Category: Diva TalkRadio

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Pop Goes Country, and I Love It!!

Billboard Magazine posted an article about Pop Goes Country on the heels of Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs’ epic ‘Fast Car’ duet that symbolized how music bridges cultures and unifies us.

Sadly, at a moment when we feel hope that people can set aside their differences and come together, there are people to keep us apart.

I was upset hearing about a Country Radio station refusing to play Beyoncé’s new song, “Texas Hold ‘Em.” They should be thrilled that this incredibly talented songwriter, producer, and singer is creating music for their audiences.

I’ve heard the song, and I love it!

What’s so surprising about Beyoncé making country music? She’s from Texas! And she’s not the first musician to create music for multiple radio formats. 

According to the story, Lionel Richie’s hit “Stuck on You” topped the Adult Contemporary chart but also reached No. 24 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1984. By the way, on a Michael Jackson World Tour, I had one of the most romantic nights of my life singing this song at a Karaoke Bar in South Korea.

Lionel In 2012, Richie (who was also the sole writer on the Kenny Rogers hit “Lady”) released the album Tuskegee, reworking several of his own hits as collaborations with a slew of country artists. 


I am someone who grew up on R&B radio. I’ve endured a lot of nasty nicknames over my lifetime for my love of Soul Music.  One Christmas, I remember Santa brought my brother, Bob, a “Supertramp” album, and I received the original soundtrack to “The Wiz.”

The memory still makes me laugh. I can’t explain why or how this music appeals to me. 
Thankfully, people’s taunts and awful name-calling didn’t stop me from pursuing my dreams. I feel fortunate to have worked with talented entertainers like Luther Vandross (who wrote the song “A Brand New Day” for the Wiz), Lionel Richie, and Maxwell. I’ve also written songs with some very talented songwriters, producers, and vocalists, including Ivan Hampden Jr., Cindy Mizelle, Paulette McWilliams, and Crystal Penny.

Back in the 90’s, I wrote the lyrics to a dance song, “That Man Of Mine”, that made on the Billboard Dance Charts.

One of my songs, “Mama’s Kitchen Table,” landed on the UK Soul Chart.

Another one of my songs, “Standards,” made it to #2 on the BCfm Soul Chart last Summer. This song is about how my love of popular ballads from the Quiet Storm radio format influenced my thoughts and attitudes about love.

I want to hold on to the feeling I had watching Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs perform. I know plenty of us in the world believe we can all get along. 

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I Wrote A Love Song!: Standards

The moment you wake up on Valentine’s Day and realize you wrote a love song!!!

STANDARDS is my homage to many of the greatest female vocalists of all time, who sang with their hearts on the Quiet Storm. Many of these icons’ personal and professional journeys hit close to home to my friends, vocalists Crystal Blackman Wilson and Penny Wilson.

I sent them my lyrics sheet and a recording of myself singing the melody. Penni called me a few days later and said she loved the song, but my vocal skills needed some TLC. Thankfully, Penni and Crystal got to work. They tweaked a few lyrics (Penni came up with the hook, and Crystal came up with the melody). Then, my friend Ivan Hampden Jr. jumped on it and built the song. It was an amazing collaboration. I feel so fortunate to work with talented people I greatly admire. Crystal, Penni, and Ivan bring to life my personal reflections and set them to music. My friend and graphic designer George Corsillo (who designed multiple album covers for Luther Vandross) designed the artwork.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3B1Ash4Rhg7HcZzD3sx4tP?si=f503fb19b9e9409b

“The women mentioned in the song are legends to my sister and me,” says Penni Wilson. “We grew up listening to Sarah Vaughan and idolized Etta James and Dionne Warwick. They inspired us to sing in the first place.”

Romantic relationships play an important role in our everyday lives. But when diabetes enters the picture, it can complicate even the most loving and open relationships. Divabetic’s e-book, “Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide To Love & Intimacy With Diabetes,” Dr. Janis Roszler PhD, LMFT, CDCES, LD/N, FAND, and Donna Rice MBA, BSN, RN, CDCES, FADCES is available on Amazon. Get Your Copy Today!

“Sweet Romance” Co-Authors Janis Roszler and Donna Rice offer advice on discussing your diabetes diagnosis as well as issues related to intimacy, fertility, and menopause,

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Tracy Chapman Performs At The Grammys

As someone who tries to bridge the gap between people living with type 1 and those living with type 2 diabetes, I admire Tracy Chapman. The song she wrote, “Fast Car,” proves different communities relate to each other. We are more similar than different.

Last night, she performed “Fast Car” as a duet with Country Music star Luke Combs at the 66th Grammy Awards. It was a beautiful moment showing how music has the power to unite us.

Tracy Chapman’s appearance took everyone by surprise. She has not toured since 2009 and has only performed on stage three times since that time.

Tracy Chapman Chapman released eight albums between 1988 and 2008, starting with her blockbuster debut — the self-titled album that features her signature song, “Fast Car.” She won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1989, and “Fast Car” was nominated for Record and Song Of The Year.

She started the duet by playing the song’s signature riff on an acoustic guitar, and then she and Luke Combs exchanged verses before singing the chorus together.

Last year, Luke Combs included his rendition of “Fast Car” on his album ‘Gettin’ Old.” He was nominated in the best country solo performance category for his cover of Tracy’s “Fast Car.” His rendition enjoyed unexpected multi-format success: It was No. 1 in Adult Pop and Country for two weeks each; No. 6 on Top 40 Radio; No. 2 on the Hot 100; and No. 1 on 1 on Billboard’s overall Radio Songs Chart for four weeks.

Their beautiful duet spans genres and generations and celebrates the song’s legacy. “Fast Car” is the first song written entirely by a Black woman to top the Billboard country charts and the first to win Song of the Year at the Country Music Awards in 2023.

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Who Do You Tell About Your Diagnosis on An Upcoming Podcast

Living with diabetes can be a challenging experience, especially when it comes to your relationships. That’s why it’s important to talk to your loved ones about your diabetes diagnosis and how it affects your life. It can help you surround yourself with a more supportive and encouraging environment. Co-authors of Divabetic’s ebook, “Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide To Love & Intimacy With Diabetes,” Dr. Janis Roszler PhD, LMFT, CDCES, LD/N, FAND, and Donna Rice MBA, BSN, RN, CDCES, FADCES offer advice on discussing your diabetes diagnosis as well as issues related to intimacy, fertility, and menopause with the people you care about the most.

Their podcast interview will air on Tuesday, February 13, 2204.

To help us better understand your unique experiences and struggles with diabetes, the national nonprofits Divabetic and Diabetes Sisters are partnering on the first-ever survey on love and relationships for women with diabetes on the same day. This survey, titled “Love Across All Life Stages of Diabetes,” allows you to share your thoughts and experiences with us so we can create more meaningful programming and resources to serve you.

Please take a few moments out of your day to participate in this survey. You can find the link on our websites, Divabetic.Org and DiabetesSisters.Org, and our social media platforms.

Your input can make a difference in the lives of other women living with diabetes.

Divabetic’s ebook, “Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide To Love & Intimacy With Diabetes,” is available at Amazon.

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Black History Month & Diabetes

Black History Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges facing Black people in managing diabetes so we can work towards creating a healthcare system that is fair, equitable, and inclusive. 

In 2019, non-Hispanic blacks were twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes, reports the Office of Monthly Health.

In 2018, African American adults were 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician, reports the Office of Monthly Health.

NIH Research reports a study stating that biological risk factors—including weight and fat around the abdomen—are primarily responsible for higher rates of diabetes for black Americans compared with white Americans. Sadly, the impacts of biased healthcare providers and lack of access to diabetes technology only add to the burden of staying on track with self-care.

It’s essential to recognize the contributions made by Black people to medicine, science, and research. Black History Month reminds us to celebrate and acknowledge their achievements. We can learn from their experiences and work towards a brighter future where everyone has equal opportunities and access to healthcare. 

Let’s come together and challenge our systems to make changes that benefit everyone. Diabetes doesn’t discriminate, and neither should our healthcare system. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to create a world where everyone can access the care they need to manage and prevent diabetes.

Excerpts from Beyond Type 1’s Why Is Black History Month Important In The Diabetes Community? Written by Lala Jackson.

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Love Across Life Stages Of Diabetes Is Coming

Divabetic is partnering with Diabetes Sisters on the first-ever survey on love and relationships for women with diabetes, called “Across All Life Stages of Diabetes.”

Your participation will make a real difference in understanding your unique experiences and struggles with diabetes and your friends, spouses, and partners. Please take a few moments on February 13th to share your thoughts and experiences by taking this unique survey.

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States & Healthcare Insurance Companies Are Stopping Weight Loss Drugs Coverage

Over the weekend, I read that the state of North Carolina is cutting off coverage of anti-obesity medications for state employees, citing soaring costs and a lack of agreement on pricing from drugmakers.

These anti-obesity injectable weight loss drugs are the rage from the Hollywood elite to shoppers at your neighborhood bodega.  

Case in point: last year, at this time, I didn’t know anyone on these drugs. Last week, three friends told me they were either using or had taken the drugs. And all three knew countless other people using them.

These drugs work by making people feel fuller and eat less, with some side effects. Two of my friends admitted they suffered from diarrhea and stomach pain while using the drugs.

According to reports, patients who took the highest dose of Mounjaro, a diabetes drug from Eli Lilly Co. that’s in testing as an obesity treatment, lost an average of 50 pounds.

North Carolina’s decision affects a class of drugs known as GLP-1s, which treat diabetes and help with weight loss. Medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound have soared in popularity but are expensive and require long-term use.

According to Forbes, many more state-backed plans don’t cover GLP-1s for weight loss, but the ones that do are trying to limit rapidly increasing costs. 

Connecticut introduced a trial lifestyle-management program for state employees seeking the drugs for weight-loss treatment in July after spending on the class rose 50% annually since 2020. Virginia tightened restrictions on which Medicaid enrollees can receive them for obesity.

When Ozempic is prescribed off-label for weight loss, it is often not covered by insurance. Why? Because the Affordable Care Act doesn’t mandate that health insurers cover obesity or overweight medications or surgeries.

Due to increasing costs, some health insurance companies and employers are also halting coverage of Ozempic, Wegovy, and GLP-1 drugs.

The private healthcare system Ascension stopped coverage on July 1, 2023, stating that weight loss and anti-obesity drugs will no longer be covered in its pharmacy benefit to its nearly 140,000 employees.

What does this mean to people taking the drug? 

My friends using Ozempic and Mounjaro lost significant weight, but their insurance stopped covering the cost after six months. Without insurance, the average monthly price of Mounjaro is between $1,000 to $1,200, depending on the pharmacy. All three have gained back the weight they lost. 

Routinely, when Ozempic is prescribed off-label for weight loss, insurance does not cover it. Why? Because the Affordable Care Act doesn’t mandate that health insurers cover obesity or overweight medications or surgeries.

If your health insurance no longer covers your prescription, is Noom or Weight Watchers a solution?

 Although most of my friends think weight loss companies adding weight loss drugs to their arsenal is a cop-out, if you can no longer afford these drugs, these weight loss programs might help with weight loss maintenance. 

Let’s start with Noom. For years, Noom has promoted itself as a psychological path to weight loss. Now, Noom believes adding these injectable drugs to your program makes the outcomes much better.  

WeightWatchers members can also get weight loss drugs. The WeightWatchers telehealth clinic: a reworked version of Sequence’s telehealth services.

After Oprah appeared on the Red Carpet promoting The Color Purple, people speculated about her weight management. Oprah told People magazine that she’s using one of the weight loss drugs that are commercially known as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro.

Sadly, many one-time dieters see results from injectable weight loss drugs as far more reliable and easily obtained than from these habit-changing programs. But many of my friends who are desperately trying to lose weight feel taking these drugs is cheating. The weight loss industry has brainwashed them into believing weight loss is about willpower. I believe it’s about an individual’s body chemistry. Many people have a physical addiction to the fat, salt, and sugar formulas of popular foods. These people can’t stop at one potato chip; they eat the entire bag. Other people suffer from obsessive thoughts about food, which Rosie O’Donnell refers to as ‘food noise.’ In a recent interview, she spoke about how Mounjaro helped calm these thoughts in her head. I found her Plus SideZ podcast interview enlightening.

For many, these weight loss drugs are improving lives and health outcomes.

Novo Nordisk also offers a patient assistance program that provides Ozempic at no cost. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident with a total household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty line.

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Barry White’s History of Hypertension

Ignoring high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications, as highlighted by the unfortunate story of Barry White.

He was twice admitted to the hospital after suffering from hypertension – once in 1995 and again in 1998. Before his passing in 2003, Barry White announced that he was on dialysis and searching for a kidney donor.

Over time, chronic high blood pressure can cause damage to the arteries around the kidneys, leading to kidney failure. The scary part is that many of us are unaware that we have high blood pressure because it often has no visible symptoms. Even those aware of their condition may not take the necessary steps to manage it properly.

It’s important to understand that high blood pressure puts a great deal of strain on the heart, and if left unaddressed, can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious medical issues. The good news is that by taking steps such as managing stress, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption, we can control our blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing complications.

So let’s prioritize our health and take action to manage our blood pressure before it’s too late.

Barry White’s unique vision delivered romantic soul music that seduced the world. Tell us how you feel about how love, intimacy and relationships affect your diabetes in our first-ever Love At All Stages Of Life Survey with Diabetes Sisters. We

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The Mountain Meditation with Rachel Zinman

Mr. Divabetic talks with international Yoga Teacher and Author Rachel Zinman, living with LADA diabetes, who shares a guided meditation, “The Mountain Meditation.”

The Mountain Meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn, encourages us to seek inner stability and peace, even amid unpredictable change and chaos.

See if you can sit like the mountain, still and grounded through the changes of weather, time, and seasons, allowing day and night to come and go, accepting change, not resisting it.

This meditation is usually done in a sitting position, either on the floor or a chair. 

Remember that taking time daily to meditate and connect with your inner self can greatly benefit your overall well-being and diabetes wellness. The Mountain Meditation is a great way to ground yourself and find stability, even amid chaos and uncertainty. Practicing this meditation regularly can help you to better navigate life’s ups and downs with greater ease and resilience. So take a deep breath, find a comfortable seat, and allow yourself to be still like a mountain. 

In her book, Yoga for Diabetes, Rachel Zinman shares her journey and the hard-won wisdom gained from her own experience of yoga and diabetes.

The Subway Bhaktis are musicians and yoga teachers Nyck Jeanes and Rachel Zinman based in Byron Bay, Australia.

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Coming Soon: Love Across All Stages Of Life Survey

We are excited to announce our partnership with Diabetes Sisters to conduct the first-ever Survey on LOVE for women with diabetes across all stages of life.

Relationships, including the ones we have with ourselves, play a crucial role in managing diabetes. From marriages to best friends, we hope to gain insight into the topics that matter the most to you and what kind of support and guidance you need, particularly if you’re dealing with sexual health issues.

It’s time for the voices of the approximately 15 million women in the United States who have diabetes, or about 1 in every 9 adult women, to be heard.

Managing diabetes can be challenging. Depending on what’s happening in your life, such as hormonal changes, how you manage your diabetes may need to change over time. Staying on track with your body, relationships, and attitude towards living with diabetes can be a daunting task.

We plan to release the survey on Galalantines Day, February 13, and publish our results on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024. Your participation can help us improve the quality of our care, support, and encouragement.

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