What Levemir Is

Levemir (insulin detemir) is a long-acting basal insulin used to help control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It is administered by injection, typically once or twice daily. Levemir is FDA-approved for treating Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. The medication is well-tolerated and represents an important tool for managing diabetes when other medications are insufficient. However, the need for Levemir indicates that someone has diabetes significant enough to require insulin therapy—not a minor health issue, but a serious chronic disease requiring intensive management.

Important Context for Life Insurance

Diabetes is a serious health condition that significantly impacts mortality risk and life expectancy. Insulin use indicates either Type 1 diabetes (an autoimmune condition requiring lifelong insulin) or advanced Type 2 diabetes (where the pancreas is no longer producing sufficient insulin). Both scenarios indicate significant diabetes requiring intensive management. Insurers understand that diabetes and its complications—including heart disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, and retinopathy—pose genuine health risks. This requires careful underwriting that evaluates both your diabetes control and any existing diabetic complications. Approval is possible for many applicants, but it depends significantly on individual circumstances. Being honest about your diabetes status is essential.

Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes and Underwriting

Type 1 Diabetes: This is an autoimmune condition where the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin. Insulin therapy is always required. Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong management and has associated risks, but many people with well-controlled Type 1 diabetes live long, healthy lives. Underwriters evaluate control (A1C levels), age of onset, duration, and any complications. Approval is likely if diabetes is well-controlled with no significant complications.

Type 2 Diabetes: This is a metabolic condition where the body doesn’t use insulin effectively or the pancreas produces insufficient insulin. Type 2 diabetes managed with insulin indicates that the disease has progressed beyond what oral medications can control. This is more serious than early-stage Type 2 diabetes and requires more careful underwriting. Approval depends on how well controlled your diabetes is and whether you have any complications.

Diabetes Is a Serious Health Condition

Diabetes requiring insulin therapy is not a routine or minor health condition. Insurers recognize that diabetes significantly affects health risks and requires careful underwriting. However, this does not mean automatic denial—it means thorough evaluation. Many people with insulin-requiring diabetes receive approved life insurance at reasonable rates. The key factor is whether your diabetes is well-controlled and whether you have any diabetic complications.

The Critical Factor: Diabetes Control

The most important factor in underwriting is how well your diabetes is controlled. This is measured primarily by your A1C (hemoglobin A1C) level, which reflects average blood sugar control over the past 3 months. An A1C under 7% generally indicates good control. An A1C between 7-8% is acceptable control. An A1C over 8% indicates inadequate control. Underwriters will request your most recent A1C levels. Well-controlled diabetes significantly improves underwriting outcomes. Someone with an A1C of 6.5% may receive approval at standard or better rates, while someone with an A1C of 9% or higher faces more challenging underwriting.

Diabetic Complications and Their Impact

Underwriters will investigate whether you have any diabetic complications. These include: kidney disease (most serious for underwriting), eye disease/retinopathy, neuropathy (nerve damage), cardiovascular disease, or prior stroke. The presence of diabetic complications significantly increases underwriting scrutiny and rate impact. However, the absence of complications, even with insulin-requiring diabetes, is a positive factor. Comprehensive kidney function testing (creatinine, eGFR) is particularly important—kidney disease from diabetes is a serious concern. Being evaluated annually by your primary care doctor and endocrinologist for complications is essential.

Underwriters Will Assess Overall Health

Your age, BMI, smoking status, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other health factors are all considered alongside diabetes. Someone aged 35 with well-controlled Type 1 diabetes and no complications may receive approval at standard rates. Someone aged 65 with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease faces significantly more difficult underwriting. Underwriters evaluate the complete health picture, not just the diabetes in isolation.

When Asked About Medications

✓ List Levemir prominently. Include insulin detemir by name, specify the dose, and note how frequently you inject. Full, detailed disclosure is legally required and critical for a valid application.

✓ Disclose the diabetes diagnosis explicitly. State your diabetes type (Type 1 or Type 2), when you were diagnosed, and how long you’ve been on insulin. Do not minimize or downplay your diabetes. Underwriters need complete information.

✓ Include all related medications. If you’re also taking metformin, GLP-1 agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, or other diabetes medications, list all of them. Also disclose any blood pressure, cholesterol, or kidney-related medications. Paint the complete health picture.

When Underwriters Ask About Your Diabetes

✓ Provide comprehensive diabetes information. Be ready to explain: your diabetes type, when diagnosed, your current A1C level, target A1C, recent blood sugar readings, how many times daily you inject, your typical insulin doses, and how your diabetes has progressed. Honest, detailed information is essential.

✓ Disclose diabetic complications if present. If you have any complications (kidney disease, retinopathy, neuropathy, cardiovascular disease), disclose them completely. Include how they’re being managed. Do not hide complications—underwriters will verify through medical records anyway, and honesty is critical.

✓ Provide medical records and lab work. Request comprehensive records from your endocrinologist or primary care physician. These should include: recent A1C levels, blood sugar logs if available, kidney function tests (creatinine, eGFR), urinalysis, blood pressure readings, and screening for complications (eye exams, foot exams). This documentation is crucial for approval.

Best Case: Well-Controlled Diabetes, No Complications

Status: Approved at Standard to Standard+ rates

Timeline: 3-4 weeks

If you have well-controlled diabetes (A1C under 7%), no diabetic complications, normal kidney function, good blood pressure and cholesterol control, and no cardiovascular disease history, approval at standard or near-standard rates is likely. You’ll need to provide medical documentation showing diabetes control, but approval moves forward relatively quickly. Your rates reflect your overall health and age, with diabetes being a managed risk factor.

Moderate Case: Diabetes with Suboptimal Control or Minor Complications

Status: Approved at Standard to Standard+ rates, depending on specifics

Timeline: 4-6 weeks

If your diabetes control is moderate (A1C 7-8%) or if you have minor complications being well-managed (controlled hypertension, mild neuropathy), approval is still likely. Your rate may reflect the diabetes more significantly, but approval remains possible. Underwriters require comprehensive medical documentation showing your diabetes management plan and response to treatment. Medical records from your endocrinologist are critical.

More Challenging Case: Poor Diabetes Control or Significant Complications

Status: Approval possible; rates will be elevated or specific carriers required

Timeline: 4-6 weeks or longer

If your diabetes control is poor (A1C over 8%) or if you have significant complications (kidney disease, retinopathy, prior cardiovascular events), underwriters will evaluate you very carefully. Approval may still be possible, but rates will likely be significantly elevated to reflect the increased health risks. You may need to work with multiple carriers to find approval. Demonstrating a strong commitment to diabetes management and showing recent improvement in control can help. This scenario requires experienced agent guidance and potentially longer underwriting.

Rate Impact Summary

Rate adjustment for Levemir itself: None. The medication carries no rate penalty.

Rate adjustment for diabetes: Likely. Diabetes requiring insulin therapy is a serious health condition. Your rate reflects your diabetes control, complications, age, and overall health. Well-controlled diabetes with no complications may carry minimal or no rate adjustment. Poorly controlled diabetes or complications will significantly increase rates.

Complete Honesty from Day One

Disclose everything about your Levemir use and diabetes on your initial application. Include your diabetes type, diagnosis date, how long you’ve been on insulin, current A1C, any complications, and all related health conditions. Underwriters will verify this information through medical records—dishonesty is grounds for policy denial or cancellation. Honest, complete disclosure leads to the fastest, most successful underwriting.

Get Your Diabetes Management Optimized

Before applying, ensure you’re seeing an endocrinologist or knowledgeable primary care doctor regularly. Work toward the best possible A1C control. If your A1C is currently high, trying to improve it before applying can help. However, do not delay applying unnecessarily—applying now with honest information is better than delaying indefinitely. Show that you’re committed to diabetes management.

Gather Comprehensive Medical Records

Request records from your endocrinologist (or primary care physician if no endocrinologist): recent A1C results, blood sugar logs, kidney function tests (creatinine, eGFR), urinalysis for protein, eye exam results (for retinopathy screening), foot exam results (for neuropathy), blood pressure readings, and cholesterol levels. Also request screening results for cardiovascular disease if age-appropriate. Having this documentation ready speeds up underwriting significantly.

Get a Letter from Your Endocrinologist

Ask your diabetes specialist to provide a brief clinical summary. A statement like: “Patient has Type 1 diabetes diagnosed [year]. Current A1C [value]. No significant complications. Kidneys and eyes normal on recent screening. Patient is engaged in diabetes management” is very helpful. This professional assessment from your specialist carries significant weight with underwriters.

Work with an Experienced Agent

An agent familiar with diabetes underwriting is valuable. Some carriers have more favorable underwriting for insulin-requiring diabetes than others. An experienced agent knows which carriers to approach and can help navigate the complex evaluation process. This is not a simple approval—professional guidance is essential.

Can I get life insurance if I use Levemir?

Direct answer: Yes, but it requires careful evaluation.

Levemir use is not automatically disqualifying. Many carriers approve applicants with insulin-requiring diabetes. Underwriting is more involved than routine cases. Approval depends on your diabetes type, control, any complications, and overall health. Complete medical documentation is essential.

Will Levemir increase my life insurance rates?

Direct answer: Possibly, depending on your diabetes control.

Levemir itself doesn’t increase rates. However, your diabetes and its control likely will affect rates. Well-controlled diabetes with no complications may carry standard rates. Poorly controlled diabetes or complications will increase rates. Your specific diabetes situation drives rate decisions.

Do I have to disclose Levemir?

Direct answer: Yes. Always disclose completely.

When asked about medications, list Levemir prominently. Include your diabetes diagnosis, type, and any complications. Full disclosure is legally required and critical for a valid application. Withholding information about serious conditions is grounds for policy denial.

Will underwriters ask a lot of questions?

Direct answer: Yes. Expect a thorough evaluation.

Underwriters will ask about your diabetes type, diagnosis date, current A1C level, how long you’ve been on insulin, insulin doses, any complications, kidney function, blood pressure, family history, and overall health. They’ll request medical records from your endocrinologist. This thorough evaluation is normal for serious conditions—it’s appropriate underwriting diligence.

How long does approval take?

Direct answer: Typically 3-6 weeks, longer than routine cases.

Diabetes cases require medical record review and thorough underwriting. Timeline depends on how quickly your endocrinologist provides records and how straightforward your diabetes situation is. Complex cases with complications may take longer. Plan for extended underwriting.

Will I need medical testing?

Direct answer: Standard testing, plus diabetes records.

Routine health screening applies based on age. Additionally, underwriters will request medical records from your endocrinologist or primary care doctor, including A1C levels, kidney function tests, and eye exam results. No special medical testing is typically required from you—review of existing diabetes care records is what’s needed.

What if my diabetes control is poor?

Direct answer: Still possible to get approved, but underwriting is more challenging.

If your A1C is high or if your diabetes is poorly controlled, underwriters will evaluate you very carefully. They want to understand whether you’re working to improve control and what your barriers are. Approval is still possible, but rates will likely be elevated, and you may need to work with multiple carriers. Demonstrating commitment to improving diabetes management helps.

Is diabetes considered a serious medical condition?

Direct answer: Yes. Insulin-requiring diabetes is serious by underwriting standards.

Diabetes requiring insulin is classified as a serious chronic disease by underwriting standards. It has real health implications and mortality risk. However, serious doesn’t mean automatically denied—it means thorough, careful evaluation. Many people with insulin-requiring diabetes receive approved life insurance with appropriate underwriting.