text: how could i help a friend with diabetes? my friend has diabetes but she just says it is not that bad she says she just has take care of what she eats but she doesnt want to go the clinic so they could check how is her diabetes.what could i tell her so she could go to the clinic and she is 13 how bad is not being to young to have diabetes. she might need to be on insulin and/or medications to control her blood sugar level (bsl) adequately - its especially so in case of diabetes in young people.   it is very important to have strict control of the bsl. without adequate control, many of the body's organs start getting damaged within a few years- these include the eyes, kidneys, limbs and the nervous system. eventually the damage may become very severe and it may lead to blindness and the person may need to be on dialysis for life.  but with a good control over the bsl right from the beginning, a person can lead a virtually normal and healthy life. one may need to bring about a few lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet control too, but doing so ensures a complication free life.  so make your friend understand this point that although diabetes has severe complications, with strict bsl control and routine check-ups, one can delay or even prevent most of these complications. once the damage is done, it cannot be reversed.   so better to be safe than sorry... get her to visit her doc- he/she will explain in greater detail about this.