I agree we can only look at things from a personal perspective.
Most of the time I feel well with diabetes but I'd rather not have it. I was glad when it wasn't the pancreatic cancer I feared.
On the other hand, I hate the everlasting circle of doctors appointments (under a proactive system, far more than in the UK ), I dread the results of all those eye tests, kidney tests, arterial scans and other tests I didn't used to have before D, except for pregnancy,I'd almost never visited the doctors .
I'm not too fond of sticking a large needle in my body every 2 days to change the cannula on my pump ... it can hurt! Pre diabetes I could run a half marathon on water alone, not now (sorry Borofergie) I have to be aware of glucose levels all the time. I've just swum 500 metres and come in with a glucose level of 2.9, I hate having to correct that and having to explain it to my doctor. Contrary to some peoples beliefs ,I also take huge care about what I eat and that gets me down sometimes eg I haven't risked a restaurant chinese meal since diagnosis. (not the only thing, I now hate Christmas meals)
So diabetes does affect me . Nevertheless, apart from the odd whinge as above, for me , at the moment it is manageable and preferable to many other conditions,but what really worries me is the future.
I can manage my diabetes now but what about the future. Sadly good Hba1cs don't seem to make one immune to all complications My greatest fear is when I see my parents with the multiple problems of old age ( between them Parkinson's, heart disease, degenerative arthritis) This scares me because if I follow in their footsteps then it won't be just diabetes and I won't have the control I have now.