Hoda Kotb Reveals Daughter Hope’s Medical Condition, Says It Was an ‘Extra Reason’ for ‘Today’ Exit

Hoda Kotb recently opened up about a chronic disease her youngest child Hope suffers from, citing it as one of the main reasons she left Today.

On Wednesday, May 28, Kotb, 60, appeared on Today with Jenna and Friends and shared that Hope, 6, has type 1 diabetes.

“You know that I wanted to spend more time with my kids and there are many reasons for that,” Kotb said to Jenna Bush Hager while discussing her decision to step away from Today. “We want to catch all the moments we don’t want to miss anything, and there was an extra reason for me to, which is Hope my daughter has type 1 diabetes and she was diagnosed a while ago.”

The broadcast journalist shares her adopted daughters, Haley, 9, and Hope, with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb)

Kotb explained that she wanted to be more available for Hope in case something happened rather than spending her workday worrying.

“It was funny because I found myself always someplace else following her numbers… I just felt like I was too out of reach to help if she needed me,” Kotb admitted. “That was one of many, many reasons I decided it was time for me to do something different. I think there’s something about knowing you can mother your kid from right there. I don’t worry now because I see her. I’m not thinking about it here.”

Kotb also sat down with Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin on Today. Guthrie, 52, recounted Kotb’s sleepless nights attending to her little one.

“So many nights Hoda would be up all night with Hope and then come in here with that smile on her face, and she hadn’t slept a wink,” Guthrie remarked. “Or at every commercial break, checking to make sure her levels are where they’ve been.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb)

Despite her concern for her daughter’s well-being, Kotb explained that she tries “not to put her worry on her,” as Hope is a normal kid. She also said that Hope and the rest of the family are doing great.

Hope was hospitalized in February 2023, and Kotb spoke about the situation in March of that year when she returned to the morning show after being absent.

“My youngest, Hope, was in the ICU for a few days and in the hospital for a little more than a week,” she told viewers. “I’m so grateful she’s home. She is back home. I was waiting for that day to come. And we are watching her closely. I’m just so happy.”

In September 2024, Kotb announced that she was leaving Today. Her final day as a longstanding co-host was in January 2025.