Diving into Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition resulting from the body not creating enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels in the normal range. It’s typically diagnosed earlier in life, however it can occur at any age.

Approx. 10% of all diabetes diagnoses are attributed to Type 1, for which there’s currently no cure.

As Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed at a younger age, we often assess customers who have been living with diabetes for some time. In these cases, it’s most common to be able to offer life cover only, with a loading of at least 100%.

In situations where:

• a customer was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 40 or older, and
• the diabetes is well controlled with no complications.
   

We may be able to consider other benefits, however this is the exception.

Type 2 diabetes

The most common form of diabetes where either:

• the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or 
• the cells in the body don’t recognise the insulin that is present.
   

This results in high levels of glucose in the blood. For many (but not all) it can be prevented and/or managed by following a healthy lifestyle. 

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in adulthood after the ages of 30–40 years. However, increasing numbers of teenagers and children are developing it.

Type 2 diabetes terms are heavily dependent on control, age of diagnosis and duration of diabetes.

For customers recently diagnosed with diabetes we’ll often need to defer cover for 12 months to give us time to determine if they have adequate understanding, compliance and control of their blood sugar through lifestyle measures or medication.

The younger a person is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the higher the loading, whereas customers who are diagnosed at an older age (eg. 60) whose diabetes is well controlled with no complications may have a loading of 50-75%.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, where the pregnant person has high levels of glucose in their blood. High blood glucose is caused because the body can’t produce enough insulin (a pregnant person’s insulin needs are 2-3 times higher than normal).

While gestational diabetes is only temporary and usually disappears after pregnancy, a person who has had gestational diabetes has an increased risk (50-60%) of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future.

If a customer discloses that they’re currently pregnant with gestational diabetes, we’ll need to obtain medical records to ensure they have good control of their blood sugar. If this is the case, then standard terms can be offered for life cover.

If a customer has a history of gestational diabetes, we’ll need to obtain medical records to make sure they’re fully recovered with no signs of abnormal blood sugar. In these circumstances we’ll be able to consider all benefits at standard terms.

Pre-diabetes and abnormal glucose tolerance

Also known as “Impaired Glucose Tolerance” - this occurs when the glucose in the blood is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

People with pre-diabetes have a higher chance of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Underwriting terms will be based on a customer’s “HbA1c” result both now and historically. 

If a diagnosis of diabetes has not been given, but their “HbA1c” is of a level where diabetes is possible, the underwriter will likely defer cover until a diagnosis of diabetes has been investigated.