Author: Mr. Divabetic

Max Szadek, aka Mr. Divabetic, is the executive director of Divabetic, LLC.
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Overcoming The Fear of Diabetes Complications by Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDE

 

 

 

 

Many people with diabetes are fearful about some aspect of the condition – scared of taking medication, using syringes, breaking old habits and/or adjusting their diets and this is just the day to day challenge of living with a chronic health problem.

What about those fears about the future – the possibility of developing long term complication such as blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.?

I’ve decided to include this topic in a new Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast. As part of my ongoing research I contacted my friend, Dr. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDE aka “Dr. Bev” for her invaluable insight and advice on this subject.  She willingly agreed to share the blog post featured below, “Fear of Diabetes Complications” with our Divabetic community:

The topic of diabetes complications stirs up a lot of emotional issues. Some well meaning, but uninformed, people (they call themselves your family and friends) may tell you that if you eat that slice of cake you will lose a toe or go blind. Trying to guilt you into eating healthy does not work. It makes many people with diabetes become oppositional and eat that slice – and more – just because they want to be assertive.

Diabetes is the Leading Cause of…..

First, let’s examine that “advice” that you will lose a toe or go blind by eating a slice of cake. That is not a true fact. It’s important to remember that poorly controlled diabetes can result in long-term complications. That’s a good place to start when talking with your family and friends, if they worry about your future health. It is okay to eat that slice of cake if you’ve planned for it in your meal plan. You can’t eat the whole cake, but enjoying a reasonable size slice is not going to result in dire diabetes complications. If you take insulin, you need to account for the additional carbs and increase your bolus insulin dose accordingly. If you don’t take insulin, you need to “pick and choose” which carbs are your priority: try to skip eating the bread and pasta, so you can enjoy the cake. And remember this: Well controlled diabetes is the leading cause of……..NOTHING!

Helpful ideas to be Assertive

Second, let’s examine how to be assertive with the “diabetes police.” While it makes the point that you will do what you want, not what you’re told, the reaction cited in the example above is rather unhealthy. Here’s some helpful ideas to be assertive without being self-destructive:

  • Acknowledge their concern. Express appreciation for their well meaning intent and thank them for their concern. Always be courteous.
  • Educate your well meaning, but uninformed, family and friends. Let them know about carb counting and meal planning.
  • Reassure the “diabetes police” that you know how to manage your diabetes. Correct mis-information. After all, you don’t want to live with those dire complications either.
  • Keep a sense of humor. Try to be light-hearted if the situation gets tense.
  • If all else fails, you have the right to choose to ignore the advice and the person dispensing the advice. It’s okay to do what you need to do to keep yourself emotionally strong and healthy.

What if You are the one Fearing Diabetes Complications

What if you are the one who is obsessively worried about the “what if” of possible future diabetes complications? It can make you feel hopeless.  An emotional consequence of obsessive worry, and trying to follow a strict regimen in order to avoid complications, can lead to “diabetes burnout.” Diabetes burnout can result in you feeling out of control and overwhelmed by your diabetes. If you feel like your diabetes is a prison, I advise you to “break out before you burnout!” When people with diabetes burnout, the pendulum of good self-care swings in the opposite direction to poor self-care. Try to be reassured with this good news: thanks to medical developments, people with diabetes are less likely to develop long-term complications than ever before!

Actions to Calm your Fear

Here are some actions you can take to help calm your fear for the short and long-term:

  • Take a walk.
  • Engage in regular exercise – because it can manage stress as well as blood glucose.
  • Get enough sleep.
  • Write in a journal.
  • Learn to use some form of relaxation, such as deep breathing or yoga.
  • Limit or eliminate alcohol.

Changing your Thoughts to Reduce your Fear

Here are some ways to help change your thoughts to reduce your fear:

  • Approach your diabetes with the mindset “it is what it is” – then stress can be reduced.
  • If you can accept your diabetes, you can feel empowered to manage it.
  • If you change your attitude from hopelessness to hopefulness, you can change your perspective to focus on long-term good health.
  • Psychologists see humor as a character strength.People living with diabetes can improve their mood by approaching life with a sense of humor – LAUGH!
  • Have a positive attitude. As the saying goes, “you cannot live a positive life with a negative mind.” If you default to a negative mindset, that will limit you. Remember: A bad attitude is like a flat tire – you don’t get anywhere until you change it.

Help is Available

If you are so worried about potential complications that may happen in the future, I say to you: “None of us knows what the future will bring.” (If you did know the future, could you please tell me what the winning lottery numbers will be!) Worrying about future complications wastes your time and energy and does not make your chances better or worse. Take care of your diabetes management one day at a time. It’s an approach I’ve personally followed to successfully manage my type 1 diabetes for the past 42 years.

If you feel that your fear of diabetes complications is too difficult for you to manage on your own, you may be helped by talking with a diabetes psychologist or mental health provider who provides diabetes-focused therapy.

Dr. Beverly S. Adler, aka “Dr. Bev”, is a clinical psychologist and Certified Diabetes Educator with a private practice in Baldwin, NY. She was honored in 2016 with the “Certified Diabetes Educator Entrepreneur of the Year Award.”

She is the author/editor of two diabetes self-help books which include insightful lessons of empowerment written by successful men and women with diabetes.  She has published articles in print and online about diabetes management – always with the focus on emotional adjustment. Dr. Bev has been quoted in numerous magazines and contributed to a monthly diabetes advice column online. She is a frequent contributor to the Divabetic Diabetes Daily Wire, where she blogs about diabetes topics from the psychological perspective.

Dr. Bev has lived successfully with type 1 diabetes for 42 years. You can connect with her on her website www.AskDrBev.com and on Twitter @AskDrBev.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music by Sia. We’re shedding some light on the emotional side of diabetes including depression with guests, Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, , Poet Lorraine Brooks, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Mama Rose Marie and Zippora Karz, a former NYC Ballet Solo Ballerina with type 1 diabetes and author of the memoir “The Sugarless Plum”.  

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Divabetic Memorial Day Celebration with Dessert by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

I know many people in our Divabetic community don’t like to celebrate the holidays because they feel they may disrupt their diabetes care. But with a little pre-planning and guidance from your healthcare entourage you can still enjoy the festivities without failing your diabetes.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.

One of my favorite memories of our diva-style outreach came the day after I presented our ‘Divabetic- Makeover Your Diabetes’ outreach event in Washington, DC.  I took my parents to see Arlington National Cemetery.  My father, who  is a veteran of the Korean War, enjoyed seeing the Changing Of the Guard Ritual. The Guards of Honor at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are highly motivated and are proud to honor all American service members who are “Known But to God.”

Did you know Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.

Having friends and family over for a get-together over the long weekend can be stressful of anyone, especially when you’re living with diabetes.  Stacey ‘The Diabetic Pastry’ Chef shares a sugar free dessert recipe to make your Memorial Day memorable.

Type 2 diabetes doesn’t stop Stacey Harris. From her tasty treats to her outlook on life, This pastry chef keeps things as sweet as can be as well as … sugar free!

Berry tartlets with blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, strawberries, almond flakes in icing sugar

Sugar- Free Fruit Tartlets by The Diabetic Pastry Chef 

Cookie Crust (Ingredients):

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup Whey Low D Granular, or equivalent dry sugar substitute

2 large eggs

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

3/4 cup white whole wheat flour

Directions: In the bowl of a mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth. Add the sugar substitute and mix until incorporated. Add the eggs one at a time beating until combined after each. Add the flour all at once and mix on low just until incorporated.  Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours. Roll out and use fluted 3″ cookie cutter to cut and place in 24 mini muffin cups. Bake in 350 degree preheated oven until golden brown approximately 10 minutes.

Custard:

1/3 cup Whey Low D Granular, or equivalent dry sugar substitute

3 Tbsp cornstarch

1/8 tsp salt

2 cups milk

2 egg yolks, slightly beaten

1 Tbsp butter

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions: In medium saucepan, combine the dry ingredients. Gradually stir in the milk, and cook over medium heat until the mixture boils and thickens while stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute.  In small bowl, blend approximately 1/3 of the hot mixture into the egg yolks. Return the yolk mixture to the hot mixture and blend well. Cook the mixture until it bubbles, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and add the butter and vanilla. Cool. Fill each muffin cup about half way with the cooled custard and add topping. Fruits can be brushed with a little heated currant jelly if you would like them to appear glossy. Refrigerate until serving time.

Topping:  Various fruits and berries such as: Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, kiwi, sliced almonds, confectioners sugar or substitute for dusting and/or mint leaves for garnishing 

Divabetic Fact: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that nearly one in four men and women (24 percent) who served their country have diabetes.

Set the table for a whole season of festive cookouts by giving it a new summer coat. The wooden slats of a classic picnic table provide a ready-made outline for stripes. Red and white are very versatile — with blue napkins and flag “bouquets,” the table’s ready for patriotic gatherings; adorned with bright red, orange, or yellow tableware, it would have “casual barbecue” painted all over it. READ MORE

Divabetic Playlist: “Soldier Boy” is a song written by Luther Dixon and Florence Greenberg. The song was released as a single by The Shirelles in 1962 and met with great success, topping the US Billboard Hot 100. The song’s lyrics are a profession of the singer’s love for the titular soldier boy in which she promises to remain true to him while he’s away.

How to enjoy Memorial Day foods without packing on pounds

Plenty of us will be heading to Memorial Day picnics and barbecues this weekend, but is it possible to enjoy the food without ruining your diet? NBC health and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstrom is here to help you make smart food choices with a game she calls “Pick It or Nix It?” with Hoda and Kathie Lee.  WATCH NOW
The first step to a successful ‘DIVABETIC’ manicure and pedicure is to know where to go. Inexpensive salons often have unlicensed technicians who are not educated about proper hygiene and cleanliness. Inspect the spa before you make an appointment. Ask about their cleaning and sterilization procedures. READ MORE
Break out the red, white and blue nail polish, ladies, because Memorial Day weekend is here! As with most holidays (read: every holiday ever), nail art should pay tribute to what’s being celebrated, and what better what to celebrate Memorial day than with some patriotic nail art to match your flag-inspired bathing suit?

Do you ever feel ‘guilty’ about living with diabetes? 

Unfortunately a heavy dose of guilt is a frequent companion to diabetes.

“I spend a lot of time talking to my clients about guilty feelings. Usually related to not being compliant,” said  Dr. Gary McClain, a therapist specializing in helping clients with the emotional impact of chronic illness, catted with members of the diabetes community about coping with diabetes guilt  for Diabetes Connect’s website.

“Actions aren’t the only cause of guilt. My clients tell me they also feel guilty when they think of ways to avoid being compliant. I have had clients tell me that just thinking about a Hershey bar can make them feel guilty in anticipation of cheating. Interaction with the doctor is a big source of guilt. Clients often talk about not being quite honest with their doctors. Some of my clients are so focused that just a minor slip-up on their diet will result in lots of guilty feelings and self-criticism,” he added. READ MORE

Divabetic Fact: Veterans who develop type 2 diabetes mellitus and were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service do not have to prove a connection between their diabetes and service to be eligible to receive VA health care and disability compensation. READ MORE

Join us when we celebrate Service Dogs at Mosaic Central Farm Markets in Fairfax, VA on Sunday, June 4, 2017, PM.With their superior sense of smell, diabetes alert dogs  have the ability to sniff out low blood glucose levels. Dog Expert Debby Kay and Kathy Gold RN, CDE help me host the Red Tomato Carpet at our first-ever Diabetes Alert Dog Fashion Show.  READ MORE

Divabetic Playlist: “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” was a major hit for The Andrews Sisters and an iconic World War II tune. It can be considered an early jump blues recording. The song is ranked No. 6 on Songs of the Century. Bette Midler‘s 1972 recording of the song reached the top ten on the U.S. pop singles chart.

Don’t miss June’s episode of Diabetes Late Nite with music by Maxwell on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, 6 PM, EST. We’re talking about  Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) which is an accumulation of fluid in the macula-part of the retina that controls our most detailed vision abilities-due to leaking blood vessels. In order to develop DME, you must first have diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye (retina). Poorly controlled blood sugar is a risk factor. Early symptoms include floaters, blurriness, dark areas of vision, and difficulty perceiving colors. Blindness can occur.

Guests include singer Alfa Anderson, Diabetic Macular Edema patient Maryanne Kass, Artist Bryce Chisholm, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring selected songs from several of several of Maxwell’s albums courtesy of SONY Music.

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Why Plan B May Not Be Effective for Plus Size Women

If you weigh more than 176 pounds and find yourself in a situation where your birth control fails, then chances are the morning-after pill might not work for you according to a 2013 study conducted by the CDC.

According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly one-third of adults in the United States are obese. This proportion is certainly higher among people with diabetes; insulin resistance, a hallmark of Type 2 diabetes, and obesity are both elements of the metabolic syndrome. (Other traits are high blood pressure and abnormal blood lipid levels.)

“The average woman in America spends five years trying to get pregnant and 30 years trying not to,” explained Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood in an interview with The New York Times.

Although Plan B manufacturers insist that there are no weight limits, researchers have suggested that women weighing more than 176 pounds should consider taking two of the recommended doses to help ensure effectiveness. With the current cost of Plan B running at close to $50, that would mean women who lie outside the weight range could count on spending more that $100 on emergency contraception.

Additionally, a 2011 study in the journal Contraceptive, recommends that women who have a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25 should not rely on levonorgestrel or a “normal” dose of Plan B, as an effective emergency contraceptive.

Searching for an alternative?

An IUD is a small, plastic device shaped like a T. The ParaGard (Copper T 380A) is the only non-hormonal IUD available in the US. This IUD has copper (which acts as a spermicide) coiled around it. The IUD irritates the lining of the uterus, which makes it harder for implantation. It also serves as an irritant, so white blood cells migrate to the inflamed uterus and can help to destroy sperm. The IUD is inserted into the uterus by a doctor and has 2 filament strings which hang down into the vagina. A woman can feel the strings to make sure the IUD is still in place. ParaGard can be left in place for up to 10 years.

Another effective option for plus size women is the barrier birth control method. Because they have do not have any hormones, barrier methods also have fewer side effects. is a device that physically blocks sperm from entering the opening of the uterus. Though these contraceptives can be very reliable — they can become less effective if you do not use them the correct way. Because of this, you may be more likely to experience birth control failure (maybe due to not being inserted correctly, at the right time, etc).

Making sure that these methods work as effectively as possible is even more important given the fact that plus size women are at greater risk of pregnancy-related complications. You can increase the effectiveness of these birth control methods by using a double barrier method (such as a condom and spermicide or a diaphragm and a condom — but do NOT use male and female condoms or two condoms).

LISTEN NOW: Mr. Divabetic Show on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) on this one hour of wellness with a wow podcast.  PMDD is a severe, sometimes disabling extension of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that start about 7 to 10 days before a woman gets her monthly period. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that at least 85 percent of menstruating women have at least one PMS symptom as part of their monthly cycle. PMS is much more common than PMDD.  Biologic, psychological, environmental, and social factors all seem to play a part in PMDD. It is important to note that PMDD is not the fault of the woman suffering from it or the result of a “weak” or unstable personality. It is also not something that is “all in the woman’s head.”

Rather, PMDD is a medical illness that impacts only 3% to 8% of women. Fortunately, it can be treated by a health care professional with behavioral and pharmaceutical options.

Podcast Guests: Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Peak 10 Skin founder Connie Elder, We Are Diabetes founder, Asha Brown, and Laura L. who are both living with type 1 diabetes.

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Weight Loss Surgery Triggers Shopping Addiction

According to the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery about 75% of  people who undergo bariatric surgery, which involve procedures that either limit the amount of food that can be consumed or reduce food absorption, are women.

 “Women seem to be more aware of the problems obesity brings to health, says Santiago Horgan, MD, chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery at UC San Diego Health System. “They are much more willing to look at surgical weight loss earlier in life, whereas men tend to wait until they have more co-morbidities (adverse health conditions).”

We discussed this topic on an episode of Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Etta James. Etta James underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost over 200 pounds at the urging of her friend, Roseanne Barr, who also underwent the surgery.

The good news is that it’s not as difficult to find a doctor to perform this anymore and most insurance will cover the procedure by a rationalization that obesity will kill so it is better to pay now rather than pay more later. 

The bad news is that one of the consequences related to weight surgery is ‘addiction transfer’ is barely mentioned.

Addiction Transfer is when a person who has experienced weight loss surgery replaces their food addiction with new addiction ranging from gambling, sex, drugs, alcohol, to shopping. The reason this may occur in a small percentage of people is because the initial addiction was never dealt with, in this case it would be food, and so there is still an addiction component in the brain that was not resolved so a new addiction blossoms, replacing the old one. 

Recent research also suggests that the biochemical causes of compulsive eating are extremely similar to those underlying other self-destructive addictions, such as alcohol or cocaine addiction. Alcohol use in particular is a concern for bariatric patients because some versions of the surgery can change the way patients metabolize alcohol, making it far more powerful.

I’m focusing on the cross addiction of shopping in my new Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast. The main character’s weight loss surgery triggers a compulsive shopping addiction that quickly spirals out of control leading to deadly consequences.

I’d like to not that there’s a big difference between a shopping spree vs. real shopping addiction. One key characteristic of any addiction is that it affects other parts of your life in a negative way. For example, you may be thinking, “But, I just like to shop” but, if your over-shopping affects your ability to pay basic bills like rent or electricity, or your shopping takes you away from work or family obligations, that’s negative, and these are signs of an addiction.

According to the ‘Love To Know’ website if a person has a shopping addiction, some signs may be:

  • Overspending: The individual spending over their budget, or what they can actually afford. Maxing out credit cards is typical among shopping addicts.
  • Impulse buys: QVC addicts are likely affected by impulse buys often. An impulse buy simply put, means that little thought goes into the decision to purchase.
  • Shopping a lot: A lot of shopping sprees is defined by someone who shops often; such as a shopping spree monthly, bi-monthly, or more.
  • Shopping for entertainment purposes.
  • Hiding the problem: Truly addicted shoppers tend to hide their habits. They may have talked about it in the beginning, such as bragging about their purchase scores, but once shopping gets out of hand they stay quiet. Along with hiding their habits they may also hide money; or carry secret credit card accounts that no one, not even their significant other, knows about.

I can easily see why people who’ve had weight loss surgery could transfer their addiction to shopping. After all who isn’t thrilled to be able to shop for new, smaller sized outfits? It is one of the greatest joys in life! 

Additionally, the enticing lure of shopping websites and Home Shopping channels  make it easy  to cultivate a shopping addiction. People to are urged to  ‘buy, buy, buy’   practically everything under the sun at any time of day or night.  And  shopping online or at home means they can keep their outrageous spending habits a secret.

Actually ‘addiction’ is part of QVC’s business model, as the overwhelming majority of sales come from repeat customers reports the AV Club website. There’s even a a Facebook group specifically dedicated to QVC Addicts! It is important to point out that not all QVC devotees are compulsive shoppers. But, as a psychologist observes, the most vocal members of the Facebook group do exhibit the signs of addiction. For their part, the members of QVC Addicts do not want to change their ways.

Research shows that some people develop a addiction transfer right out of the gate when they are prescribed opiate based pain killers post-surgery. For others, it is taking a bit longer.

Without help the addictive behaviors will continue to spill over onto each other creating a domino effect. Dual diagnosis treatment is readily available for people to make the addiction pattern stop, once and for all but the stigma associated with therapy is a barrier to seeking help.

If you or someone you care about might have a problem with compulsive shopping and spending, the following tips can help.
  1. Understand the phenomenon. …
  2. Know thyself. …
  3. Reflect on how you feel when you shop. …
  4. Think about the time involved. …
  5. Take control of the situation. …
  6. Start writing things down.
  7.  Know when to get help.   If you feel your spending is so out of control that you can’t wrestle with the problem alone, seek out counseling or therapy or try attending a Debtors Anonymous meeting. To find meeting times and locations in your area, visit the Debtors Anonymous Web site and click on “Find a DA Meeting.” If you or a loved one needs an even more serious intervention, the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital offers an in-patient treatment program for compulsive spenders and debtors. You also could find assistance through the Stopping Overshopping Program.

It’s also interesting to point out that substance-abuse centers, including the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., say they are seeing more bariatric-surgery patients checking in for help with new addictions.

LISTEN NOW: Mister Divabetic Mystery: The Phantom of the Okra. Tune in to find out if orange be the ‘new black’ for Mr. Divabetic?  Enjoy diabetes self-care advice and nutrition information in between moments of suspense, wild-goose chases, and entertaining banter. Guests include: Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Asha Brown (founder of the We Are Diabetes organization), Central Farm Markets Co-Founder Debra Moser, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Author Peter Arpesella, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDE, CDN, Leisa Chester Weir, Terri Seidman and Mama Rose Marie.

This podcast features song selections from “The Phantom Of The Opera” soundtrack courtesy of SONY Music.

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Diabetes & Divas: Dina Merrill

Actress Dina Merrill, who was also the heiress to two fortunes died at age 93 on Monday.

I consider Dina Merrill to be a ‘Divabetic’. She was both an icon of taste and sophistication as well as an amazing diabetes advocate.

Her life as t he daughter of the Wall Street broker E. F. Hutton and the cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post inspired me to write last year’s Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast: “Suspect Boulevard”.

I literally started making notes for a new mystery idea on my iPhone during my visit to her mother’s fabulous Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens in Washington, DC. I spent the day in Washington after raising awareness for diabetes by hosting the Red Tomato Carpet at Central Farm Markets in Bethesda, MD.

A beautiful portrait of Dina Merrill as a child in her mother’s bedroom captured my imagination.  At the time I had no idea of Dina’s personal connection to diabetes nor her work in diabetes advocacy. I learned that Dina Merrill created a yearly award for scientific excellence in her  son David’s name for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in 1974. She also served as the International Ambassador for ORBIS International, the flying eye hospital, which teaches advanced eye care and eye surgical techniques all over the world.

The award was recently presented to the research team at ViaCyte, Inc., a San Diego, Calif.-based regenerative medicine company that is at the forefront of developing an encapsulated cell-replacement therapy that has the potential to provide long-term relief from daily insulin dosing. The islet implants would potentially release insulin on demand in response to the body’s rising blood-glucose levels.

Dina Merrill made her Broadway debut in John Van Druten’s The Mermaid Singing in 1945. She had a more substantial role in 1975’s revival of the drama Angel Street.

The New York Times referred to Dina Merrill as an elegant presence in most of her 30 or so mid-20th-century movies, Ms. Merrill played the betrayed wife who loses both her husband, Laurence Harvey, and her mink coat to Elizabeth Taylor in “Butterfield 8” (1960); the chic fashion consultant who loses Glenn Ford to Shirley Jones in “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” (1963); and the steadfast socialite wife of an assistant district attorney played by Burt Lancaster in “The Young Savages” (1961). Her 100-plus TV appearances ranged from What’s My Line? to What Makes Sammy Run? to The Magnificent Ambersons.

We fondly will refer to this tireless and legendary philanthropist as a ‘Divabetic’.

LISTEN NOW: Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast: “Suspect Boulevard.” The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hopes to inspire you to become a Diabetes Detective will this third installment of Diabetes Mystery  Theater podcastOur cast includes Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, ‘We Are Diabetes’ organization founder, Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDE, CDN, Chef Robert Lewis, USA Today Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes and Mama Rose Marie.

Throughout the podcast we will spotlight the wonderful music by the National Philaharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Charles Gerhardt courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

 

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Deep Fried Cozy Mystery ‘A Frying Shame’ Is Half Baked

At the midway point of the mystery,   ‘A Frying Shame,’ by author Linda Reilly the story began to lose it’s taste faster than deep fried food after it gets cold.

“The town of Wrensdale is abuzz with excitement when Steeltop Foods sponsors a cooking contest to promote its new product, the Flavor Dial. With a $25,000 prize at stake, all the contestants are on edge, including Talia Marby, owner of Fry Me A Sliver. She hopes her mini deep-fried apple pies will win her the money to pay off the renovations on her restaurant. But when Norma Ferguson wins with her flaky-top chicken stew, the tensions dial up even more.

After Norma is found dead at her cooking station, the police suspect a losing contestant got a little too hot under the collar. Now it’s crunch time as Talia works to catch the killer and clear her name before another cook gets burned. Includes delicious recipes!”

Several lines in this cozy mystery such as, “You should have kept your nose out of things and stayed in the kitchen, like a proper woman supposed is to” are prime examples of why I wanted to put this book  in a deep fryer. But as an avid reader who also happens to be a diabetes advocate that’s about all I’m going to put into the fryer because the more fried food you eat, the more likely you are to suffer from Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, reveals new research.

I know a lot of people read cozy mysteries featuring recipes for ‘escape’ but I still don’t want to encourage Reilly’s readers to make their exit in an ambulance.

A U.S.-based study team compared people who ate fried food less than once a week with those who gobbled things like fries, fried chicken, or other deep-fried snacks four to six times a week and foound their risk for Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease jump 39% and 23%, respectively. The risks rose even more for people who ate fried food on a daily basis

The good new is that foods fried in trans-fat-free oils—now offered at many restaurants since FDA cracked down on trans fats—may not present the same health hazards. Cooking at home with fresh oils might also limit your exposure to unhealthy compounds.

Still love the fryer?

Okay, deep fried ‘taters might be tempting, but carrot fries taste just as good. Roast your carrots and top them with some fresh Parmesan and basil for a sweet and savory treat that packs only 83 calories per serving. Want more options? Try these seven other French fry recipes you’ll love. Photo and recipe: Alexa Schirm / Life by Daily Burn

I’d like to add that the ending oft the ‘Frying Shame’ makes finishing the book worth it.  The killer gets  just what he or she deserves. I loved it.

I picked this book up at the New York Public library because I’ve started working on a new Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast. My goal is to write a compelling cozy mystery packed with diabetes self-care advice from qualified diabetes educators. I also like to include delicious healthy recipes from several of my favorite chefs such as Chef Robert ‘The Happy Diabetic’ Lewis, Holly Clegg and Stacey ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ Harris to name a few.

LISTEN NOW: Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast: ‘Suspect Boulevard’,  The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hopes to inspire you to become a Diabetes Detective will this third installment of Diabetes Mystery  Theater podcast. Throughout the podcast we will spotlight the wonderful music by the National Philaharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Charles Gerhardt courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

 

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Grilled Garlic and Lemon Zucchini Chips Recipe from ‘Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’

Oh, how I wish I could say this cozy mystery, ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole’ by Rebecca Adler  was as good as it’s catchy title!  Unfortunately the characters don’t appeal to me especially Josie who seems to be able to down a Dr. Pepper in one gulp. Do you know that drinking one or two sugary drinks a day increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 26 percent?

We absorb liquid sugar in as little as 30 minutes, much faster than a candy bar, leading to a spike in blood sugar that the body is not well-equipped to handle, particularly in repetition. These spikes in blood sugar can overwhelm the body and lead to the transformation of sugar into fat in the liver, which contributes directly to the development of type 2 diabetes

Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan is about to serve up some Lone Star justice in this spicy Taste of Texas Mystery from the author of Here Today, Gone Tamale.

If anything this book is inspiring me to write this year’s Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast. “Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’, featuring diabetes summer self-care tips and healthy recipes from Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ and this one below for Zucchini Chips from Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’.

Grilled Garlic and Lemon Zucchini Chips Recipe by ‘The Happy Diabetic’

What’s in it!

  • 1/4 cup Extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 medium zucchini, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Let’s Put It Together!

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together Extra virgin olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning and lemon juice
  2. with salt and pepper, to taste. Brush zucchini slices with oil  mixture.
  3. Heat a grill pan over medium high heat. Add zucchini in a single layer and grill until charred on both sides and just beginning to soften, about 2 minutes per side.

Nutritional Information: Calories 125.3, Calories from Fat 106.2, Total Fat 11.8g18%, Saturated Fat 7.4g37%, Trans Fat 0.6g, Cholesterol 30.5mg10%, Sodium 10.9mg0%, Total Carbohydrate 5.2g2%, Dietary Fiber 1.1g4%, Sugars 2.8g, Protein 1.5g

Don’t miss our upcoming Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast, ‘Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’ debuting in September 2017. Diabetes advocate turned reluctant amateur sleuth, Mr. Divabetic’s finally takes the plunge and ventures into a new career as a healthy caterer.  With the help of his co-workers and nosy Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, he heads for Coney Island, NY for the 35th Annual Mermaid Parade to cater his first party aboard a yacht for his former swim coach, Ted Rockow. But his nautical soiree quickly capsizes when the guest of honor is found swimming with the fishes. What it an accident or foul play? Now Mr. Divabetic’s grilling Burlesque dancers, a lifeguard lothario and some sequined mermaids, all intent on keeping their secrets buried deep within the sand. Can Mr. Divabetic prove Coach’s death was a murder, not an accident? Or will he end up floating out to sea?

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John Oliver Takes on the Corruption in Kidney Dialysis Industry & We Love It!

“Because federal guidelines do not require doctors to be on site at for-profit dialysis clinics, DaVita patients often reported feeling rushed, with employees allegedly cutting corners for the sake of speed,” said John Oliver, the host of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight” on a recent episode.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what’s wrong with for-profit dialysis clinics in the United States according to our favorite late night comedian, who is not just as joke-teller, but he’s also a truth-teller.

“When I was working at DaVita, the priorities for transitioning patients was to get them on dialysis and get the next patient on as soon as possible,” Megallan Handford, a former DaVita told Oliver. “You would have sometimes 15, maybe 25 minutes to get that next patient on the machine, so you were not properly disinfecting.”

John Oliver explained dialysis as a process in which a person is hooked up to a machine that removes blood out of the body, cleans it, then returns it to circulation. “Think of it as a Brita pitcher for your blood,” he said.

And he urged people to learn about the for-profit dialysis industry, however boring it may seem, because an increasing number of people in the United States suffer from kidney disease and rely on the “exhausting process” of dialysis to stay alive.

The Washington Post article stated kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oliver also cited a 2010 ProPublica investigation that revealed the United States “continues to have one of the industrialized world’s highest mortality rates for dialysis care” despite spending more on it than other nations, by some accounts.

“So we’re spending the most to essentially get the least,” Oliver said. “We’re basically paying for a fully loaded Lamborghini and receiving a drunk donkey on roller skates.”

Oliver recounted the history of how the country’s for-profit dialysis industry came to be — the result, he said, of good intentions mixed with “bad incentives, poor oversight and profiteering.”

Toward the end of his segment, John Oliver emphasized that problems with the for-profit dialysis industry were not limited to DaVita.

He also called for better government oversight, as well as improved incentives for kidney transplants and health care “to keep out of dialysis in the first place.”

Oliver also praised those who were willing to donate one of their two kidneys while still alive. READ MORE  

What does diabetes do to the kidneys?

With diabetes, the small blood vessels in the body are injured according to the National Kidney foundation. When the blood vessels in the kidneys are injured, your kidneys cannot clean your blood properly. Your body will retain more water and salt than it should, which can result in weight gain and ankle swelling. You may have protein in your urine. Also, waste materials will build up in your blood.

Diabetes also may cause damage to nerves in your body. This can cause difficulty in emptying your bladder. The pressure resulting from your full bladder can back up and injure the kidneys. Also, if urine remains in your bladder for a long time, you can develop an infection from the rapid growth of bacteria in urine that has a high sugar level.

LISTEN NOW:  Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by A Tribe Called Quest.   We’re focusing on ‘KIDNEYS and DIABETES’ with musical inspiration from A Tribe Called Quest.  Phife Dawg, born Malik Taylor, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May of 1990. Experiencing constant thirst and bathroom visits, his grandmother, a nurse, tested him for diabetes after a performance in Connecticut. Initially, Phife admitted he did not take his diagnosis seriously, and maintained his same lifestyle.

“It’s really a sickness,” Taylor said in Beats, Rhymes & Life, Michael Rapaport’s candid 2011 documentary on the group. “Like straight-up drugs. I’m just addicted to sugar.”

Phife’s initial resistance to treatment made it necessary for him to go on dialysis followed by a kidney transplant in 2008.  This past March he died at age 45.

“When you learn you have diabetes, the first word you have to learn is acceptance,” he said during an interview with dLife TV hoping to encourage others to learn from his mistakes.

June’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast guests include MaryAnn Nicolay DTR, Dr. Braxton Cosby, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Funny Man Mike, Arnon Krongrad, MD, Catherine Lawrence and Mama Rose Marie.  We’re featuring songs from their first album, “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm”, released in 1990, courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

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Ashley Nell Tipton Says ‘It’s My Body, It’s My Health, It’s My Choice’ Regarding Gastric Bypass Surgery

Earlier this week Project Runway Winner and Plus Size Fashion Designer,  Ashley Nell Tipton announced on Facebook that she’s had gastric bypass surgery. The overwhelming amount of backlash she received from her ‘fans’ on Facebook forced her to to respond, “It’s My Body, It’s My Health, It’s My Choice.”

I was so shocked at how hateful and evil the comments were directed at her that I wanted to publicly express my support for her decision to improve her health.

I’ve hosted many podcasts to tackling the topic of ‘shame and blame’ associated with body image, with the help of Poet Lorraine Brooks,  and the enormously negative impact it often has on someone’s ability to manage their diabetes health.

In a survey of over 5,000 people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the market research company dQ&A found that stigma affects a majority of patients’ view of their disease and approach to their management.

Lorraine and I have discussed numerous times the importance of self-acceptance is to managing your health.

Ashley made reference to her own journey of self-acceptance on FB, ” To accept oneself just the way you are is the first step. Not an easy step. Suffering through a lifetime of being made fun of, being looked and laughed at for how I appear was not easy.”

I’ve even dedicated an entire episode of Diabetes Late Nite on weight loss surgery options and diabetes with musical inspiration of Etta James. Etta James also underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost over 200 pounds.

The response to Ashley’s announcement only reinforces how very little the general public truly understands about gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery refers to a surgical procedure in which the stomach is divided into a small upper pouch and a much larger lower “remnant” pouch and then the small intestine is rearranged to connect to both.

Gastric bypass surgery often improves the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, even before patients start to lose weight. Why?

“What we found is that the secret for the cure of diabetes after gastric bypass lies in the intestine,” said Dr. Nicholas Stylopoulos, principal investigator at the Division of Endocrinology at Children’s Hospital Boston and Boston Medical School, in an interview with Healthline. “The key message is that after gastric bypass the intestine becomes the most important tissue for glucose use and this decreases blood sugar levels.”

According to People magazine, Tipton began working with a personal trainer two to four times a week, and meeting with a therapist to deal with her emotional issues. But nothing seemed to be helping and she wasn’t losing weight.

“I went to multiple doctors to make sure that I’m taking the right anti-depression medication, and make sure that my blood pressure’s okay,” she told People. “I found out that my blood pressure wasn’t okay and that I had a fatty liver. All these health risks were coming up. I was like, no wonder I’m not happy, because my body is working 10 times harder to try to be healthy.”

Tipton began discussing the option of having weight loss surgery with her therapist, and decided to meet with a surgeon for a consultation. After taking some initial measurements and running a few tests, the surgeon delivered some alarming news — her metabolism was not functioning.

“That really concerned me,” she says. “He explained to me how weight loss surgery can re-boost your metabolism and help you eat right. Weight loss surgery isn’t going to make you lose weight, it’s a tool to help you lose weight. Half of it is the surgery, and half of it is you eating what you’re supposed to eat and exercising.”

 

Although the criticism Ashley received is still mind boggling to me, Ashley’s powerful response is  awe inspiring.

“When I realized that my personal power lies in by loving myself the way I am not the way others want me to be was life-changing. By loving myself the way I am allowed me to love myself enough to then change how I wanted to be. I want to be healthy. Not because you want me to look and be a certain way but because I want to! Getting this surgery is a personal decision. Choice I wanted to make for MY health, For my body and for My Life. Don’t you think it’s time we all respected people’s personal choices?,” she posted on FB.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Late inspired by Etta James. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Dr. Monique Renee Rolle DPM, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Susan Greenberg Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, and Mama Rose Marie. Prize giveaways courtesy of Earth Brand Shoes, Dr. Greenfield’s Diabetic Foot Creams, Cabot Cheese and Nu Naturals.

Throughout the podcast we will be spotlighting Etta James’ iconic recordings from the “All The Way” and “The Essential Etta James” albums courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

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Alfa Anderson Sings A Tribute to Luther Vandross

Former member of the iconic funk soul band Chic (“Le Freak”,” Good Times”, “I Want Your Love”),Alfa Anderson​  joins us on June’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Tuesday, June 13, 2017, ^ PM, EST.

For years, Alfa was an integral member of Luther Vandross‘ touring band and performed at Wembley Stadium, among many other prestigious venues around the world. Her vocals can be heard on popular Luther Vandross albums such as ‘Give Me the Reason’ and ‘The Night I Fell in Love’, which Rolling Stone Magazine voted as one of the 100 Best Albums of the Eighties.

Alfa will share the inspiration behind her heartfelt tribute to her friend, Luther Vandross, the single, “When Luther Sings​.”

SoulTracks said of “When Luther Sin​gs”​, “The feeling is at once nostalgic and modern, providing a summery vibe that is sure to make listeners groove both in the car and on the dance floor.”

Alfa will soon release her long-awaited debut solo album, ‘Music From My Heart‘​ in July.

A celebrated R&B and dance music icon, Anderson first starred in Julian “Canonnball” Adderley’s “Big Man” at Carnegie Hall before defining a whole new era in music as one of the original lead vocalists in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-nominated group CHIC. Her voice powered classics like “I Want Your Love” and the #1 pop hits “Good Times” and “Le Freak,” which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. During her years as a New York session singer and touring vocalist, she sang background for music icons like Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger, Valerie Simpson, Bryan Ferry, and Teddy Pendergrass. She recently guested on the first CHIC single in 23 years “I’ll Be There” (2015) and scored a Top 10 Billboard Dance hit as a featured vocalist on Next Step’s single with Kathy Sledge and Aristofreeks, “Get On Up” (2016).

“Music From My Heart”​ is my first solo album. The only vision I had when I started this project was to write from the stillness of my mind and heart. As melodies and lyrics began to flow, I realized that I had plenty to say about life, about love, about friendship, about struggle, about coming to terms with who I am. Kudos to Producer/Arranger Bert Price who collaborated with me to complete ‘Music From My Heart’. ​ I share it with you with love and big hugs.”

Alfa Anderson also will celebrate the release of her album with an unforgettable night of music at Joe’s Pub on July 7 at 7:30pm. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased at Joe’s Pub  located at 425 Lafayette St (bet. E. 4th St & Astor Pl).

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