Hoda Kotb recently opened up about her daughter Hope’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis. The condition played a significant role in Kotb’s decision to leave her co-hosting position on NBC’s “Today” show in January. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease that requires frequent monitoring and insulin injections.
Kotb shared the emotional and practical challenges of managing Hope’s condition. “As anyone who has type 1, especially a little kid, you’re constantly watching, you’re constantly monitoring, you’re constantly checking, which is what I did all the time when I was at ‘Today,'” Kotb said. “You’re distracted.”
Kotb noted that her desire to spend more time with both of her daughters, including eight-year-old Haley, was a key factor in her decision to leave her position.
“You just get a priority check in your life,” Kotb expressed to co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin. “I can be here and sweating what’s happening to Hope in the morning and at night, or I can be there and feel relief.”
Despite the challenges, Kotb emphasized her efforts to ensure that Hope can live as normal a life as possible.
Hoda’s priority: daughter’s health first
“For 23 ½ hours, she’s every other kid. So, I try to remember that.”
She acknowledged that the condition requires vigilance, but she tries not to let her worry impact her daughter’s life. “Don’t put your worry on your kid.
Watch them, but don’t put your worry on them. Let them be kids and give them what they need when they need it.”
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, preventing the production of insulin. Symptoms can include excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow healing of cuts and sores.
Kotb shared that Hope’s early symptoms mimicked the flu and were so severe that she had to be “raced” to the hospital. Now that Kotb has adjusted to managing Hope’s condition, she focuses on providing a normal childhood experience for her daughter while remaining vigilant about her health needs. Kotb’s candid discussion about her daughter’s health sheds light on the challenges faced by families dealing with type 1 diabetes and the importance of balancing medical needs with the desire to provide a normal childhood experience.
