Shock in Ohio court as mother is sentenced for feeding diabetic daughter Mountain Dew baby formula mix

In a case that has shocked communities across Ohio and beyond, a mother's unfathomable neglect led to the devastating death of her 4-year-old daughter from complications of child diabetes. According to the New York Post, Little Karmity Hoeb, whose bright spirit earned her the nickname "Boogie," passed away in 2022 after suffering a fatal brain injury caused by diabetic ketoacidosis - a condition that struck due to her mother's astonishing inactions.  

According to the platform, Tamara Banks, 41, was sentenced to 9 to 13.5 years imprisonment for the involuntary manslaughter of her daughter Karmity. This catastrophic child negligence case has sent tremors across Clermont County and put a spotlight on the urgent need for adequate medical attention for children with chronic illnesses like diabetes. 

The facts are just as unsettling as they are heartbreaking. Despite knowing Karmity was a diabetic child, requiring careful monitoring and a strict diet, Banks routinely fed her bottles of baby formula mixed with heavily sugared Mountain Dew soda. According to research, a single 20-ounce bottle contains 77 grams of sugar - over three times the recommended daily limit for kids.

For days, Karmity displayed signs of severe medical distress, like turning blue, but Banks failed to call 911 until her daughter stopped breathing entirely. By that time, the four-year-old diabetic girl was already brain-dead from the elevated blood acids brought on by diabetic ketoacidosis. 

"This is one of the most terrible incidents I have ever encountered. This little girl did not have to die," rued Clermont County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Clay Tharp told the New York Post. The neglect was so severe that all of Karmity's teeth had rotted away, with no evidence she had ever seen a dentist.

While Karmity suffered tremendously in her final days, the diabetic child neglect she endured spanned her entire life. The E.C NUURE obituary fondly remembered her as "a smart and vibrant little girl" who "knew how beautiful and special she was" and "woke up full of joy and love" each morning. Tragically, that light was extinguished far too soon.

The outlet reported that during sentencing, the judge remarked that Banks had firsthand experience with the dangers of uncontrolled diabetes, as her son fell into a coma at age four from the same condition years prior. "It's hard to be a good parent, but you expect at least mediocre parents," stated Clermont County Common Pleas Judge Victor Haddad. "Not knowing what to do is not an excuse."

Shockingly, even as her disabled children languished, prosecutors found that Banks consistently refilled her own prescriptions and even brought doctors to her home for personal medical visits. Her boyfriend and Karmity's father, Christopher Hoeb, 53, also pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter for his role.

This deadly child neglect case serves as a tragic reminder that all children, especially those with chronic illnesses like diabetes, require competent care and responsible parenting. Proper nutrition, medication adherence, and access to quality medical treatment are essential - a reality Tamara Banks chose to ignore for her diabetic child with fatal consequences.

As Karmity's loved ones mourn the loss of her vibrant spirit, this case must awaken society to the need for better support systems and advocacy for at-risk youth. No parent should ever neglect a child, but for diabetic children, that negligence could be deadly. By learning from this preventable tragedy, we honor Karmity's memory and protect other vulnerable young lives.