Hoda Kotb, longtime host of NBC's "Today Show," is talking about the deeper reasons why she decided to leave her position.
Kotb served as a guest for the first time Wednesday since leaving Today in January.
During her appearance, she revealed that her youngest daughter, Hope, 6, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
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Kotb, 60, pointed out that spending more time between her two daughters, including 8-year-old Haley, was one of her motivations for leaving.
She told Today.com that Hope's situation "will definitely join".
Hoda Kotb took a photo with his daughter Hope Catherine on January 10, 2025. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
"As someone with type 1 kids, especially a little kid, you're watching, you're monitoring, you're checking, that's what I've been doing (in' today) all the time," she said. "You're distracted."
“You’ve been watching, you’ve been monitoring, you’ve been checking.”
“There is only priority checking in your life,” Kotb told co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin during the session. “I can be here, sweating in the morning and evening what I hope will happen, or I can feel relieved there.”
Kotb stressed that she tried not to “worry her” hope, adding that her daughter was “good for most of the day”.
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"Sometimes, you have to look at her," Cotter said. "I cheered it up in total - five minutes for breakfast, five minutes for lunch, five minutes for dinner, and sometimes overnight."
"Plus that was half an hour. So, in 23½ hours, she was every kid. So, I tried to remember that."
Hoda Kotb posed for a photo with his daughters Hope and Haley Joy on the last day of the Today Show on January 10, 2025. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
The Cleveland Clinic defines type 1 diabetes as a chronic autoimmune disease that prevents the pancreas from producing insulin.
This requires daily management of insulin injections and blood sugar monitoring.
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The above source says that type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system “errorably attacks and destroys cells” the pancreas, which can occur within months or years.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes may include excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urine, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow healing of cutting and sores.
Type 1 diabetes requires daily treatment insulin injection and blood sugar monitoring. (iStock)
In contrast, type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance. This may cause the pancreas to produce enough insulin and the body to not be able to use insulin as much as possible.
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According to experts, obesity and lack of exercise, among other lifestyle and genetic factors, may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1 diabetes and is more likely to occur in older people, while type 1 is most common in children and young people.
Hoda Kotb was on Monday, January 6, 2025 for the Today Show. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
KOTB shared with Today.com that Hope's early symptoms mimicked the flu and were so severe that she had to "compete" to the hospital.
“Let them be kids and give them what they need when they need it.”
She said that now that Kotb knows how to deal with the situation she hopes, she is providing space for her regular kids.
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She advised parents, “Don’t put your worries on your children.”
"Look at them, but don't put your worries on them. Let them be kids and give them what they need when they need it."