It took a medical scare before former Miss America Nicole Johnson realized she had to talk about her disease.In 1993, at age 19, the then up-and-coming beauty queen was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes - a disease that affects the body's ability to regulate blood sugar.

Her diagnosis coincided with her participation in pageantry, which eventually created more opportunities for her to speak about the disease to large audiences. After winning the Miss America crown in 1999, Johnson continued to make diabetes education and advocacy part of her career.

But at first she tried to cover it up. During the Miss Virginia Pageant in 1997, Johnson decided not to wear her insulin pump or tell anyone involved in the competition about her diabetes.

"If I did, I knew they would make a judgment on me that I didn't like," said Johnson, who was a speaker Saturday at the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi's Super Conference in Jackson.

The morning after an exhausting round of preliminary competitions, Johnson was found on the floor of her hotel room. She was wheeled out on a gurney and received medical treatment. Everyone found out.

"I really think that was a miracle. It told me that the disease was too big for me to handle by myself," she told the conference crowd. "After that, I thought, 'Enough with having pride. I'm going to wear whatever is available. I'm going to be on the forefront of technology because I want to be alive.' "

Now, in addition to lobbying Congress and consulting for companies that make diabetes- care products, Johnson takes her advocacy on the road. Using her experiences, she tries to encourage other diabetics to be motivated in caring for themselves.

The premise of her speech involved what she calls "small steps toward victories" - evaluating personal strengths and weaknesses so patients' know how to cope with the disease and approach their own treatment, learning about the disease and staying abreast of advances in treatment and getting involved in the diabetes community so patients have instant support groups.

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi estimates there are about 346,500 diabetics in the state. And thousands more are undiagnosed.

"Awareness is one of the most important things," said Foundation Executive Vice President Mary Fortune. "We want people sitting in the audience to know that they're not alone and that there is help available."

Partnering with Animas Corp., a company that manufactures and sells insulin pumps, allowed the foundation to plan its largest conference in 29 years. The event sold out after more than 350 diabetics, their family members and caretakers registered.

Besides Johnson's motivational speech, the conference touched on topics ranging from healthy eating and cooking, foot care, children's health and stem-cell research.

Bertha Harper of Jackson said her daughter-in-law signed her up for the event.

"I figured if she was willing to spend the whole day with me, I'd better go," she said. And as a 74-year-old widow with Type 2 diabetes, Harper said she realizes she needs to take better care of herself.

"I need to start fixing my food right - eating more vegetables and fruits and not so much of this pasta and starch," she said. "I also need to exercise more. It won't be hard. I just need to make up my mind to do it and put my whole heart into it."

And if she doesn't, Harper knows there will be external motivation.

"She's going to be on me until I do it right," she said, glancing at her smiling daughter-in-law.

For more information on living with diabetes, contact the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi Inc. at (601) 957-7878 or go online at www.msdiabetes.org.

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