Phil Southerland has guts.
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age seven months, this competitive cyclist has never let anything stand in the way of his dreams and goals: not the competition, not a troubled childhood, not a leg injury, and certainly not a broken pancreas. He’s living out his life with perseverance and panache.
Phil Southerland is best known as the CEO of Team Type 1, the world’s first diabetic cycling team which rode to victory in the grueling Race Across America for the fourth time last summer. Team Type 1 is actually a collection of several teams, including a professional team with a mix of PWDs and non-PWDs, and two PWD-only teams, one for people with type 1 and one for people with type 2.
His new book, Not Dead Yet, is the story of how Phil Southerland got there. Although heavily invested in explaining the intricacies of dealing with diabetes as an athlete, the book covers more than just diabetes. Phil takes the reader on a journey through his childhood, his adolescence and discovery of the power of fitness, through college and developing passion for cycling and into his twenties, when the dream of Team Type 1 became a reality.
“While I will probably never be able to say that I’m diabetes-free or that I beat type 1, I am living proof that diabetes can be beaten into submission, which is what I’m doing every day of my life, and what I try to show others how to do,” Phil writes.
Phil shares how diabetes and his fears, particularly going blind, motivates his commitment to managing diabetes, and how overcoming diabetes influenced his rise in the cycling community. But he doesn’t spend too much time on the nitty-gritty details of particular BG management tactics. He embraces the bigger issues: how managing diabetes affects overall athletic ability, coping with the stress of the numbers, dealing with insurance and premiums and work, and the mental challenges of living with a chronic illness. And of course, how to deal with the pressure of being a very well-known diabetic athlete while just trying to get by.
And it wasn’t easy. Phil shares several stories in which his cycling dropped his blood sugars dangerously low, and he had to rely on his support system — his fellow riders — to help him out. This is an important message throughout Phil’s life, both in diabetes and in cycling: have good people by your side.
The most important person in Phil’s life? His mom. Awww. Phil writes such heartwarming things about his mother, who raised Phil and his brother as a single mom. It really made me appreciate my own parents and other moms and dads who work tirelessly to make sure their kids have the best chance at the best life. We don’t do this ride called Life alone, and we need to appreciate the folks who have our backs!
Phil’s life isn’t perfect. It’s crazy and chaotic, just like managing diabetes. There have been crowning victories, and painful setbacks, like his leg injury that ended his cycling career. (He doesn’t compete on the bike himself anymore.) Through it all, he keeps chugging along.
Phil now successfully manages Team Type 1, wrote this book, and encourages and motivates people with diabetes all over the world through his efforts and speaking engagements.
I think that’s one of the things I liked most about reading Phil’s book. Although he had the maturity and fortitude to realize that his health is his No. 1 priority early on in life, he has had to work very hard to get where he is. He continues to work hard to achieve his goals, no matter what gets in his way.
We give this book two thumbs up! Or two legs pumping, as it were.
{Thomas Dunne Books, May 2011, $16.62 on Amazon}
And now for our contribution…
We are giving away a copy of Not Dead Yet autographed by Phil Southerland! Pretty cool, huh? If you’re interested in winning this free autographed copy, it’s as easy as leaving a comment!
Here’s how it works:
1. Post your comment below and include the codeword “DMBooks” somewhere in the comment (beginning, end, in parenthesis, in bold, whatever). That will let us know that you would like to be entered in the giveaway. You can still leave a comment without entering, but if you want to be considered to win the book, please remember to include “DMBooks.”
2. This week, you have until Friday, May 6, at noon PST to enter.
3. The winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter on Monday, May 9, so make sure you’re following us! We will also contact the winner personally by email, so a valid email address is required.
4. The contest is open to anyone on the planet. Good luck!
WOW! Can’t wait to read this! “DMBooks”!!
Sounds like a fabulous story. Would love to win the book and thus say “DMBooks”. I don’t know how to make it bold, so I hope this is okay.
Hi! I’m a T1 for 21 years (since 6) and am VERY interested in reading this book! It’s a particularly relevant topic for me, as I’m running my first 1/2 marathon in a few weeks, in a large part to prove to myself that I can do anything with T1. I was always petrified of the lows during extensive exercise and made excuses of why I couldn’t do it. But I’m pretty sick of thinking like that, so I’m working to overcome that. I’m really enjoying the training and long runs, and hope to well on race day! I got the “Diabetic Athlete Handbook” and would love to read more about how to balance diabetes/exercise!
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These guys on team type 1 are awesome!! They are proof that just because someone has diabetes doesn’t mean that we can’t do anything we put our minds to. These guys are a great motivation for the rest of us. DMBooks
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I need a little inspiration these days, trying to deal with a new leukemia med that is causing my blood sugars to skyrocket. Sounds like there is plenty of inpiration found in this book. Thanks for sharing!
This book sounds awesome for my teenage son, diagnosed at 2 years old. He is an amazing kid, but sometimes needs a little “inspiration” like I think this book would provide. I especially liked the part that he owes a lot to his MOM! I sure hope my son feels this way when he is older! DMBooks
As I kick up my workout routine into high gear, it is always inspiring to read of others who have found athletic success. We need more diabetic role models. I used to always say to never say ‘can’t’ to a diabetic child. Where there is a will,there is a way. You may have a harder time achieving whatever it is you want to achieve, but it CAN be done. (DMBooks)
Can’t wait to read it!
“DMBooks”
Sounds like a fabulous book. I would
love for my 20 year old to read this. (DMBooks)
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Way to go Phil!
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Glad to see Phil telling his story – as it’s a normal story of growing up and living as best as you can. It’s too bad he had to stop racing — but he is the perfect face and voice for TT1. Every few months you can see TT1 pushing further to their TdF goal.
I would love to read this book. My son was diagnosed with type 1 at 13 years old. He is now 24 and has just completed his 2nd Cape epic mountain bike race. I am in awe of his achievements (acts just like the team type 1 guys) In fact, I think he should get a job there!!! Check his website on http://diabetesadventure.com/
I would love to give him the book (once I am finished with it)
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I really want to read this book!
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DMBooks. I would love to read this book. I was diagnosed with T1 53 years ago this month. As a child a nurse told me I wouldn’t live to see the age of 21. More than once I’ve said, “Well, I’m not dead yet” to a medical person telling me how wrong I’ve been taking care of myself.
Just the other day I was telling my husband that I wanted this book for mother’s day, along with a new pair of cycling shoes. I think he remembered the shoes, but forgot about the book
I am a cyclist and read about Team Type 1 and Phil’s story years ago in a Bycling Magazing article. I was impressed, but it wasn’t until several years later when my own little boy (age 18 months at the time) was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes that I was not just impressed, but blown away by what these inspirational athletes have accomplished.
Thanks for the opportunity at this great give-away! I’ll keep my fingers crossed!
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DMBooks! DMBooks! DMBooks! A successful athlet with a great relationship with his mom? I’m so in!
A true inspiration to all of us cyclists with T1. Go Phil!
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DMBooks – looking forward to reading more about his story!!
What an inspiration! Would love this (for me
) and for my son, diagnosed at 20 months. Go DMBooks!
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I don’t have anything to say but I would love to read this book.
I stumbled onto this blog and appreciated the review. As someone recently diagnosed with T1 at age 29 — and totally surprised and confused as a health conscious, v. athletic and fit person, with no family history — it’s been a life-changing experience. I’ve been putting in more hours on my bike to doctors appts and nutritionists and can personally relate to the power of exercise physically and mentally. I look forward to reading it. “DMBooks”
Can’t wait to read the book! (DMBooks)
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Sounds like a great story. There is so much to learn from every person with T1.
I met Phil last year at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in St. Paul. I was a very dorky fan who couldn’t resist saying hi when I found myself walking right by him after the crit. He was so kind and gracious. Can’t wait to read the book and a signed DMBooks copy would be frosting on the cupcake!
Phil S. is an inspiration and I look forward to reading his DMBooks!! Thanks for sharing this message of hope and truth for all with diabetes – we can accomplish our dreams!
“DMBooks.”
I am going to Amazon now to order this book for my T1 14 year old son.. He is a 3 sport athlete and will enjoy reading about Phil’s life and hopefully find inspiration from his dedication to sports and his health. If I win a book too we will share it with other T1 friends.. Great article!
We should all learn from this idea “that diabetes can be beaten into submission”. We have the power to do so. DMBooks.
Hey you, DMBooks…. I’m dying for a copy of this!
Sounds like an interesting book. DMBooks.
DMBooks,
Hmmm…could this become a new DOC greeting? Kind of a code word to let others know you are in the “club”?
Phil, great, great story, thank you for putting it into words.
Cheers,
Mike
DMBOOKS
Sounds awesome! I blog about how much I love diabetes stories! This would be awesome! Thank you!!
Phil “DMBooks” Southerland absolutely ROCKS! I hope to meet my hero someday before I die. I’ll add that to my bucket list.
This will be a fantastic read for my son, a type 1 since age 3. He’s now almost 10 and just starting to feel the full effect of his illness after 7 long years. DMBooks.
DMBooks…..great book for my son who is 9 and has been type 1 since age 3. He’s had some struggles lately and this may be a source of inspiration.
DMBooks — We’re already huge Phil fans in our house. He was the keynote speaker at our local JDRF Gala dinner and his message was so inspiring, so full of hope, so exciting. Would love the book!
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Should be quite a story.
I’ve been following Phil’s tweets and would like to read this book (DMBooks) and share it with my son who has Type 1 Diabetes so he can read Phil’s words for himself about beating diabetes into submission!
DMBooks! Phil is a huge inspiration to me as a diabetic athlete, and I can’t wait to hear his story!
I would love to read this book! DMBooks
I cannot wait to read this book. I’m currently training for my first ironman and could use the inspiration to get through training with diabetes. (DMBooks). I think team type 1 is amazing!
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Would really like to read this. Just a few weeks after my son was diagnosed, Phil came in to his endo’s office to speak to a group of CWDs. He was really the first person with diabetes we met and got to speak with. Quite an inspiration.
Thanks for the chance for a giveaway!
I’m meeting the TT1 guys at an “STL Dawn Phenom” event in St. Louis next Wednesday. I’d love to read Phil’s book too … DMBooks.
Being newly diagnosed, I’d like to win this “DMbooks”. (I know you shouldn’t use a plural there.)
I am trying so hard to do better managing my diabetes. I really enjoyed the books I have recieved thus far. I would love to win this one also. Nothing beats DMBooks
I had the opportunity to hear Phil speak at a T1 support group. He is such an inspiration and I would love to win the book from DMBooks so I can read it and share it with my son.
This guys are great inspiration for all of us! I just can’t wait to read the book!! ?DMBooks?
DMbooks! I really want to get a copy!
What a inspiring story.It sounds like my son Cody, hes been diabitic since he was 8 months old. Stories like this help him to relize that he is not alone and not any diffrent then someone w/out DM(DM BOOKs). Its very helpfull for him and me to see that others live a fullfilled life w/ dm. Thank you for yout story.
[...] a professional bike race. It was a world that I knew very little about. I had read about it in Not Dead Yet by Phil Southerland, but to actually see it was a different experience. This was a competition of speed. Riders entered [...]