THIS STUDY originated in an attempt to learn about the mortality experience of those diabetics who purchased life insurance from the Mutual Of New York. The reports by Chochran and Buck1; Marks2; and Entmacher et al3 also investigated diabetic mortality and showed essentially similar findings.
Method
We reviewed the medical records on applications for life insurance on 1,680 policies representing 1,498 people ranging in age from 1 to 69 years, including 163 women, with diabetes mellitus. There were 6,819 policy years of exposure. (One policy in force for one year would constitute one policy year of experience, two policies in force for three years would constitute six policy years of experience, etc.) There were 56 policies with death claims. The study covers the experience on policies issued between the years 1951 and 1962 to the 1963 anniversary or to the termination date (lapse, surrender, etc) if it occurred prior to