Brook Shields’ daughter Rowan, 21, reveals her ‘eyesight started to go’ during battle with Type 1 diabetes

Brooke Shields‘ daughter Rowan recently opened up about the terrifying complications she faced from undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes in 2018.

Now 21, and a college student, Rowan shared that she was just a high school freshman when her health took a frightening turn. She recalled experiencing what she described as ‘blaring, red flags’ of the lifelong autoimmune disease.

‘First of all, I lost a lot of weight, really rapidly,’ Rowan told People during an emotional interview with her famous mom and younger sister Grier, 18, on Friday. ‘But I was eating two meals [for] each meal. I was consuming so much food and I was just losing weight even faster the more I would eat.’ 

‘Another thing is you’re constantly peeing,’ she added. ‘And then my eyesight started to go and then I got a really bad toe infection. 

‘So these are blaring, red flags for undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes.’ 

Brooke Shields ‘ daughter Rowan recently opened up about the terrifying complications she faced from undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes in 2018; (pictured 2022)

‘First of all, I lost a lot of weight, really rapidly,’ Rowan told People during an emotional interview with her famous mom and younger sister Grier, 18 , on Friday; (pictured with Brooke in 2022)

Rowan was diagnosed later that year and has been navigating life with Type 1 diabetes ever since. 

She’s taken to Instagram to share her journey, frequently posting photos that highlight her Dexcom patch as a way to bring visibility and understanding to the condition.

‘It was an adjustment,’ Brooke told the outlet. 

Brooke expressed how ‘helpless’ she initially felt, but admired Rowan’s quick maturity and competence as she took control of her diabetes at just 14, managing her insulin shots independently and growing up rapidly in the process. 

‘There were times I wished that I was diagnosed at 5 because I knew a life without it,“ Rowan chimed in. ‘But even from the four years that I’ve had it, there’s already been so many advancements in technology.’ 

Rowan explained that managing her diabetes is a constant, 24/7 responsibility, with a pump and Dexcom patch on her stomach that continuously monitor her glucose levels. 

Although it’s always on her mind, she only focuses on it when her blood sugar levels are off. For her, it’s about navigating the challenges and finding ways to manage the condition as part of her daily life.

‘It’s a 24/7 job and I’m never off duty,’ she said.

‘Another thing is you’re constantly peeing,’ she added. ‘And then my eyesight started to go and then I got a really bad toe infection,’ (pictured May)

She’s taken to Instagram to share her journey, frequently posting photos that highlight her Dexcom patch as a way to bring visibility and understanding to the condition

Brooke expressed how ‘helpless’ she initially felt, but admired Rowan’s quick maturity and competence as she took control of her diabetes at just 14, managing her insulin shots independently and growing up rapidly in the process; (Rowan, Brooke and Grier in 2022)

‘Regardless of whatever headache, you find a way around it. It’s something that I have and it’s now just about managing.’ 

Brooke shared that it took some time for Rowan to find her comfort level. 

‘For a long time she wouldn’t wear the monitor either, and then the pricking of the fingers all day long, that finally got annoying to her,’ she explained. 

‘So having the monitor and having it on your phone [to monitor the levels], I can now look it up on my phone and then I don’t have to bug her.’