A decline from one insurer does not mean every insurer will say no. Our figures for type 2 diabetes not on insulin, which covers people managing with diet or tablets such as metformin, show that Scottish Widows, Royal London, Legal and General, and Guardian have all accepted cases in this group. Here is what to do next and what to expect.
Who this article is about
This article is for people with type 2 diabetes who manage their condition with tablets such as metformin, or with diet alone, and who have been declined or postponed for decreasing life insurance to cover a mortgage. It does not cover people on insulin, people with type 1 diabetes, or people with diabetes complications such as nerve damage or eye treatment. Those situations are different and are covered in separate articles.
When an insurer’s form asks about insulin, it is a yes or no question. Our figures for type 2 not on insulin cover everyone who answered no, which typically means people managing with diet or with tablets such as metformin.
Why one decline does not close every door
Insurers make their own decisions. One insurer declining you does not mean every insurer will reach the same conclusion. Across the 1,100-plus applications we have analysed, Scottish Widows, Royal London (Personal Menu Plan), Legal and General, Guardian, and Royal London Diabetes Life Cover have all accepted people with type 2 diabetes not on insulin and no complications disclosed.
A decline from one insurer does not automatically show up on every application you make afterwards. Only some insurers’ forms ask whether you have previously been declined for life insurance. Most do not ask at all. So a previous decline is less of a barrier than many people assume.
What an insurer actually looks at
Before approaching a new insurer, it helps to understand what they focus on. From the applications we handle, these are the details that come up in almost every application.
Your last diabetes review. Insurers want to know when you last spoke to a GP, nurse or clinic about your diabetes. If that was more than 12 months ago, the choice of insurer narrows. If it was more than 18 months ago, or never, the practical step is to book the review first and apply once it is done.
Your HbA1c reading. This is the blood test that shows your average blood sugar over roughly three months. You can find your most recent result on the NHS app under GP health record, or by calling your surgery. For most people with type 2 diabetes on metformin with no complications, the mainstream insurers are open. If your reading is above 97 mmol/mol, the options narrow to Royal London Diabetes Life Cover and The Exeter. Above 107, the mainstream insurers are unlikely to help.
Whether you have any complications. The figures in this article are for people who have not disclosed complications. If you have nerve damage, eye changes, protein in your urine, or any other diabetes-related complication, the picture is different and we would need to look at your situation separately.
Other health conditions. Raised blood pressure or cholesterol alongside type 2 diabetes is common and does not usually close the mainstream options. More significant conditions need their own assessment.
What decreasing life insurance for a mortgage actually costs
Decreasing life insurance is designed to run alongside a repayment mortgage. The amount it would pay out falls over time, roughly in line with what you still owe, which is why it costs less than level cover for the same starting sum assured.
From our applications, people with type 2 diabetes not on insulin and no complications disclosed aged 40 to 49 taking decreasing life cover at Royal London (Personal Menu Plan) paid an average of £13.10 per month for every £100,000 of cover, based on terms from July 2026. That is an average from real accepted cases, not a quote, and your own premium will depend on your age, the term, your health and the insurer’s current rates. Almost all of these clients were non-smokers, so treat it as a non-smoker price, and it covers the terms our clients chose, mostly 16 to 25 years.
Decreasing cover costs less than level cover at the same insurer for the same amount, because the cover reduces as the mortgage reduces.
What level cover costs at the same insurers
Level life insurance pays the same amount whenever a claim is made during the policy term. It is used when the goal is to leave money for a partner or children, cover bills, or replace income rather than simply clear a mortgage. It costs more than decreasing cover for the same sum assured.
For people with type 2 diabetes not on insulin and no complications disclosed, here is what level cover cost at the insurers that accepted this group, based on our own cases. Almost all of these clients were non-smokers, so treat the figures as non-smoker prices; if you smoke you will pay more. They cover the policy terms our clients actually chose, mostly 16 to 25 years, and a longer term costs more.
In your forties: at Scottish Widows, the average was £24.09 per month per £100,000 (terms from February 2026). At Royal London (Personal Menu Plan), the average was £21.49 per month per £100,000 (terms from August 2026).
In your fifties: at Scottish Widows, the average was £44.87 per month per £100,000 (terms from April 2026). At Royal London (Personal Menu Plan), the average was £40.89 per month per £100,000 (terms from July 2026). At Guardian, the average was £48.30 per month per £100,000 (terms from May 2026).
These are averages from accepted cases, not quotes. Your own premium will differ. If you want decreasing cover to protect a mortgage, the cost will be lower than these level cover figures for the same sum assured.
Ready to see your own number?
Tell us about your diabetes and what the cover is for. We check the insurers and explain what we find. No fee, no obligation, and we’ll tell you if we don’t think there’s a realistic route.
Here is what to do next
Check your HbA1c reading before doing anything else. If you do not know it, look on the NHS app or call your surgery. This single number determines which insurers are realistically worth approaching.
Check when you last had a diabetes review. If it was more than 12 months ago, some insurers will want to see a more recent one. If it has been longer than 18 months, booking the review before applying is the practical step.
Think about whether you have any complications. If you have been told about nerve damage, eye changes, protein in your urine, or anything similar, say so when you speak to us. It changes the approach.
Speak to an adviser who specialises in diabetes. We have spent eight years placing protection for people with diabetes and have spoken to thousands of people in similar situations. We will talk through your diabetes and wider health, check which insurers are currently realistic for your situation, and explain what we find before putting you through an application that is unlikely to succeed.
Where we do not think there is a realistic route, we will tell you rather than putting you through an unnecessary application.
When the mainstream insurers may not be the right route
If your HbA1c is above 107 mmol/mol, or if you have significant complications alongside your diabetes, the mainstream insurers are unlikely to offer cover. In those situations, over-50s life insurance and guaranteed-acceptance products are worth understanding. These do not ask health questions, so diabetes and HbA1c readings do not affect acceptance. The trade-off is that the cover is usually smaller, the premiums are fixed regardless of health, and there is normally a waiting period before a full payout on death from illness. They are a different product with a different purpose, not a direct replacement for decreasing mortgage cover.
If you are in this position, we can explain what is realistically available and help you understand whether any of those options fit what you need.
Your questions
Will the insurer that declined me share that information with other insurers?
Insurers do not routinely share individual application decisions with each other. Only some insurers’ forms ask whether you have previously been declined for life insurance. Most do not ask at all. A previous decline is not automatically visible to the next insurer you apply to.
Does being on metformin make it harder to get life insurance than managing with diet alone?
From the applications we handle, insurers ask whether you use insulin, not which tablets you take. Metformin is not insulin, so it does not trigger the insulin question. Our figures for type 2 not on insulin cover both people managing with diet and people taking tablets such as metformin. In practice, the two groups are treated the same way by the insurers we have placed cases with.
How long does a new application take?
Many applications for straightforward type 2 diabetes cases are decided within a few days. Some insurers ask for a GP report, which can add several weeks. We explain what to expect before you apply.
What if my HbA1c reading is high right now but usually lower?
A one-off high reading is worth flagging when you speak to us. If a new test is due within 30 days, it can make sense to wait for the result before applying. If the next test is months away, we can look at whether covering you in the meantime is the right approach. The decision depends on the actual reading and your circumstances.
Is decreasing life insurance the right type of cover for a mortgage?
Decreasing life insurance is designed to run alongside a repayment mortgage. The payout reduces over time as the outstanding balance falls, which is why it costs less than level cover. If your main concern is clearing the mortgage, decreasing cover is the type most commonly used for that purpose. If you also want to leave money for your family beyond the mortgage, level cover does that instead. We can explain both and help you decide what fits your situation.
Where these figures come from
Accepted applications for life insurance where the applicant had type 2 diabetes and answered no to insulin use (covering people managing with diet or tablets such as metformin) and disclosed no complications. Average monthly price per £100,000 of cover from final terms.
Cases on insulin and cases with complications disclosed.
Averages from our own applications, not a quote or guarantee. The not-on-insulin group covers people managing with diet or with tablets such as metformin.
Our own figures are correct as at 11 September 2026. Insurer positions can change. We regularly review them and check the current position again before we apply.
Read next
- Type 2 diabetes and life insurance
- how diabetic complications can affect your life insurance
- your HbA1c reading and life insurance
- life insurance with diabetes
Talk to a diabetes insurance specialist
Tell us about your diabetes and what the cover is for. We’ll check the insurers available to us, compare the realistic options and help with the application. The insurer makes the final decision; we make sure you go to the right one.
