Bethany Bauman

Alexandria, Virginia

I want to stop diabetes from taking away the people we love.

On February 10, 2002, my mother called me at my office. "Your dad's gone," she said. Cardiac muscle neuropathy caused by his type 2 diabetes took away my rock, my protector and my guiding light.

On November 25, 2006, my fiancé’s mother called me at home. "Paul's gone," she said. Dilated cardiomyopathy caused by his type 1 diabetes took away the future I wanted to build with the love of my life.

Stopping diabetes has become my passion, personally and professionally. I am one of the people lucky enough to work at the American Diabetes Association, so I get to be part of this movement all day, every day. My fiancé used to work here in Internet Strategy as well. Our team actually built stopdiabetes.com. I couldn't think of a better tribute to the men in my life whom I've lost.