In 2012, paralleled by a move to the United States, Figiel began to address her diabetes both publicly and personally making appearances at various conferences and university campuses. Since then, she has served as an advocate in the Pacific region by sharing her personal experiences to help win the battle in the fight against diabetes. Today, Figiel acts as a graven image for good health by targeting both those with diabetes and those who are making an effort to prevent it. As a testament to her success, in 2014, she competed in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon. Figiel's inspirational story was also featured on CNN, where she discusses her struggle with food and explains how because she's from American Samoa, a place where food is such a major part of the culture, she had a hard time trying to manage her diabetes. But since moving to the U.S. in the state of Utah, she's lost 100 pounds. Not only did it leave her with major dental complications, but she was also left with very low blood sugar many times. Fortunately, her son always knew exactly what to do and how to help her, which according to Figiel, "had saved her life continuously during this time."