Medicine is not the only way to combat diabetes. Advocacy, raising awareness and providing access to role models, resources and support can all make a substantial impact on those living with diabetes. Sébastien Sasseville does all of these as an outspoken voice for those living with the condition. He has made huge strides in diabetes awareness and care, destigmatizing the condition in the community, especially amongst those in the athletic world.
An endurance athlete, motivational speaker and author, Sasseville was born in Saint-Patrice-de-Beaurivage, Québec in 1979. Growing up, he was enamoured by the wonder of Mount Everest and hoped one day to summit it himself. However, life as he knew it changed completely when, at the age of 22, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Sasseville had always wanted to push himself physically, but was not successful in sport as a child. The diagnosis was the turning point; it gave him a sense of purpose and a motivation to manage the condition, address its challenges and excel as an athlete. He wanted to show that those living with diabetes could be extreme athletes, too.
Sasseville had not forgotten Mount Everest, and set his sights high. He participated in a fundraiser that took him and a group of children with diabetes to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for diabetes research. Three years later, he summited Mount Everest as the first Canadian (and third individual worldwide) with diabetes to do so. To manage his condition during the climb, he followed specific routines to ensure that he had usable insulin throughout the expedition. Sasseville followed up Everest with a race across the Sahara Desert, pushing himself to different extremes. While many Canadians plan road trips across the country, Sasseville ran across the nation in a 7,200km trip that he completed in just under a year - the equivalent of running a marathon almost daily! He used this opportunity to raise awareness and speak to children living with diabetes and show them that they too could accomplish big things. He also went on to complete several Ironman triathlons, pushing his athleticism and endurance to their limits. Recently, he made a second cross-Canada trip – this time on two wheels, cycling in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and a campaign to make diabetes technology accessible to everyone in any region of Canada. Sasseville is gearing up for another cross-country race, this time across the United States.
Sasseville continues to share his journey as an extreme endurance athlete living with diabetes on his Instagram account. His ability to inspire is evident as he remains a sought-after speaker, TEDx presenter and author. No matter the medium, Sasseville creates the most impactful moments – ones that break down barriers and inspire others to reach great heights.
— Written by Sandhya Mylabathula