriting by Condition →
Diabetes is one of the most common impairments on a life application, and one of the most misunderstood. A diagnosis alone rarely decides the offer. How well it’s controlled, how long the client has had it, and whether there are complications decide it.
Key takeaways
- Type 2 diabetes with good control and no complications may qualify for Standard rates.
- Type 1 diabetes is usually table-rated, but best-case clients over age 50 may see ratings as favorable as Table 2.
- Pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes history may qualify for Standard Plus, and A1C history is the single most important document in the file.
With good control and no complications, a Type 2 diabetic may qualify for Standard rates — not the automatic table rating many advisors expect.
What underwriters look at
Underwriters build a picture of long-term control, not a single snapshot. The main factors are:
- Type of diabetes and age at diagnosis.
- A1C history, the average blood sugar over roughly three months, both at diagnosis and over time.
- Complications, including neuropathy (nerve damage), kidney disease, retinopathy, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
- Treatment, whether diet, oral medication, or insulin, and how consistently the client follows up with their doctor.
- Other risk factors, such as build, blood pressure, cholesterol, and tobacco use.
The four types, and how each is viewed
Type 2 is the most common form. The body is resistant to insulin and can’t use it effectively. Type 1 is an autoimmune condition where the body produces little or no insulin, usually diagnosed early in life; latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slower-progressing form. Pre-diabetes, also called impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, means glucose is above normal but below the diabetes threshold. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and usually resolves after delivery, though it raises the chance of Type 2 later.
Typical underwriting outcomes
- Type 2: may qualify for Standard with good control and no complications.
- Type 1: best case around Table 2 for clients over age 50; higher table ratings are common at younger ages, depending on control and complications.
- Pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes: may qualify for Standard Plus, and in some cases better. See how one client with a borderline blood sugar reading reached Super Standard Non-Tobacco.
These are illustrative ranges. Carriers differ widely on diabetes, so the same file can produce very different offers depending on where it goes.
How to prepare a diabetes case
Gather the client’s recent A1C results (several readings over time are better than one), a full medication list, and any eye, kidney, or cardiac screening results. Then let our Underwriting Team pre-screen the case informally before you apply, so it goes first to the carrier most likely to give the best offer.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Type 1 diabetic get life insurance?
Yes. Type 1 diabetes is usually table-rated, but clients with good control and no complications can get coverage, and best-case clients over 50 may see ratings around Table 2.
What A1C do life insurance underwriters want to see?
Carriers set their own thresholds, but the closer A1C readings are to normal and the more stable they are over time, the better the offer. Send us the client’s history and we’ll tell you which carriers are most favorable for it.
Does gestational diabetes affect life insurance rates?
Usually only modestly. A history of gestational diabetes that resolved after pregnancy may qualify for Standard Plus or better, depending on the carrier and current blood sugar results.
Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25
Tim Fuller
President, SRS Inc.
Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.
Connect on LinkedIn →We’re Here to Help
Have a question about what you just read, or a case you’re working on? Tell us a bit about what you need, and a member of the SRS team will follow up with you personally — no obligation, no hassle.
