The Privilege of Aging: Reflections on Life with Type 1 Diabetes
- Julia Flaherty
- Dec 10, 2024
- 3 min read
As of this January, I will have been living with type 1 diabetes for 21 years. My diabetes will be old enough to legally drink, gamble, rent a car, adopt a child, and go to a nightclub. Reflecting on another birthday this December, I recognize how privileged I am to be aging. Growing up, I often heard adults around me say that aging is brutal, groaning over each passing year. But how lucky are we to be alive, to experience those aches and groans, and to still be here?
This isn't to undermine anyone's struggles or burdens - it's simply to share a different perspective.
Don't get me wrong; I have my own share of aches. My left hip won't stop popping, my legs don't run as swiftly as they once did, my shoulders carry my stress, and my neck is paying for all those hours looking down at my phone. May I have the grace in the year ahead to step away from the screen more often, to stay up with my dog at 4:00 AM, and to keep moving.
Being here is a gift. The desire to live fully makes the thought of death feel so heavy. That longing makes the moans and groans of aging poignant - a reminder that we are here to savor, enjoy, nurture, and love what's around us and the people we hold close.
Healthline states that the life expectancy of someone with type 1 diabetes, on average, is 10–12 years less than the general population. However, the difference in life expectancy for those with type 1 diabetes and those without got smaller during the second half of the 20th century.
Historically, many people with diabetes didn't have the chance to age due to limited access to resources, technology, and care. Sadly, this reality still affects communities worldwide. Today, I think of those we've lost too soon and of those who, even now, face similar struggles without the resources they need.
Recently, I watched an Instagram Reel that encouraged spending a year with hospice patients, saying it would change how you see life. I believe in this sincerely and hope to volunteer in that way someday to gain more perspective.
I sometimes find myself reflecting on my trivial complaints, with the biggest being the time I spend washing dishes. Recently, I came across an Instagram Reel that reminded me of two important thoughts: "How lucky we are to have dishes to wash; it means we have been nourished with food," and "How fortunate we are to do laundry; it signifies we are well-clothed." I feel blessed every moment that my loved ones and I are safe, secure, able, and healthy. No part of life is too small to appreciate. In fact, it's the countless little things that enrich our days. If we can find and hold onto gratitude in these tiny moments, we will likely feel less anxious and more fulfilled.
Living with diabetes has given me perspective over time. It has taught me that life is both short and long. What we do and how we treat ourselves and others matters. If we're not nurturing our bodies and moving through life with kindness, we miss out on true well-being.
For years, I've felt lucky to wish at each birthday for a cure for type 1 diabetes. I still hold onto that hope, but my priorities have shifted. Now, I wish for a life rich in years, with or without diabetes. I dream of building a family, making a positive impact, and living fully.
