Maria Menounos reveals terrifying new health scare: 'Almost died in my sleep'


The media personality lives with her husband, Kevin, and their young daughter


maria menounos mom© Photo: Instagram
Hannah Hargrave
Hannah HargraveUS Deputy Editor
31 minutes ago

Maria Menounos has shared a frightening update on her ongoing health journey, revealing a terrifying near-miss in her sleep due to complications with her Type 1 diabetes.

Taking to Instagram, the 46-year-old media personality posted a candid behind-the-scenes look at the daily struggles of managing the chronic condition. 

Sharing a photo while navigating technical issues with her continuous glucose monitor (CGM), Maria admitted that maintaining her blood sugar levels has taken a severe emotional and physical toll.

US journalist Maria Menounos arrives for the premiere of Sony's "Bloodshot" at the Regency Village theatre on March 10, 2020 in Westwood, California© Getty Images
The star shared her ordeal on social media

"On with Medtronic to get a replacement and now dad's cgm Alerts are going off," she wrote. "Diabetes can be very very stressful and scary."

She then dropped the alarming revelation: "Almost died the other night in my sleep, so I'm a little over this."

Maria's health journey has been relentless

Maria Menounos on the Today ShowThursday, May 4, 2023© Getty
It's not been an easy health journey for Maria

The startling admission comes as Maria continues to juggle her career, motherhood, and a series of major, life-threatening medical battles over the past decade.

Maria was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes after experiencing severe leg cramps and extreme fatigue. She has since relied on insulin therapy and CGMs to regulate her blood sugar which is a daily struggle shared with her father, who also lives with the condition.

Maria's message about almost dying in her sleep
Maria said she almost died in her sleep

While caring for her late mother, who was battling terminal brain cancer, Maria was diagnosed with a golf ball-sized benign brain tumorShe underwent a seven-hour surgery to successfully remove 99.9% of the mass and stepped down from her hosting duties at E! News to recover.

Just months before welcoming her daughter via surrogate in 2023, Maria was diagnosed with a rare pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. After a whole-body scan caught the mass early, she underwent a grueling 10-hour surgery to remove the tumor, part of her pancreas, her spleen, 17 lymph nodes, and a large fibroid.

She now advocates for health and survival

Maria Menounos and Keven Undergaro cozy up to baby Athena© Instagram
Maria with her husband and daughter when she was a baby

Despite the traumatic health scares, the former Extra and E! News anchor has used her platform to advocate  for early detection and self-advocacy. Through her podcast, Heal Squad, she regularly opens up about health protocols, early warning signs, and the emotional burden of chronic illness.

As a doting mother to her daughter, Athena, whom she shares with husband Keven Undergaro, Maria is ever more determined to turn her medical trials into cautionary lessons for her fans.

"I'm so grateful and so lucky," Maria previously said while reflecting on overcoming her past battles. "God granted me a miracle, and I need people to know there are places they can go to catch things early."

More US
See more
Conversation

For more information on our conversation section, please read our Community Guidelines. Comments featured and views shared are not endorsed by HELLO!.