Diabetes and Life Insurance
Insulin is the substance needed by the body to convert and breakdown sugars for use in cells.
Without the necessary amount of insulin, the sugar level rises in the bloodstream and in turn, can cause serious side effect including heart disease, blindness, and renal (liver) failure.
Therefore, it is extremely important for the diabetic to control their blood sugar by eating correctly and through the use of medication.
Most diabetics take the blood sugar reading once of more per day.
However, an insurance company is primarily interested in a reading called "Hemoglobin A1c" or simply the "A1c".
This number gives an accurate indication of where the individual's average blood sugar has been over the prior three months.
Generally this number is considered evidence of good control at 7 or below.
Another important issue is age at diagnosis, will older ages considered better by carriers.
In addition, those individuals diagnosed over 70 have greater latitude with regard to their A1c.
There is no cure for diabetes.
Once diagnosed, insurance companies will always consider this illness as part of your medical underwriting, even if completely controlled by diet and exercise.
Currently, the best health rating a diabetic can expect would be "standard" non-tobacco.
This would assume no complications or build issues that would put someone in a less favorable rate category.
Don't assume that additional health problems and complications will mean that you cannot obtain coverage.
Insurance companies are concerned with stability and your compliance with medication and testing.
If you have been declined in the past and applied with only one carrier, think about finding an independent agent with the ability to have your medical records summarized for informal consideration.
Medical underwriting done in this way can often lead to a successful policy outcome.