Rowan Henchy recently opened up about a life-changing health diagnosis she received at just 14, sharing the challenges she’s faced and how she’s managing it today.
Rowan Henchy, the 21-year-old daughter of actress Brooke Shields and director Chris Henchy, has opened up about her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. In an exclusive interview with People, along with her mother and younger sister, Grier, Rowan shared that she was diagnosed as a high school freshman in 2018 after experiencing rapid weight loss, frequent urination, and vision problems.
“I was eating two meals [for] each meal. I was consuming so much food and losing weight even faster the more I ate,” Rowan recalled. She also mentioned getting a bad toe infection, which, along with her other symptoms, became clear red flags for undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes.
Brooke Shields and Rowan Henchy attending the special screening of “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” in East Hampton, New York, on July 8, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
“It was a rough year all in all,” Rowan said. Along with her diagnosis, she faced the challenges of switching to an all-girls school and leaving behind friends from her previous school.
Now a college senior at Wake Forest University, Rowan has been managing her condition for several years. She revealed that she has a pump in her stomach as well as a Dexcom patch, a continuous glucose monitor that’s linked to a smartphone app.
“It’s a 24/7 job and I’m never off duty,” she admitted. “But at the same time, it’s at the back of my mind. It only controls my thoughts when my blood sugar is too high or too low. Regardless of whatever headache, you find a way around it. It’s something that I have, and it’s now just about managing.”
Brooke described the adjustments the family had to make, particularly during Rowan’s early years with the condition. “I was feeling helpless because we didn’t know what to do and then she became completely autonomous with it,” she said.
Rowan took on the responsibility of administering insulin at just 14, a task her mother says led to rapid maturation. “She became very competent. She had to grow up quickly,” her mother disclosed.
Brooke Shields and Rowan Henchy the 27th Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch on April 30, 2022 in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Brooke explained that it took Rowan some time to feel comfortable with the monitoring devices. Initially, Rowan was reluctant to wear the glucose monitor and found the constant finger pricking frustrating. However, she eventually embraced the monitor, which allowed Brooke to check her levels on her phone without needing to constantly ask Rowan.
Brooke Shields and her daughter Rowan Henchy at the premiere of “Spirited” in New York City on November 7, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Rowan expressed some frustration about her late diagnosis, saying, “There were times I wished that I was diagnosed at 5 because I knew a life without it.” Despite the challenges, she acknowledged the advances in technology that have helped her manage the condition.
In addition to supporting Rowan, Brooke has been raising awareness about Type 1 diabetes. She recently completed a film, “Quarter,” which centers on a young woman living with the condition. Both Brooke and Rowan participated in a panel discussion about the film at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year.
