Author: Mr. Divabetic

Max Szadek, aka Mr. Divabetic, is the executive director of Divabetic, LLC.
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Arthel Neville Gets Carried Away With Words To Help Empower Women

I’d like to acknowledge the generosity of my friend and Divabetic supporter, Arhel Neville!

Arthel is helping me shower the cast and crew of Divabetic’s upcoming Mystery podcast: “Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu” with gratitude by supplying everyone with beautiful Arthel Neville Design™ handbags. Her generous heart is one of the many reasons I love her so much!

 “As a mentor, I’ve always been looked upon for words of encouragement. As a result, I’ve adopted sisters of all ages across the globe,” says Arthel. “I find inspiration in inspiring others, and I’m all about female empowerment. This led me to create Arthel Neville Design™, an accessories collection adorned with my original quotes.”
These words of affirmation made it onto her new accessories collection, as they serve as a personal reminder of proud accomplishments and doors Arthel dares to continue to open. By accessorizing with Arthel Neville Design™, she wishes her original quotes will encourage and inspire ‘girls’ of all stripes.
I met Arthel almost twenty years ago when I took a brief break working for Luther Vandross to go on a European Tour with Lionel Richie.  I’m still unsure how I convinced Luther to let me have three weeks off.  Arthel visited her fiance and future husband, the talented Taku Hirano. Taku played percussion in Lionel’s band under the music direction of Chuckii Booker. Arthel and I became fast friends. A few years later, she graciously agreed to be our celebrity co-host at two Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes outreach programs in her hometown, New Orleans.

Earlier this year, Arthel offered her beautiful tote bags as prize giveaways at Divabetic’s Mother’s Day-themed Baking Party featuring the Diabetic Pastry Chef on Zoom. Our next Baking Party is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 7 PM EST. Click HERE to register.
Arthel hopes her accessories line will speak to you and allow you to send a message about yourself to others. Arthel Neville Design™ – an accessories collection that lets us get carried away with words.
Arthel Neville’s help boosting attitudes toward women at risk, affected by and living with diabetes means so much to our community.
At Divabetic we aim to help our community overcome barriers and live to their potential. Specifically, shame and guilt are two common barriers for many women (and men) living with type 2 diabetes. We want to encourage you to live well with diabetes.

Make sure to tune in to Divabetic’s upcoming Mystery podcast, Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu, on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 6 – 7 PM EST.

Here’s a quick synopsis: The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic lands his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat on the Jersey Shore. Everything is hunky-dory until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s new chef knives. Now he’s the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation! Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Starring Max “Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage,’ Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller, and Lorraine Brooks. Music by Ivan Hampden Jr.

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9 Divabetic Mystery Podcasts Available On Demand

This year we celebrate presenting our ninth original Divabetic Mystery podcast on Blog Talk Radio.  We fill our mystery podcasts with diabetes and diabetes self-care information, a suspenseful cozy mystery, and a few laughs.

We use a cozy mystery format to show how the average person can make a difference. It doesn’t matter if the protagonist is a knitter, a librarian, or in our case, a diabetes advocate with a passion for baking —that person can solve a murder.

In cozy mysteries, the amateur sleuth is surrounded by a group of family and friends, cheering her or him on to solve the crime. These supporting characters help and hinder, and it is a story about a community banding together for what is right.

You can apply the basic principles of our mystery podcast to managing your diabetes. We suggest you work with a team of healthcare collaborators to achieve optimum health rather than go it alone. Don’t be afraid to ask ‘stupid’ questions – knowledge is power. And when you are in doubt, know that we believe in you! You can do it.

Divabetic’s First Mystery Podcast: Pink Panther

Will ‘Orange’ be the new black for Mr. Divabetic?

When a murder occurs in the Divabetic studios, the primary suspect becomes the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic. Our fruit suit-clad amateur sleuth sets out to prove his innocence with the help of USA Today’s Best-Selling Author, Tonya Kappes. As they try to solve the crime, Mr. Divabetic and the Diabetes Late Nite cast discover the harmful side effects of dietary supplements for people with diabetes.

If you are not cautious, diabetes and dietary supplements can be dangerous. Some supplements are contaminated with substances other than those stated on the label. Others should be avoided with certain medications.

The first step in deciding whether or not to mix diabetes and dietary supplements is to talk to your doctor. He or she can discuss the possible benefits and risks of dietary supplements.

Guests include Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Neva White MSN, CRNP, CDCES, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Leisa Chester Weir, Jennifer Martsolf from Trigg Laboratories, Author Peter Arpesella, and Mama Rose Marie.

The Pink Panther Theme by Henry Mancini courtesy of SONY Music.

Divabetic’s Second Mystery Podcast: Phantom Of the Okra

Mr. Divabetic gets caught up in a murder mystery when he agrees to host the Red Tomato Carpet at the 6th Annual Bake Bethesda A Pie Contest at Central Farm Market in Bethesda, MD.

Will orange be the ‘new black’ for Mr. Divabetic? Find out what happens when Mr. Divabetic, the Diabetes Late Nite cast, and some special friends try to solve this diabetes murder mystery loosely based on “The Phantom Of The Opera.” Enjoy diabetes self-care advice and nutrition information in-between moments of suspense, wide-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, CDCES, Author Peter Arpesella, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDCES, 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.

Divabetic’s Third Mystery Podcast: Suspect Boulevard

Our third annual Diabetes Mystery Theater Podcast, ‘Suspect Boulevard’ revolves around dogs, dementia, diamonds, and diabetes. This special mystery theater production is loosely based on Billy Wilder’s film, Sunset Boulevard.

Our cast includes Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, ‘We Are Diabetes’ organization founder, Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDCES, 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 Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Charles Gerhardt, courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hopes to inspire you to become a Diabetes Detective will this third installment of the Diabetes Mystery Theater podcast.

Divabetic’s Fourth Mystery Podcast: Gypsies, Tramps And Peas

Diabetes advocate turned reluctant amateur sleuth, Mr. Divabetic 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, he heads for Coney Island 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. Was 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?

Will he sink or swim? Tune in to find out if he can solve the murder of his former swim coach with the help of his friends, some sassy mermaids, and a cooky fortune teller. Along the way to revealing the identity of the murderer, he uncovers expert tips for diabetes self-care during the Summer months.

USA Today Best-Selling Author, Tonya Kappes, Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic,’ Seveda Williams, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, Mama Rose Marie, and Poet Lorraine Brooks help the fruit suit clad sleuth in this seaside adventure.

This year’s mystery podcast features music from the original cast recording of ‘Gypsy’ courtesy of SONY Music.

Divabetic’s Fifth Mystery Podcast: Swan Wake:

When the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, heads to the Gotham City Ballet Company’s box office to fix a mix-up with his ‘Swan Lake’ tickets, he’s faced with an even bigger problem – a MURDER! To make matters worse, one of his latest culinary creations, a gluten-free cheesecake, seems to be covering the victim’s face. Even more shocking are the numerous scandals swirling around the Gotham City Ballet, and its members that have everyone walking around on tiptoes. Could our happy healthcare host’s wacky culinary skills make him an accessory to the crime or even a possible side dish? Now Mr. Divabetic, with the help of his team of Certified Diabetes Educators, a Best-Selling Mystery Author, and his own nosy Italian Mom, must whip up his own crime-solving recipe, and fast–before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends his diabetes advocacy and healthy catering career once and for all.

Our Swan Wake cast features Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, We Are Diabetes organization founder Asha Brown, Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Mary Ann Nicolay MEd, DTR, Mama Rose Marie, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ and Poet Lorraine Brooks.

The podcast will feature music from Leonard Berstein’s recording of ‘Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20’ celebration of the centennial of America’s greatest classical composer and conductor courtesy of SONY Music.

Divabetic’s Sixth Mystery Podcast: Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes

Enjoy Divabetic’s 6th Annual Diabetes Mystery Podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes. The mystery is set in the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s healthy culinary misadventures continue in this year’s escapade as he enters the competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake-phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape.

Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation. Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail? Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?

The cast of Gingerbread Men Prefers Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR, The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks, and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast, we will feature music from the original Broadway cast recording Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

Divabetic’s Seventh Mystery Podcast: Kill Me Madam

There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten-time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin.’ But resentment, greed, and Britannia’s own bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off.

Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police after meeting her just once!

As if his life wasn’t crazy enough before, escaping a murderous mishap in New York and attempting a fresh start in Nantucket has turned into a complete and utter baking disaster now Max, along with his friends and nosy mother, have to add tracking down a murderer to his To-Do list, as well.

Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake an edible cake?

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

Divabetic’s Eighth Mystery Podcast: A Christmas Peril

The Holidays are full of surprises— especially after Mr. Divabetic gets a new job as the pastry chef at the St. Nicholas Nursing Home in a cozy Christmas Village. But adjusting to life in a Christmas Village is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous resident, a real-life Ebenezer Scrooge, named Mr. Pincher almost dies——shortly after eating one of Max’s peanut butter swirl brownies. Despite all of the ingredients for danger, Mr. Divabetic and our team of amateur sleuths and his overly protective mother — set out to find the real culprit in the hopes that his name isn’t on a lethal naughty list.

Our story was inspired by Kevin Houdeshell’s tragic true-life story. Thanks to the Houdeshell family for their advocacy efforts on behalf of the Emergency Insulin Act of 2019 and the emergency prescription refill legislation. Known as Kevin’s or Howdy’s Law, it allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance medication if the doctor cannot be reached – a common-sense act that could save a life.

Starring Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, USA Best Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Terri Seidman, Trisha Artman, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, and Wendy Radford. Special thanks to the Houdeshell family and Pharmacist Mandy Reece. Original music by Ivan Hampden Jr., Celine Dion’s vocals courtesy of SONY Music. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir.

In the spirit of Scrooge’s awakening at the end of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we encourage you to honor Christmas in your heart by living in the Past, The Present, and the Future. Try to embrace the Spirits of all Three and the lessons they teach.

Divabetic’s Ninth Mystery Podcast: Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu

Mr. Divabetic lands his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat on the Jersey Shore. Everything is hunky-dory until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s new chef knives. Now he’s the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation! Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Starring Max “Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage,’ Seveda Williams, and Lorraine Brooks. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir. Music by Ivan Hampden Jr.

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Collage Artist Tom Cocotos Guests On Divabetic’s Podcast

“It was a surprise to my family and me when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2002,” says, Collage Artist Tom Cocotos. “No one in my family is living with diabetes, but I had all the classic symptoms.”

Over the past twenty years, he has changed his insulin therapy. “I started with insulin injections and switched to an insulin pump,” says Tom. “The switch made it much easier than shots. I also use a continuous glucose meter.”

Tom created a series of 1500 small self-portraits based on his blood sugar levels. He would sketch his face and write down his blood sugar levels after giving himself a finger stick test.

“I would take the blood from the test strip and apply it to a small piece of watercolor paper. That blood smear would become my mouth, and I would do an ink drawing for my face. I noticed my line quality would often be shaky if my blood sugar levels were low.”

Tom’s commissioned work has taken him worldwide to Buenos Aires, Moscow, Berlin, and Miami, where he has staged one-person exhibitions in many of these cities. His clients include The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, Random House, Ford Motors, and Yahoo.  He is currently working on his fifth children’s book for National Geographic.

Divabetic’s 12th Year Podcast Anniversary Special’s musical inspiration is Kenneth Edmonds, known professionally as Babyface. He has written over 250 top-10 R&B and pop hits, working with Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston.

“The blessing of being able to write music and let the music speak for itself is you let the melodies and the lyrics and the groove talk to people instead of me talking to people,” says Babyface.

What makes Babyface so great? His ability to craft a song that touches our emotions captivates our ears and aligns every word in perfect harmony. It’s a rare gift that not many people have in music.

“I would say that I’ve been lucky. Being blessed and not ever giving up,” says Babyface.

Anniversary podcast guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES, and Collage Artist Tom Cocotos.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your diabetes wellness journey! We’re looking forward to sharing more insight and advice on diabetes self-care from experts and peers, along with more great music in the next year!

 

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Blueberry Ricotta Cake Recipe by Splenda

Looking for a Summertime treat that won’t put your diabetes wellness at risk? Enjoy this wonderful Blueberry Ricotta Cake recipe from our friends at Splenda.

Packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, blueberries are also high in potassium and vitamin C, making them the top choice of doctors and nutritionists. Not only can they lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, but they are also anti-inflammatory.

Ricotta is an Italian curd cheese made from whey left over from the production of other cheese. Compared to most cheeses, ricotta is a healthier choice because it contains less salt and fat – 10 percent fat, of which 6 percent is saturated.

Blueberry Ricotta Cake Recipe by Splenda

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

4 large eggs + 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature

⅔ cup Splenda® Stevia Granulated Sweetener

½ cup unsalted butter, melted

1¼ cups low-fat ricotta cheese

¼ cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest

1½ cups blueberries, rinsed and dried

See FULL RECIPE

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris, The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, September 28, 7-8 PM, EST.

During this Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef prepares a Sugar-Free Dessert recipe, demonstrates her favorite kitchen tools, and shares expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and alternative flours in recipes.

Win gifts courtesy of The Diabetic Pastry Chef, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes‘s Camper Cozy Mystery, and Peak 10 Skin’s Save My Sole Foot Rescue Cream during Mr. Divabetic’s random drawings. You must be present at our Baking Party to enter our gift drawings to win.

We’ve also been fortunate to offer a Splenda Gift Basket as one of our prize offerings at our previous Baking Parties.

REGISTER NOW

Speaking of ‘blueberries,’ the first song that comes to mind is Fats Domino’s Blueberry Hill.

In 1949, the musician and singer made one of the first rock’n’roll records, called The Fat Man, and instrumental in the early rock’n’roll scene of the 1950s and early 1960s.

His hits included ‘Ain’t That a Shame’ and ‘Blueberry Hill.’ In the 1950s his records were only outsold by those of Elvis Presley, according to Rolling Stone.

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How Much Added Sugar Is Too Much?

The American Heart Association suggests women should have no more than 100 calories per day (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams) and no more than 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of sugar) for most men.

2 tablespoons of Barbeque Sauce (around 28 grams) can contain your total daily allowance of added sugar,  around 9 grams.

Almost half of the added sugar in the American diet comes from one source: sugary drinks (regular soft drinks, sweetened tea and coffee, energy drinks, and fruit drinks).

A standard 20-ounce (591-mL) bottle of a sports drink will contain 32.5 grams of added sugar and 161 calories. This is equivalent to 9 teaspoons of sugar, your daily allowance.

Here’s another eye-opening statistic:  a large flavored coffee or coffee drink can contain 45 grams of sugar, if not much more. That’s equivalent to about 11 teaspoons of added sugar per serving!

Other sources of added sugars are candy, desserts, sweet snacks (cakes, cookies, pies), dairy desserts, milk products (ice cream, sweetened yogurt, and sweetened milk), breakfast cereals and bars, and other items.

For example, a single cup (245 grams) of low-fat yogurt can contain over 45 grams of sugar, about 11 teaspoons. This is more than the daily limit for men and women in just a single cup.

New science shows that when we overload on added sugar, our brain receptors change, making it hard to regulate how much we eat. Sugar is addictive. It lights up the same reward receptors and triggers the same cascade of feel-good brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine as cocaine. And when you’re shaky, irritable, and looking for your next food “fix,” you may not even realize it—but you’re hooked.

If you’re struggling with managing your added sugar intake, check out the book Sugar SavvySolution: Kick Your Sugar Addiction for Life and Get Healthy by my friend, health guru Kathie Dolgin, High Voltage.

High Voltage’s Sugar Savvy Solution is more than a diet. It’s an eye-opening, confidence-building, life-affirming program that literally and scientifically helps remap your brain chemistry to change what you crave and want to eat. It’s a plan that will empower you from the top down and inside out. Sugar Savvy includes: • a complete 6-week plan to transform your eating and exercise habits • easy-to-assemble Power Meal Formulas plus more than 40 simple Power Meals and Snacks you can use to eat Sugar Savvy anywhere • Moving Affirmations that move your body and your spirit • inspirational stories and advice from the 17 Sugar Savvy Sisters who tried our program, every single one of whom lost weight • and much more! This one-of-a-kind plan beats obesity where it begins—in your brain. The Sugar Savvy motto is Eat whatever you want, but we will change your desires. 

“Science is just now catching up to what High Voltage figured out years ago: Breaking your sugar addiction isn’t about willpower, it’s about brain chemistry. Follow her innovative Sugar Savvy program to change what you crave, lose weight, and beat disease!” –Mark Hyman, MD, author of The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet

I’m thrilled to announce that my friend, High Voltage will join the cast of Divabetic’s Annual Mystery podcast, Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu, this September! She will help us raise awareness of the dangers of excess amounts of added sugar in our diets.

Here’s a short synopsis: The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic lands his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat on the Jersey Shore. Everything is hunky-dory until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s new chef knives. Now he’s the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation! Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu stars Max “Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, Seveda Williams, Terri Seidman, and Lorraine Brooks. Music by Ivan Hampden Jr.

 

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Divabetic Pays Tribute to Regina Belle

“I want to be who I am now. So I rock my gray hair because it is a blessing,” says Regina Belle.

Today, the Grammy Award-winning singer Regina Belle celebrates her 59th Birthday. 

“I colored mine for many years, but I’ve gotten compliments from many men and women about being brave enough to sport the gray,” she adds. “I even wear it on the cover of my record. I am comfortable in my skin and want listeners to feel that.”

Regina Belle was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009 and underwent an eight-hour surgery. The Grammy Award-winning singer said, “I had to learn humility because I couldn’t do anything for myself, and I needed help with everything that I wanted to do; everything that I could think of.”

It had to be a shock as well as scary for Regina. The emotional strain and burden of experiencing a health crisis and setback are undoubtedly challenging. Many of us struggle with disappointment and depression relating to thoughts of our body letting us down. It’s incredible to After being signed to Columbia Records in 1987, 

Regina Belle skyrocketed to fame after her debut album, All by Myself, was released in 1987. A string of hits, “So Many Tears” and “Show Me the Way,” paved the way for her iconic duet, “A Whole New World,” with Peabo Bryson from Disney’s animated film, Aladdin.

Sadly, Regina Belle’s chat-topping success didn’t make her invincible to disappointment. She was dropped from her record label, triggering a string of challenges that would nearly take her life. After 25 years in the business, she almost lost everything after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

“I went to emergency surgery, and the surgery was supposed to take a couple of hours. It took eight. I bled so badly they had to close me up and finish it six months later; they had to open my head back up,” she recalled on Unsung.

Thankfully, Regina Belle is in good health, celebrating her 59th Birthday. “God was telling me I was blessed. He was putting me in a position to understand that I don’t have control over everything and that he can still work some stuff out.”

Regina has something to say about growing older and being invisible. 

“I want to get the word out that I am still relevant and have something to say.”

If you’re feeling invisible, instead of hoping someone else will do the legwork for you, work on loving yourself. It takes time but learning to accept yourself and feel at ease with who you are, makes you charismatic. Your mannerisms, and the way you smile, laugh, talk, and interact help comprise your style. Set a goal! Goals we were achieving.

Doing something complicated when you’re over a certain age increases your self-esteem and makes you more visible to others too.

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A Woman’s Choice Poem By Lorraine Brooks

Poet Lorraine Brooks shared her newest poem, A Woman’s Choice, on last night’s Divabetic 12th Year Podcast Anniversary Special.  Overnight there’s been a tremendous response to Lorraine’s powerful verse.

A Woman’s Choice by Lorraine Brooks

A woman’s choice

a woman’s voice

A voice that claims

Her rightful domains

To make decisions

Without derision

To control our fate

To procreate

To love at will

To take a pill

I’ve had my fill

Of Capitol Hill

They tell me why

l must comply

With laws that make me

Someone’s property

Heaven forbid

l choose to get rid

Of a child of a rape

Or a need to escape

From abuse or unfairness

From lack of awareness.

A part of this nation

I want education

And as a minority

l resent superiority

l resent being told

I must fit in your mold

And that l must submit

To some old hypocrite

Who is hellbent on taking me

Back to last century.

But we’re not done fighting

For laws that need writing

For fairness and decency

And justice spread evenly.

The fight is not over

The US will recover

From all this confusion –

And once and for all honor its Constitution.

Listen to Lorraine Brooks perform A Woman’s Choice on Divabetic’s 12th Year Podcast Anniversary Special. Other guests include Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, Ivan Hampden Jr.,  and Collage Artist Tom Cocotos. Hosted by Mr. DIvabetic with musical inspiration from Babyface courtesy of SONY Music.

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Celebrating 12 Years of Divabetic Podcasting

Tonight I celebrate my twelfth consecutive year of hosting monthly Divabetic podcasts. I am grateful to our listeners, guests, podcast team, and Sony Music for helping me stay true to a commitment I made to myself in 2003. I decided to help others affected by, at risk of, and living with diabetes to ‘keep their house a home’ by offering tools, time, and the expertise of professional credentialed healthcare collaborators.

My goal was then and continues to be to help others “keep their house a home” by preventing a stroke, related to mismanagement of diabetes, from occurring. I do this in memory of my boss, Luther Vandross.

Our Anniversary podcast’s musical inspiration is Kenneth Edmonds, who is known professionally as Babyface. He has written over 250 top-10 R&B and pop hits, working with the likes of Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston.

“The blessing of being able to write music and let music speak for itself is you let the melodies and let the lyrics and the groove talk to people instead of me talking to people,” says Babyface.

What makes Babyface so great? His ability to craft a song that touches our emotions captivates our ears and aligns every word in perfect harmony. It’s a rare gift that not many people have in music.

“I would say that I’ve been lucky. Being blessed and not really ever giving up,” says Babyface.

Anniversary podcast guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES, and Collage Artist Tom Cocotos.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your diabetes wellness journey! We’re looking forward to sharing more insight and advice on diabetes self-care from experts and peers, along with more great music in the next year!

 

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Less Sugar Peach And Blueberry Cobbler Recipe

My friend, Stacey Harris, known as ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’, who co-hosts our Divabetic Sugarfree Baking Parties on Zoom has inspired me to experiment in the kitchen. Specifically, I’ve been replacing half of the amount of the sugar needed with Splenda brown sugar and substituting almond flour for white flour in dessert recipes. In most cases, I used a combination of sugar and sugar substitutes.  Trust me, I won’t be appearing on The Great British Bake-Off show anytime soon but if I can do it, so can you!

Since I’ve been working on lyrics for a new song tentatively entitled Peach Cobbler, I decided to take on this dessert with my limited culinary skills.  I started with the Original Bisquick™ Peach Cobbler recipe, like food blogger Karlynn Johnston, but added oatmeal (more fiber) and fresh blueberries and substituted some of the sugar with Splenda brown sugar. The result was surprisingly good!

Less Sugar Peach & Blueberry Cobbler Recipe 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Original Bisquick™ mix
  • 1/2 cup of oatmeal
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 Splenda Brown Sugar
  • 1 can (29 ounces) sliced peach, drained
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 375 °F.
  • Whisk together the baking mix, oatmeal, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Add in milk. Pour in the melted butter and mix again. Pour into an ungreased 8×8 pan.
  • Combine the peaches, and blueberries with sugar and Splenda brown sugar, tossing to coat them well. Spoon onto the top of the Bisquick mixture in the pan carefully, trying to keep them on top if you can.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes until golden brown. You can insert a toothpick into the baked part and see if it comes out clean.

 

Oops, I added some Whipped Cream too!

From time to time I like to sprinkle my R & B playlists with country music. One of my all-time favorite country songs is Deana Carter’s Strawberry Wine. The song was released in August 1996 and became Carter’s first number 1 hit on both the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks. The song follows a young girl as she falls in love for the first time, and Carter drew inspiration from her own first love to sing it.

My new unfinished song, Peach Cobbler, is about a woman’s first experience with heartbreak and her mother’s comforting words. Here are the lyrics to the first verse and chorus that inspired me to get in the kitchen and alter the Original Bisquick™ Recipe. 

Peach Cobbler by Max Szadek
verse
I was crying so hard
when I crept home
didn’t see mama
standing by the stove
 
she was cooking peaches
but her pot got cold
the minute she saw 
my teardrops rolling 
 
down my cheeks
when I tried to speak
she hushed me
saying, Oh, Child, Please!
 
you know, I wasn’t born this old 
back in the day, when I was your age 
I met a few Romeo’s
had my share of heartaches
now it’s your turn to learn 
what your grandma told me
when my heart was first broken 
 
chorus
you can’t hurry love
any faster than you can 
speed up a pan,  cooking cobbler
 

so don’t bother with fools

who promise the moon
to get you to do
what you don’t wanna
 
they’ll steal your stars 
leave your nights a whole lot darker 
take it from me
I wasn’t any smarter
 
until my mama taught me 
you can’t hurry love
any faster than you can 
speed up a pan, cooking peach cobbler

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Divabetic’s 12th Year Podcast Anniversary Coming in July

We’re celebrating Divabetic’s 12th Year Anniversary of Podcasting with musical inspiration from Babyface and music from his A Closer Look album courtesy of SONY Music. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES, and Collage Artist Tom Cocotos. Hosted by Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek.

Our musical inspiration, Kenneth Edmonds who is known professionally as Babyface, has written over 250 top-10 R&B and pop hits, working with the likes of Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston.

“The blessing of being able to write music and let music speak for itself is you let the melodies and let the lyrics and the groove talk to people instead of me talking to people,” says Babyface.

What makes Babyface so great? His ability to craft a song that touches our emotions captivates our ears and aligns every word in perfect harmony. It’s a rare gift that not many people have in music.

“I would say that I’ve been lucky. Being blessed and not really ever giving up,” says Babyface.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your diabetes wellness journey! We’re looking forward to sharing more insight and advice on diabetes self-care from experts and peers, along with more great music in the next year!

 

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