Key takeaways
- Type 2 accounts for about 90% to 95% of diagnosed diabetes and type 1 for about 5% to 10%, according to the CDC.
- Type 1 is usually diagnosed in children, teens or young adults and always requires daily insulin, so applicants often have a longer history with the condition.
- Type 2 most often develops in people 45 or older and may be treated with lifestyle changes, other medicines or insulin.
- For both types, underwriters commonly weigh age at diagnosis, treatment, A1C history and complications together, not the type alone.
- Insurer guidelines vary, so comparing several companies matters more than the label on your diagnosis.
Life insurers look at type 1 and type 2 diabetes through the same lens: how long you've had it, how it's treated, how well it's controlled and whether you have complications. What differs is how those factors usually line up. Type 1 is typically diagnosed young and always needs insulin, while type 2 is usually diagnosed later in life and may be managed with lifestyle changes, pills or insulin.
That means the type on your chart matters less than the details behind it. This guide explains the medical difference in plain terms, why age at diagnosis carries so much weight, and how each type tends to be reviewed. For the full picture, start with our guide to life insurance for diabetics.
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes means your body makes little or no insulin, while type 2 means your body doesn't use insulin well. The CDC says type 1 is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction, and type 2 develops over many years.
| Type 1 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes |
|---|---|---|
What happens | The pancreas makes little or no insulin | Cells don't respond normally to insulin (insulin resistance) |
Share of diagnosed cases (CDC) | About 5% to 10% | About 90% to 95% |
Typical age at diagnosis | Children, teens and young adults, but any age | Most often 45 or older, though more young people are being diagnosed |
Treatment | Insulin every day, by shots or a pump | Healthy eating and activity, other medicines, or insulin |
Can it be prevented? | Not currently | Can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes |
Sources: CDC pages on type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Why does age at diagnosis matter to life insurers?
Age at diagnosis matters because it tells an insurer how many years you've lived with diabetes. The CDC explains that high blood sugar over time can cause serious problems such as heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease, and it lists diabetes as the No. 1 cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations and adult blindness. More years with the condition gives more time for problems like these to develop.
Here's a hypothetical example. Two applicants are both 50. One was diagnosed with type 1 at age 12, so she has lived with diabetes for 38 years. The other was diagnosed with type 2 at 47, so he has had it for 3 years. Even with similar A1C results today, an underwriter may look at their histories differently because of that difference in duration.
Duration is only one factor, though. Someone with a long history, steady control and no complications may still be viewed more favorably than someone recently diagnosed with poor control. Insurers set their own guidelines, so how much weight each factor gets varies by company.
How do life insurers view type 1 diabetes?
With type 1 diabetes, underwriters usually focus on how steady your control has been over the years and whether any complications have developed. Because the CDC says everyone with type 1 needs insulin every day, insulin use by itself is expected rather than a surprise.
Things an underwriter commonly asks about with type 1:
- Age at diagnosis and years since. As explained above, this shapes how the rest of your history is read.
- A1C history. Several results over time show more than a single test.
- Low blood sugar and DKA. The CDC's type 1 page notes that hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and diabetic ketoacidosis are common complications of diabetes that people with type 1 need to know how to handle. Insurers often ask how often you've had severe episodes or hospital visits.
- Devices. People with type 1 may use insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). NIDDK says that, compared with a standard blood glucose meter, a CGM can help you better manage your glucose and have fewer low blood sugar emergencies. Using a device isn't usually the concern; what the records show is.
- Complications. Eye, kidney, nerve and heart findings usually carry the most weight.
Our guide to life insurance for diabetics on insulin covers how insulin, pumps and CGMs come up on applications.
How do life insurers view type 2 diabetes?
With type 2 diabetes, underwriters usually look at how your diabetes is treated, how well it's controlled, and the health factors that often come with it. Since type 2 is typically diagnosed later in life, many applicants have a shorter history with the condition.
Things an underwriter commonly asks about with type 2:
- Treatment level. The CDC says type 2 may be managed with healthy eating and activity, other diabetes medicines or insulin. Insurers usually ask which of these you use and how long you've used it.
- A1C results. Recent results and the trend over time. Our guide to A1C and life insurance rates explains what the numbers mean.
- Blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. The CDC encourages people with diabetes to manage blood pressure and cholesterol, and underwriters review these for every applicant.
- Tobacco use. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that companies can charge more if you smoke.
- Complications. Heart, kidney, eye, nerve and liver problems all matter. The CDC's diabetes complications page lists the conditions linked to diabetes.
How do prediabetes and gestational diabetes fit in?
Prediabetes and past gestational diabetes aren't the same as ongoing diabetes, but applications may ask about them. The CDC says more than 2 in 5 U.S. adults have prediabetes, which means blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough for a type 2 diagnosis. Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after the baby is born, though it raises the risk of type 2 later.
If the application asks, answer accurately and include recent test results. Insurers set their own rules for these histories, and a licensed agent can tell you how different companies ask about them.
Which life insurance options fit each type?
Both types can apply for the same range of policies. Which one fits depends on your health details and how much coverage you need.
Option | Often worth a look if you have… |
|---|---|
Fully underwritten term or whole life | Steady control, no complications, and a need for a larger amount |
Simplified issue | A need for a moderate amount and a history that fits a shorter health questionnaire |
Group life through work or a union | Access to a plan at work; the Texas Department of Insurance says group underwriting isn't as strict |
Guaranteed issue | Complications or a history that doesn't fit other options, and a need for a small amount |
Term policies may also include a conversion option. The Texas Department of Insurance explains that convertibility lets you exchange a term policy for permanent coverage without a medical exam or health questions, usually until a set age. That can matter if your health changes later.
For a broader look at other conditions insurers review, see life insurance with pre-existing conditions. If you want to avoid an exam, our guide to no-medical-exam life insurance explains the trade-offs. You'll find every diabetes guide on the life insurance with diabetes hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is type 1 diabetes harder to insure than type 2?
Not always. Type 1 often means more years with diabetes and daily insulin, which some insurers view more cautiously. But a person with type 1 who has steady A1C results and no complications may be viewed more favorably than a person with type 2 who has poor control and kidney or heart problems. Each insurer weighs the full picture differently.
Check diabetes optionsDoes having LADA or another less common form of diabetes change things?
Less common forms, such as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults, are usually reviewed based on the same factors: treatment, control, duration and complications. Tell the insurer the exact diagnosis your doctor uses and list your medicines accurately, since your prescription history is likely to be checked.
Check diabetes optionsIf my type 2 diabetes is in remission, do I still have to disclose it?
Yes. If the application asks whether you have ever been diagnosed with or treated for diabetes, answer yes and explain your current status. Records showing normal results over time without medicine can help your application, but leaving out a past diagnosis can put a future claim at risk during the contestable period.
Check diabetes optionsCan my child with type 1 diabetes be covered by life insurance?
Some policies offer a children's rider that adds term coverage for your children, and some insurers sell individual policies for children. Health questions and rules vary by company and state. Ask a licensed agent how a child's diabetes is handled under a rider versus a separate policy.
Check diabetes optionsShould I apply before or after switching diabetes medicines?
Many underwriters like to see a period of stable treatment, so a very recent medicine change may lead to questions or a request for more records. That said, never change or delay treatment for the sake of an application. Follow your doctor's advice, and ask an agent how insurers view recent treatment changes.
Check diabetes optionsSources
About the author
Editorial TeamResearch & editorial
Our editorial team researches and writes these guides from primary sources — including the VA, IRS, Social Security Administration, CFPB, NAIC, and NFDA — and updates them as rules and figures change. Guides are general information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.
