Insurance for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is a complex topic with as many variations as there are symptoms of the disease, making the search of life insurance for diabetics an arduous process. Dealing with a skilled and knowledgeable provider is essential, because each insurance company has its own standards for coverage. If you apply to the wrong one and get rejected, the rejection becomes part of your medical record for all other companies to see, which can lead to further rejections that otherwise may not have happened.

That’s just one of many tricky aspects of obtaining coverage for people with diabetes. On this page, we’ll guide you through each phase of the disease and show you exactly what kind of life insurance policies you can expect, which companies provide them, and what kind of payouts they offer to your family and loved ones.

So read on. Even though you may not qualify for the same policy as a healthy person, you probably have more options than you think.

Learn More About Insurance For Diabetics

Type 1 Diabetes

Per the American Diabetes Association: “In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the sugars and starches you eat into a simple sugar called glucose, which it uses for energy. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body.”

While it is possible to obtain life insurance with type 1 diabetes as long as your condition is well controlled, the underwriting process is more difficult for people with Type 1 diabetes. If you are approved, you most likely will be rated in a lower health class (“substandard”) which may only mean your premiums will be higher or have a limit to how much life insurance coverage you are eligible for.

Type 2 Diabetes

Per the American Diabetes Association: “If you have Type 2 diabetes your body does not use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, over time it isn’t able to keep up and can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.”

Also known as “adult onset diabetes”, a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes is easier to get approved for life insurance coverage compared to Type 1 since Type 2 poses a lower risk to insurance companies as long as it is controlled through medication or adjustment in health behaviors, no additional complications, and monitored by a physician. As a result, Type 2 diabetics are able to more affordable rates and better health ratings than compared to their Type 1 counterparts.

Gestational Diabetes

According to Babycenter.com : “When you’re pregnant, your body naturally becomes more resistant to insulin so that more glucose is available to nourish your baby. For most moms-to-be, this isn’t a problem: When your body needs additional insulin to process excess glucose in blood, the pancreas secretes more. But if the pancreas can’t keep up with the increased demand for insulin during pregnancy, blood sugar levels rise too high because the cells aren’t using the glucose. This results in gestational diabetes.”

Since gestational diabetes is often a temporary situation involving glucose intolerance during pregnancy, many insurance companies aren’t overly concerned about a previous history of it. The biggest concern is if the diabetes continues after the pregnancy and becomes Type 2 diabetes. If there are no additional signs of diabetes post-pregnancy, then obtaining good rates on life insurance should not be an issue.