Talk Show host, Wendy Williams has suffered from multiple health concerns, including hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease. She’s been extremely open about her ongoing health struggles to her audience.
Recently she appeared on the Dr. Oz Show to talk about her struggles living lymphedma.
Lymphedema occurs when lymph—a fluid in your body that contains white blood cells to fight germs—builds up in your soft tissues because your system is damaged or blocked, according the U.S. National Library of Medicine. When this happens, most commonly in your arms or legs, symptoms like swelling, limited range of motion, thickening of the skin, and a heavy or tight feeling in the legs or arms can occur.
“Lymphedema is not going to kill me, but I do have a machine—and how dare you talk about the swelling of it all,” she explained . She uses a compression machine, the FlexiTouch Plus, every day for 45 minutes to manage her symptoms.
The machine’s arments inflate and deflate to create a “wave-like motion” to stimulate circulation of lymph fluid.
https://youtu.be/_oXiw5M5Fuk
According to the Mayo Clinic, some causes of lymphedema include infection, scar tissue pertaining to the lymph nodes, inherited lymph node issues, or cancer. According to the NLM, treatment can help control symptoms and typically includes exercise, compression devices, skin care, and massage therapy.
Anyone with both diabetes and lymphedema faces special health challenges and must take extra care in managing these conditions to minimize complications. Before bandaging make sure to carefully examine the tissues to be bandaged for any signs of circulatory problems.
Enjoy Divabetic’s 6th Annual Mystery podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE 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 be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.
The Annual Gingerbread Man Cookie Jamboree benefiting the Central
Park Zoo is in full swing. Dozens of revelers are even dressed up like
Gingerbread Men watching the seals and sea lions feeding nearby.
Everyone’s declining Max’s kale hot cocoa. Admittedly the smell isn’t that appealing. Hopefully, our judges, who are approaching, will have a different opinion.
Oh, my! What I thought was an over sized collar around Natasha’s neck is an actual python. Let’s hope Max is too busy pouring cocoa to notice the anaconda. Too late! ‘Diamonds’ hissed at Max and he jumped clear across the table
He just knocked over the ‘Queen of Cream’, Sweet Sally Buttercup as she was sipping his kale hot cocoa. Brave woman. Oh wait, she’s grabbing her throat – she’s convulsing on the ground. Sounds like she is moaning, ‘Diamonds’, Diamonds’. This is terrible. Oh, no! The blonde celebrity chef has stopped breathing.
Ambulance Wow! That was quick! The EMTs are lifting Sweet Sally Buttercup’s lifeless body onto a gurney, covering her with a sheet and rolling her to the waiting ambulance. But even this tragic event can’t prevent the Gingerbread Man Cookie Jamboree competition fromcontinuing.
Tonya: Max, isn’t it ironic for a celebrity chef to drop dead
at a cooking competition? I’ve got a hunch Sweet Sally’s death was meant
to be humiliating. Take off that silly spotted apron. You owe it to her,
as one of her devoted fans, to solve this murder!
Max: No-no-no! I don’t have time to get mixed up in
another one of your crazy investigations. I’ve got to focus on winning.
Tonya: The other competitors are the least of your
worries. If you don’t stop tampering with the evidence. People are already
blaming her death on your kale hot cocoa
Max: That slimy snake bit her! I’m as innocent — as my mother!
Natasha: There she is! Officer arrest that woman with the leopard
purse. She killed my sister!
Sally’s twin sister, Natasha ‘Knock-Out’ Buchanan rushes forward with several police officers. She waves a stack of letters in Mama Rose Marie’s face.
Natasha: See for yourselves, Officer! Here’s the proof! She’s a cold blooded killer!
Mama Rose Marie: Me? Oh dear.
A quick scan of the letters in Natasha’s hand confirms they contain deranged descriptions of what will happen to the star of Chew TV’s show, Triple Buttercream, Sweet Sally Buttercup, if she doesn’t comply with the demands to send money.
Natasha: You can drop the ‘sweet old lady’ act. Officers, she sent
these letters to my sister. Her signature is right here at the bottom.
Mama Rose Marie: Oh dear, that is my signature.
Natasha: Lock her up!
Max: Officers, Officers this is a terrible mistake! She’s not a
killer! She’s my Mama!
Natasha: Save your tears for the courtroom. She’s going to prison!
The police take Mama Rose Marie off in their squad car. I can’t help to wonder ‘is this true’? Is our sweet Mama Rose Marie a modern-day Ma Barker? Could she pen dozens of vengeful threats in such gory detail? They seem to be the work of a sick, twisted, demented Wacko.
Max: I wrote those letters. But they’re funding requests, not
death threats. Honest. I signed my mom’s name at the bottom, hoping Sweet Sally
couldn’t say ‘no’ to a sweet little old lady. I have to confess to the police
before my mother’s mug shot ends up in the Post Office.
Tonya: I’ve got a better idea, Max. Let’s just solve Sweet Sally’s
murder. Now, what ingredients did you put in that lethally laced cocoa?
Max: My kale hot cocoa is NOT deadly. I drank several
cups and I’m fine.
Tonya: After you added in the Almond Milk? I read somewhere that
almonds are poisonous.
Max: There’s only one thing poisonous around
here. Natasha’s pet viper!
Patricia: Max, pythons aren’t venomous but wild almonds contain
cyanide.
Tonya: Ah ha! That’s it!
MaryAnn: No, no, no you can’t buy poisonous almonds in the United
States. And domesticated sweet almonds used to make Almond Milk don’t contain
cyanide. It had to be something else!
Tonya: Whoever did it, had to be very accurate with the dosage.
The amount of poison you need for one particular person might not be enough for
someone else.
Max: And where did you get that little tidbit, Tonya?
Tonya: Research – my newest book – “Motorhomes, Maps and
Murders”.
Patricia: Of course! The same principle applies for managing blood
sugars. I tell my patients all the time: what works for one person may not work
for someone else. Everyone’s different.
MaryAnn: The best way is to know how different foods will affect
you is to check your blood sugars before you eat and then again two hours after
you eat
Tonya: Whoever killed Sweet Sally Buttercup had to be
knowledgeable in both math and science.
MaryAnn: Or have a culinary background.
Max: Using that logic, everyone here competing is a
suspect — including my mother!
Tonya: In my book, “Scene of the Grind”, Roxy Bloom faced your
same situation, Max. The only way she could clear the name of her beloved Aunt
was to prove who did do it! Now, who else was close enough to tamper with the
cocoa?
MaryAnn: The other two judges were standing next to Sweet
Sally.
Patricia: Maybe Max is right – Natasha’s snake is at
fault. Sweet Sally was moaning ‘Diamonds’ as she was gasping for air.
Max: And I wouldn’t be surprised if Renata
Whisk was involved.
Agnes: Max! Max! Come quick! She’s disappeared!
Max: Who? Renata?
Agnes: No, ‘Diamonds’ is on the loose!
Enjoy Divabetic’s 6th Annual Mystery podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE 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 be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.
On a perfect autumn day, Max and our team arrive at the Central
Park Zoo to compete in the Annual Giant Gingerbread Man Cookie Jamboree. This
prestigious baking competition boasts a $10,000 grand prize and benefits the
zoo. Central Park Zoo’s origins date back to the 1860’s when New Yorkers
donated their unwanted pets, like a black bear cub in 1859.
Today Central Park Zoo is home to a wide range of animals including Red Pandas, Sea Lions, Penguins, Fish, Birds, Lizards and Snow Leopards.
Max weaseled his way into the baking competition with the help of
his friend and Zoo Discovery Guide volunteer, Agnes Frumpster.
Now, the only thing standing between Max and the culinary crown are the three
celebrity judges: Chew TV’s most beloved blonde Chef, the Queen of Cream, Sweet
Sally Buttercup, Sally’s twin sister and professional wrestler Natasha
‘Knock-Out’ Buchanan and the dashing, former New York City Councilman Skeeter
Jones who is more famous for his love life than for his legislation. Let’s hope
Max has what it takes to win the Grand Prize. The competition’s about to
start!
Agnes: Max, hurry up! The judges will be here any minute.
Max: Almost done, Agnes, I’ve got one more Snow Leopard spot to
make on this cookie using chia seeds.
Tonya: Those are ‘spots’? I thought they were ‘bullet holes.’
Max: Just because you’re a mystery writer – you don’t have to read
‘BLOODY MURDER’ into everything I bake.
Tonya: Let’s face it, Max. You’ve been involved in so many
murders, I wouldn’t be surprised to find a dead body under this
table. What’s so special about chia seeds anyway?
MaryAnn: Chia seeds contain omega-3 fats and more fiber than other
grain. They are also a good source of antioxidants and protein.
Patricia: And that amount of fiber can slow the
absorption of sugar in your blood
Mama Rose Marie: Your Snow Leopard cookies are adorable and match
my fur accessories.
Max: We’re going to need more cookies. Patricia, grab
the extra container under the table.
Patricia: Sure. Oh, no! Their heads are broken off!
Tonya: I was right! You do have dead bodies under this table. This
isn’t an accident, Max. It’s an omen. Something’s bad is going to happen. I can
feel it!
Max: Quick! Hide the broken ones. Now, who wants some of my kale
hot cocoa? Anyone? Mom?
Mama Rose Marie: Oh no, I’ll pass. You know I have
an overactive bladder.
Max: How can you resist this earthy aroma? Mmm!
Tonya: Yuck. It smells like compost!
Max: But Almond Milk is so good for you! And I added kale to give
it that EXTRA nutrient boost!
Patricia: He’s right. Almond Milk is rich in good fats which
promote a healthy heart.
MaryAnn: And unsweetened Almond Milk is 50% lower in calories.
Mama Rose Marie: Can Almond Milk help strengthen my bones?
Patricia: No, it won’t. It doesn’t contain calcium. But kale
does.
Tonya: You’re all nuts! No one’s going to taste that kooky
combination, not even the judges. It smells awful.
Max: You don’t know what you’re talking about! My
TV idol, Sweet Sally Buttercup will love my kale hot cocoa so
much she’s going to make a big donation to Divabetic.
You’ll see!
Patricia: How can you be so sure?
Max: I left a stack of donation requests in her dressing
room earlier.
Patricia: She stars in a TV show, publishes a magazine and
still has time to judge a Gingerbread Man contest! How does she do it?
MaryAnn: And she just introduced her own line of Buttercup bottled
fruit juices.
Agnes: I’ll tell you. She does it by driving everyone crazy!
Her list of demands was a mile long. I don’t care if these Gingerbread Men have
heads or not, I want one NOW!
Max: Help yourself.
Agnes: No one else knows this but Sweet Sally’s been
receiving death threats. Now her sister, Natasha insists on wearing Diamonds!
MaryAnn: How can wearing expensive jewelry protect her
sister?
Agnes: Not real diamonds. She has a
pet python named ‘Diamonds’.
Max: Oh no! I’m petrified of snakes. Tell her to keep her
‘Diamonds’ away me.
Patricia: Max, you’re so dramatic. Agnes … how do the cookies
taste?
Agnes: They’re no gluten-free blueberry lavender cheesecake. But
go ask Renata Whisk. She’s a last-minute replacement in the
competition.
Max: Oh, no, Renata Whisk is the last person I want to see!
She blogged that the only people who like my food are six feet under!
Tonya: She has a point, Max. Your catering career is as ‘spotty’
as your cookies.
Mama Rose Marie: But they do match my handbag perfectly.
Patricia: Is that real leopard, Rose
Marie?
Mama Rose Marie: Oh, Good Heavens, NO! This is
‘Fun Fur’. Where ARE the Snow Leopards anyway? I don’t see
them.
Tonya: Yeah, Max. You said we’d be right next to their cage!
Agnes: Well, my new boyfriend, Damon moved Max’s station to
the Tropical Rainforest Zone when he learned Sweet Sally and her sister love
reptiles. Listen Max, it might help you win.
Max: Oh, no! We’re surrounded by retiles. Switch us
back!
Agnes: You can’t move now – you’ll be disqualified before the
judges even get here.
Tonya: I can’t wait to meet Former Councilman, Skeeter Jones. They
say he’s a real lady killer.
MaryAnn: I’m surprised he’s even here. After all, he just lost his
election.
Max: When do we meet your new boyfriend
Damon? Agnes, you seem so happy.
Agnes: I am! I finally found my Prince Charming after kissing so
many frogs – and he’s a zoologist!
Mama Rose Marie: Speaking of frogs, these little colorful ones over here are adorable. Look!
Enjoy Divabetic’s 6th Annual Mystery podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE 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 be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.
Tennis player, Taylor Townsend’s serve-and-volley game scored the upset of the 2019 US Open tournament over No.4 Simona Halep and cemented her belief in her throwback style. But her candor and upbeat attitude about past struggles related to being body shamed and how she’s moving forward are truly inspiring.
The former junior No.1 has been in and out of the tennis spotlight since she won the girls’ Australian Open title in 2012 as a 15-year-old and finished the year as the first American girl to finish as junior No.1 since 1992. With a throwback game that recalled Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe, and the crafty serve-and-volleyers that built the sport, she was hailed the future of American tennis.
Taylor Townsend posted on her Instagram page shortly after her win, a lyric from a Drake song:
“I’m buying the building of every door that closed on me.”
Tune in to August’s Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from Phyllis Hyman.
We’re talking about ‘Diabetes, Sleep & Mental Health Issues’ with guests: Alyson Williams, Queen Diva, Patricia Farrell PhD, Kristina Wolfe, ‘Tabouli: The Story of a Heart-Driven Diabetes Alert Dog’ Author Matt Pelicano, Elizabeth Vaughan Gallagher, Stacie Shonkwiler, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach with Patricia Addie-Gentle.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from ‘The Essential Phyllis Hyman’ album courtesy of SONY Music.
Don’t miss Divabetic’s 6th Annual Diabetes Mystery Podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, 6 -7 PM, EST.
This year’s Divabetic Mystery Podcast takes place at the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s 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?
Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondesfeaturing the iconic Carol Channing courtesy of SONY MUSIC.
We’re thrilled to announce that Coach the Cure, Trisha Artman is joining the cast of Divabetic’s 6th Annual Diabetes Mystery Podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondeson Tuesday, September 10, 2019, 6 -7 PM, EST.
Trisha Artman is a motivated Health Coach, Educator, and Writer. With personal diabetes experience, compassion, and professionalism, she nurtures trusting relationships—promoting healthy changes in an empowered environment.
“I teach people that they do not have to wait until things are at their worst to change negative thoughts and behaviors, but to start right where they are. Not because they have to, but because they choose to live out the life they desire and deserve,” says Trisha Artman. “Today, I spend my days not simply surviving, but instead thriving—inspiring other people to finally experience the freedom of getting “control” over diabetes, other chronic illnesses, and their lives. I’m excited to invite you on my latest journey— helping others realize their potential and strength within. Let’s live out loud!”
Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes Discussion Guide
This year’s Divabetic Diabetes Mystery Podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes, takes place at the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s 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 Prefer Blondesfeatures Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, Seveda Williams, Trisha Artman, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.
Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondesfeaturing the iconic Carol Channing courtesy of SONY MUSIC.
Recent Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND, who is a nutrition professor at Boston University and the host of the health and wellness podcast SpotOn!, says that the biggest nutrition fallacy she sees online is the advice to avoid white foods.
“The biggest myth is that white foods, such as pasta and white vegetables, are nutrition slackers compared to whole grain and more colorful, phytochemical-rich veggies,” explains Salge Blake as reported in US News & World Reports. “This is totally wrong.” Pasta is fortified with riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, iron and especially folic acid, a B vitamin that is critical for pregnant women – and many don’t consume enough folic acid in their diets. Similarly, a cup serving of potatoes (about one small baked potato) costs less than 20 cents, yet will provide over 650 milligrams of blood pressure-lowering potassium. Because most Americans don’t get enough of this nutrient, a potato is a cheap way to fight high blood pressure. In addition, Jones explains that white foods like Greek yogurt, natural aged cheeses and milk, potatoes and even many enriched grains can contribute significant amounts of nutrients: calcium in dairy, fiber and potassium in potatoes and B-vitamins in enriched grains. “Ironically, one of the most popular veggies these days just happens to be white – cauliflower!” Jones notes.
We’re talking about ‘HEART HEALTH & DIABETES’ with musical inspiration from the rock band “Heart” on March’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.
People with insulin resistance or diabetes in combination with one or more of these risk factors are at even greater risk of heart disease or stroke. However, by managing their risk factors, people with diabetes may avoid or delay the development of heart and blood vessel disease.
The rock band “Heart” was started in Seattle in the 1960s.Heart’s mix of hard rock and folk yielded one of the longest lasting and most commercially successful bands of all time. The band is fronted by sisters, Ann and Nancy Wilson who wrote many of the band’s songs.
Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Author of ‘Nutrition & You’ Dr. Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND Mama Rose Marie, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.
Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Heart’s “The Essential Heart” album courtesy of SONY Music.
Great news for the Kardashians! Future blood pressure monitoring could become as easy as taking a video selfie. Researchers have developed smartphone-based technology that can accurately measure blood pressure from a video of a person’s face.
Finding an accessible, easy way to monitor blood pressure could be a breakthrough in healthcare. Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure and many don’t even know they have it, according to the American Heart Association.
“High blood pressure is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease — a leading cause of death and disability. To manage and prevent it, regular monitoring of one’s blood pressure is essential,” said study lead author Kang Lee, Ph.D., professor and research chair in developmental neuroscience at the University of Toronto in Canada.
Don’t miss August’s Diabetes Late Nite on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 starting at 6 PM, EST. We’re talking about ‘Diabetes, Sleep & Mental Health Issues’ on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from the iconic Phyllis Hyman.
Guests include Alyson Williams, Queen Diva, Patricia Farrell PhD, Kristina Wolfe, ‘Tabouli: The Story of a Heart-Driven Diabetes Alert Dog’ Author Matt Pelicano, Elizabeth Vaughan Gallagher, Stacie Shonkwiler, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach with Patricia Addie-Gentle.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from ‘The Essential Phyllis Hyman’ album courtesy of SONY Music.
Catherine Lawrence celebrates 50 years of living with type 1 on Divabetic’s 9th Year Anniversary podcastwith music from P!nk.
Below, Catherine shares her successes as well as a few stumbles from living life with type 1 diabetes to the fullest! Tune in to hear her full interview .
Catherine Lawrence’s 5 Decades of Diabetes
1st Decade – Age 9-19
I was 9 years old when I was diagnosed [with type 1 diabetes] and it was very traumatic, not just for me but for my mother as well. I remembered that it took two aides at the hospital to hold me down for my very first blood test. You can just imagine a 9-year-old seeing a huge needle coming at her.
I remember asking the nurse why I had to get up so early in the morning and go down the hall to do my urine test when the young boy, around my age, across the hall just had to put his urine in a container and the test was done for him. The nurse explained that he had had diabetes longer than I had and already knew how. BUMMER! I ended up spending 1 month in the hospital learning everything.
Speaking of testing, way back then, 1969, we were using test tubes, drops of urine and water and then put a Clinitest tablet into the tube to get a certain color. Blue (negative for sugar) was the best and brown (very positive for sugar) was the worst. And, that is how I had to do ALL my urine tests for the next well over 10 years or so. This was not something I could carry in my purse. But, being so young, thankfully I was not going out many places except for school and to play. These urine tests always put quite a bit of stress on me as I tended to get the “brown” color a lot. Blue would please me to no end! My endocrinologist called me “brittle.”
In the early years, it was so hard NOT to want to eat the things I liked so much, such as candy, cookies and esp. birthday cake. I wanted to be just like all the other kids and eat the same things they did. There were no sugar free items available on the grocery shelves that I could eat. Fresca, Tab and then sugar free Shasta was available to drink which made me very happy! It was also hard for my mother because I had a twin sister and brother who were not diabetic, and she had to try to keep their sweets from me.
Sometimes I filled my syringe in the morning with insulin then went to my room and just squeezed it all out onto the rug because I had a very hard time with giving myself injections. The doctor did not want my mother to do it for me cause I needed to learn to take care of myself. Most times I would sit for what seemed like an eternity, and just stare at the pinched skin of my thigh in my left hand and the syringe in my right and wait for the courage to plunge it into myself. I struggled quite a bit with all of it in that 1st decade and I was in a state of denial for quite some time.
There was so much to learn, and it was all so overwhelming at such a young age, but I am grateful I had such an awesome endocrinologist, and even though my family was learning along the way with me, they were supportive and helpful. I guess we all learned together that 1st decade.
2nd Decade – Age 19-29
Getting older led to working and getting out more socially, such as dating, going to a movie or out dancing, etc. and this created a new set of problems. I believe by then they had test strips that you could carry in your purse and urinate on in the bathroom and compare it to a color chart on the bottle. That was a big improvement as it provided the freedom to go out, be with my friends and do more things, but it still didn’t provide a precise picture of my blood sugar levels. It was hard being in my 20’s, working, partying and constantly wondering what my blood sugars were. I was still learning how to “listen” to my body and differentiate between the low and high blood sugars and dealing with the frequency of the swings between the two. Many times when my body was trying to e me something was wrong, I would either ignore my symptoms and avoid doing a blood test or I didn’t trust the symptoms and would tell myself I was just sleepy or that the anger I felt was due to some external pressure. It took a noticeable change in my behavior or and obvious physical change to take place to provide a clue to those around me that I needed help. Not knowing exactly ALL the time what my blood sugar was and feeling either sleepy or angry was extremely frustrating. Then the very first blood glucose meter was on the market I was thrilled! It was quite large, about as big as a small purse and I had to carry it over my shoulder! However, I was so grateful for this as it provided a clear picture of what was going on with my blood sugars and was making my life less stressful. I still had the swings in my blood sugar levels but at least now I knew exactly where the levels were and could attend to them immediately and properly.
I learned the hard way about one of the many complications of diabetes when I was studying to be a surgical tech in my early 20’s. I was having a good deal of trouble reading the board and taking notes. I went to an ophthalmologist, thinking I would just need a prescription for glasses, but he instead diagnosed me with diabetic retinopathy. He told me I would need laser therapy in order to try to save my vision. I was so frightened about the actual laser treatment and whether this would save my sight or not. I had to drop out of school due to treatment and recovery time. The laser treatment consisted of 4500 laser burns in one eye and 1500 in the other one. I was so blessed to have an excellent doctor who saved my vision! I have not had one bleeding vessel in either eye since then.
I met a young man in my mid 20’s whom I taught about the disease, its complications and daily proper care. He learned quickly how to give me a test, what physical signs to look for and their meanings and even how to give an injection. He helped me a great deal. At age 28 we married and have been now for 30 years.
3rd Decade – Age 29-39
Life was getting better with my diabetes. I was more in tune with what was going on with my body and blood testing had gotten SO MUCH better. I was able to know, in real time, what my blood sugars were and that was an immense step forward for me, and ALL diabetics. I was learning more and more about the complications and the various ways I could prevent some of them.
When I was 39, I discovered the insulin pump. It WAS A LIFE SAVER. I still wear it today. No more injections, except to change my site, and having ready access to giving myself insulin when my blood sugar is high and to be able to cover the carbohydrates that I eat at meals, WITHOUT HAVING TO INJECT insulin is amazing. Just the fact that I did NOT need to carry insulin and syringes around with me was such a relief. Just because someone has an insulin pump DOES NOT mean your diabetes is out of control, it is just the opposite – helping to keep it more under control.
TESTING, TESTING, TESTING of one’s blood sugar is of upmost importance to any diabetic, but especially to one that wears an insulin pump. And I did at least 8-10 blood sticks a day to keep track. Someone on an insulin pump needs to be able to do at least 8 tests a day to keep track of the fast-acting insulin that is being given to the body throughout a 24-hour period. I was, and am, very fortunate to have an excellent Certified Diabetes Educator to help me.
4th Decade – Age 39-49
Some years later more complications began to surface. I began to have stomach issues which led to ER visits. Gastroparesis was thought to be the culprit, but luckily for me testing confirmed it was not. Through trial and error my Gastroenterologist finally found a medicine that has seemed to help with symptoms. I had cataracts in both eyes removed which was caused by the diabetes. I have stage 1 kidney disease but am doing very well with that. It has stayed at that stage for quite some time now due to not only a medicine but by also drinking a ton of water every day. My heart is okay for now, but, as the doctor says, “I have some rust in my pipes” and that is also due to the diabetes.
5th Decade – Age 49-59
Well, after still dealing with the swings of blood sugar levels, I finally decided it was time to try a CGM, continuous glucose monitor. I have recently begun to use this tool and it has proven to be extremely useful for me, especially at night. It has an alarm which will sound when it reaches the parameters I have set for high and low blood sugar numbers. This provides a much tighter control throughout the day and MOST IMPORTANTLY the alarm wakes me at night so I don’t have the fear of dangerous levels that may go unchecked. It is not “real” time, but it comes very close to the actual number and it also shows me whether my level is stable or headed up or down. Now, this was initially stressful for me as I was seeing what my numbers are constantly throughout the day. I would get so upset to see it going either high or low. It was hard in the beginning to see all those numbers and that just added stress which just sent my levels even higher! Argh! It has been a learning curve and my endocrinologist told me I have always HAD these number, I just never saw them. My CDE said that your blood sugar can change as fast as your blood pressure. Always learning something new about diabetes!
Living for 50 years with diabetes is just amazing to me, considering I was not always the best diabetic I could have been. I fought it constantly, and still do to certain degree. Diabetes can be CONTROLLED, but you must learn all you can about proper diet, consisting especially of portion controls of your food, exercise and stay aware of what is going on with your body. That is why I always tell other diabetics about the importance of testing blood sugars. Doctors also need to be able to let their patients do more than 4 blood tests a day! That simply is not enough. I am a volunteer at my local hospital, in the Diabetes Management Center, and we see a lot of Type II diabetics. I have to say that I’m grateful I am a Type I diabetic, as I grew up with it and became used to the diabetic way of life. I believe it is much more difficult to be diagnosed later in life and then be forced to abruptly make all the necessary changes to diet, lifestyle, etc. I see all the time how hard it is for some Type II’s to handle. Continued research is so important for advances in care and control and, at the very least, I hope research continues with implantable insulin pumps as I know technology can and should do this! Check out the non-profit called the Implantable Insulin Pump Foundation. The diabetic community needs to push for this research!
Nevertheless, living with diabetes has been, and continues to be and “adventure”. I continue to read all I can to keep up to date with all the latest information, ideas, advances, etc. and my endocrinologist and the Center where I volunteer are excellent sources of help and formation. Every diabetic needs to be their own advocate at every doctor’s visit and ask as many questions as possible. There are NO stupid questions. AND, ABOVE ALL, DO YOUR BLOOD TESTS!!!! They can save your life. The future ahead looks very promising for a diabetic, and so long as a diabetic follows ALLL his or her doctor’s orders, and stays as active as possible, it CAN work. There will always be complications, but so many of them can be prevented with good care of your disease. There is so much promise out there and I’m looking forward to living to see all the changes!
GLAM MORE FEAR LESS! Share your experiences of living with diabetes and mark a milestone with us on Diabetes Late Nite. To be a guest on Divabetic’s podcast e-mail Mr. Divabetic at: mrdivabetic@gmail.com
Listen to Divabetic’s 9th Year Anniversary podcastwith musical inspiration from P!nk. Guests include Beyond Type 2’s T’ara Smith, Catherine Lawrence , Dr. Sara (Mandy) Reece PHARMD, CDE, BC-ADM, BCACP, FAADE, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Glamazon Beauty owner Kim Baker, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Hosted by the happiest health care “MC,” Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek.
A new study from New Zealand suggests intermittent fasting is good for someone living with Type 2 diabetes. Since then Divabetic’s social media feed is blowing up with story after story about this topic. We reached out to our friend and colleague, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND to help us understand what intermittent fasting is and why or why not we might want to include it fasting in our diabetes self-management. Here’s her response:
Q: what is intermittent fasting?
Jill Weisenberger (JW): There are a variety of approaches, but they all put emphasis on restricting eating at certain times. One common version of IF is the 5:2 plan, which means to eat healthfully and normally for 5 days of the week and to restrict eating to just a few hundred calories 2 days per week. Another form of IF is to extend the overnight fast to 12 or even 16 hours.
Q: I’ve read that intermittent fasting can help with weight loss and lowering A1C. Are these outcomes realistic for people with type 2 diabetes?
JW: Some studies do show improvements in weight and blood glucose control and even insulin sensitivity. However, when these IF diets are compared to other dietary strategies for weight loss, the results aren’t so clear that one way is better than another. IF, especially the 5:2 plan, can increase the risk of hypoglycemia in anyone taking a medication that has hypoglycemia as a side effect. There may be populations in which IF is a potentially harmful, such as pregnant women, adolescents and people with eating disorders.
My limited experience with the 5:2 plan suggests that it makes daily exercise very hard.
Q: Can intermittent fasting help people with prediabetes? If so, why? If not, why?
JW: If the person with prediabetes is overweight and if IF leads to weight loss, then yes, IF can help people with prediabetes. There was one study in men with prediabetes who were instructed to eat only during 6 hours of the day and to fast for the other 18. Compared to people eating for 12 hours and fasting for 12 hours, those in the longer fasting group saw improvements in blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and beta-cell responsiveness.
Overall, I think that IF can be a tool for some people. In others, it might not be helpful at all, and in some it can be harmful. I like to discuss it in depth with my patients before they decide to give it a try. If someone wants to restrict the hours of eating, I think it’s important to let this work with the circadian rhythms, so stop eating hours before bed and fast longer during the night. I don’t suggest eating a large dinner and fasting all day.
Intermittent Fasting Calculator
Intermittent Fasting (IF) Calculator helps you cycling between Eating and Fasting: CLICK HERE
Jill Weisenberger’s comprehensive guide, ‘Prediabetes: A Complete Guide: Your Lifestyle Reset to Stop Prediabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses’ will lead you through dozens of concrete steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Taking an individualized approach to your lifestyle “reset,” this book will allow you to choose your own path to wellness, help you gain a greater sense of wellbeing, boost your confidence in your abilities to maintain a healthful lifestyle, and potentially even help you reverse prediabetes and avoid type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
Jill Weisenberger appears on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music by Patti Austin. We’re talking to Jill about healthy strategies to help you deal with the “FOOD POLICE”.
