Matt, I have been Type 1 for 62 years and I am very healthy. I have only a few minor complications. If we have good control and can get our A1c's below 6.5 and keep them there then we greatly increase our chances of leading a long, healthy life without serious complications. My A1c's had been below 6.0 for several years until I started pumping in June. I had a difficult start with pumping and my A1c was 6.1 last month. It was 5.6 before I started pumping insulin. Now that I have my pump routine under better control I expect an A1c around 5.5 in February.
Since you are 14 you might be interested in the following site for teens:
DiabetesTeenTalk.com - from dLife
Good luck to you!
Richard
