According to the CDC, the incidence of diabetes increased 90% during the 10-year period ending in 2007. So is any company working in the brokerage market surprised to hear that some competitors are now offering Preferred rates to applicants who have IGT?

“He doesn’t have diabetes. He has IGT, not diabetes.”

This is one slippery slope. I strongly caution underwriters to be extremely selective when offering the best mortality rate for future diabetics. Take a hard look at the applicant’s health behaviors trend. Whether or not an individual goes on to develop full-blown diabetes from an impaired glucose tolerance state is strongly dependent upon current and future behaviors.

Last century when I was President of the Texas HOLUA I had the opportunity to ask one of the leading diabetes specialists some questions about my personal situation. Dr. Norman Kaplan at Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, Dallas addressed the group and I talked family history with him. I mentioned my strong family history for diabetes and asked Dr. Kaplan how I could avoid diabetes in the future. His reply was simple and eloquent:

“Stay as thin as you possibly can.”

Good advice for a lot of what ails you.