Life insurance for high A1C diabetics doesn’t have to be expensive, complicated, or impossible. While many people with elevated A1C levels worry they won’t qualify—or will face sky-high premiums—today’s underwriting guidelines can be far more flexible than most applicants expect when the case is positioned correctly. With the right strategy and carrier match, many diabetic applicants still secure affordable term or permanent coverage, and in some situations may even qualify for traditional fully underwritten policies without harsh restrictions.

At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we help people with Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and chronically elevated A1C levels find competitive life insurance options nationwide. As an independent agency licensed in all 50 states, we compare carriers with different diabetes guidelines so you’re not forced into a one-company decision. The goal is simple: identify which underwriters treat your A1C level, treatment plan, and overall health profile most fairly—then design coverage that protects your family and fits your budget.

If you’re working through multiple health factors (weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep apnea, or other conditions that can stack ratings), we’ll also align those details to the carriers that combine risks more reasonably. Many “bad outcomes” for diabetics aren’t because life insurance is unavailable—they happen because the case was submitted to the wrong carrier, the application language was too vague, or recent lab history wasn’t framed in context.

What High A1C Means for Life Insurance

Life insurance companies use A1C readings as a long-term indicator of blood sugar control because it reflects average glucose levels over roughly the past few months. A normal A1C is commonly under 5.7%, prediabetes is often 5.7%–6.4%, and diabetes begins at 6.5% and above. But the most important detail is this: underwriting doesn’t end at the number. Carriers evaluate the context around the A1C—stability, the direction of the trend, current treatment, lifestyle, build, and whether there are any diabetes-related complications.

“High A1C” is usually treated as an underwriting flag because it can correlate with higher future complication risk. That said, a single elevated reading doesn’t necessarily define the case. Underwriters want to know whether the A1C is stable, improving, or worsening—and whether your current plan is working. In many scenarios, an applicant with an elevated A1C but strong follow-up, consistent medication adherence, and good blood pressure and cholesterol control can land far better results than someone with a lower A1C but poor follow-up and multiple uncontrolled risk factors.

If you’re early in the process and trying to understand whether your A1C will impact approval at all, it helps to remember that carriers tend to rate the whole picture. Some companies are conservative once A1C crosses certain thresholds, while others are more flexible if your overall profile is stable and well-managed. This is exactly why shopping the market matters for diabetic underwriting.

How Life Insurance Companies Evaluate Diabetic Applicants

When you apply for life insurance with an elevated A1C, insurers typically evaluate a combination of medical data points and “management signals.” They want to see that you’re engaged in consistent care and that the diabetes is being treated like a long-term plan—not a short-term reaction.

A1C trend and stability. Underwriters look at whether your A1C is steady, improving, or rising. A stable A1C—even if it’s higher than ideal—can be viewed more favorably than a rapidly changing pattern.

Type of diabetes and age of onset. The underwriting approach can differ for prediabetes vs. Type 2, and the earlier the onset, the more carriers may look for long-term documentation and complication screening.

Medication regimen. Carriers care about what you’re using (metformin, oral agents, GLP-1 medications, insulin, combination therapy), how consistent you are, and whether the medication plan suggests stable control or escalation due to worsening control.

Build and metabolic profile. Height/weight, waistline risk, and related metabolic factors can influence outcomes. If build is an issue, pairing diabetes underwriting with a carrier that’s more flexible on build can materially change pricing. (If that’s relevant, our page on life insurance for overweight applicants can help you understand how carriers apply build guidelines.)

Complications screening. Underwriters check for signs of complications—neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney function concerns, protein in urine, vascular issues, and cardiovascular history. Even mild complications can shift the case into a more conservative lane depending on carrier appetite.

Blood pressure and cholesterol control. These matter because they compound cardiovascular risk. If you have elevated blood pressure history, it can help to know there are specialized solutions even for “stacked” cases. Some applicants who can’t qualify for large traditional policies still choose targeted coverage options like burial insurance when blood pressure is a factor as a backup layer while pursuing fully underwritten coverage.

Doctor follow-ups and consistency. Underwriters like to see routine care (primary care or endocrinology), predictable medication refills, and reasonable lab monitoring. Gaps in follow-up or inconsistent treatment can trigger postponements or heavy ratings—even if the A1C isn’t extreme.

Because carriers weigh these factors differently, one company may decline or postpone an applicant with an 8.5% A1C, while another may approve the same applicant at a more competitive class once the case is presented clearly. That’s the advantage of working with an independent brokerage that can match your profile to carrier guidelines rather than forcing your profile into one carrier’s rules.

Best Types of Life Insurance for High A1C

There isn’t one “best” life insurance product for diabetes—there’s the best structure for your timeline and your underwriting profile. The right design also depends on whether your goal is replacing income, protecting a mortgage, covering final expenses, or building permanent coverage that stays in place for life.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is typically the most cost-effective way to buy a larger death benefit for a set period (often 10–30 years). Many diabetics still qualify for term coverage even with elevated A1C, especially if follow-up care is consistent and complications are limited. Term is commonly used for income replacement, family protection while kids are at home, mortgage payoff protection, and business needs.

For some applicants, a layered approach is also smart: a larger term policy to handle the big obligations now, combined with a smaller permanent policy that stays in force long-term. That structure can reduce cost pressure while still ensuring lifetime protection exists in the plan.

Permanent Life Insurance

Permanent coverage may be a fit if you want lifelong protection, planning flexibility, or a policy that remains in place beyond a term window. Underwriting can be more selective depending on carrier and product type, but many people with Type 2 diabetes still qualify for permanent policies once stability and documentation are strong. Permanent policies are often used for legacy planning, family protection that doesn’t expire, or planning around long-term obligations that don’t neatly end at 10, 20, or 30 years.

If you’re comparing term vs. permanent options, it’s also helpful to understand what underwriting will ask for and how the health exam process works. Our guide on what happens in a life insurance exam explains what to expect, what gets measured, and why consistent management matters.

Guaranteed Issue or Simplified Issue Options

If an A1C is extremely elevated and there are significant complications, some applicants use simplified coverage as a backup while they work to stabilize labs and build a stronger file for traditional underwriting. These policies typically offer smaller face amounts and higher cost per dollar of coverage, but they can provide a baseline safety net when timing is urgent. Our goal, whenever possible, is to keep you in the fully underwritten lane first—because that’s usually where the best long-term value lives.

What A1C Level Is “Too High” for Life Insurance?

This is one of the most common questions we get, and the honest answer is: “too high” depends on the rest of the file, the trend, and the carrier. Still, most applicants tend to fall into general underwriting bands, where outcomes often look like this:

A1C 7.0–8.4: Many applicants can qualify for term or permanent coverage with standard to table-rated outcomes depending on build, meds, and complication screening.

A1C 8.5–9.4: Still insurable with many carriers, but pricing depends heavily on additional factors and whether the A1C is stable vs. rising.

A1C 9.5–10.9: Options are often still available, but more cases land in table-rated categories or require a carrier with more flexible diabetes guidelines—especially if insulin is involved or there are other health stacking factors.

A1C 11+: Traditional coverage may be limited until control improves. Some carriers may postpone, and many applicants in this range consider interim coverage options while working toward better stability.

Even in higher ranges, our approach is to evaluate your whole file—A1C trend, meds, build, blood pressure and cholesterol control, and complication screening—then select carriers that best align with that profile. That’s more effective than guessing or applying broadly and risking unnecessary declines.

How to Improve Approval Odds and Pricing with High A1C

Diabetes underwriting rewards stability and documentation. You don’t have to be “perfect,” but your file should show consistency and proactive care. Here are practical factors that often move outcomes in the right direction:

1) Show a stable or improving trend. If your A1C has been trending downward—or stable for multiple readings—this helps. A sudden spike without context can create postponements.

2) Keep your follow-up routine consistent. Regular physician visits, documented medication adherence, and consistent lab checks reduce underwriting uncertainty.

3) Document complication screening. If you have current screening or notes that show no diabetic complications (eyes, kidneys, neuropathy, cardiovascular concerns), that can reduce how aggressively a carrier rates the case.

4) Clean up “stacking factors” where possible. If build, blood pressure, or cholesterol are also out of range, we’ll shop carriers that handle combined risks more reasonably. This is where an independent agency can dramatically change outcomes versus submitting to a single carrier.

5) Apply with a smart carrier match, not a random carrier. Many diabetics get discouraged because they apply with a conservative carrier first, get a poor offer, and assume all companies will respond the same way. They won’t. Guidelines differ widely.

If you have other medical items that you’re worried could complicate the case, our broader guide on life insurance with pre-existing conditions explains how underwriting “stacks” risk and why carrier selection matters so much.

Why Work With Diversified Insurance Brokers?

Diversified Insurance Brokers is a family-owned, fiduciary insurance agency licensed in all 50 states. Since 1980, we’ve specialized in helping people with complex medical histories—including diabetes—secure affordable life insurance. Our team understands how carriers approach A1C, medication patterns, stability windows, and complication risk, and we use that knowledge to shop the market intelligently rather than guessing.

You never pay extra to work with an independent broker—your rates are typically the same as buying direct. The difference is that we help you avoid the wrong carrier match, avoid preventable declines, and structure the case to get the best possible offer for your current profile.

Start Your High A1C Diabetic Life Insurance Quote

If you want a clear answer on what’s realistic for your A1C level and health profile, the fastest path is a confidential pre-screen. We’ll review your A1C trend, medications, build, and any complication screening, then identify which carriers are most likely to give you a fair offer—before you waste time on an application that’s headed to a conservative underwriter.

Get Your Diabetic Life Insurance Quote