Shelomi Sanders: Crossing Over Obstacles with Type 1 Diabetes

When 13-year-old Shelomi Sanders had a stomach ache, she never imagined it signaled a life-changing diagnosis.

As the daughter of NFL legend Deion Sanders, Shelomi led an active lifestyle. However, her family dismissed her extreme thirst, exhaustion, and weight loss as workout effects—until her condition worsened. 

A trip to the ER revealed type 1 diabetes.

With Dexcom technology helping her monitor blood sugar, the now 21-year-old is thriving on and off the court.

In addition to being a Division 1 basketball player at Alabama A&M, Shelomi has appeared in commercials with her father and the docuseries “Coach Prime.”

Shelomi recently joined Beyond Type 1’s Community Table to share her journey. Here are the highlights.

Shelomi’s journey with type 1 diabetes

Before being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Shelomi recalls feeling very tired—and very thirsty.

“I’m talking about drinking like two gallons of water a day,” she says. “I wasn’t really that hungry, but I also just looked drained. But I was working out with my dad a lot around that time, so we didn’t think anything of it. We just thought the weight loss was just because we’re just working out and stuff.”

Then, one night, Shelomi’s condition escalated. She started throwing up and couldn’t keep anything down. 

Her dad, out of town at the time, suggested NyQuil, thinking it was just a passing illness. But, when she couldn’t even hold down NyQuil, panic set in, and her family rushed her to the emergency room.

“When I got there, my blood sugar was 600 or higher,” she says. “It was really high.” 

For Shelomi, that night marked the start of a new journey. She had to learn to manage type 1 diabetes while navigating her teenage years and competitive basketball career.

Finding strength through community and social media

Like many teenagers diagnosed with a chronic illness, Shelomi initially struggled with feelings of isolation. 

She didn’t know anyone else with diabetes, and the misconceptions and lack of awareness among her peers made her hesitant to share her story.

“My peers were really uneducated about what diabetes is, so they just said ignorant things,” she admits. “So I was kind of closed off. I was still in denial. I just didn’t want anyone to know. I felt embarrassed by it.”

That perspective started to shift as she got older and connected with others who shared her experience. 

One turning point was when she decided to post about her diabetes journey on TikTok.

“I originally made my first post about being a diabetic on November 4, 2020,” she recalls. “That was the first time everyone knew. That was kind of hard because of my age. But then, growing up and meeting new people, I saw there were more people out there my age going through the same things, so I realized there’s no reason to feel this way about it.”

Shelomi’s decision to be open about her type 1 diabetes resonated with many. 

One particular TikTok video, where she documented changing her pump and Dexcom, gained significant attention and love from the diabetes community.

“I was just bored, and I wanted to make a video,” she says. “I’d seen other people with diabetes posting about their experiences, so I thought, ‘Let me reach out and help someone else.’ And then, like, everyone loved it. It started going crazy and got a lot of love and feedback.”

Balancing basketball and diabetes management

Being an elite athlete with type 1 diabetes presents unique challenges. 

Sanders, who plays basketball at a high level, had to quickly learn how her condition could impact her performance.

“I never really questioned basketball,” she says. “I always knew I’d be fine in that matter. It was just controlling diabetes and making sure that I was healthy.”

Unlike many with type 1 diabetes who experience low blood sugar during intense physical activity, Sanders noticed the opposite. 

“When I work out, my blood sugar tends to go high,” she explains. “I heard most people’s blood sugar goes low, so that’s different. But where I’m at, all the trainers make sure I have everything I need. I have my pump and everything on the side.”

Over the years, Shelomi has learned that diabetes is a continuous journey of discovery. 

“I’m still learning to this day about my body and how to control it. I feel like it never stops—figuring out new things with your body.”

Words of advice: Finding confidence and community

Reflecting on her early years with diabetes, Sanders wishes she had embraced community support sooner.

“When you get diagnosed, they tell you about the camps and stuff you can go to,” she says. “I was so closed off with that. I was like, ‘No, I don’t want to. I know I’m a diabetic now, but I don’t want any of that. I’ll just do this on my own.’”

Looking back, she recognizes how valuable those connections could have been.

 “I wish I had a different mindset because I feel like that would have helped so much. Being involved in the community and stuff is really important.”

Shelomi’s mission: Inspiring young people with type 1 diabetes

Now, through social media and her platform, Shelomi hopes to be that supportive voice for other young people navigating type 1 diabetes. 

Her story is one of resilience and self-acceptance. She realized that, with the right mindset and support, diabetes doesn’t have to limit anyone’s dreams.

To other young athletes with diabetes, she has one piece of advice: 

“Keep pushing. Some days you won’t want to take care of it, but you have to. You get no days off with this stuff—but you’re not alone. There’s a whole community here, and we’ve got you.”