Photo compliments of John Segesta, johnsegesta.com

 

Phil Southerland was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 7 months of age.  He lived in Tallahassee,  Florida.  He was born and diagnosed at Tallahassee Regional Medical Center.  Type 1 diabetes is the most serious kind of diabetes and  requires constant monitoring through finger sticks and insulin injections, which are required to stay alive.  Phil's mother, Joanna, kept taking him to doctors for a week saying something was wrong.  He was finally diagnosed after she took him to the ER on her own.  The lives as a family changed that instant. At that time she was told good news "He will live."  Bad news, " He has juvenile diabetes and the prognosis that  he would probably have renal failure or be blind by age 25.  Intead, at 24 years of old he raced his bike 3000 miles across the United States with a team of other persons with Type 1.

Phil was been blessed with great athleticism.  After competed in many sports, including swimming from K – 4th ever day after school, soccer, baseball, football,  and was top in state  of Florida in racquetball several years in a row.   He played at Leon High School, Tallalhasse, Florida.  However, he gravitated toward cycling and excelled at it and found his passion.  He did win or place a number of national cycling races.


His mother has been an exercise instructor and instilled the need for regular exercise to both of her sons at early age.  Exercise and nutrition were key to controlling the fluctuations of glucose and for long term health for both boys.  Jack has been a competitive body builder and his also passionate about exercise.


Phil always had to check his blood sugar, before, during, and after racing or competing in any sport couple with managing  insulin dosage and food as well, while trying to win!  Phil raced for University of Georgia (http://uga.edu).  During one race, another cyclist, Joe Eldridge, was checking his blood sugar.   Joe rode forAuburn.  Phil connected with Joe about the trials of managing diabetes.  Phil was in much better control than Joe, and his ultimate goal, through burrito bets, was to have Joe pay more attention to his diabetes control.


During his Christmas vacation from UGA in 2005, Phil rode his bike home from Athens, Georgia, to Tallahassee, Florida  (300 milles).  During this long ride, the spark came to him – “Why not start a cycling team of all Type 1 diabetes and show the world that we can compete as well.”  The race he chose was Race Across America – RAAM, (http://raceacrossamerica.org) -- a grueling high endurance race.  Phil flew to California to meet with the first of many sponsors and requested funding to support his idea. Team Type 1 was funded; the company was born.


Phil’s 8 person team came in three minutes behind the RAAM winners in 2006.  In 2007, he led 7 other diabetics to a world record, crossing the country in 5days, 15hrs, and 43minutes.  In 2008, they came in second.  The 2009 Team Type 1 won again.  Phil expanded his business to include an all Type 1 triathlete team; and in 2009, Team Type 2 (all persons with Type 2 diabetes) also competed in Race Across America and finished.  Phil also expanded his business to include professional men’s and women’s cycling teams, some of whom have Type 1 diabetes.

For two years, and all over the world, team athletes visit schools, make speeches, and go to events to spread the word that through active management of their diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), people can achieve their goals, dreams, and potential.  These athletes encourage daily exercise and positive healthcare.


When Phil was diagnosed as an infant, the only magazine that dealt with diabetes was Diabetes Forecast.  In September 2009, Phil and Joe were on the cover of Diabetes Forecast with their story of hope.

The dream Phil had while riding a bike became a small business that developed into a network of people who live daily and successfully with diabetes and has inspired children and their families and friends all over the world.  Fear does not have to be the operational word in diabetes.  Hope is far more productive – and Phil has shown that hope is very realistic.