Loading ...How Cycling Changed One Person’s Life
Phil Southerland was a teenager when he discovered two loves—Snickers Bars and cycling. Since Phil has diabetes, Snickers bars were potential enemies but cycling was the perfect way to reconcile the two. Soon, cycling became an obsession all its own. Phil recalls, “I rode and I rode and I rode. Everyday that I rode, I got better.” Riding turned into racing, and eventually Phil Southerland found himself doing quite well in the world of competitive cycling. His love for biking was a passion that kept his body healthy and his type 1 diabetes in check.
How Cycling Changed Another Person’s Life
Phil wasn’t merely watching out for himself. He became concerned for his friend Joe, who was also type 1. Joe and Phil were great friends, but they handled their diabetes differently. Unfortunately, Joe’s diabetes was out of control. Phil explains, “He wasn’t taking control of himself. I got sick of watching my buddy kill himself.”
But they had a deal: from then on, if Joe crossed the threshold in his blood sugar or made some foolish moves, he would have to buy Phil dinner. Eventually, Joe realized he was going to go broke from constantly buying Phil meals. Things turned around, and in six months, Joe was a different man. “Because of you,” Joe told Phil, “I’m going to see my grandkids grow up. I’m going to take control of my diabetes.”
How Cycling Changed Thousands of Lives
Phil’s passion for helping others began to grow. On a 300-mile solo bicycle trip to Florida, he had a lot of time to think. “You can achieve any dream you want,” he thought. Diabetes doesn’t prevent achievement; it’s a form of spurring it on. The vision for Team Type 1 began, and a group of cyclists with type 1 coalesced.
“You guys should ride across America,” their supporters suggested. Phil’s response? “Heck, no. Let’s race across America.” They caught a vision, and one year later, Team Type 1 was cycling across America. In the cross-country race against other professional teams from all over the U.S., Team Type 1 came in second place. It wasn’t good enough for Phil. “We came back. We knew we could win.” The next year, they raced again. This time, Team Type 1 blew the competition out of the water, coming in at first place.
“It was the first time a team of type 1′s had run a race of that caliber—entered it, let alone won it.” But when Phil stood on the podium in Atlantic City, Phil had another dream.
How Cycling Will Change Millions More
Phil’s next dream was to have someone with diabetes race in the Tour de France. Now, Tour de France in 2012 is the team’s next major milestone. “My life has been about goals,” Phil explains. “Getting to the race, winning the race… it gives you something to work for.” But it’s not just about winning bicycle races. “It’s my dream to wake up in a world where no one has complications from diabetes,” he says. Bicycle racing is one of the best ways to achieve these dreams. And as Phil states, “any dream is possible.”
That’s what Team Type 1 has been about ever since its inception with a Snickers Bar and a bicycle. From helping his friend change to helping thousands more, Team Type 1 is accomplishing incredible strides. “We educate. We empower. We inspire,” says Phil.
Q&A with Phil Southerland
What if my A1c (HbA1c) is really high? What should I do?
It doesn’t matter if you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, or even pre-diabetes. You can get your A1c down. Phil’s friend Joe dropped his A1c from the high 11s to below 7. Another Team Type 1 cyclist had an A1c of 17.3. She gained inspiration from the team, trained, worked, pushed, and eventually brought her level down to 6.3. As Phil commented, “If you get your A1c down to 6.5, just about anything is possible.” That’s why one of the mottos of Team Type 1 is “HBA1C: Strive for 6.5.”
What should I do if I have diabetes and want to get involved in cycling?
“Just do it,” says Phil. “Be prepared.” You may start out with blood sugar level that is a little higher than what you’re comfortable with. Be sure to eat consistently throughout the ride.
What are some of the goals of Team Type 1?
This year, Team Type 1 will be at the AMGEN Tour of California (May 16-23). Next year, they plan on participating in the 2011 Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy). In 2012, Team Type 1 plans to be at the Tour de France.
How often do you check throughout a ride?
For Phil, it varies based on the type of ride, the level of ride intensity, and how he feels. When Team Type 1 was starting out, they were stopping and checking their blood sugar levels every two minutes. That doesn’t work so well for competitive cycling. Instead, they got a feel for what their blood sugar was, and knew to correct accordingly. “Check and correct,” is the team mantra. “Learn from your mistakes. Drink water. Eat. Use your insulin pump.” Check when you take a restroom break. Check when you stop for a drink. See what’s going on, and correct accordingly.
What kind of glucose monitor do you use?
FreeStyle Navigator
Where do you mount the CGM?
Phil prefers to keep his monitor in his jersey pocket. Other cyclists use different methods. At least one cyclist on Team Type 1 mounts his CGM on the handlebars of his bicycle.
What do you bring with you on a ride?
Someone with diabetes has several essential items that he must bring on a ride. Obviously, you’ll want to bring some method of checking your insulin, even if you don’t have a CGM. Bring water. Bring insulin. Bring food. “Going on a bike ride without food is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.” And, yes, Phil brings at least two Snickers Bars on every ride.
Visit Team Type 1 for more information.
By: Daniel Threlfall
Photo Credit: http://www.ppolnews.com/primages/team_type1_ride.jpg
