31/03/2026

If you’re looking for Life Insurance as a diabetic this guide should help to explain the process when trying to obtain over and provide some tips along the way.

The good news is that it is often possible to get Life Insurance with diabetes but it really does depend on a number of factors, such as:

Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
Age at diagnosis / time since diagnosis
Your latest blood glucose readings (to see if you’re controlling the condition)
Whether there are any ‘aggravating factors’, such as a high BMI
If you have any other medical issues to consider, such as circulatory disease or high cholesterol
If you’re a smoker.

Can I Get Life Insurance if I Have Diabetes?

It’s very important to note that insurers can take very different stances on diabetic Life Insurance, with some insurers declining outright and others placing a “loading” or premium increase on the policy.

This loading will vary depending on the insurer and their assessment of your condition, so it pays to make sure you’ve checked the entire market to find the right deal for you.

That’s where an intermediary like us can help. We know the market inside out and will be able to tell you which insurers may be able to offer you cover given your condition. We’ll search the whole market on your behalf so you don’t have to.

Life Insurance can be vital if you were to die and your dependents would need financial support. The sum payable can be used to pay off a mortgage and any debts as well as towards ongoing living expenses.

For those with the condition, diabetic Life Insurance is readily available but premiums are likely to be higher than those without the condition. The cost may come down however, if you can show the condition is carefully managed.

Managed Life Insurance With Diabetes

The rapidly-rising number of people with diabetes has seen insurers reassess their Life Insurance propositions and develop policies designed with diabetics in mind. As such, there are now policies on the market that may see your premiums fall if you can show you’re managing your condition well, which might include losing weight or reducing blood glucose levels.

What Will Insurers Need to Know?

An insurer will want to know how you control the condition, so be prepared to answer some detailed medical questions and provide evidence of specific specialist treatment you’ve had.

The insurer will also most likely want to write to your GP to check your wider medical history and your attendance at / outcomes from diabetic clinics. This might include whether you have any complications associated with diabetes, or aggravating factors such as a high BMI.

There may also be a request for blood sugar readings – the HbA1c test measures blood glucose levels. Other information required will be on weight, smoker status, alcohol units per week and any other health conditions.

Some insurers are more willing to provide life cover for diabetics and this is why it can be important to take advice. Once you have had an application declined it can be harder to obtain a policy elsewhere as you usually need to disclose whether you have been turned down in the past.

Your adviser will be able to gather medical information specific to you and speak to the insurers anonymously on your behalf to establish which insurer is likely to offer you the most cost effective life cover.

I Had Life Insurance Before Diabetes – Is It Still Valid?

If you already had Life Insurance and were later unfortunately diagnosed with diabetes, the policy remains valid and in force.

This is because any existing policy represents a “snapshot” of your health at the date of application, when you presumably didn’t have diabetes, and so covers you going forward on that basis.

What About My Workplace Death in Service Scheme?

Many people also have Life Insurance through work, which can be known as Death in Service. You should check if you have cover and if so how much cover you have.

Most Death in Service schemes cover from 1 to 4 times annul earnings, depending on the employer. While the level of cover may not be sufficient for your needs, it can nonetheless be an important cornerstone of your protection needs, especially if you’re having trouble getting insurance elsewhere with diabetes.

This is because, in most instances, the insurance provider won’t ask any medical questions of employees when taking out a Death in Service scheme. This means your diabetes won’t be relevant unless you’re one of the very few individuals (mostly company directors and other executives) who exceed the insurer’s free cover limit.

As such, if your employer offers life cover through an employee benefits scheme this may be worth considering because usually employees with serious health issues can often get cover through work even if they would have been declined for an individual policy.

rauri taylor, independent protection expert at drewberry

Company Death in Service Insurance shouldn’t be relied on as a permanent insurance solution. If you leave your job, retire, or are made redundant your cover will cease and you may find yourself looking for cover again and back at square one.

Rauri Taylor
Independent Protection Specialist

Diabetic Life Insurance Advice

There are a great many factors involved if you’re looking at getting Life Insurance with diabetes, which is why it pays to have a specialist fighting your corner. That’s where our advisers can step in and help find out if it’s possible for you to get Life Insurance as a diabetic given your individual circumstances.

Speak to our advisers completely fee-free today on 02084327333. We’re able to search the entire UK market and can visit each appropriate provider so you don’t have to.

Why Speak to Us?

When it comes to protecting yourself and your finances, you deserve first-class service. Here’s why you should talk to us:

There’s no fee for our service
We’re an award-winning independent insurance broker, working with the leading UK insurers
You’ll speak to a dedicated specialist from start to finish
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