Most people with diabetes assume one of two things: that they will not qualify for life insurance at all, or that the cost will be far higher than they can afford. Both assumptions are usually wrong.

Here is the short answer. Yes, you can get life insurance with diabetes. That is true whether you have Type 1, Type 2, or you are insulin-dependent.

Here is the real answer. Your outcome depends on a handful of underwriting factors and, just as much, on which insurance company reviews your application. Get those right and you may qualify for standard or near-standard rates. Get them wrong, or apply with a carrier that treats diabetes harshly, and you can overpay, land a higher rating, or get declined when you did not have to be.

This guide explains how underwriting actually works, what helps your case, what causes problems, and how to get the best possible outcome. I place diabetic cases regularly for families here in South Carolina, so this is written from what actually happens, not from a brochure.

Can you get life insurance if you have diabetes?

In almost every case, yes. Life insurance companies do not simply look at whether you have diabetes. They look at how well you manage it.

That distinction is the whole ballgame. Two people with the same diagnosis can get very different offers. Diabetes alone does not decide your approval. Control, stability, and complications do.

This applies to you if any of these fit:

• You have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and want coverage
• You are insulin-dependent and have been told that makes you uninsurable (it does not)
• You have been declined or quoted high rates before
• Your A1C is under 8.5 percent, or it is climbing back down after a rough stretch

How life insurance companies evaluate diabetes

Underwriters weigh five things. These matter for both Type 1 and Type 2, though carriers apply them a little differently depending on your type.

1. A1C level (the most important factor). Your A1C reflects your average blood sugar over the past three months. It is the single biggest driver of your rate.

A1C Range	What to Expect
Under 6.5%	Standard or Standard Plus possible
6.5% to 7.0%	Standard likely
7.0% to 7.5%	Standard to mild table rating
7.5% to 8.5%	Table rating (higher premium)
Above 9.0%	Likely decline for fully underwritten coverage

These are general benchmarks and every carrier sets its own lines. A small difference in A1C can move your rate more than people expect, which is exactly why the number matters so much.

2. Type 1 versus Type 2. Carriers underwrite the two on separate tracks. Well-controlled Type 2, managed with diet or oral medication, tends to earn the most favorable offers. Type 1 usually carries a table rating because it is insulin-dependent and typically diagnosed earlier in life, which means more years of exposure. That does not make Type 1 uninsurable. It means carrier selection matters even more, because some companies are noticeably friendlier to Type 1 than others.

3. Age at diagnosis and duration. For Type 2, being diagnosed later in life works in your favor. Diagnosed at 58 reads better than diagnosed at 32, because there are fewer years for complications to develop. For Type 1, which is usually diagnosed young, underwriters focus less on the age you were diagnosed and more on how long you have managed it well and whether complications have shown up.

4. How you manage it. Underwriters look closely at treatment. Managing diabetes with diet and exercise alone earns the most favorable view. Oral medications like Metformin, and the newer drugs like Ozempic, are still viewed well. Insulin use carries higher perceived risk and usually raises the rate, but it does not disqualify you. Plenty of insulin-dependent applicants get solid coverage every year.

5. Complications. This is where outcomes change fast. Neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney disease, and heart disease each push you into a higher risk category. Even mild complications affect the offer, and active or advancing complications shrink your list of available carriers significantly. This is true for Type 1 and Type 2 alike.

6. Stability over time. Consistency counts as much as your current numbers. A stable or improving A1C over the past 12 to 24 months signals real management. Numbers that bounce around raise the perceived risk no matter where your A1C sits today. Underwriters reward a long track record, not a quick improvement right before you apply.

What a table rating means, and why it is not a dealbreaker

If you have diabetes, especially Type 1 or an insulin-dependent Type 2, there is a good chance you will see a table rating. Do not let the term scare you.

A table rating means you are approved, just at a higher premium. Each table typically adds about 25 percent to the base rate.

Table Rating	Premium Impact
Table 2	About 50% above standard
Table 4	About 100% above standard

A table rating is not a rejection. It is real, permanent coverage that pays a full death benefit. It is also not necessarily forever. If your A1C improves and holds steady for 6 to 12 months, you can reapply or shop a different carrier and often qualify for a better rate.

The types of policies available to diabetics

You have more options than most people realize. The right one depends on your control, your budget, and how much coverage you need.

Fully underwritten is the right starting point for most people with reasonable control, Type 1 or Type 2. It requires a medical exam and records, but it produces the lowest cost per dollar of coverage and the highest coverage amounts. If you manage your diabetes reasonably well, try this route first.

Simplified issue skips the exam and uses a shorter health questionnaire. Approval is faster, but premiums run higher because the carrier is taking on more uncertainty, and coverage is usually capped around $500,000 for term. Good for convenience, usually more expensive than fully underwritten.

Guaranteed issue asks no health questions and approves everyone. The tradeoffs are real: coverage caps around $25,000, the cost per dollar is high, and there is a two-year waiting period before the full death benefit pays. This is a backup for people who cannot qualify for anything else, not a first choice.

Should a diabetic buy term or whole life insurance?

Both are available to diabetics, and the right answer depends on why you need the coverage, not on your diagnosis.

Term life covers you for a set number of years and costs the least for the most protection. It is the right fit for income replacement, a mortgage, or raising kids, which is what most families need. Whole life costs more per dollar of coverage but never expires and builds cash value, which some people want for final expenses or leaving something behind. Diabetes does not push you toward one or the other. Your goal does. Just know that whichever you choose, the same underwriting factors above apply.

The most common mistakes diabetic applicants make

Applying with the wrong carrier. Different insurers treat diabetes very differently. A company that declines at an A1C of 7.8 sits right next to one that approves it at a table rating. Carrier selection alone can change your entire outcome.

Applying during a temporary A1C spike. Underwriters see your current number, not where you are headed. If a recent illness or medication change pushed your A1C up and you know it does not reflect your usual control, waiting three to six months to document a return to baseline is worth it.

Assuming a prior decline is permanent. One carrier's no is often another carrier's yes. Different guidelines, different result. A decline is not the end of the road.

Reaching for guaranteed issue too early. Many people who assume they can only get guaranteed issue actually qualify for far better coverage. They end up in an expensive, low-coverage product they never needed.

What to have ready before you apply

Good preparation leads to faster underwriting and better decisions:

• Your most recent A1C result, within six months if possible
• Your current medication list and dosages
• The names of your primary care doctor and any specialists
• Your diagnosis date
• Any complications, documented accurately

One warning on that last point. Never leave a complication off an application. During the two-year contestability period after a policy is issued, an undisclosed condition gives the carrier grounds to deny a claim. Full honesty protects your family later.

What rates look like in South Carolina (2026)

These ranges are for well-controlled Type 2 diabetes, no insulin, no complications:

Age	Coverage	Term	Monthly Range
45, male	$500,000	20-year	$75 to $140
50, female	$500,000	20-year	$60 to $110
55, male	$250,000	15-year	$65 to $120
60, female	$250,000	15-year	$80 to $150

The spread inside each range is carrier variance, plain and simple. Insulin use, Type 1, or any complications will move you higher, but the same principle holds: the gap between the best and worst carrier for a diabetic applicant is wide, which is the whole reason shopping across carriers pays off.

Why an independent agent matters here

A captive agent works with one company and one set of underwriting rules. If that company's guidelines do not favor your profile, your only choices are to accept whatever rating they hand you or walk away.

An independent agent compares multiple carriers and knows which ones handle diabetic applicants well. Which ones penalize insulin harder. Which ones give credit for a recent A1C improvement. Which ones are more forgiving on table ratings. Which ones actually want Type 1 business. That knowledge turns directly into a better offer.

Mauldin Insurance Group is an independent agency based in Lexington, SC, serving families across the Midlands and the rest of the state. We work with multiple carriers and know how each one reads a diabetic application. That means better matching, better pricing, and fewer unnecessary declines.

Life insurance for diabetics: quick answers

Can you get life insurance with Type 1 diabetes? Yes. Type 1 usually results in a table rating, but well-managed Type 1 applicants get real coverage every year. Carrier choice matters even more than with Type 2.

Can you get life insurance if you use insulin? Yes. Insulin raises the rate but does not disqualify you. Some carriers penalize it more than others, which is where shopping around helps most.

What is the best life insurance for diabetics? For most people, fully underwritten term from a diabetes-friendly carrier gives the most coverage for the lowest cost. The best specific carrier depends on your A1C, your type, and your complications.

Does diabetes automatically mean high premiums? No. Well-controlled diabetes with a good A1C and no complications often qualifies for standard or near-standard rates.

I was declined before. Is it worth trying again? Usually, yes. A different carrier with different guidelines is often the difference between a no and a solid offer.

Bottom line

If you have diabetes, you are not locked out of life insurance. With stable control, a reasonable A1C, and the right carrier, most people qualify for meaningful coverage at a fair price, Type 1 and Type 2 alike.

The difference between a good outcome and a frustrating one usually comes down to two things: who you apply through, and when. If you have been putting this off, or someone told you no before, it is worth another look. Request a quote or give us a call. The answer is often better than you expect.