Manual Mode

My husband compared our pancreas' to cars tonight. He basically compared having Type 1 to driving a stick shift car versus an automatic. I know most people who choose to drive a manual car do it because A) they think it's fun or B) it's cheaper on gas. Neither of those are applicable to having Type 1. But I still get his point.

It's extra work for us to get from point A to point B. We have to do the calculations and the math and the timing that our pancreas would have figured out for us other wise. We have to be the one to shift all the gears at the right time. It's not a perfect analogy, I know. Especially not for me, because I never could get the hang of a stick shift. But for the mindset I'm in with Type 1 right now, it fits.

For this aspect of my life and my body, it is more work to be in range than the person next to me who has a fully functioning pancreas. But I don't know what their battle is. I truly believe the grass is always greener on the other side, and no one has a perfect life. I may have to deal with a chronic illness, but the next person might have financial troubles, relationship woes, or some other battle I don't have the strength to fight. So at this moment, I'm ok with having to drive stick shift.