Shelomi Sanders would train a lot as a 13-year-old. Along with her father Deion Sanders, she would run a mile around their neighborhood and hit weights, and when she started slimming down, she thought her workout routine was helping. But the teenager was always thirsty. She would drink several bottles of water in just a couple of hours, but one day, when she fell sick and went to the hospital, she was shocked to know she had type 1 diabetes. Shelomi had been showing symptoms of the disease all along.

With aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player, the disease was like a burden to her. “Being that young and getting diagnosed, it was pretty tough just because I didn’t expect to take on that much responsibility at a young age. I was just very insecure,” she explained in November 2024. She would hide her devices and go to the bathroom to take her injections. It was years before she finally decided to change the narrative.

Well, Shelomi is called ‘Bossy’ for a reason.

“I was really in denial and very insecure about it for so long. So one day I just made a video explaining my devices and what I’ve been through and I’ve gotten so much love since then. I kind of wish I had more of an open mind when I first got diagnosed.”

In recent times, Shelomi has attempted to inspire others by revealing more via social media. As part of her sports gear, fans often spot a glucose monitor attached to her left leg or arms. The 21-year-old is now a guard for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. Her trainers and coaches make sure she has everything she needs and so do her teammates. And the devices that have helped her and her coaches keep track of her diabetes are the Dexcom g7 and Omnipod 5.

So, on January 13, she posted a reel on her IG about her go-to insulin devices. The caption read, “Balancing life as a college student and basketball player isn’t easy, but managing my diabetes should be. That’s why I love pairing my Dexcom G7 and Omnipod 5*! This integration provides the freedom of automated insulin delivery with the latest CGM technology and is the only waterproof** and fully wearable AID system. It seamlessly integrates into my active lifestyle, letting me stay in control and excel both on the court and in class.”

It has helped her keep her glucose level in check even amidst her busy schedule. “After 30 minutes I get the real-time glucose readings…I don’t need to worry about tubes or mino injections while I’m on the court,” she said on the video.

With this, the youngest daughter of the Hall of Fame football star has come a long way with her health battles. Shelomi is no longer afraid to share her struggles.

How a 13-year-old Shelomi Sanders struggled…

A 13-year-old Shelomi Sanders had fallen really sick. She was throwing up and didn’t have much of an appetite. Deion Sanders was out of town with Shilo and Shedeur due to football.

After she kept throwing up, her family rushed to the ER, and that’s where her blood work was done. Diagnosis? Type 1 diabetes. A young Shelomi had no idea she was experiencing symptoms of this disease. Another symptom she would experience was sleepiness. As per her own confession, she would regularly fall asleep in class, to the point that her teacher got worried about her health.

However, Shelomi wasn’t alone in her struggles. Her story is similar to that of basketball player Lauren Cox. Cox was just seven when she was diagnosed. “So, we get to the hospital and I’m seven years old, I had never heard of diabetes before. So, they’re sticking needles in my arms, testing my blood sugar, doing all of these things,” she revealed years ago.

Nevertheless, she learned to cope with the situation and kept her sports career on track. Later, when went to play for Kim Mulkey at Baylor University, the HC wanted to know everything about her condition. Mulkey had never coached a player with diabetes.

In fact, in January 2017 (Cox’s freshman year), the school hosted its very first Type 1 Awareness Game. This gave diabetic basketball fans the opportunity to enjoy the sport and also interact with Cox later. With this, she realized it was her mission to talk to people about the disease and spread awareness. This is something Shelomi Sanders has realized, too.