102. Phil Southerland, Founder & CEO of Supersapiens

Today, I’m joined by Phil Southerland, founder and CEO of
Supersapiens — a company using continuous glucose monitoring to
help athletes manage their energy levels. 


 


In this episode, we discuss advancements in glucose monitoring.
Phil explains why the company is focused on endurance athletes
and high performance. And he shares his vision for using sports
as a platform to change the health of the world. 


 


More from Phil


 


Phil Southerland was born in Tallahassee, Florida, and was
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was only seven months old,
the youngest case of diabetes on record in the world at that
time. His parents were told that he would be dead or blind by 25.
Fortunately, they were stubborn, and Phil had access to insulin,
a knowledgeable medical team, and the latest in blood glucose
monitoring tools. At six, he had the dream not to go blind and a
drive to reach the A1C results needed.


 


He discovered his love of the bike when he was 12. While
attending the University of Georgia, he dreamed of combining his
passion for cycling and his personal mission to raise awareness
around diabetes. In 2005, Team Type 1 was founded, and by 2007 an
all-diabetes cycling team not only won but set the world record
in the 3,000-mile Race Across America. Under Phil’s leadership,
the dynamic squad rapidly grew from an amateur team to more than
100 athletes spanning the globe to inspire and unite people
affected by diabetes and ranked in the top 25 professional
cycling teams in the world in 2012.


 


In late 2012, Phil and the team partnered with Novo Nordisk to
create Team Novo Nordisk. The team is spearheaded by the world’s
first all-diabetes pro-cycling team and features a development
team, elite team, and one female professional track star, Mandy
Marquardt.


 


Now in his late-thirties, Phil has dedicated his life to
redefining what it means to live with diabetes and is driving a
global movement to show the world how exercise can save the
health of the world.


 


"Exercise is the billion-dollar drug that rarely gets
prescribed."


 


Throughout his career, professional highlights include speaking
at the United Nations on World Bicycle Day, leading a session at
SXSW, and addressing audiences at ADA and AADE to speaking to one
person at an event in Boise, Idaho. For Phil, the value isn’t
based on prestige as much as it is on impact. He is driven to
make a difference in people’s lives and approaches it one person
at a time.


 


To Phil, the bike has kept him alive for the past 25 years. While
retired from professional racing, Phil regularly rides and still
credits the bike for providing him with his continued health and
sanity.


 


Phil is a dedicated and proud father to three boys with wife, Dr.
Biljana Southerland. In addition to the bike, Phil is a
passionate skier and deep-water scuba diver. He calls Atlanta,
Georgia home, and is a supporter of the High Museum. Phil is a
former board member of Camp Kudzu, Hope Sports, and JDRF. He is a
voracious reader and enjoys collecting rare wines and watches.
Phil is the author of the book ‘Not Dead Yet’, which chronicles
his life from early diagnosis of diabetes to professional cyclist
and his mission to change the face of diabetes on


a global scale.


 


Southerland currently serves as the CEO and co-founder of Team
Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling
team, and the founder and president of the non-profit Team Type 1
Foundation.






More from Fitt Insider 


 


Fitt Insider is a platform for entrepreneurs, executives, and
investors redefining the business of fitness and wellness.


 


From our newsletter and podcast to our industry-specific jobs
board, we create content and resources to drive the industry
forward. We also invest in early-stage health and fitness
companies.


 


For more, visit: https://insider.fitt.co/