Sia Figiel's life has evidently been affected by diabetes in various ways. Her relatives before her had diabetes and related complications caused the death of both Figiel's mother and father. In 2003 Figiel was diagnosed with type two diabetes. At this time, due to extraneous social and cultural conditions of Samoan life, Figiel kept her Diabetes a secret. She felt it to be a sign of weakness and did not want that to shape her as a writer and a public figure. Due to family, friends, and loved ones dying from such complications, she finally felt that it was time to speak up about the disease.