I used to to most dislike non-diabetics telling me what to do (but I learned at last to nod and smile and leave them in their delusions), and I had a complete hypo phobia for years ( which I got over once I got my pump). I disliked the difficulty with spontaneity when I was young, but like Tim I have learned to be prepared/manage most likely situations now. I used to loathe doctors who "ticked me off" rather than examining and addressing MY concerns about how to live my life with this condition. I loathe five-minute consultations with consultants and being expected to have appointments with DNs ( I know people love theirs, but I want to see an actual doctor.)
I like that it made me very food and health conscious from an early age. I like that working through the feelings of social stigma made me more sensitive to the needs of other people who are 'excluded' from society by 'normies' in various ways. I have lots of friends I treasure because if this, and they have also taught me a thing or two. I like that it really did teach me to look for the silver lining in everything ( initially a survival strategy but now a really beneficial habit), and I like the fact that after years of being reactive, passive-aggressive, etc in the face of a feeling of powerlessness, i finally learned to be assertive and calm about my needs and wishes.
Of course, all my positives could have been learned by enduring some other difficulty or difficulties. But finally, on every level, from the biological, to the psychological to the intellectual to the social, there is no development without problems. Only passivity and stasis. So, am I glad I have it? Yes. I embrace it.
Just as long as I can keep my pump.