Today is Raise Your Voice For Diabetes day. So here I am, raising my voice.

Why should I? It's hard, getting the word out about diabetes. But that's why I do it.

I do it to combat the rampant ignorance about this disease.

I do it to do my part to set straight the massive amount of misinformation that's out there about diabetes, type 1 and type 2.

I do it because I want my daughter to feel comfortable advocating for herself one day and the only way she can do that is to see me, advocating for her.

I do it because her father would prefer to ignore her diabetes, feels ashamed that she has it and I don't want that shame rubbing off on her.

I do it because my daughter has to live with this disease and I couldn't live with myself if I wasn't doing everything in my power to make her see that she's a valuable, valued person and not just her disease.

I do it so that others might not feel so alone, so afraid or so confused by their diabetes life.

I do it because I can't do anything less.