4 days ago
Hoda Kotb Reveals Daughter Diagnosed With Chronic Condition
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Former Today coanchor Hoda Kotb returned to the show on Wednesday to reveal her daughter's Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.
The Mayo Clinic defines "Type 1 diabetes" as "a chronic condition. In this condition, the pancreas makes little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy."
Newsweek reached out to Kotb's representative via email for comment.
The Context
Kotb announced the adoption of her first child, Haley Joy, in 2017 after a 2007 breast cancer diagnosis left her unable to conceive. In 2019, the journalist revealed that she had adopted a second child named Hope Catherine. She shares her daughters with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman. The pair called off their engagement in 2022.
The 60-year-old had spent most of her career with NBC. She first joined the network in 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline, and in 2007, she hosted the fourth hour of Today. Kotb became a co-anchor of the hit news show in 2018 and left the program in January 2025.
In February 2023, Kotb briefly stepped away from Today for a "family health matter." At the time, Hope Kotb, then 4 years old, was hospitalized due to an unspecified illness and was in the intensive care unit.
In October 2024, Hoda Kotb shared that "Hope is thriving" after moving out of New York City and into the suburbs of New York.
"She's improving, we're watching her, and I think as time goes on, we'll have a better handle on it, but we're already seeing great differences," she told People. "We really have excellent care; I have people helping us out. I feel like she is finding steady footing."
Hoda Kotb speaks onstage for CMT Coal Miner's Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at the Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hoda Kotb speaks onstage for CMT Coal Miner's Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn at the Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022 in Nashville, CMT
What To Know
On Wednesday's episode of Today, Hota Kotb announced the launch of her new wellness brand, Joy 101, while sharing an update on her youngest daughter.
Savannah Guthrie began the conversation about Hope Kotb alongside Craig Melvin, noting that Hoda Kotb has "never been public" about her daughter's diagnosis.
"So many nights Hoda would be up all night with Hope and then come in here with that smile on her face," Guthrie recalled, adding that during "every commercial break," she would "check in to make sure her levels" were where they should be.
"I bore witness to that, and that is a burden to carry," the 53-year-old said. "But sweet Hope is doing so well."
"She is and you were next to me through it all," Hoda Kotb responded. "You were in the hospital when it all happened, and I think you just get a priority check in your life."
The Hope Is a Rainbow author continued: "As anyone with a child who has Type 1 (knows), 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). You're distracted."
Hoda Kotb said her 6-year-old is "fine most of the days" but that there are "moments where you have to watch her." The broadcaster recalled "totaling up" these moments and said, "It's a half-hour."
"For 23 and a half hours, she's every other kid. So I try to remember that."
While sitting in the Today studio, Hoda Kotb said being with Guthrie and Melvin "feels like not a minute's passed."
"And then I'm like, 'Wait, who's this guy sitting in my seat?'" she joked. "You guys together are totally crushing it, and it is beautiful to see."
What People Are Saying
The Today show posted a video of Hoda Kotb's return via Instagram: "We missed our morning Hoda hugs. She stopped by to catch up and chat about her new, exciting project, 'Joy 101!'"
Instagram user @forverjess4 wrote in a comment underneath Today's post: "Miss her everyday."
@luisrrosado1 said: "We love and miss Hoda!!"
@tam_o_rama added: "I just love Hoda!"
What Happens Next
In a video posted to Joy 101's Instagram page, Hoda Kotb spoke out about her new venture.
"Welcome to Joy 101, you made it! So happy that you're here," she said. "So now, guess what? We're together, it's all happening. You can go to the app store and pre-order the app, which will be amazing. You can join the mailing list. You can find all of the cool stuff that we have. It is going to be a great, fun world where we get to hang out."
