An Ann Arbor woman is using her experience living with diabetes to help others during American Diabetes Month.

When she was 16, Sally Joy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a disease that can lead to potentially life-threatening complications. She had all the standard symptoms - extreme weight loss, constant thirst, and irregular urination. 

This month, Sally Joy and others at the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan are determined to help others learn about diabetes. 

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the NKFM will be at the 3rd annual University of Michigan World Diabetes Day Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Ann Arbor. 

They'll be providing information about diabetes prevention and treatment. In addition, the event includes free screenings, ranging from blood pressure, cholesterol, and obesity assessments.

An estimated 927,000 Michigan residents are living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. Two million more are at high risk for diabetes. 

“I was pretty stupid about diabetes when I was 16 years old. I wasn’t educated about the potential long-term complications," Joy said. "I found out about the complications later on when they actually started occurring. I had no idea how to stop them from happening. I was poorly prepared and poorly educated for a lifetime of this disease.”

As a teenager, Joy did little to educate herself. Her doctor told her the basics on how to take insulin and how to test her urine. 

After suffering kidney failure, Sally Joy received a kidney transplant 23 years ago. She has eye damage from diabetic retinopathy, leading her to receive laser treatments.

“Nobody should get kidney failure from diabetes. Believe me, it’s no walk in the park. It can be prevented through proper management and education,” said Joy, who now has to wear leg braces because of the nerve damage caused by her diabetic neuropathy.

Joy said the introduction of insulin pumps and other technology has made managing diabetes much easier than it was years ago.. She calls herself a born-again diabetic, determined to educate others.

“If you have the tools and don’t know how to use them, that’s worthless," she said. "If you have the education, but not the tools, that’s also worthless. It’s a one-two punch. You need to be educated on how to self-manage and have the appropriate gadgets.” 

“You can prevent diabetes or treat it if you already have it. Learn how to properly manage the disease and get educated," Joy said.