Author: Mr. Divabetic

Max Szadek, aka Mr. Divabetic, is the executive director of Divabetic, LLC.
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Sugar-Free Chocolate Rainbow Cupcakes by the Diabetic Pastry Chef 

Let your ‘TRUE COLORS’ shine during Pride Month without compromising your diabetes wellness.

Pride Month is when the world’s LGBT communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. The original organizers chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement.

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic stops by the New York Pride March to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way.

Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ offers this fabulously colorful and sugar free recipe to help you celebrate PRIDE without compromising your diabetes health!

Stacey loves to bake! While she was attending cooking school she began creating  diabetic-friendly recipes for breads, cakes and other desserts by swapping out the sugar, blending the flour, eliminating trans fats and cutting the milk carbohydrates after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Stacey Harris has transformed more than 200 desserts into diabetic-friendly delights. Here’s one of the Diabetic Pastry Chef’s most requested recipes:

Sugar-Free Chocolate Cupcakes by the Diabetic Pastry Chef 

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup white whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 cups dry sugar substitute (such as Whey Low D Granular or Splenda for Baking)

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup hot coffee

1 cup dairy or almond milk

2 large eggs

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

In large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients except for the sugar substitute. In bowl of mixer combine oil, coffee milk and sugar substitute and beat at medium speed with electric mixer for two minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat for an additional 2 minutes. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix until well combined. Batter will be thin. Pour into paper lined muffin tin. Recipe should make 24 plus cupcakes. Bake in pre-heated oven at 325 degrees until toothpick inserted in middle of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove pan to cooling rack and cool completely. Frost.

Swerve Frosting

2 sticks, unsalted butter, room temperature

16 ounce cream cheese, room temperature

1 1/2 cups Swerve Confectioners

2 tsps pure vanilla extract

2 Tbsp heavy cream or milk

Beat together the butter and cream cheese with electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy for 2-3 minutes.

Reduce the speed to low and add the Swerve a cup at a time, then vanilla and cream or milk; continue mixing until smooth.

Beat for an additional 10 minutes until well combined.

The Diabetic Pastry Chef’s cookbooks are filled with information on the definition, treatment, and prevention of diabetes and include complete nutritional information (calories, fat, cholesterol, sugars, and protein) for each recipe. She uses Splendar and presents other sugar-free alternatives for pancakes, muffins, cakes, cookies, and pies. Stacey Harris shares the sweet secrets of her simple-to-use formula that will convert most any recipe into a lower-carb alternative without compromising taste or quality. Now ‘divabetics’ can enjoy Chocolate Truffle Cookies, Blueberry Tartlets, Cream Cheese Cupcakes, Coffee Bread Pudding, and hundreds of others. BUY NOW

“In The Diabetic Pastry Chef, Stacey Harris proves you can prepare and eat wonderful food and still stay well within the guidelines of food for a person with diabetes.”—Alan L. Rubin, M.D., author of Diabetes for Dummies and Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies

Instructions For Rainbow Frosting Swirl Technique for Cupcakes from My Cupcake Addiction 

If you do choose to use artificial sweeteners to help with diabetes, weight management and calorie control, do so in moderation and check ingredient lists — your intake of artificial sweeteners may be more substantial than you think.

Don’t miss Divabetic’s 8th Year Anniversary Diabetes Podcast on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST. We’re talking about whether or not the ‘Food Police’ are helpful or harmful to our diabetes wellness.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Chris Pickering co-founder of ‘The Betes Bros, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and Mama Rose Marie.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring songs from ‘The Best Of Patti Austin’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

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Totally Unrealistic Healthy Food & Drink Swaps for Summer

Instead of a frozen strawberry daiquiri, drink water!

Most of us would sooner roll our eyes than adhere to this helpful, overzealous healthy eating advice. But does that mean we’re not taking our diabetes seriously? Or are we a bad person? 

Although water is the obvious healthier option, the two choices aren’t even comparable which doesn’t seem to bother our well-intentioned friends, co-workers and family members aka ‘The Food Police’. They like to share stringent suggestions while strictly adhering to a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ code of conduct at family gatherings or celebrations. But our their good intentions helpful or hurtful?

The ‘Food Police’ is the topic of July’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast entitled ‘I Know What You Ate Last Summer’ on Tuesday, July 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST. Those well meaning friends, family members and co-workers in your life who like to imply you’re good or bad for choosing a certain food. Their ‘helpfulness’ can lead to guilt and shame over food choices and make you loathe your diabetes self-care. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Chris Pickering co-founder of ‘The Betes Bros’ Foundation, and Mama Rose Marie.

Confused about Food?

If you are, you’re not alone. When you go online to seek advice you’ll find a dozen different ideas on the right way to eat to manage your blood sugars and they all contradict each other. It is very confusing, but it will all fall into place eventually, especially if you connect with a Registered Dietitian(RD) who’s a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). You can find such a person at EatRight.org.

A Registered Dietitian (RD) can help you to create a personalized nutrition care plan to help manage your blood sugar levels throughout the day, prevent further health complications, and feel your best,

Have you got a blood glucose meter? If not, we recommend that you get one. You can use it to test out your meals by check before you eat then again 2 hours after your first bite. The difference in the readings will show you how that meal affected your blood sugar levels. You may have some shocks, and you may have some nice surprises, but it is the only way to learn. Our bodies are all different. We are all on different (or no) medications, at different stages of the disease, so what is right for one may not be right for another.

What’s a healthy alternative to a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri?

1. Make your own Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri at home. Most home-cooked meals have less calories, sugar, and fat than meals out and the same holds true for stay at home cocktails. The main ingredients are frozen strawberries, lime juice, lemon juice and a bit of sugar or honey. And, if you opt for alcohol you can decide how much rum to use. Don’t forget that a frozen strawberry daiquiri, made from strawberry schnapps, rum, lime juice, sugar and strawberries, contains about 220 calories and 34 grams of carbohydrates. If you’re trying to lose weight than drinking a few of these isn’t the best option.

2. Opt for a nonalcoholic version. You won’t save many calories but you will cut down on the added sugars from the liqueurs.

3. Alternate between a frozen strawberry daiquiri and a glass of water. As an added bonus, drinking plenty of water at the bar will likely reduce the chance of waking up with a hangover.

Keep in mind, while moderate amounts of alcohol may cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels, especially for people with type 1 diabetes. Alcohol can interfere with the positive effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin.

What’s moderate alcohol consumption?

Moderate alcohol consumption is considered 2 drinks/day for men; 1 for women. One drink contains 14 grams of alcohol meaning: one 12 oz beer (5% alcohol), one 5 oz glass of wine (12%) or one 1.5 oz of hard liquor (40% or 80 proof). It does appear that alcohol itself, and not the source, is responsible for the benefits.

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‘Je ne regrette rien’ by Poet Lorraine Brooks

Je ne regrette rien by Lorraine Brooks 
The where and the why and the when.

If I have a need that is pressing
I never find that it’s distressing.
Like pricking my finger for testing
Or foods that I may be ingesting.

I do not regret when they stare…
Or that I receive Medicare.
I take stock of all of my needs
And all that I need to proceed.

Why regret what makes me feel better?
Maybe its ME that’s the trend-setter!
I spend no time feeling regret.
Or that some might think me “heavy set”.

Life is too short for that worry.
So I’ll order that Indian curry.
As long as I’m smart and stay mindful
There’s no reason not to be prideful.

Pack up your cares and remorse.
And stay on your self-caring course.
Kick that regret to the curb.
And start living the life you deserve.

LISTEN NOW: Poet Lorraine Brooks reads her poem, ‘Je ne regrette rien’ on June’s Diabetes Late Nite. We’re talking about having ‘NO REGRETS’  with musical inspiration from Edith Piaf.

We all have regrets. It is part of human nature. However, hanging onto regrets takes up space and keeps us from enjoying the present moment. The stress factor plays havoc on the cells of the body. It affects our blood pressure, energy levels, hormones and immune response. It also affects the mind. Our thinking process becomes clouded, mistakes are made and poor choices lead to increased stress. All of these things can affect our diabetes wellness. For the things we regret doing, if we look carefully enough, we will see that they hold a lesson and if we learn from our regrets then the regret has served us well.

Born in Paris in 1915, Edith Piaf become the voice of France. She began her singing career on the streets, and her only musical apprenticeship came from listening to singers on the capital’s popular radio stations. But Piaf’s ability to sing from the heart, as very few can, soon enchanted  audiences beyond Paris. Her songs touch one’s heart and spirit, even if one cannot understand the words themselves.

Edith Piaf is helping us sing your praises! We applaud the determination, persistence and efforts to stay healthy and upbeat about your daily self-care. Together, we are changing the way people learn to live with diabetes.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Best-Selling Author and Weight Loss Expert, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music

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Parsley Deviled Eggs by Verna ‘Lady V’ Henry 

Deviled eggs are one of the trendiest appetizers at  Backyard Cookouts this Summer. The good news is that Deviled eggs are packed with protein and can be a healthier choice than some other party foods. But, the traditional recipe is pretty high in fat and calories. By reducing the amount of egg yolks used and swapping the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt, you can make skinny deviled eggs. They’re the perfect low calorie, high protein snack.
This recipe was inspired by a recent trip to the Hamptons with my friend, Lady V. She loves to shop for fresh produce at the area’s Farmers’ Markets. From Montauk to Westhampton Beach, Farmers’ Markets located throughout the Hamptons are an easy way to shop local and enjoy fresh produce and other delectable finds.
We bought fresh tomatoes and parsley at Babinski’s Farm Stand located at 160 Newlight Ln, Water Mill, NY 11976. They also carry local fish, fruit and vegetables, Debragga Beef, as well as a variety of homemade pies and grocery items such as raspberry jam.
“What makes this Deviled Egg so delicious is the fresh parsley!” says Lady V. “It is also rich in a variety of different vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.”

Parsely Deviled Eggs by Verna Henry 

Ingredients:
8 eggs
1/4 cup of Best Foods/Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Dressing With Extra Virgin Olive Oil (tastes more like regular mayonnaise to me than some of the other light mayos)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2  teaspoon of ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper 
4 cherry tomatoes (for garnish) 
 
Directions:
Boil eggs in water (about 10 minutes).
After eggs cool,  slice the hard-boiled eggs in half.
Scoop out the yolks and place them in a medium bowl. 
Combine yolks with mayonnaise or yorgurt, parsley, ground mustard.
Continue stirring until the mixture is creamy with no lumps. Season it to taste with salt and pepper.
Fill a pastry bag with the mixture. 
Lay the egg white halves on a platter with the yolk hole facing up. Hold the twisted part of the bag containing the mixture with one hand, and use the other hand to hold the bag near the bottom.
Apply even pressure on the top of the bag to force the mixture out through the tip or hole into the yolk hole in the egg. Continue until you fill all of the egg halves.
Garnish the eggs with parsley and cherry tomatoes 
 
Easy to Make Pastry Bag:
 
If you do not have a pastry bag, fill a medium-size plastic bag (Ziploc Freezer Quart-size) with the yolk mixture and twist the top of the bag to force the mixture toward one of the corners. Use scissors to cut a small hole in the corner of the bag.
Lady V’s Cooking Tip: Overcooked hard-boiled eggs develop a deep green ring on the outside of the yolk that can darken the color of your yolk mixture. To keep your yolks yellow, place the eggs in a pot filled with cold water. Set it over the stove on high heat. When the water begins to boil, immediately remove the pot from heat, cover and let it sit for 15 minutes for large eggs.

The American Diabetes Association considers eggs an excellent choice for people with diabetes. That’s primarily because one large egg contains about half a gram of carbohydrates, so it’s thought that they aren’t going to raise your blood sugar.

Be mindful that eggs are high in cholesterol. One large egg contains nearly 200 mg of cholesterol, but whether or not this negatively affects the body is debatable.

Monitoring your cholesterol is important if you have diabetes because diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. High levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream also raise the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. But dietary intake of cholesterol doesn’t have as profound an effect on blood levels as was once thought. So, it’s important for anyone with diabetes to be aware of and minimize other heart disease risks.

Tune in to Divabetic’s June Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Edith Piaf on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST.  We’re talking about living well with diabetes by having ‘NO REGRETS’. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

 

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Father’s Day Vegetarian Recipe by Holly Clegg

Father’s Day will be quickly upon us, why not surprise Dad with a tasty meatless dish at your celebration? After all, June is Men’s Health Month.

I reached out to my good friend, Best-Selling Cookbook Author Holly Clegg for a vegetarian recipe that will satisfy the meat lovers in your family and help keep Dad healthy and happy. 

“This fabulous vegetarian southwestern quinoa recipe will be a game changer for them,” says Best-Selling Cookbook Author, Holly Clegg. “It’s Diabetic Friendly and Gluten Free. You just put quinoa on to cook, sauté vegetables and combine together to pop in the oven for hearty, healthy and absolutely wonderful one-dish quick meal!”

Southwestern Veggie Quinoa Bowl from Holly Clegg’s ‘Guy’s Guide To Eating Well: A Man’s Cookbook For Health and Wellness’

Ingredients:

3/4 cup quinoa

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup chopped onion

1 red bell pepper, cored and chopped

1 cup chopped peeled sweet potato

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon ground chili powder

1 teaspoon ground oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 1/2 cups salsa

1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro

1 cup reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven 350°F.  Coat 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2.  In medium nonstick pot, combine quinoa and water. Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook, covered about 17-20 minutes or until water absorbed and quinoa cooked. Remove from heat and fluff with fork. Set aside.

3. Meanwhile, in large nonstick pan coated with nonstick cooking spray, sauté onion, bell pepper, sweet potato, and garlic until tender, about 5-7 minute or until tender. Add chili powder, oregano, and cumin.

4.  To vegetables, add cooked quinoa, black beans, salsa, and cilantro.

5.  Transfer quinoa mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with cheese. Bake 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Makes 6 (1-cup) servings

Holly Clegg’s Terrific Tip:  “Chicken may be added if you want a heartier meal.  Garnish with diced avocado, tomatoes, and cilantro.”

Nutrients: Calories:250  kcal,  Calories from Fat: 21%, Fat: 6 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 12 mg, Sodium: 600  mg, Carbohydrates: 36 g, Dietary Fiber: 7 g, Total Sugars: 6 g, Protein:12g, Dietary Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 2 starch, 1 lean meat

Eating Less Meat Doesn’t Make You Less Manly

Although a vegetarian or vegan diet won’t “cure” type 1 or type 2 diabetes — despite some erroneous claims — scientists have found that a meatless diet can do quite a bit of good for people with diabetes. A study in Diabetes Care showed that people with type 2 diabetes on a vegan diet lowered their cholesterol and improved their kidney function. And eating more vegetables and carbohydrates that are low on the glycemic index can help make it easier to manage your blood sugars.

If you’re considering a vegetarian diet, please consult with your doctor. Additionally,  it may be helpful to speak with a registered dietitian (RD) who can help you create an eating plan that provides all the necessary nutrients and the right number of calories to maintain a healthy weight.

Why not give Dad a cookbook for Father’s Day?  

Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Guy’s Guide to Eating Well: A Man’s Cookbook for Health and Wellness address common male needs with coordinating ingredients that help alleviate men-specific symptoms and help prevent men’s diseases- all with an emphasis on hearty, king-of-the-grill simple and super-satisfying recipes.

There’s over 150 simple, satisfying and nutritious recipes. Yes, burgers and pizza!! In this healthy men’s cookbook, each recipe includes terrific tips (shortcuts), menu suggestions and nutrition nuggets, which answers the “Why is this good for me question!” Start eating healthy with this preventive health cookbook with recipes for men to cook to help manage testosterone, diabetes, cancer, weight-gain, joint pain and heart disease – plus recipes for quick meals, slow cookers and outdoor cooking.

Best-selling cookbook author, Holly Clegg, and men’s health specialist, Dr. Curtis Chastain partnered together to create the perfect man’s cookbook for you to look good and feel good. Everything a man could want in a cookbook, plus more! That means it is your turn to take on the kitchen!

Tune in to Divabetic’s June Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Edith Piaf on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST.  We’re talking about living well with diabetes by having ‘NO REGRETS’. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

 

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Many Women with Early Breast Cancer may not need Chemo, Study finds

Most women with early-stage breast cancer may be able to avoid chemotherapy, a new study finds.

Researchers found that patients with smaller-sized tumors that had not spread to the lymph nodes did just as well without chemo as those who got the treatment, according to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Experts added that the findings may not apply to those who have larger tumors or those with cancer that has started to spread, or metastasize. More studies are needed to look at those groups of women, they said.

“This is a really big deal,” said Dr. Adam Brufsky, a coauthor on the new study and a professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. The bottom line, Brufsky said, is that doctors now have a test to determine which early-stage patients — and that’s most of them — can skip chemotherapy.

Of the more than 250,000 women in the U.S. expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, the new findings could benefit more than 63,000 with non-invasive, or early stage, disease.

Mr. Divabetic Show podcast on Breast Cancer with guests Dr. April Speed, Award-winning Songwriter and Author Mary Sue Englund, Actress and Writer, E.P. McKnight, TeamWILD Founder, Mari Michelle Ruddy and Poet Lorraine Brooks  CLICK HERE

Is There a Connection Between Diabetes and Breast Cancer?

The connection between having a high body mass index (a height-to-weight ratio that’s used as the standard measure to assess weight-associated health risks that you can calculate for yourself on the National Institutes of Health website) and breast cancer is well established and thought to be related to metabolism, inflammation and hormones.

A meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2012 that found “the risk of breast cancer in women with Type 2 diabetes is increased by 27 percent, a figure that decreased to 16 percent after adjustment for BMI,” meaning the researchers had controlled for overweight and obesity. This elevated risk was seen in Type 2 diabetes and among post-menopausal women.

Additionally, breast cancer survivors, who are post-menopausal, have a higher chance of developing diabetes. Scientists are becoming increasingly aware of an association between diabetes and cancer.

Mr. Divabetic Show podcast on ‘Diabetes, Breast Cancer & You’ featuring guests Dr. April Speed MD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Amy, who is a four time cancer survivor living with type 1 diabetes and Jana, who is a breast cancer survivor living with type 2 diabetes  CLICK TO LISTEN

Tune in to Divabetic’s 8th Year Anniversary podcast, Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Edith Piaf on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST.  Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

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Divabetic’s Diabetes Awareness Day Postponed

Divabetic’s Diabetes Awareness Dayoutreach program at Mosaic Central Farm Market on Sunday, June 3, 2018 has been postponed due to weather.

Our biggest diabetes outreach event of the year, Diabetes Awareness Day features a colorful Dog Fashion Show, Health Screenings, Healthy Food Tours, Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstrations & Discussion, Plate Poetry Project Art Displays, and Live Folk Music with Rick Franklin at Mosaic Central Farm Market in Fairfax, VA.

Here’s a complete listing of Diabetes Awareness Day Events & Activities at Mosaic Central Farm Market which we will be rescheduling:

9:30 AM Lions Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children (until 12 PM): Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.

10 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

10:30 AM Dog Fashion Show Registration & Rehearsal: Dogs of all breeds and sizes are welcome to compete on the red carpet for fabulous prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors. REGISTER NOW: https://goo.gl/forms/WWxkBrs7ugpfK38P2 

10:45 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Dietitian Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

11:30 AM Dog Fashion Show: See the best dressed dogs pose on the Red Carpet at our 2ndAnnual Dog Fashion Show. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic:

12 PM Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstration & Talk: Find out how dogs help people manage their blood sugar high’s and low’s, answer your questions and share resources for purchasing a diabetes alert dog and/or training your own pet. Presented by internationally known Scent Detection Dog Expert, Debby Kay and Health Educator, Kathy Gold RN, CDE

1 PM Plate Poetry Project & Workshop: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCalsin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conversations that people have with themselves while eating. Divabetic volunteers help adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems.

Acoustic Blues Musician and songwriter, Rick Franklin will be performing throughout at Diabetes Awareness Day. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.

Tune in to Divabetic’s 8th Year Anniversary podcast, Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Edith Piaf on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST.  Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

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What’s On Your Plate?: The Plate Poetry Project Depicts Emotional Eating & Diabetes

Fine Artist Susan McCaslin’s Plate Poetry Project will be on display at Mosaic Central Farm Market on Sunday, June 3, 2018 as part of Divabetic’s Diabetes Awareness Day outreach program.

What words do you bring to the table?

Emotions can influence what, when, and how much we eat. For example, you have probably heard that some people eat to cope with stress. Others eat to preoccupy themselves when they feel bored.

When you eat based on your emotions, it can hinder your diabetes wellness management. Often, situations that trigger certain negative emotions prompt eating.

If you have recently eaten and find yourself craving food again, do a quick emotional check. Do you want food because you are hungry—or to fill an emotional need? 
Eating is such a central part of our lives that food becomes associated with almost everything we do. If we’re happy, sad, angry, celebrating, grieving, lonely, or bored, we eat. Emotions become connected with food.
Each Plate Poetry Project place setting (5 pieces) has a complete statement written on it depicting a conversation that someone had while eating. 
Visitors are encouraged to interact with the table and take apart the place settings to read each statement.
The eight Plate Poetry Project statements are: 
“She says I am always eating too much”
“Be happy and eat joyfully for good health”
” You always help me when I need it the most”

“Love is my drug of choice not food” 

It hurts when you say I am too heavy”
“How dare you step on my dreams”
“He helps me face illness with lots of love”  
“So tough when I hear you cry at night!”
The Plate Poetry Project is made possible thanks in part to the generous donation from Onieda. Oneida offers the largest selection of flatware and a great assortment of dinnerware, serveware, cookware, bakeware, and more.

An important component of diabetes self-management, but often unaddressed, is the topic of emotional well being.

If you are having a hard time, reach out for help. Involve family members and friends to help support your weight loss efforts. Support groups, therapy, and members of your health care team can also help.

Our Plate Poetry Project video series aims to assess the emotions associated with managing diabetes and the underlying reasons attributed to those emotions.

Divabetic presents Diabetes Awareness Day featuring a Dog Fashion Show, Health Screenings, Healthy Food Tours, Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstrations, Poetry Readings, Art Displays & More at Mosaic Central Farm Market in Fairfax, VA on Sunday, June 3, 2018, 9:30 AM – 2 PM.

RAIN OR SHINE: Here’s a complete listing of Diabetes Awareness Day Events & Activities at Mosaic Central Farm Market:

9:30 AM Lions Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children (until 12 PM): Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.

10 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

10:30 AM Dog Fashion Show Registration & Rehearsal: Dogs of all breeds and sizes are welcome to compete on the red carpet for fabulous prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors. REGISTER NOW: https://goo.gl/forms/WWxkBrs7ugpfK38P2 

10:45 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Dietitian Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

11:30 AM Dog Fashion Show: See the best dressed dogs pose on the Red Carpet at our 2ndAnnual Dog Fashion Show. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic:

12 PM Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstration & Talk: Find out how dogs help people manage their blood sugar high’s and low’s, answer your questions and share resources for purchasing a diabetes alert dog and/or training your own pet. Presented by internationally known Scent Detection Dog Expert, Debby Kay and Health Educator, Kathy Gold RN, CDE

1 PM Plate Poetry Project & Workshop: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCalsin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conversations that people have with themselves while eating. Divabetic volunteers help adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems.

Acoustic Blues Musician and songwriter, Rick Franklin will be performing throughout at Diabetes Awareness Day. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.

Stop by the Capital Jazz Fest featuring Luther Vandross’ longtime collaborator, renowned bassist, producer and songwriter Marcus Miller.  Marcus Miller hosts the  Late-Night Jam Session on Friday, June 1, 2018, 11:30 PM – 2 AM. The Capital Jazz Fest takes place at Merriweather Post Pavilion, located at 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia, Maryland. The venue is 28 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. and 18 miles southwest of Baltimore.

Founded in 2005, Divabetic promotes diabetes wellness. We take diabetes education out of the clinical setting and combine it with art, music, and fashion to broaden the appeal of diabetes outreach. Join us!

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Diabetes & Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s)

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) cases reached a record high in the United States in 2015, federal according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Any infection in the body, including sexually transmissible infections (STIs), can potentially increase blood glucose levels (BGLs) in people with diabetes. STIs are infections or bugs caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites that are passed from one person to another during sexual contact.

Health professionals generally don’t consider STI’s as the cause of rising high blood glucose levels. Don’t be embarrassed to talk to your doctor or diabetes educator if you think you might have an STI. Important points to note:

STIs can infect many areas of the body and not just the genitals.

STIs don’t always cause signs and symptoms.

STIs don’t always cause symptoms but may still cause an increase in BGLs.

Not all genital signs and symptoms are caused by STIs.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are curable with antibiotics, and widespread access to screening and treatment would reduce their spread, the CDC said.

Most STD cases go undiagnosed and untreated, putting people at risk for severe and potentially permanent health effects such as chronic pain, infertility and increased risk for HIV.

“The health outcomes of syphilis — miscarriage, stillbirth, blindness or stroke — can be devastating,” said Dr. Gail Bolan, director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention.

“The resurgence of congenital syphilis and the increasing impact of syphilis among gay and bisexual men makes it clear that many Americans are not getting the preventive services they need. Every pregnant woman should be tested for syphilis, and sexually active gay and bisexual men should be tested for syphilis at least once a year,” Bolan said.

Is There A Difference Between (Sexually Transmitted Disease(STDs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)?

A Sexually Transmitted Disease (“STD”) is the most commonly used term for the collection of medical infections that are transmitted through sexual contact. But that’s just the thing. People who become infected, don’t always experience anysymptoms or have their infection develop into a disease.

Mr. Divabetic discusses ‘Diabetes & Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s)’ with guests Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE on June’s Diabetes Late Nite scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST.

Don’t miss Divabetic’s 8th Year Podcasting Anniversary on Diabetes Late Nite scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST. We’re talking about ‘NO REGRETS’with musical inspiration from Edith Piaf. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie. TUNE IN

Divabetic presents Diabetes Awareness Day featuring a Dog Fashion Show, Health Screenings, Healthy Food Tours, Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstrations, Poetry Readings, Art Displays & More on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at Mosaic Central Farm Market in Fairfax, VA

Here’s a complete listing of Diabetes Awareness Day Events & Activities at Mosaic Central Farm Market:

9AM Lions Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children (until 12 PM): Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.

10 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

10:30 AM Dog Fashion Show Registration & Rehearsal: Dogs of all breeds and sizes are welcome to compete on the red carpet for fabulous prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors. REGISTER NOW: https://goo.gl/forms/WWxkBrs7ugpfK38P2 

10:45 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Dietitian Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

11:30 AM Dog Fashion Show: See the best dressed dogs pose on the Red Carpet at our 2ndAnnual Dog Fashion Show. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic:

12 PM Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstration & Talk: Find out how dogs help people manage their blood sugar high’s and low’s, answer your questions and share resources for purchasing a diabetes alert dog and/or training your own pet. Presented by internationally known Scent Detection Dog Expert, Debby Kay and Health Educator, Kathy Gold RN, CDE

1 PM Plate Poetry Project & Workshop: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCalsin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conversations that people have with themselves while eating. Divabetic volunteers help adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems.

Don’t miss the Capital Jazz Fest featuring Luther Vandross’ longtime collaborator, renowned bassist, producer and songwriter Marcus Miller.  Marcus Miller hosts the  Late-Night Jam Session on Friday, June 1, 2018, 11:30 PM – 2 AM. The Capital Jazz Fest takes place at Merriweather Post Pavilion, located at 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia, Maryland. The venue is 28 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. and 18 miles southwest of Baltimore.

 

 

 

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A Yellow That’s Anything But ‘Mellow’

Rafael Nadal’s epic win at the Italian Open (Rome Masters) last week not only means that he will move back to the top of the tennis rankings for the sixth time in his glorious career, it also served as the tipping point for yellow trending in fitness fashion.  

Let canary yellow clad Rafael Nadal & Divabetic inspire you to brighten up your diabetes wellness routine with these sunny ideas in fitness, fashion and food!

While you might not have an excuse to wear a designer ball gown that often, we’ll bet you wear fitness clothes all the time. Take some inspiration from your favorite movie star, musician and/or athlete and look Red Carpet-worthy while you’re working out in canary yellow!

Actress and fitness fanatic Renee Zellweger’s canary-yellow Jean Desses gown’s sweetheart neckline comes with this moisture-wicking workout top: Lole Women’s Central Tank Top in Solar Power, $70 BUY NOW 

Milani’s limited edition Fantastical Plumage Collection has a dazzling array of colors to choose from including canary yellow! Milani’s limited edition Fantastical Plumage Collection. $4.49 LINK: https://www.milanicosmetics.com/products/color-statement-nail-lacquer

Trek’s Shift 1 WSD! The lightweight aluminum frame’s seating position is rider-friendly and places you in a relaxed, upright stance. It’s also incredibly stable and confidence inspiring, perfect for all types of riders, especially beginners. Take the long way home, you’ve got a super-soft saddle and a 7-speed drivetrain that allows you to pedal longer, with more comfort than you ever thought possible. Plus, the Shift sports durable Bontrager wheels, sandal-ready pedals as well as a high-rise handlebar with soft grips. Get to work, get in shape, get coffee and have a great time doing it. $439.00 BUY NOW

Garmin vívofit 2 is an activity tracker that shows steps, calories, distance and monitors sleep. It comes in many colors including canary yellow.  Garmin Vivofit 2 Energy-Themed Bands, 3-Pack l $22.33 BUY NOW

Salomon Sense Pro – SS15 Trail Running Shoes Womens – Canary Yellow/Black/Black. $55.16 BUY NOW 

Yellow Mustard features in most fast foods. This might make the condiment seem unhealthy, but it does offer certain health benefits according to Cure Joy.  Potassium and phosphorous in the sauce promote heart health. READ MORE

Yellow Squash, also called yellow zucchini or summer squash, is a hot weather vegetable picked in its immature stage to ensure a thin, edible skin and sweet, soft flesh. This squash typically ranges in size from 6 to 8 inches long, although it can be smaller, depending on when you pick the fruit. You can eat yellow squash raw, as well as stir-fried, baked, grilled or sauteed, and you can substitute it for any green summer squash since the taste is similar. One cup of raw, sliced yellow squash contains 18 calories. This low-calorie vegetable is an ideal side dish if you wish to lose weight  according to Live Strong.

“The egg is one of those nutrient-dense foods that generates a lot of debate about its healthfulness, “ says Best-Selling Author  Jill Weisenberger RD, CDE . “Because eggs are high in cholesterol, which has historically been linked to heart disease, the public has long been warned about eating too many eggs, especially the cholesterol-rich yolk. People with diabetes may have even greater concerns because their risk of developing heart disease is quite high.” READ MORE 

 

Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE compared prediabetes to a yellow light in a traffic signal. The basic concept that a yellow light signal means proceed with caution while driving is also applicable to your diabetes health. You can either choose to either stop, slow down and/or speed up a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It’s up to you.

Eating healthy foods, incorporating physical activity in your daily routine and maintaining a healthy weight can help bring your blood sugar level back to normal. Yet if these people don’t take steps to control their blood sugar now, a diagnosis of diabetes within the next few years is highly likely. READ MORE

84.1 Million people are considered to have pre diabetes according to the Center of Disease Control. The trouble is, many of them don’t know it. Prediabetes often has no symptoms at all.. It’s a diagnosis made when your blood glucose is higher than it should be, but not high enough to be called diabetes. “Prediabetes is this kind of grey zone,” says Dr. Stewart Harris, a professor in family medicine at the University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine who specializes in diabetes. “Your body is metabolically losing the ability to manage blood sugars after eating, and they start to creep up.”

Divabetic presents Diabetes Awareness Day featuring a Dog Fashion Show, Health Screenings, Healthy Food Tours, Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstrations, Poetry Readings, Art Displays & More on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at Mosaic Central Farm Market in Fairfax, VA

Here’s a complete listing of Events & Activities:

9AM -12 PM Lions Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children: Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van hosts free sight (including glaucoma) and hearing screenings for all visitors (men, women, and children). They will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.

10 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

10:30 AM Dog Fashion Show Registration & Rehearsal: Dogs of all breeds and sizes are welcome to compete on the red carpet for fabulous prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors. REGISTER NOW: https://goo.gl/forms/WWxkBrs7ugpfK38P2 

10:45 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Dietitian Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

11:30 AM Dog Fashion Show: See the best dressed dogs pose on the red carpet at our 2ndAnnual Dog Fashion Show. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic:

12 PM Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstration & Talk: Find out how dogs help people manage their blood sugar high’s and low’s, answer your questions and share resources for purchasing a diabetes alert dog and/or training your own pet. Presented by internationally known Scent Detection Dog Expert, Debby Kay and Health Educator, Kathy Gold RN, CDE

1 PM Plate Poetry Project & Workshop: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCaslin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conservations that people have with themselves while eating. Poet Lorraine Brooks helps adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems. Generous donation provided by Onieda.

Don’t miss the Capital Jazz Fest featuring Luther Vandross’ longtime collaborator, renowned bassist, producer and songwriter Marcus Miller.  Marcus Miller hosts the  Late-Night Jam Session on Friday, June 1, 2018, 11:30 PM – 2 AM. The Capital Jazz Fest takes place at Merriweather Post Pavilion, located at 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia, Maryland. The venue is 28 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. and 18 miles southwest of Baltimore.

 

 

 

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