Usher Opens Up About His Son's Diabetes, Is 'Inspired by His Bravery'

— -- Usher is speaking out about his son's struggle with diabetes, and advocating for a cure.

The "Chains" singer opened up to People magazine Wednesday about watching his son Usher Raymond V, or Cinco, as his father calls him, grow up with Type 1 diabetes at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Promise Ball in New York.

Cinco, 7, was diagnosed with diabetes last year, and the singer said that witnessing his son battle with diabetes has given him “a greater deal of appreciation for the bravery that children his age have.”

“A child that every day has to prick himself and has to be cautious of what he eats and also to carry this disorder around; that really is the type of bravery that we all aspire to have,” Usher said.

The singer, 37, also reflected on the toll that his son's struggle with diabetes has taken on the performer himself.

“There’s been some difficult moments, but “having dealt with it on a daily basis, I have a great deal of understanding of what people have to deal with," Usher said. "It’s personal.”

Usher explained that he is happy to be an advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which will launch its #T1DLooksLikeMe campaign Sunday in honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month in November.

“I want to be supportive not only as someone who’s vying for a cure, but also as a father who has a child who’s experienced a lot of highs and lows,” Usher said.