My girlfriend has juvenile diabetes...should I worry about potential serious problems she may have?

She's had diabetes since she was 9 and has an insulin pump to control her blood sugar level. She seems fine right now - just gets occasional headaches now and then. But I was talking with my parents about it and they said juvenile onset is a lot different than adult onset diabetes.

Does anybody have any experience with this? And should I be concerned that she may have serious health problems later down the line, problems having children, etc.?

if you are quiet serious for marriage with her then plz go a head and take very good care of her self.
regards

Your parents are right. It's very hard when you have juvenile onset. My niece has had it since she was 8. She'd go to a party and want to be like the other kids so she's eat the cake and ice cream and candy, then come home and give herself a LOT of insulin. I can't tell you how many times she has ended up in the hospital because she didn't want to stick to her diet. The doctors would tell her over and over that this WOULD kill her if she didn't stop. That she could go blind, have severe blood-flow problems and eventually have feet and even both legs amputated. She's older now (26) and she does better. Your friend really needs to take care of herself. I think joining a young people's support group would be great for her. She can talk to others who have the same issues and concerns she has and they can tell her how they dealt with it.
http://www.jdrf.org/

just to let you know, juvenile diabetes is where the pancreas doesn't screte insulin, which is need for cells in the body to take in glucose. so your girlfriend MUST take insulin since her body doesn't secrete it possibly. effects from not doing this could lead to blindness, poor circulation, amputation, infections, and heart problems. but if your girlfriend does like she should, takes her insulin, eats properly at proper times, continues to monitor her glucose levels, etc, she should be fine. it would be good for you to also know the signs and symptoms of too little and too much blood sugar. also make sure she always has 4gm of carbs with her. this is a fast form of glucose, incase she takes too much insulin and her glucose levels get too low. you can buy 4gm tablets over-the-counter, or it is equivalent to 8 life savers candy, about 6-8 ounces of non-diet coke or juice. bmac's answer is the best.

As long as she takes care of her blood sugar level, blood pressure and diet, she shouldn't have too many major problems. It is a higher risk for diabetic women to have babies due to neuropathy. Neuropathy is the hardening of arteries, thus limiting the flow of blood to the unborn child. As for her being pregnant, she has to pay more attention to her diabetes, since she now is feeding 2. But, there are millions of diabetic women that have beautiful, healthy babies with out any complications. The more you two know about diabetes, the easier it will be to live happy productive, uninterrupted lives. Don't let it scare you away.

Yes I have had it since I was 10 and have had 2 children one of which took Type 1 at 11 and am having trouble now with serious things. Tell her to be sure and try to keep her blood sugars under control and that will help her a lot. Also to plan on having a baby and get them under control about a month or two before becoming pregnant that will help her health as well as the baby's Other than that Good Luck and Have a long life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Listen to the others who gave you some info they all told you some good stuff too. .

She may have serious problems if she doesn't take care of it. But if she does then don't let it scare you away. Talk to her about it. Ask her how it is, and if its under control. and learn all you can about it. Make sure you know how to treat her highs and lows if you need to. My x-boyfriend could always tell when I was high or low and would simply just tell me to test, it was cute. But if its under good control she will be able to have a long and healthy life just like everyone else, sure theirs extra things we have to do, but it doesn't hold us back from doing anything!