# What happened
Maria Menounos, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2022, shared a recent health scare on Instagram Stories. She said her main insulin pen broke just before dinner and her backup pen was also damaged when she reached for it. With both devices unusable, she had to contact Medtronic for an emergency replacement.
In the same set of posts she revealed a more serious event earlier that week: she "almost died" in her sleep because of a complication tied to her diabetes. Menounos did not give specific clinical details about what precisely failed medically that night.
# Why this mattered
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body no longer produces insulin. People with this condition must manually administer insulin for meals and to maintain safe blood sugar levels. If insulin delivery fails — because of broken pens, missing supplies, or device malfunctions — blood sugar can rise or fall to dangerous levels quickly.
Menounos's post shows two linked risks: equipment failures that interrupt insulin administration, and acute, potentially life-threatening episodes that can happen during sleep if blood sugar goes out of safe range.
# Immediate response and outcome
After she discovered both pens were broken, Menounos called Medtronic for a replacement. At the same time, her father's continuous glucose monitor (CGM) began sounding alarms, adding another layer of stress. Her doctor phoned in an emergency prescription to a local CVS so she could get replacement pens the same night and manage her blood sugar.
# Context in her health timeline
Menounos has faced serious health challenges before: she survived a benign brain tumor in 2017 and had stage 2 pancreatic cancer in 2023. Her type 1 diabetes diagnosis is part of an ongoing, complex medical history that requires continuous monitoring and quick access to supplies.
# Practical takeaways for people who use insulin
- Keep multiple working delivery methods available and rotate stock so backups are tested regularly.
- Have a plan for quick replacement of damaged devices, including contact info for manufacturers and nearby pharmacies that can fill emergency prescriptions.
- Use a trusted caregiver, family member, or medical alert system to monitor alarms overnight when possible.
- Discuss with your provider what to do in device-failure scenarios and whether you should have emergency prescriptions or spare supplies on hand.
# What Menounos did and what remained unclear
She secured a same-day replacement prescription and contacted the device manufacturer. She did not provide specific medical details about what caused the near-death event in her sleep or the exact physiological trigger. She framed the episode as an urgent reminder of how fragile daily diabetes management can be when equipment fails.
# Bottom line
Menounos's account is a firsthand description of how equipment failures can trigger severe, life-threatening events for people with type 1 diabetes. Quick access to replacement supplies and close communication with medical providers helped her regain control, but the incident highlights the need for contingency planning for anyone who depends on insulin delivery devices.