Hoda Kotb has candidly shared the ongoing emotional toll of parenting her daughter Hope, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, revealing her sleepless nights and steadfast effort to stay present amid constant worry.
Hoda Kotb has spoken candidly about the strain of parenting a child with type 1 diabetes, saying she still loses sleep over her youngest daughter, Hope. In a recent conversation, the former Today presenter said she checks her phone through the night to monitor her daughter’s glucose levels, describing the routine as a constant source of worry that has stayed with her since Hope’s diagnosis in 2023.
Kotb first revealed publicly in May 2025 that Hope had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a condition that requires close day-to-day management and often round-the-clock vigilance. At the time, she said the demands of caring for her daughter played a part in her decision to step back from Today, because balancing work with the pressures of monitoring Hope’s health became increasingly difficult. The latest remarks underline that the emotional toll has not eased, even though the diagnosis is now three years old.
The broadcaster has often spoken about how deeply she values motherhood after becoming a parent later in life. She adopted her elder daughter, Haley, and later welcomed Hope, and has previously described adoption in simple, affectionate terms, telling her daughters, “You weren’t born in my tummy, you were born in my heart.” That openness has become a hallmark of her public reflections on family life, especially as she has navigated Hope’s illness.
Kotb has also said she relies on breathwork and her Joy 101 retreats to help manage the weight of daily concern. She has described the retreats as a way of sharing encouragement and connection with others, while also creating space for herself to reset before returning home to her daughters. The message from Kotb is clear: the worry remains, but so does her determination to stay present, steady and supportive.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
