First, it's not as bad as some might suggest! For me, the worse aspect of being diabetic is that some misguided people will think that I'm suffering coz of a lack of sugary food, like chocolate. I can't usually be bothered to explain that I'm not a chocolate addict, nor have I ever been one.
A few things change, but it's not all bad. I started eating much better after being diagnosed. That compensates for the few things that I'm missing! Some other things are just odd. For example, before becoming diabetic, I don't recall ever sweating. Now I seem to be sweating enough to balance the 20 years of sweating that I'd missed!
And then there's the general stuff, some of which we might forget from time to time (tut, tut), like taking care with our extremities. I've still got blisters (well, areas of tough skin) on my feet, but it seems they're not a problem. Just don't ask me to take my shoes and socks off! This is the kind of thing that can be unexpected, but it's no big deal.
I've heard of new diabetics being given oranges to practice injecting with. I'm not sure I like the idea, as it could be misleading. There's nothing quite like discovering for yourself what it feels like - or in my case, what I didn't feel. We're led to expect the worst when anything like needles are involved, but mostly the "horrors" in peoples' imaginations. We can recall the painful experiences of childhood and assume that it'll be the same as an adult, which in my experience it often isn't.
After 10 years of diabetes, I'm still learning, and I get the impression that I'm not alone in this respect. Knowing what to ask your doctor, and if you can trust them, can help.