If you have diabetes and are applying for a firearm or shotgun certificate, you may have questions about whether your condition will affect your application. Diabetes is a medical condition that may be relevant to firearms licensing, but having diabetes does not automatically mean that an application will be unsuccessful.
The firearms licensing process involves medical information being provided to the police. The purpose of this information is to help the police assess relevant medical factors when considering an application. The final licensing decision is made by the police rather than by the doctor completing the medical information. (GOV.UK)
Recent changes to firearms licensing in England and Wales also mean that medical requirements are an increasingly important part of the licensing process.
How Can Diabetes Affect a Firearms Medical?
Diabetes can be relevant because some forms of treatment can cause hypoglycaemia, where blood glucose becomes too low. Depending on the circumstances, severe hypoglycaemia can cause confusion, impaired awareness or loss of consciousness.
For someone who possesses or uses a firearm, a condition that could potentially cause sudden impairment may therefore be relevant to the medical assessment.
However, it is important not to assume that simply having diabetes makes someone unsuitable. Firearms licensing decisions consider the individual’s circumstances and medical information as a whole. Statutory guidance states that receiving treatment for certain illnesses or conditions does not automatically make a person unsuitable to possess a firearm. (GOV.UK Assets)
Your doctor may therefore need information about your diabetes diagnosis, treatment and control. This could include whether you use insulin, tablets or other medication, whether you have experienced significant hypoglycaemia and whether there are any complications associated with your diabetes.
It is important to give accurate information about your condition and medication. The purpose of providing medical information is to allow the police to make an informed licensing decision based on current evidence.
What Is Involved in the Firearms Medical Process?
The doctor providing medical information for a firearms application has a different role from the police licensing authority. Government guidance makes clear that doctors provide medical information to assist the police and should not be asked to endorse or oppose an application. Responsibility for deciding whether a certificate should be granted lies with the police. (GOV.UK)
This means that a firearms medical is not simply a test where you receive a “pass” or “fail” based on one measurement.
If you have diabetes, relevant information may include your current treatment, history of hypoglycaemia and any complications that could potentially affect your safety or judgement.
The medical information should reflect your current circumstances. This is particularly important because the government introduced stronger medical safeguards for firearms licensing in September 2026. Under the new rules, certificate holders are required to inform police if they are diagnosed with or treated for a relevant medical condition, or if an existing condition worsens. (GOV.UK)
The changes also strengthen medical checks during the five-year life of a firearm or shotgun certificate.
How Can You Prepare for Your Firearms Medical?
Before attending your medical assessment, make sure you have accurate information about your diabetes and treatment.
It can be useful to know the names and doses of your medications and to have information about how you monitor your blood glucose. If you use insulin or medication that can cause hypoglycaemia, you should be prepared to discuss this with the doctor.
You should also disclose relevant complications or previous significant episodes of hypoglycaemia. Providing incomplete information can make it more difficult for the doctor to provide accurate medical information to the police.
If your diabetes is well controlled, this should be reflected accurately in the information provided. Equally, if there have been recent changes to your treatment or control, these should not be omitted.
Remember that the doctor provides medical information; the police firearms licensing department makes the licensing decision. (GOV.UK)
At SimplyMedicals, we aim to make medical assessments straightforward and professional. If you require a firearms medical and have diabetes, make sure you provide complete and up-to-date information about your condition so that the relevant medical information can be assessed appropriately.
Ultimately, It all starts with your firearms medical .
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