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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou were diagnosed with diabetes as a child. How did you experience it, and when did you decide that it wasn\u2019t going to define you?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I was diagnosed so young that, at first, I didn\u2019t really understand what it meant. From the age of five to ten, my parents and nurses took care of everything, while I was mostly concerned with playing and being a kid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, between 10 and 15, I went through a period of denial. I didn\u2019t want to accept the disease, I downplayed it, and I even started falsifying my blood sugar readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was around 15 or 16 that I began to come to terms with it. I gradually accepted that diabetes would always be part of my life, without allowing it to define me. The real turning point came when I was at high school in the United States. That\u2019s when I realized I could live a completely normal life, play sports and pursue my own ambitions without being defined by my condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You had to give up football. How do you move forward when an illness forces you to stop doing something you love?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I had to give up football for safety reasons, and that was difficult at first. But the experience taught me that you have to accept what\u2019s happening, adapt and find another way forward. For me, that meant turning to individual sports \u2014 first weight training, and eventually running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also important not to deal with these things on your own. Talking to people, sharing experiences and realizing that others are going through similar situations can make a real difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You only took up running in September 2024. What was it about this sport that appealed to you so much?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Simplicity. Running is incredibly accessible. There are very few barriers to getting started \u2014 all you really need is a pair of shoes. There\u2019s a strong social aspect to it, too. You meet so many people. You can show up to a run on your own and, an hour later, find yourself having dinner with people you\u2019d never met before. I also like the fact that running is such an honest sport. You can\u2019t cheat your way through the effort. If you train consistently, you see the results. And if you don\u2019t, that shows too. At first, running was simply an easy way for me to meet people and feel part of something. Over time, it became much more than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sport has always played an important role in your life. How have you managed to balance it with your studies and work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s really about organization and priorities. My studies and work come first, and sport comes after that. I try to structure my days around clear goals, both short- and long-term, so I always have a sense of where I\u2019m heading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has taught me that you can\u2019t maintain a demanding project over the long term without finding the right balance in your personal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What has been the most difficult moment in your preparation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The hardest thing was losing that balance. At some point, the project had taken over my life. I had put my friends, family and social life to one side, and eventually I burned out. That was when I realized that performance alone doesn\u2019t prepare you for a challenge. Maintaining your overall balance is essential to make sure the project remains sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCan you tell us more about your 1560 Reasons project?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1560 Reasons represents the number of kilometers between Madrid and Paris, but above all, it stands for 1,560 reasons to start exercising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We always find excuses not to get started, and I want to show the opposite. For every kilometer, I\u2019ll have a reason to keep going: my family, the people running alongside me, the desire to make it to the finish line\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, this project is not just a race. It\u2019s a way of showing that everyone has their own challenge to take on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The project will also become a documentary film. Can you tell us more about it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The documentary will follow the entire journey, from the early stages of preparation to the finish line in Paris. The aim is to show the reality of the challenge as honestly as possible: the training, the day-to-day management of diabetes, the doubts and difficult moments, but also the achievements. I\u2019ll be supported by a team of filmmakers, as well as healthcare and sports professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the sporting performance, I want this to be a collective project. I\u2019ll be running, but never truly alone: friends and family, associations, athletes, partners and everyone supporting the project will have a place in the adventure and in the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s also why I\u2019m supporting the Association of Young Diabetics, which was a huge source of support for me when I was a child. Now I want to give something back and show that the greatest challenges are the ones we take on together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does running 65 km a day for 24 days while living with diabetes actually involve?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It requires close and regular medical monitoring, but also a deep understanding of your own body. I\u2019ll have support throughout the challenge, using glucose monitors, adjusting my insulin as needed and keeping a close eye on my physical condition. During the runs, I\u2019ll need to stay on top of my nutrition and hydration at all times, while anticipating changes in my blood sugar levels. The goal isn\u2019t simply to run for as long as possible. It\u2019s about finding the right balance between pushing yourself and staying safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do you think obstacles can be a universal driving force?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Absolutely. I think we grow far more through adversity than when everything comes easily. Difficult circumstances force us to adapt, learn and discover strengths we didn\u2019t know we had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I experienced that with diabetes, but also when I moved to Madrid without knowing anyone. At the time, it felt like another obstacle. Looking back, I realize that it was precisely that experience that taught me to become more independent, adapt to new situations and grow in confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t always get to choose what happens to us. But we do get to choose how we respond to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, what are you most proud of?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m proud of bringing people from very different backgrounds together around the same project: people with or without diabetes, friends and family, athletes, partners and charities. I\u2019m also proud to show that diabetes doesn\u2019t define a person and should never stand in the way of their ambitions. If this project can inspire someone to take on a challenge of their own, then I\u2019ll feel that I\u2019ve achieved what I set out to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How has your education at I\u00c9SEG helped you?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I\u00c9SEG mainly taught me how to structure projects: how to develop an idea and turn it into a concrete project. I also learned a lot through student association activities and internships, particularly when it comes to sponsorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I reach out to potential partners, I draw on skills I developed at school: pitching an idea, understanding what matters to the person I\u2019m talking to, and, above all, tailoring my message to my audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The School also taught me to think outside the box. We\u2019re encouraged to try things out rather than wait until everything is perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What would you say to students who might be hesitant to pursue their ambitions when faced with difficulties?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t wait until you feel \u201cready\u201d, because the truth is, you never really will. What matters is giving yourself as many opportunities as possible and having no regrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have an idea or a project, go for it. Step outside your comfort zone and dare to do things differently. That\u2019s often where the best opportunities come from. And above all, whatever makes you different should never stand in the way of your ambitions. Difficulties are often what make us grow. They force us to adapt, push ourselves and discover who we really are. Keep moving forward. Try things. Find your own path, and don\u2019t let your fears decide where your limits lie.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Arthur Barbotin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was just five years old. Growing up, he had to learn to live with a condition that required constant attention […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":192163,"menu_order":0,"template":"","news-category":[178,60],"class_list":["post-192162","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-category-csr","news-category-students-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n