Beauty-Fashion-Style – Page 7

05/05/201705/05/2017

Divabetic’s Cinco De Mayo Fiesta Celebration

For the past twelve years at our Divabetic live events, on our podcasts and inner blog we’ve been promoting a ‘New Attitude’ about living with diabetes to help you ‘Keep Your House A Home’ by learning to prevent a diabetes health-related complication from occurring. Now we’re sharing our decade’s worth of our ‘diva brand of diabetes outreach’ advice and suggestions with you so that you won’t have to avoid the holidays in order to take charge of our diabetes.

Our Cinco de Mayo Day Fiesta Celebration embraces the colorful fun of a fiesta to encourage you to entertain like a diva!

We believe diabetes doesn’t have to dim your dazzle! Add a splash of color!

Color is a must but it can either fill the space or play off of white or neutrals. The colors one sees in Mexico are traditionally vibrant, but because they were originally produced from natural pigments they have a slightly muted or chalky quality that tones them down just a bit.

Decorate your fiesta with these festive tissue-paper streamers, bowl bands, and flags. Tissue paper flowers made great decorations. We put them in flower pots, use them as streamers, and wear them as accessories. READ MORE

While the basics of Mexican restaurant entrees — rice, corn, beans, tomatoes, and chiles — are packed with nutrients, beware of entrees loaded with fatty cheeses, refried beans, and sour cream. Follow these tips to enjoy flavorful Mexican food without derailing your ‘divabetic’ diet:

Platter-size entrees with all the fixings can total 1,500 calories. Take half home or order a la carte to get only what you want.
Cheese and sour cream top many entrees. Ask for reduced-fat sour cream (or skip it altogether) and lower-fat sauces, such as a red sauce rather than cream sauce.
Crispy entrees usually mean the dish has been deep-fried. Opt for corn or whole wheat tortillas instead.

Keep reading to learn how to slim down Mexican restaurant favorites.

Sure, the holidays when you’re living with diabetes especially if you feel like you can’t enjoy the foods your actually preparing for your family and friends! Why not take the opportunity this Cinco de Mayo to try a new recipe?

Sure, it can be challenging at times to enjoy

One of our favorite bakers, Stacey ‘The Diabetic Pasty Chef’ Harris shares this zesty dessert idea for your fiesta!

Key Lime Cupcakes by the Diabetic Pastry Chef

Vanilla Cupcakes Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar or equivalent dry sugar substitute

1/3 tsp salt

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

2 eggs

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk or unsweetened almond milk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease muffin tin or use paper liners.

Combine dry ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer mixing at low speed just until combined. Add butter and mix until the butter coats the flour.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and vanilla. Turn on the mixer and add the egg mixture to the dry mixture in 3 parts until combined. Do not overmix.

Divide batter evenly among the muffin tins. filling each 1/2 full. This should make about 16 cupcakes. Let sit 10 minutes before baking. Bake about 17 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool completely.

Hollow out the center of the cupcakes. Fill with lime curd, pipe frosting, and garnish with lime slices, mint and lime zest.

Lime Curd Ingredients

3 eggs

1 cup Whey Low D Granular or equivalent dry sugar substitute

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 Tbsp lime zest

Beat together the eggs and sugar substitute in the top of a double boiler. Stir in juice, butter and zest. Cook over simmering water 15 minutes or until thickened. Cool.

Whipped Cream Frosting Ingredients

2 cups heavy whipping cream

6 Tbsp powdered sugar or powdered sugar substitute

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Add ingredients to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until soft peaks form. Pipe onto cupcakes. This whipped cream recipe is not stabilized, so frost and garnish right before serving.

Did you know that ‘Mexico’s soda tax will save 18,900 lives and more than $983 million over 10 years?

Mexico’s soda tax has continued to help reduce Mexico’s consumption of unhealthy beverages reported by Reuters. Purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages were down nearly 10 percent in the second year of the tax, a new study shows.

Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force described the new study as “encouraging for many cities and countries around the world which are exploring ways to shift the rising tide of diabetes.”

Similar taxes have been levied in countries around the globe – from Colombia to France and South Africa, and in American cities, from Berkeley, California, to Philadelphia. READ MORE

The LA Times reports that if Mexicans sustain this pattern of consuming fewer sweetened beverages, the model developed by researchers predicts that over 10 years, the 10% excise tax could prevent 189,300 new cases of Type 2 diabetes, 20,400 strokes and heart attacks, and 18,900 deaths among adults 35 to 94 years old.

From 2013 to 2022, the reductions in diabetes alone could yield savings in projected healthcare costs of $983 million dollars, the researchers concluded.

Margaritas may be a tasty accompaniment to your tacos or enchiladas, but these are among the highest-calorie alcoholic beverages you can choose. Laced with sugar and sweet liqueur, just one margarita may contain as many calories as your meal. The actual count will vary by recipe, and you can create a much lighter version with some key ingredient substitutions.

Eight ounces of a standard margarita on the rocks will set you back about 455 calories, while a 12-ounce margarita has about 680 calories. You can lighten up your drink by limiting the Cointreau — or triple-sec, which is sometimes used instead — and by using fresh lime juice instead of a sweetened version. Omit sweet-and-sour syrup and sugar, and use just one ounce of tequila to further reduce calories. If your drink seems too small, add come zero-calorie soda water.

Or why not treat yourself to a alcohol-free sparkler, made fast with a tangy blend of frozen juice concentrates?

Mocktail Margaritas Recipe from Pillsbury

(Calories: 80, Total Carbohydrates: 19 g)

Ingredients

Lime wedges, if desired

Coarse salt, if desired

1 can (6 oz) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed (3/4 cup)

1 can (6 oz) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed (3/4 cup)

1/4 cup powdered sugar

3 cups crushed ice

2 cups club soda, chilled

Mocktail Margarita Directions

Rub rims of glasses with lime wedges; dip in salt to coat.

In blender, place lemonade and limeade concentrates, powdered sugar and ice. Cover; blend until slushy. Add club soda; stir gently. Pour mixture carefully into glasses. Garnish with lime wedges.

Four years ago, Actress and Diabetes Advocate, Salma Hayek launched Nuance, an expansive collection of lipsticks, blushes, bronzers, face serums, shampoos, and conditioners inspired by her grandmother. These days, it’s safe to say that she’s got the art of looking good down to a science.

“This is embarrassing to say but I wear makeup a lot,” says Selma. “Not every day, I try to let my skin rest, but when I do, I shade my face to give it more depth and to slim my jaw. People think you contour only to get cheekbones, but if you study your face and realize that dark colors will diminish features and lighter colors will bring out features, you can design the face you want.”

Salma Hayek developed diabetes while she was pregnant. “I got gestational diabetes, which I didn’t realize at first. It occurs in women who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy,” says Salma. “I didn’t know whether I was feeling bad because I was pregnant or whether something was seriously wrong. I was nauseated for nine months, which can be one of the symptoms.”

All pregnant women are at some level of risk for gestational diabetes. Since it affects as many as 18% of all pregnant women, it is one of the most common conditions associated with pregnancy. Learn more about gestational diabetes

Our Divabetic ‘Cinco de Mayo Fiesta’ Playlist contains a fabulous mix of Selena’s greatest hits. Selena was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, model, actress, and fashion designer. Called the Queen of Tejano music, her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century

https://youtu.be/SQqehP4YaRQ

LISTEN NOW: Drinking & Diabetes? on Diabetes Late Nite podcast with inspiration from Kathie Lee and Hoda. Find out how alcohol effects your blood sugars. While moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels. If you are in doubt about whether drinking alcohol is safe for you, check with your doctor.

SAVE THE DATE: Don’t miss our first-ever Diabetes Alert Dog Fashion Show on Sunday, June 4, 2017, 11 AM – 1 PM at Mosaic Central Farm Markets in Mosaic, VA. Diabetes Alert Dog Trainer and Author Debby Kay from Chilbrook Kennels, and certified diabetes educator Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE will on hand to answer your questions.

05/03/201705/03/2017

Divabetic’s Old Hollywood Mother’s Day Celebration, Pt. 3

“Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!” from Auntie Mame.

Our Divabetic Mother’s Day Celebration embraces an Old Hollywood aesthetic to encourage you to shine the spotlight on you and your diabetes health!

We believe diabetes doesn’t have to dim your dazzle! You can still embody Old Hollywood glamour and the kind of woman who is accustomed to attention from throngs of paparazzi!

Sure, it can be challenging at times to enjoy the holidays when you’re living with diabetes especially if you feel like you can’t enjoy the foods your actually preparing for your family and friends! Why not take the opportunity this Mother’s Day to change your mindset as well as your family’s about what healthy tastes like?

One of our favorite experts,‘The Decadent Diabetic’ aka Chef Ward Alper shares this Oscar worthy menu for a Divabetic Mother’s Day Celebration. The Decadent Diabetic’s menu includes Cucumber Soup, Smoked Salmon & Brie Omelet, Roasted Asparagus and Tart A Citron. Below is Chef’s Ward Alper’s recipe for Rosalind Roasted Asparagus (We will be posting one recipe each day throughout the upcoming week).

Rosalind Roasted Asparagus by The Decadent Diabetic

(Serving size 8-10 spears, net carbohydrates: 6 grams)

Chef’s Note: As with most vegetables, high temperature “roasting” intensifies the flavor. I roast a lot of veggies, but asparagus is my personal “star”

I like mid sized asparagus. The pencil thin ones just go limp, and the fat ones seem to taste “old” to me, even after peeling them. ONLY when it fresh in my garden, I use a little lemon thyme in this recipe.

Ingredients

8-10 – asparagus spears

1 – Tbsp. minced shallot

1 – clove of grated garlic

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. butter

salt and pepper to taste

2 – Tbsp. fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar (optional)

HOW TO PREPARE THE RECIPE:

Pre heat oven to 400-425° F.

Rinse the asparagus under running water. On a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil, toss the shallots, garlic, butter, olive oil, salt, and pepper with the asparagus and spread to one layer.

Cook at for 6- 10 minutes depending on how crunchy you like your vegetables. Sprinkle with lemon juice or balsamic vinegar just before serving.

Did you know asparagus may be able to keep diabetes at bay by helping blood sugar levels stay under control while boosting output of insulin? READ MORE

Chef Ward’s asparagus dish pays homage to silver screen legend, actress Rosalind Russell.

“Flops are a part of life’s menu and I’ve never been a girl to miss out on any of the courses,” said Rosalind Russell.

She was a tall and lean just like asparagus! She was best known for her versatility in witty and sophisticated roles such as the fast-talking newspaper reporter in the screwball comedy ‘His Girl Friday’ in 1940. She is also fondly remembered for her portrayal of Mame Dennis in the film ‘Auntie Mame’ in 1958.

Rosalind Russell may have been the most glamorous and famous woman to have Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). However, she shared three qualities with many others living with RA: She was determined, hopeful, and private. She used her celebrity status to advocate for research and successfully lobbied Congress to pass the National Arthritis Act.

Not Everything About Old Hollywood Was Glamorous!

Actress Kim Novak recalls when she first got to Hollywood, her studio changed her name, gave her lavender highlights, and told her to speak with a breathier voice. When Novak overate one day after a visit to a farmer’s market, one of her actress girlfriends suggested she remedy the mistake by drinking soap and water — which she did, before getting a ride to the hospital.

Did you know your favorite Old Hollywood actresses would dab gasoline on their cheekbones and browbones to spotlight their bone structure? Cinematographers would even rub the stuff on camera lenses to give the shoot a soft-focus, ethereal quality.

High blood sugar is dangerous for many reasons, but it can also make your skin dry, and prone to cracking and breaking. This opens the door to infections. And if you do get an infection, high blood sugar makes the infection harder to fight.

“The No. 1 key is to get your diabetes in check,” says Katherine H. Fiala, MD, director of the dermatology residency program at Scott & White Clinic in Temple, Texas. “If you do that first, everything else is so much easier.”

Our team’s having so much fun putting together ideas for a Divabetic Old Hollywood Mother’s Day Celebration, that Chef Ward ‘the Decadent Diabetic’ Alper sent me this fun message referencing Old Hollywood: “With all these Divas you are having for brunch, I HOPE, you didn’t have to call Janie Clarkson and cancel….again.”

This delicious quote is from the film, Mr. Skeffington starring Bette Davis. Popular and beautiful Fanny Trellis (Bette Davis) is forced into a loveless marriage with an older man, Jewish banker Job Skeffington, in order to save her beloved brother Trippy from an embezzlement charge, and predictable complications result.

05/01/201705/03/2017

Old Hollywood Inspires Divabetic Mother’s Day Celebration, Pt 2

Our Divabetic Mother’s Day Celebration embraces an Old Hollywood aesthetic to encourage you to shine the spotlight on you and your diabetes health!

Sure, it can be difficult at times to enjoy the holidays when you’re living with diabetes especially if you feel like you can’t enjoy the foods your actually preparing for your family and friends! Why not take the opportunity this Mother’s Day to change your mindset as well as your family’s about what healthy tastes like?

One of our favorite experts,‘The Decadent Diabetic’ aka Chef Ward Alper shares this Oscar worthy menu for a Divabetic Mother’s Day Celebration. The Decadent Diabetic’s menu includes Cucumber Soup, Smoked Salmon & Brie Omelet, Roasted Asparagus and Tart A Citron. Below is Chef’s Ward Alper’s recipe Stanwyck Smoked Salmon and Brie Omelet. (We will be posting a different dish from his marvelous menu each day throughout the upcoming week).

Stanwyck Smoked Salmon and Brie Omelet Recipe by the Decadent Diabetic

(Serves 2, Carbohydrates 4 grams per serving)

Chef’s note: This dish is as simple to make as it is elegant to serve. Great for a weekend breakfast, brunch or lunch.

Ingredients

4 eggs very well beaten and frothy

Salt and pepper to taste and your doctor’s recommendation

2-3 Tbsp. Liquid (milk, cream, sour cream, or yogurt)

1 TBSP. finely chopped shallot or scallion.

2 TBSP. butter

2-3 ounces of brie, in ¾ inch pieces

3 ounces sliced smoked salmon.

2 TBSP. rinsed and drained capers (optional)

How the ‘Decadent Diabetic’ prepares the recipe:

Combine the eggs, salt pepper, liquid, and shallot or scallion and whisk until light and frothy. Heat the butter in a skillet. Add the eggs to the skillet and lower the heat to medium high. Allow the mixture to start to set. Start bringing in the sides to the center rotating the pan to allow the liquid to fill in the empty spaces.

Add the cheese and smoked salmon to the top of the omelet. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and continue to cook until the omelet puffs up (about 2-3 minutes). Sprinkle with capers and serve.

If you don’t keep capers in your pantry, try asparagus tips in their place.

Our entree’s diva inspiration, Barbara Stanwyck was an American actress who had a 60-year career in film and television, best known for her strong female roles in films, such as Double Indemnity. In 1937, Stanwyck’s talent as an actress was recognized on a grander scale as she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Stella Dallas (1937).

She would come to be nominated three more times for the films Ball of Fire (1941), Double Indemnity (1944) and Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)—each time for best actress in a leading role—however, she never won the award. In addition to the recognition she received from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Double Indemnity, she was lauded by critics for having what’s considered one of her greatest roles as seductress and murderer Phyllis Dietrichson in the popular noir film

Make a scene. For easy ooh factor, use a white tablecloth, white dishes, and just one or two rich metallic accent colors (gold or silver, never bronze).

Add a touch of Old Hollywood to your table and honor the legendary icons of Hollywood’s silver screen and share your favorites with your grandkids. Flowers and centerpieces should be tall enough to talk under or short enough to talk over.

In Old Hollywood, a party’s success wasn’t just about what was being served but also who was being served with lots of style.

Tori Avey printed out pictures of her favorite silver screen stars and put them in decorative frames from Michael’s and placed one at each seat. READ MORE

Opposites Attract! Let the glamour and style of ‘Old Hollywood’ inspire you to embrace New Diabetes Technology. Barbara Stanwyck’s gorgeous costumes in the film, ‘Lady Eve’ sparked our search for diabetes technology worthy of the silver screen. It’s sleek design and ease of use make it the perfect accessory for our Divabetic Old Hollywood Mother’s Day Celebration.

Dexcom‘s new “complication” to its Apple Watch compatibility allow your data to now be displayed right on the main watchface! There are four different ways to view your glucose data there, ranging from 1 to 6 hour trend graphs.

Currently, the new capability is only for the G5 Mobile app and Apple Watch, as the company hasn’t yet updated the Follow app that lets users share their results in real-time with family members or others. Word is also that this new feature doesn’t work with every single watchface, so if you have a unique model it might not yet be possible to make the glucose data display on the main watchface.

One of our fabulous members from the Divabetic community, Taryn McQuain Bentaous, who is living with type 2 diabetes and sells Mary Kay Cosmetics, shares her favorite ‘Old Hollywood’ shade lipstick to help you feel like a diva!

“I choose Poppy Please from our Gel Semi-Matte Collection,” says Taryn. “It feels wonderful to wear, and the matte finish reminds me of old Hollywood. It reminds me of Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, my favorite old movie!”

04/29/201705/03/2017

Old Hollywood Inspires Divabetic Mother’s Day Celebration

For the past twelve years at our Divabetic live events, on our podcasts and inner blog we’ve been promoting a ‘New Attitude’ about living with diabetes to help you ‘Keep Your House A Home’ by learning to prevent a diabetes health-related complication from occurring. Now we’re sharing our decade’s worth of our ‘diva brand of diabetes outreach’ advice and suggestions with you so that you won’t have to avoid the holidays in order to take charge of our diabetes.

Our Divabetic Mother’s Day Celebration embraces an Old Hollywood aesthetic to encourage you to shine the spotlight on you and your diabetes health!

One of our favorite experts,‘The Decadent Diabetic’ aka Chef Ward Alper shares this Oscar worthy menu for a Diabetic Mother’s Day Celebration. The Decadent Diabetic’s menu includes Cucumber Soup, Smoked Salmon & Brie Omelet, Roasted Asparagus and Tart A Citron. Below is Chef’s Ward Alper’s recipe for Catalina Cucumber Soup. (We will be posting one recipe each day throughout the upcoming week).

Catalina Cucumber Soup Recipe by the Decadent Diabetic

(4 8 ounce servings, Net carbohydrates: 6 per serving)

Ingredients:

1 medium to large sweet onion Sliced (thick or thin, your choice)

2-3 tablespoons olive oil or butter

2-4 cloves crushed and chopped garlic (depends on how much you love garlic)

1 – big stalk of celery, roughly chopped

Black pepper to taste

Salt to taste

2 Tablespoons flour

1 ½ quarts Low sodium chicken broth

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

2 teaspoons fresh dill (1 if you use dried)

3- large Cucumbers

3-4 heaping tablespoons sour cream

Chef Ward Alper’s Preparation:

Note: No need to finely chop any of the vegetables in this recipe. They will all be blended smooth at the end.

Peel the cucumbers and using the tip of a teaspoon, remove all of the seeds from the cucumbers Chop roughly.

In a good sized soup pot sauté onion in olive oil or butter until soft but not brown. Add salt and pepper about one minute into the process.

Add garlic and flour. Cook for one minute or so. Slowly add the chicken broth stirring so as not to have lumps. Add the juice and zest of the lemon.

Add ½ of the cucumbers to the broth. Simmer for 15-20 minutes on low heat. Remove from heat, let cool, and then add the remaining portions of the cucumbers, reserving some if you wish for garnish. Using an immersion blender, whip the soup until smooth.

Add the sour cream. Blend to combine.

Note: Quickest if you have an immersion blender stick, but it works in a processor. Just do it in small batches.

Let cool in the refrigerator overnight!

While your soup’s cooling why not turn up the heat with a touch of Old Hollywood glamour?

Spokesmodel, Author and Diabetes Advocate Doris Hobbs (‘Rich In Love’) beautifully captures the essence of Old Hollywood in this vintage ensemble.

“A type 1 diabetic since 2014, I follow the strength of my father who has been living with type 1 diabetes since the age of two. His determination to take control of the illness has shaped my mission,” says Doris.

Doris is living proof that living with type 1 diabetes doesn’t have dim your dazzle!

She adds, “We, as a society, have a tendency of suppressing our fears, as mastering those can be difficult and takes large amounts of will and courage to look in the mirror and say, “I will succeed; I can do this!”

You don’t need to be a red carpet Old Hollywood bombshell to harness the power of black clothing because it matches everything! It’s great for mixing and matching, for layering or for helping your ‘Revenge’ red lips standout.

MAKE UP TIP: Grab a lipstick brush and your favorite shade of red to apply a gorgeous red lip, completing the Old Hollywood glam look. To clean up the edges and define your lips, dip a concealer brush into just a pinch of concealer and outline your lips, paying particular attention to the corners and the cupid’s bow for extra crisp definition.

The key to achieving a classic, glamorous Old Hollywood look and style of entertaining lies in the details. We all know that the little details that make the ordinary become extraordinary can be daunting! But the first detail to achieving the glamorous life of your favorite Old Hollywood actress, Loretta Young, Grace Kelly or Norma Shear is focusing on you and your diabetes health!

Prioritize means “to put in order of importance”. And as a busy mom, grandmother and/or daughter with diabetes you must continually do this over and over again, making choices based on the priorities you have built. If you aren’t clear on your priorities I believe you will continually run into trouble trying to balance everything. Do you know what your priorities are for yourself and your diabetes health? Are you living your daily life with those in mind? I think a great way to get an handle on what those priorities are is to take a walk outside alone without your iPhone. Take a minute to smell the Spring flowers and when you get back from your walk, sit down and make a list.

Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, co-author of ‘The Complete Diabetes Organizer: Your Guide to A Less Stressful and Manageable Life’ offers this advice to help you in the kitchen to organize your diabetes life!

“ If you’re not organized, you can’t find what you need to cook anything, says Susan. “A for meal preparation. That means instead of stuffing certain items in your cupboard or fridge just because you found a space where it fits, organize by use instead. Group similar items together and keep healthy snacks in plain view.”

Do you have a few empty make-up bags from a give-away or promotion?

Susan suggests “to stay organized, use a medium-size makeup bag for blood glucose-checking supplies and a different one for fast-acting sources of carbs, such as glucose tablets. Keep your supplies close to you in style!”

Speaking of giveaways, pampering gifts like products from PEAK 10 SKIN® are always a great treat to any Mom…at any age! Whether it’s your daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, wife or your Mother, women love things that make them feel pampered and special. PEAK 10 SKIN® have a couple different gift sets that we put together with Mom’s in mind, but they will also custom design a gift for the Mom’s in your life. For custom gifts, simply call or email us. Beautiful gift wrap available , too! Remember, all of products are professional spa quality and are paraben FREE, gluten FREE, cruelty FREE!

PEAK 10 SKIN® is offering this Special 30% Discount Offer to our Divabetic community (use the Divabetic coupon code: divabetic (all lowercase))

Don’t forget to use your coupon code: B2B (40% off)

PEAK 10 SKIN® recently repackaged the new SOOTHE hand cream in a pot for ease of use. The product was too thick to come out of the tube with ease. It comes in 2 sizes; 2oz/$18 and 4oz/$28. These could be perfect gifts as well. These prices are BEFORE your discount is applied.

Making a Mani/Pedi kit of SAVE MY SOLE & SOOTHE hand cream would be fabulous! If you get the 2oz of each, that would be a $36 retail/$21.60 for you!

04/14/201704/15/2017

Healthy Heights for Stilettos with Dr. Michele Summers Colon

Dr. Michele Summers Colon known as ‘The Holistic Podiatrist’ shares the healthiest height and style for stilettos, a common dilemma women with diabetes, on April’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Dr. Michele says to avoid stiletto shoes that are made of cheap products (such as plastic) and pointy toe styles. She recommends purchasing stilettos made of good quality leather with an open toed shoe box, and a little front platform. A style with a front platform is better for you because the platform lowers the angle between your ankle and the ball of your foot therefore decreasing pressure on the ball of your foot.

April’s INSTANT WINNER Challenge posed the question, “Shoes with high heels should be no more than …”?

Over 50 women entered our INSTANT WINNER Challenge about the proper height of high heels for April’s Diabetes Late Nite. Unfortunately most of the women guessed the wrong answer – including me! My research stated that the correct heel height should be 2 inches high. However, Dr. Michele Summers Colon strongly recommends that high heels should be no more than 1 1/2 inches high.

“ A 1 1/2 inches high heels would be a kitten heel or a flat. Or you have find a shoe with a 2 inch heel but with a little platform in the front,” says Dr. Michele Summer Colon.

Did you know the high heel made its way to the Western fashion scene in the late 1500s as part of a craze for all things Persian?

Those early heels were aimed at men and modeled on the riding boots of Persian cavalry. By the mid-1700s, however, they had become a woman’s shoe. Today, American women spend $20 billion annually on high heels, but the shoes haven’t been altered in a meaningful way for decades!!!

High heels cram toes into a tight pocket, directing excessive amounts of force to the heels. Sarah Jessica Parker, who was famous for wearing them, had to swear off them after her foot rebelled by growing a protective layer of tissue. But most women have long accepted the pain.

“My patients come to me and beg me to fix their feet,” says Michele Summers Colon in an interview with Bloomberg Business Week. She recently started 34 Minute Shoes—a reference to how long women can stand in normal heels without pain—which is also rethinking the heel.

34 Minute Shoes, Cole Haan, and others have focused on adding extra cushioning or creating a more customized fit around the foot. The Thesis team has zeroed in on the steel shank, a strip of metal a few inches long that’s at the heart of most shoes. In high heels, its purpose is to provide the strength needed for the wearer to stand at an angle.

When a woman is walking in high heels, the end of the stiletto jams into the ground and sends a shock up through her heel. Standing still is just as bad, because about 90 percent of the pressure is on the toes. The extra give in the Thesis shank helps spread that load by allowing the foot to sit more naturally in the shoe instead of tilting forward or backward.

A physician, surgeon, health coach, yoga teacher, anatomy instructor, author and overall health & wellness expert, Dr. Michele Summers Colon has treated many women living with diabetes.

“They ask me to operate on them and inject them—anything so that they can keep wearing high heels, she says. “Women remain willing to put up with an awful lot of pain in the name of fashion. “They give lingerie a run for the money in terms of being a highly sexualized fashion accessory,” she says. “That’s at the heart of why [stilettos] are so popular and persistent and have become the archetypal grown-up women’s shoe.”

Are you ready to wear a Turban? Evetta Petty, owner of Harlem’s Heaven Hat Shop shares advice on how you can make this style trend work on your terms. READ MORE

Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Chinese pianist Lang Lang. Guests include Grammy Award winning artist, Lisa Fischer (featured on Lang Lang’s ‘New York Rhapsody’ album), the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring selected songs from Lang Lang’s ‘New York Rhapsody’ album courtesy of SONY Music. The album includes all-time classic Rhapsody in Blue, as well as Empire State of Mind, Moon River, New York Minute, Tonight, Spiderman Theme and many more. LISTEN NOW

04/12/201704/13/2017

A ‘Divabetic’ Easter Celebration with the Diabetic Pastry Chef & Karline Ricketts

We 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 Easter related festivities without failing your diabetes.

“Don’t let diabetes dim your dazzle!”

We asked several experts, Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ and Karline Ricketts, CEO/Master Stylist to share their favorite recipes and hair tips to encourage you to celebrate a Divabetic Easter in style without compromising your diabetes health.

Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ 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 and cutting the milk carbohydrates after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes,. Here’s one of the Diabetic Pastry Chef’s most requested recipes:

Easter Basket Cupcakes Recipe by Stacey “The Diabetic Pastry Chef” Harris

Cupcakes Ingredients

1 1/4 cups cake flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup Whey Low D Granular, or dry sweetener of your choice

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup buttermilk

Directions

Combine dry ingredients and set aside. In mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and beat until combined and Whey Low or other sweetener is dissolved.

Reduce mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fill 12 paper lined muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven approximately 20 minutes, or until toothpick in center comes out clean.

Frosting Ingredients

1 cup milk

5 T all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup trans-fat-free shortening

1 cup sugar, Whey Low D Granular, or other dry sweetener of your choice

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

In saucepan combine milk and flour. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils and thick paste forms, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

In mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat butter, shortening, sweetener, and vanilla until creamy. Add chilled milk mixture. Beat at least 10 minutes. Spread on cooled cupcakes.

Please note: a tub of sugar-free vanilla frosting can be substituted for this frosting recipe.

Topping Ingredients

1 bag sweetened or unsweetened coconut flakes

green food coloring

sugar-free or low sugar jelly beans

12 pipe cleaners (can be purchased at cigarette/cigar store or drug store)

Directions

Color the coconut flakes with the green food coloring. Spread on top of frosted cupcakes and press down a little. Scatter several jelly beans on top and gently press down. Bend the pipe cleaners and stick into the sides of the cupcakes as handles.

Stacey Harris has transformed more than 200 desserts into diabetic-friendly delights. COOKBOOK

Is Wearing An Easter Bonnet Harmful to Your Hair?

Topping off your Easter best with a bonnet or hat is as ‘sweet’ as adding frosting to a cupcake but can it damage your hair?

Karline Ricketts, CEO/Master Stylist, opened her first salon in West Palm Beach, FL over 30 years ago to provide an upscale client environment for a growing ethnic consumer market. Karline offers these tips for wearing a hat responsibly:

Style your hair a bit fuller than you normally would before you put on a hat to keep some of the volume when you take it off.

Never put a hat on your wet hair. Doing so may cause tension, breakage and the ultimate case of hat head when the hair is dry.

Give your hair room to breathe. Wearing a tight hat causes the hair to get greasy at the roots but dry at the ends. When the hat rubs against dry hair, it may cause it to break. A tight hat will put pressure on your head (it should feel comfortable and not pressed against your head), crush your curls and make your scalp sweat, making the situation worse.

Wear a satin cap or scarf underneath your hat to prevent your hair from breaking and dryness and to preserve your hairstyle or choose hats with a satin or silk lining.

Don’t miss Fabulous 2017, an evening of extraordinary elegance benefiting Divabetic, presented by Karline’s Salon on Saturday, May 20, 2017, 7 PM. Enjoy magical night of culture and community, colors and curls, and trend-setting fashions in a spectacular runway show. BUY TICKETS

Don’t Let the Parade Pass You By!

I’’ll be raising awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way at this year’s Annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York on Sunday, April 16, 2017, 12:30 PM

Tune in to Facebook Live (Divabetic) to catch all the sights and sounds live from the Red Carpet with guests Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, diabetes advocate, Laura Laria and hat designer, Evetta Petty and more!

04/10/201704/11/2017

Raising Awareness for Diabetes at the Easter Parade 2017

I’’ll be raising awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way at this year’s Annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York on Sunday, April 16, 2017, 12:30 PM

Don’t let the parade pass you by! Tune in to Facebook Live (Divabetic) to catch all the sights and sounds live from the Red Carpet with guests Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP and hat designer, Evetta Petty and more!

Never been to the New York Easter Parade?

“Sunday best” gets new meaning during this annual procession, wherein participants show off elaborately constructed hats— shaped like gigantic Easter baskets, the NYC skyline and the Coney Island Cyclone! The tradition started in the mid-1800s, when high-society ladies would promenade in their Easter finery after church, and has since evolved into a showcase for millinery.

While most of the hats on display at the Festival will be outrageous you can still add an extra touch of magic, refinement, and/or edge to an outfit with a much modest sized hat.

What’s one big hat trend for Spring/Summer 2017?

“With access to Cuba, its retro influence is having a powerful impact on the fashion industry,” according to Evetta Petty, the owner of Harlem’s Heaven Hat Shop in New York City. “There are colorful exotic prints that are mixed with natural raw elements. Rich, graphic, brilliant patterns paired with kitschy accessories like bold voluminous necklaces and bangles as well as tassels, pompoms, and ruffles for an updated vintage look.”

Hats are also an important staple for the summer season, since they help to shield us from the sun.

If you have diabetes, it’s important to avoid too much sun exposure and sunburn, particularly if you take certain medications, such as glyburide (brand names Micronase, DiaBeta, and Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), and glimepiride (Amaryl), as well as diuretics and NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and celecoxib [Celebrex] according to Diabetes Self-Management magazine.

People with diabetes should avoid sunburn because it can stress your body and raise your blood glucose. Wear a good sunscreen (we recommend PEAK PROTECTION sunscreen spray SPF29), lip balm that contains SPF, sunglasses as well as a hat when out in the sun and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Most people don’t realize that while driving your neck, hands and left side of your face is exposed to sun!

“If you drive 1/2 hour or more per day to work the sun is constantly beaming through the windshield on your hands,” says PEAK 10 skincare founder, Connie Elder.“Use sunscreen on the back of your hands and neck.”

I’ll be challenging people’s Diabetes Wellness IQ with games at the Easter Parade & Bonnet Festival. Test your knowledge with this question: Sunscreen doesn’t expire – True or False?

Answer: TRUE. Go ahead and throw out last summer’s bottle of sunscreen. Although sunscreens are usually labeled with an expiration date and have a shelf life of approximately two years, it’s important to buy a new bottle every summer to ensure that your skin is well-protected.

There are lots of amazing designs to try on this year but what’s the one trend that will set you a part from the other run-of-the-mill fashionistas in your town?

“The headwear industry welcomes the return of the turban with feathers and glitzy embellishments!,” says Evetta and adding, “also, wide brimmed hats with floral trimmings are a strong look this season.”

Have fun dressing for Sunny days and HAVANA NIGHTS.

04/05/201704/05/2017

Divabetic Egg-Cellent Easter Brunch Ideas

From the annual Easter Egg Roll to eating iguana, turtle and the world’s largest rodent in Colombia, there are many different Easter traditions around the world to choose from!

Easter is the most important religious holiday in the Greek Orthodox calendar. Shops line their windows with brightly-coloured wrappings for Easter candles and chocolate eggs. Greek families sit down to a meal of whole roasted lamb or kid goat on Easter Sunday.

Germans like to decorate trees with hollowed-out, painted eggs for Easter. One elderly man has taken the art form to an extreme degree.

An old European tradition of tapping eggs together in a contest to see which is the strongest is enjoying a revival in Louisiana. The town of Marksville claims to host the oldest “egg-knocking” competition in the United States. Competitors pair up on the steps of the courthouse on Easter Sunday and knock the tips of two eggs together. If the egg cracks, its owner is out of the competition. The process continues until just one egg remains.

Instead of tucking into chocolate eggs, Colombians like to eat iguana, turtle and the world’s largest rodent for their traditional Easter dinner.

We say, whatever you and your loved ones may choose to do, “Don’t let diabetes dim your dazzle!”

We asked several experts, Cookbook Author, Holly Clegg, Wine & Spirits Expert Samantha Shaken Baker and diabetes advocate, author and model Doris Hobbs to share their favorite recipes, picks and fashions to encourage you to celebrate a Divabetic Easter in style without compromising your diabetes health.

With over 1 million cookbooks sold, Holly Clegg has become a culinary expert on easy, healthy and practical recipes through her nationally recognized best-selling trim & TERRIFIC® and her more health focused Eating Well cookbook series, including newly released 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY edition of Eating Well Through Cancer, (English, Spanish and Chinese editions), Eating Well to Fight Arthritis and Diabetic Cooking with the American Diabetes Association. Clegg who attended the Cordon Bleu Cooking School has appeared on Fox & Friends, NBC Weekend Today, QVC, The 700 Club, USA Today, Cooking Light Magazine, Web MD, and Huff Post. She has consulted for Walmart, Teflon, The Coca-Cola Company, and hospitals throughout the country. Here’s Holly’s suggestion on to make a simple, impressive way to dress up eggs for Easter:

Open Face Breakfast English Muffins Recipe from ‘Eating Well To Fight Arthritis’ cookbook by Holly Clegg.

“These colorful Western omelet ingredients are piled on an English muffin and make this the ideal grab and go satisfying breakfast” says Holly. Egg beaters may be substituted for the egg and egg white combination.

Makes 6 muffins

1/2 cup chopped Canadian bacon

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper

1/3 cup chopped tomatoes

2 eggs

5 egg whites

Salt and pepper to taste

3 whole-wheat English muffins, halved

1/4 cup reduced-fat shredded Cheddar cheese

1. In nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, cook Canadian bacon 2 minutes or until begins to brown. Add onion and, green pepper sautéing until tender. Add tomatoes, cook 1 minute. Remove from pan, set aside.

2. In small bowl, whisk together eggs and egg whites. In same nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, scramble eggs. Season to taste. When eggs are almost done, stir in bacon onion mixture.

3. Meanwhile, toast muffin halves. Divide egg mixture to top muffin halves. Sprinkle with cheese.

Note: The prepared muffins may be refrigerated and reheated in the microwave or in oven preheated at 350°F. about 5 minutes or until well heated.

Nutritional information per serving:

Calories143 kcal, Calories from Fat 25%, Fat 4 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 71 mg, Sodium 391 mg, Carbohydrates 15 g, Dietary Fiber 3 g, Total Sugars 4 g, Protein 12 g, Dietary Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 ½ lean meat

“Glamour is the feeling of beauty, with an undertone of femininity, while looking like a lady, for all occasions,” Luxury Spokesmodel, Diabetes Advocate, Contributing Style Editor & Published Writer, Doris Hobbs explains. “Glamour is an illusion, a form of mystery revealing a fragile state that changes with time. Glamour, from my perspective, is defined as recreation from all facets of our lives. Perhaps the best way to describe it is with a ravishing red lipstick, a sensual hourglass silhouette, and style inspiration from such mavens as Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, and Jayne Mansfield.”

Vintage brooches are colorful, eye-catching sparkle and for a small investment, you get a big return style wise!

Did you know back in the day women wore “Scatter pins”, a matching set of two or more pins that were grouped together on a blouse or sweater?

If you love vintage brooches, there is no need to curb your enthusiasm because you think you wouldn’t get a chance to wear all the ones you find. There are plenty of ways to show them off!

DIVABETIC TIP: While alcohol can make blood sugar drop too low, certain beverages (such as beer or sugary mixers) can cause a blood sugar spike. What’s more, consuming more than one or two drinks can cloud your thinking and affect other food choices you make that day, which can also affect glucose levels.

What’s brunch without a little bubbly?

We asked Samantha Shanken Baker, who helps presents memorable food and wine events like the Annual Harlem Eat Up! to suggest a great tasting champagne for under $50. Samantha’s pick is G.H. Mumm Brut Champagne Cordon (retail $45) featuring a delightful notes of flavor—dried apricot, candied orange peel, nut and smoke. This very harmonious dry Champagne is still elegant and light-weight. The rich, toasty note lingers on the vibrant finish. Oh la-la!

DIVABETIC TIP: Heavy black pumps paired with lightweight white dresses can be an odd combination. If you wear a white dress in the spring , better options include natural toned or white sandals. If you choose to wear white in fall and winter, brown shoes still look better than black (and for sticklers to the rules, white shoes should be avoided after Labor Day). HOW TO WEAR WHITE

Why not enjoy a Coco Mimosa?

I love serving my guests mimosas at Brunch. The name of one of the characters. “Coco Mimosa”, from our upcoming Diabetes Mystery titled “Gypsies, Tramps & Peas” inspired this new tropical twist to a mimosa. It’s as easy as pie! Just splash some coconut flavored light rum over fresh orange juice and champagne.

DIVABETIC TIP: The weather is warming up and the cherry blossoms are in bloom – looks like spring has finally sprung! It’s the perfect season to jump start a walking program. It’s easy, safe, and inexpensive. It’s also relaxing and at the same time invigorating, requires little athletic skill, and does not call for club membership or special equipment other than sturdy, comfortable shoes. And it is fun and natural — good for your mind and self-esteem. LEARN MORE

Let a new walking shoe get you in the groove!

We love these striped spring flat mesh casual walking shoes (pictured above)! They’re breathable slip ons and reasonably inexpensive. BUY

According to the Who What Wear website florals are a big trend for Spring 2017. Sound familiar? Well, this time around, the scale, fabrication and mood is more exaggerated than ever! Designers are encouraging you to be in full bloom from head to toe—shoes included. From double doses of Rococo-style jacquard florals with ruffles and raw hems at Marques’Almeida to subdued, blousy ’70s bouquets at Chloé and neon carnations at Balenciaga, there is nothing standard about these arrangements. No ditsy prints here in this S/S 17 version of the fashion trend, thanks.

Mildly Mexican Breakfast Bake Recipe from ‘Eating Well To Fight Arthritis’ cookbook by Holly Clegg

“Eat with color and you know you are eating healthy! This overnight sensation with bright colors and flavors will wake up those morning taste-buds!” says Holly.

Makes 8 (1-cup) servings

8 ounces ground breakfast turkey sausage

1 onion, chopped

1 red, green, or yellow bell pepper, cored and chopped

2 cups baby spinach

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 (4-ounce) can green chilies

4 eggs

6 egg whites

2 cups fat-free half-and-half

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 1/2 cups reduced-fat shredded Mexican blend cheese

5 (8-inch) 98% fat-free flour tortillas, cut into quarters

1/2 cup chopped green onion

1. Coat 13x9x2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In large nonstick skillet, cook and crumble sausage until starts to brown. Add onion and bell pepper, cooking until sausage is done and vegetables tender. Add spinach, garlic and green chilies; cooking until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.

3. In large bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, half-and-half, chili powder, cumin and cheese.

4. Spoon one-third of sausage mixture in baking dish. Top with one-third tortilla quarters and one-third cheese and green onions. Repeat layers, ending with green onion. Pour egg mixture evenly over casserole and refrigerate, covered, at least 6 hours or overnight.

5. Preheat oven 350°F. If using glass baking dish, place in cold oven and bake 50-60 minutes or until bubbly, golden brown and knife inserted into custard comes out clean.

Nutrients

Calories 309, Calories from Fat 35%, Fat 12 g, Saturated Fat 4 g, Cholesterol 151mg, Sodium 751mg, Carbohydrates 29 g, Dietary Fiber 3 g, Total Sugars 7 g, Protein 23 g, Dietary Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fat-free milk, 1 vegetable

DIVABETIC TIP: Want to get more for your money? Buying fruit and vegetables in season often helps! Prices usually come down when a fruit or vegetable is in season. In addition, the quality of the produce (taste, texture, freshness, etc.) is at its best. When you buy produce that is out of season (for example, buying berries in the winter), you are likely buying food that has been shipped hundreds or even thousands of miles. It is usually more expensive, less environmentally-friendly, and the quality not as good.

LISTEN NOW: Cook Book Author Holly Clegg podcast interview. With over 1 million books sold, Holly reigns supreme when it comes to helping today’s busy person cook everyday meals that are fast and fit into an overall healthy lifestyle. Known as the “Queen of Quick,” Holly’s recipes are time, user and pantry-friendly. LINK

What’s trending in Diabetes Wellness for Spring? Here are three recent diabetes and health & wellness headlines that caught our eye!

Is there a link between climate change and diabetes? Researchers are looking at whether climate change might be linked to another public health concern: Type 2 diabetes.

An amazing app that helps you improve your A1C! One Drop | Mobile provides real-time and historical blood glucose data and analytics to subscribers and their healthcare providers, allowing both to see relationships between specific health behaviors and health outcomes.

Mama June’s Incredible Body Transformation After Weight Loss Surgery! On WE tv’s Mama June: From Not to Hot the reality star lost over 300 pounds and spent upwards of $75,000 to have gastric sleeve surgery, breast augmentation and skin removal surgery on her “turkey neck,” “bat wings” and stomach — where a combined total 9 lbs. of skin was removed.

03/31/2017

What the ‘Golden Girls’ Can Teach You About Diabetes Self-Care

While the women exchange quips and get into fights, the overarching message of the show focuses on the importance of chosen family, and women supporting other women. Further, we see the women enjoying life after marriage.

Whether you identify with Blanche, Dorothy, Rose or Sophia, I think the ‘Golden Girls’ can help inspire you to improve your diabetes self-care. Over the years, I have hosted 3 podcasts loosely inspired by the ‘Golden Girls’ and a ‘Golden Girls’ inspired diabetes outreach program presented in Pittsburgh, PA, New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA.

Why?

Let’s face it managing diabetes for women like the ‘Golden Girls’ presents a variety of challenges, ranging from increased insulin resistance and weight gain to sexual health issues and depression. As you age, you may be most aware of your new gray hairs and wrinkles, but aging causes changes throughout the entire body.

It used to be said that having diabetes aged people an additional 20 years. Today, thanks to better tools for managing diabetes and preventing and treating its complications, people with diabetes have the opportunity to live longer than ever before.

However, managing diabetes in the golden years presents a variety of challenges, ranging from increased insulin resistance and weight gain to sexual health issues and depression.

LISTEN NOW: Mr. Divabetic takes a ’50 Shades of Gray’ approach to talking about diabetes and aging during this lively hour of diabetes education and empowerment.

My guests include Dr. Andrea Chisholm MD, FACOG, OB-GYN, “How To Fight FATflammation!”, Author Lori Shemek PhD, “The Secrets to Living and Loving With Diabetes” and “Sex and Diabetes” Janis Roszler, MS, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND 2008-2009 Diabetes Educator of the Year (AADE), Humorist and Author “The Sweet Blessing: My Adventures in Diabetes” Trisha Porretti RN, BSN, CDE.

LISTEN: GOLDEN GIRLS podcast about ‘Diabetes & Food Choices’ as we Age. Guest, Jessica Issler, RD, CDE, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, offers the golden rules of diabetes care with a focus on food. Using the original Golden Girls – Blanche, Sophia, Rose and Dorothy – as inspiration, Jessica reviews healthy food options for a variety of palates (including cheesecake!) and shares advice on counting carbohydrates.

“I had to write ‘Golden Girls’…I’ve never gotten excited about a network idea before, but this was compelling. I could write grown-ups.” — Susan Harris, creator of ‘The Golden Girls,’ September 1985

LISTEN NOW: Studio d podcast on the Golden Rules of Style based on the ‘Golden Girls’ with Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP. Let the four iconic ‘Golden Girls’ characters inspire you to embrace your inner diva with the style! Catherine provides practical style advice to help you achieve a Glam More, Fear Less mindset in your diabetes life.

03/27/201703/27/2017

Amazing Socks Can Detect Foot Injuries Early to Avoid Ulcers

Siren Care, located in San Francisco, has created digital Smart Socks to help with early detection of diabetic foot ulcers.

Smart Socks are made with smart textiles that can detect changes in temperature in different areas of the foot that could indicate that a potential problem.

Skin inflammation is accompanied by temperature rise and potentially is a life-threatening foot ulcer. Siren Smart Socks monitor foot temperature to catch injuries early before they turn into an ulcer.

The makers embed electronics directly inside of yarn to create smart textiles that are flexible, washable, and seamless; and, importantly, can be produced on standard weaving machines. By incorporating an integrated human touch sensor into the socks, they can know when you put them on. They turn themselves on and then search for your phone to begin monitoring your feet via the Siren app. When an injury occurs, the body mounts an inflammatory response that generates heat. By scanning the feet for hot or warm spots, injuries can be detected early in people with neuropathy who are unable to feel pain.

The Siren Smart Socks have undergone informal clinical testing at University of California, San Francisco, and the company is in the process of conducting a small, 30-patient trial right now.

Siren Smart Socks will be shipped starting in mid-2017! They are available for pre-order at www.siren.care.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Late Nite inspired by the diabetes life and music of Ella Fitzgerald. Guests include Ansley Dalbo, Susan Weiner MS, CDN, RD, CDE, Mama Rose Marie, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach and Poet Lorraine Brooks.