Diabetes type 2 is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, leading to chronically elevated blood glucose levels. It is strongly associated with obesity, inactivity, and genetic factors and is often managed with lifestyle changes, oral medications, and sometimes insulin. Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes increases risks of heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, neuropathy, and vision loss. In life insurance underwriting, type 2 diabetes is common and assessed based on control metrics, duration, complications, and coexisting risk factors such as smoking or hypertension.

Underwriters manage type 2 diabetes cases using A1c trends, medication lists, body-mass index, and documented complications. Applicants with good control, healthy weight management, and no organ damage often receive modest ratings, while poorly controlled or long-standing disease with complications may face severe ratings or declines. Advisors encourage clients to work with physicians on improving control before applying and to provide recent lab results. Understanding diabetes type 2 helps advisors normalize the conditionTMs prevalence while underscoring that control and lifestyle changes significantly affect underwriting decisions and long-term health.