Yes I can, you seem to know your onions
I'd like to think I fit that description, its reassuring in a way. I just had my meeting & it seems that The Exeter / MDG wont touch my scenario even though its fairly standard. I asked about an income protection policy but he wasnt comfortable endorsing one as in his experience they'll find any excuse not to pay out & dont offer the peace of mind you'd ideally hope for.
A bit lost with that one, I see where he is coming from but it doesnt help things where covering my mortgage is concerned if I were to break something or just be full of flu.
Undoubtedly, you do have to approach this with your eyes open, and arguably, a policy based on "any occupation" would be very hard to make a claim upon. I, personally, would never have one, and I'd always had IP when I was working in a "proper job".
I've just realised you are in Australia, when I looked up MGD, who meant nothing to me. I've had a look at their website, but can't really ascertain what level of authorisation they have. The required declarations are obviously different.
If you have their terms of business or terms and conditions documents, it should, ideally, clarify if they are authorised to advise on companies from the whole of the available market (all providers) or just a single company or panel of companies. If it is the latter, it could be helpful to have a consultation with a firm able to make the broadest assessment of your circumstances.
I know you state you are healthy. I absolutely describe myself that way too, but unfortunately your T2 diagnosis is a risk to a company that could potentially be saddled with paying you millions of pounds/dollars over the remainder of your working life, if you got unlucky. You may "only" want to ensure £/$x, but if you were unfortunate enough to make a claim in the near future, for whatever reason, the amount payable, usually index linked, all adds up to potentially a very scary amount, if your claim lasted for the balance of your working life.
On your parting note, I would urge you to stop thinking of this as an insurance should you get flu. It's the sort of insurance for long term illnesses. Usually there will be a 4, 13, 26 or even 52 week waiting period, during which time you would not be eligible to make a claim. Doing anything to kick in immediately, or before 4 weeks, and payable for more than 12 months, would be cripplingly expensive, and in your shoes, I would be trying to build a financial buffer to insure myself against any such event. That isn't financial advice, but common sense.
Please don't interpret my postings as un-supportive to your quest; they aren't. I fully understand why this style of cover is attractive, but I am expressing your situation as viewed by "the other side".
Good luck with it all.
(You do still need to understand why you have been declined.)