Posted yesterday at 10:00 a.m.
My name is Sébastien Sasseville, I am 42 years old, and I have been living with type 1 diabetes, the most severe form of the disease, since 2002. My life depends on several insulin injections a day.
Last Sunday, I completed what is considered the toughest cycling race in the world, the Race Across America (RAAM).
That same day, I was informed that Karim Ouellet had succumbed to his fight.
That day, I had just completed 4800 km in 11 days, 22 hours and 25 minutes. I had just completed a huge sporting challenge made even more complex given my state of health. This challenge, I undertook it and carried it out with all my team around a mission, that of inspiring diabetics so that they accept the disease, that they see big and far.
I very humbly wish to encourage diabetics to accept the disease, to accept themselves as they are and to see that anything is possible.
That said, the path of denial, like that of acceptance, is full of pitfalls, and if the condition is an enemy, the journey is only more difficult. However, at the end of acceptance, there is a full life, a beautiful life, a life filled with achievements.
Welcoming illness means giving yourself the chance to celebrate life’s events, big and small. And today, diabetes control tools make it possible.
That day, despite the proud sense of achievement, I suffered. I felt bad for Karim who couldn’t find his way, how to live with the disease.
Type 1 diabetes is incurable, we live with this condition all our lives.
Type 1 diabetes is inevitably treated with insulin, but also with love.
Self-love, love of the life ahead of us.
Take care of yourself, accept yourself, see beyond your affection. Life will only be sweeter and more beautiful.