Last week when I suggested that the diabetes community design an awareness symbol akin to the breast cancer campaign's pink ribbon, I apparently hit a nerve with someone.

Nordtorp says he's not into the secret handshake thing and that ribbons and pins don’t make a difference. He doesn't think that wearing a trinket will cause more money to be funnelled into diabetes research.

I have to say that I whole-heartedly disagree. If someone asked you what are the major illnesses -- chronic or otherwise -- that affect the U.S. population, would the common person identify diabetes as one of them? Without a connection to diabetes, I doubt it. Does the common person even really understand what diabetes is? Not many.

I've said it before and I know others have to: diabetes is an invisible disease. When cancer strikes, the patient loses hair and we are reminded of the struggles a person with cancer goes through; if you meet a person with multiple sclerosis, you may have to walk slower to maintain a conversation while they walk with crutches or braces or ride in a wheelchair and we are reminded of the struggles of MS; a person with AIDS may slowly waste away and spend inordinant amounts of time in the hospital and we are reminded of their struggles.

What are our outward signs? You can't see the scars of fingersticks unless you're really looking. We often hide to check our blood sugar or take a shot of insulin or put our pumps in our pockets. We hear "But you don't look sick," we run marathons and have babies. And there are so many treatment methods out there that diabetes is becoming more manageable, more maintainable. Yes, our lives are being extended.

But we're still invisible. So why shouldn't we do whatever we can to raise awareness? If wearing a trinket or a button or an insulin pump makes people ask questions, then we're doing a good job (I'm still waiting for the day when someone looks at my hip and actually says something instead of staring. I'd love to hear: What *is* that thing?). If those questions lead to people giving money to diabetes research then we're doing the right thing.

Now, I'm not saying I want people to take pity on me because I am not defined by this disease. But doctors and researchers are making strides for better treatment methods because of increased awareness. And my hope is that with better treatment methods comes a cure. And if a cure comes because I wore a button that says "Cure Diabetes" and someone asked a question that sparks a conversation that leads to another conversation that inspires someone to sponsor someone's JDRF team, then I'm proud of that.

So this isn't about secret handshakes or belonging to a group. This is about awareness. This is about being heard. This is about obliterating diabetes. So if wearing a trinket or a button is what it takes, then that's what it takes.