Deion Sanders’ youngest daughter, Shelomi Sanders, has been living with diabetes for years now. But despite the challenge, she has flourished as a rising basketball star.
From the very beginning, her dad rallied around her with unwavering support, especially after the moment they first found out she was diabetic. That love and encouragement have helped Shelomi stay strong, on and off the court.
Instead of slowing her down, diabetes has become part of her story. A story of resilience, determination, and family. And today, she’s not just managing her condition. She’s thriving as an elite athlete with big dreams ahead.
How Deion and Shelomi Found Out She Was Diabetic
Before her diagnosis, Shelomi Sanders was constantly thirsty, so much so that she drank up to two gallons of water a day.
Looking back, she remembers feeling sick all the time. But her dad, Deion Sanders, recalls things a little differently. “You looked like you were leaning out,” he told her.
Still, something didn’t sit right. “Water couldn’t quench your thirst,” Deion said, realizing that something was clearly wrong.
Then one day, she got really sick right when Deion had to leave for a football event with her brothers, Shilo and Shedeur. “It was a football thing,” Shelomi explained. While Deion was away, she ended up going to the hospital. “And then I went to the hospital,” she said.
That’s when the family finally got the answer. “You went to those CareNow places, right?” Deion added.
That visit changed everything. It was there that they learned Shelomi had Type 1 diabetes, and from that moment on, life took a new direction for her.
Shelomi’s Early Struggles with Diabetes
In the early days after her diagnosis, Shelomi Sanders faced more than just the physical challenges of managing diabetes. She battled emotional ones, too.
Like many teens navigating a chronic illness, she felt alone. “My peers were really uneducated about what diabetes is, so they just said ignorant things,” she shared.
That lack of understanding made her hesitant to open up. “I was kind of closed off. I was still in denial. I just didn’t want anyone to know. I felt embarrassed by it.”
The fear of being judged or misunderstood weighed heavily on her, especially in high school, where fitting in feels critical.
At a time when she should have been focused on school and sports, Shelomi was silently dealing with a health condition she didn’t fully accept yet.
Those early struggles shaped her perspective, but they didn’t stop her. Instead, they became the foundation for the strength and confidence she later found through support and self-acceptance.
How Shelomi Managed to Cope with Diabetes
As Shelomi Sanders grew older, her mindset around diabetes began to shift, especially once she realized she wasn’t alone. A major turning point came when she decided to speak out publicly.
“I originally made my first post about being a diabetic on November 4, 2020,” she said. “That was the first time everyone knew. That was kind of hard because of my age.”
But opening up changed everything. Through TikTok, she connected with others her age living with the same condition. “I saw there were more people out there my age going through the same things,” she explained, “so I realized there’s no reason to feel this way about it.”
Shelomi doesn’t just share her diagnosis. She shows her day-to-day reality, from changing her Dexcom to managing her pump. And through it all, basketball has never wavered. “I always knew I’d be fine in that matter,” she said. Today, she thrives on and off the court as a Division 1 player at Alabama A&M.
Also Read: Deion Sanders Says He Is Facing Health Issues That Made Him Lose 14 Pounds