Category: Diva TalkRadio

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Nancy Wilson Inspires New Holiday Song: Pink Champage

I’m thrilled to share my new holiday song, “Pink Champagne,” by Ivan Hampden Jr. and Paulette McWilliams, with you.
Pink Champagne’s lyrics came to me from binge-watching Hallmark Holiday movies. After watching three or more of these films (!) I longed to see more about the breakup that led to the main character returning to her hometown and finding her soul mate. This is why Pink Champagne’s main character is a woman ending her relationship at Christmastime on her terms.
Paulette’s voice has so many rich, sophisticated and varied textures and tones; I knew she had more than enough talent to capture the character’s essence.  She created the song’s melody and phrasing, filling my words with raw emotion.
Ivan’s incredible musicianship took over from there. He polished the track, adding a lush, elegant orchestration worthy of our former friend, colleague, and employer Luther Vandross.

“When I received the story from Max, I quickly thought of the connection “Pink Champagne” has to Nancy Wilson’s “Guess Who I Saw Today, ” says Ivan Hampden Jr. He adds, “The classy breakup song and one of her biggest hits. It also brought back memories of being on the stage performing with Eartha Kitt, an amazing storyteller, through her songs, particularly her rendition of “All By Myself.”

Feeling ‘blue’ while the rest of the world is acting ‘merry’ isn’t ideal for anyone. Especially if the proverb, “misery loves company,” rings true. I hope anyone with a broken heart finds some comfort in our song, “Pink Champagne.”
Cheers!

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Divabetic Prize Winner Allison Promotes Self-Care Saturdays

Prize Winner
Divabetic’s recent Sugar-Free Baking Party prize winner, Allison, shares her secrets to a healthier way of life in this post.
Living with multiple health issues, the doctoral student makes Self-Care Saturdays a priority. Learn more about the fascinating founder of Living Chronic Faith and how she manages the ups and downs of diabetes life. Allison was the winner of a fantastic vegan leather Arthel Neville Design Tote bag!
Prize Winner
Q: When were you diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?
Allison: I was diagnosed in 2008, but I started taking it seriously and managing it effectively in 2010. In doing so, I lost 75 pounds, and my A1c went from 14.7 to 6.9!!! It changed my life so much that I even served as an ambassador for the American Diabetes Association (Indiana chapter) for a couple of years.
Q: What other chronic conditions are you living with?
Allison: I am diagnosed with lupus SLE, fibromyalgia, PCOS, psoriasis and PsA, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease/herniate disc, and Sjogren’s syndrome.
 
Q: What do you do to pamper yourself?
Allison: I do self-care Saturdays–that includes sleeping late, a long shower, the extended version of my skincare routine, and no work (I am self-employed, so it’s easy to work constantly). If I can, I try to get my homework done before Saturday, too (I am a doctoral student). I also engage in my favorite hobbies: writing plays, trying new recipes, and crocheting gifts for loved ones.
 
Q: And share the name of your organization and its mission.
Allison: The organization is Living Chronic Faith–we are a faith-first organization serving people living with chronic diagnoses and the people who support them. We provide support, education, and resources to help them maximize their quality of life and live toward their God-given purpose.

 

We host workshops, low-impact seated exercise sessions with a licensed physical therapist, and an annual conference.  We also have a bi-monthly members-only meeting to address personal issues candidly.  All of our programming is virtual and free of charge.
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Are you interested in baking tips and recipes?
During this Extra-Special Baking Party on Zoom, we invite you to bake along with The Diabetic Pastry Chef as she prepares her delicious Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Muffin recipe. Once you register, we will send you the recipe’s complete list of ingredients so you can prepare before our program begins.

The Diabetic Chef will also demonstrate her favorite kitchen tool and share expert tips for using sugar substitutes and alternative flours in traditional recipes.

Free Prizes! Mr. Divabetic will host a Baking Trivia Contest and Prize Drawing during the program. You must be present at our Baking Party to enter our prize drawings to win a Splenda Baking Kit, Tonya Kappes Cozy Mystery and PEAK 10 SKIN SAVE MY SOLE foot rescue cream.

REGISTER NOW – IT’S FREE 

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Divabetic Shares A Halloween Ghost Story with Listeners

Enjoy this special Divabetic podcast for Halloween.

Our regular Divabetic podcast featuring an all-star lineup of guests resumes next month for National Diabetes Awareness month in November.

 

Did you know that Halloween’s sugar consumption will likely surpass the $36 billion record set in 2021?

Understanding how food affects blood glucose is the first step in managing diabetes. But many people, especially at Halloween, when candy is so plentiful,  love to give their unsolicited advice about what we’re putting in our mouths.

Many assume that eating candy causes diabetes.

There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We know that sugar does not cause type 1 diabetes because our immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in our pancreas.

Type 2 diabetes is a combination of insulin resistance and pancreatic failure. That said, there’s enough shame and blame already associated with diabetes that it’s too much when someone feels obligated to tell us what we can and cannot eat.

One of our Facebook community members, Rosemary R., perfectly summed up our feeling on the subject:

“Having had diabetes since 11 years old and now 73, you do the math. It is only a part of my life, not the whole. I live a full and varied life. I tell new folks I meet about my condition to alert them to the possibilities of “lows” & how to help me.

Essentially, it’s my responsibility to look after myself just like anyone else. My only beef is that sometimes those “in the know” tell me, “oh, you are a diabetic and shouldn’t be eating that.”

My choice and my responsibility. I own my actions, taking care that any risk is managed and minimized and that I don’t become a burden to family, friends, workmates, the community at large, and the health system. My mantra has always been “moderation in all things.” I thank those who accept me for who I am. I lead a full and satisfying life.”

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

You can also access the Van der Voort Ghost Story using this QR code:

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Divabetic Mysteries Podcast: Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu

Divabetic’s 9th Annual Mystery podcast: Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu, is available on demand.  Enjoy loads of diabetes information and self-care tips wrapped up in a cozy mystery radio drama.

This year’s cozy diabetes mystery finds the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, landing his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage. She’s well-known for helping people get their “energy up and their weight down” by becoming aware of the amount of added sugar in their diets.

The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 6 percent of calories each day. For most American women, that’s no more than 100 calories per day or about 6 teaspoons of sugar. For men, it’s 150 calories per day or about 9 teaspoons.

Many people consume more sugar than they realize. Knowing how much sugar you consume is important because our bodies don’t need sugar to function properly. Added sugars contribute zero nutrients, but enough added calories can reduce heart health.

Everything at Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat seems hunky-dory until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s chef knives. Mr. Divabetic quickly becomes the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation!

Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Or will he be trading his fruit suit for coveralls with horizontal stripes?

Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Starring Mr. Divabetic, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage,’ Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller and Lorraine Brooks. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir. Special thanks to our colleague, the multi-talented Wendy Radford.

Music from The Pink Panther and The Return of The Pink Panther soundtracks by Henry Mancini courtesy of SONY Music.

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Halloween Muse: Amy Wine “Haunted” House Twins

I have trouble glorifying famous addicts in the music industry. Many people seem to idolize their tragic lives. In my opinion, making ‘good art’ doesn’t require wrestling your demons, torturing your soul, or taking mind-alerting substances. There are plenty of happy, down-to-earth sober artists making beautiful and popular music. Unfortunately, their legacies are often outshined by the mystical status of Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Jimmy Hendrix, and Amy Winehouse. 

This Halloween, I’ve decided to pay tribute to Amy Winehouse to raise awareness for 988 since substance abuse is rising. 

Amy Winehouse’s legacy is a cautionary tale for how deadly substance abuse and addiction can be.  Unfortunately, her tragic story is all too familiar.

Its been widely reported that the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increased number of people misusing drugs and dying from drug overdoses. There were more than 99,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in the first year of the pandemic, an increase of nearly 30% from the year before.

Amy Winehouse was a rockstar’s rockstar. She is considered one of the greatest musical talents of the past 20 years. Her voice, music, and the way she expressed herself were unique. She modernized jazz.  She poured her soul into writing deeply confessional lyrics and singing around London, her hometown. She was a unique talent, a jazz fanatic with the voice of a soul singer. 

That Winehouse was just 27 years old when she died underscored her sheer natural brilliance, the meteoric nature of her rise, and the wrenching tragedy of her downward spiral and ultimate fall.

Driven by her muse and haunted by her addictions, she allegedly used heroin and other hard drugs until alcohol became her constant companion. She’d died of accidental alcohol poisoning, as her blood alcohol level was .416% at the time of her death. Addiction and mental health disorders may house certain symptoms, but every case is different, just like the person with them.

If someone in your life is jeopardizing their well-being in any capacity, that should be the first sign: something is wrong, and this person is battling.

Calling 988 directly connects you to compassionate, accessible care and support for mental health or substance abuse-related distress.

I created the Amy Wine “Haunted” House Twins using water bottles, hangers, Diet Coke bottles, yarn, pipe cleaners, newspaper, plastic bags, Target cloth bags, paper shreddings, Dollar Store decorations (masks and eyeballs), disposal serving forks, ribbon, styrofoam balls, and gaffers tape. This Halloween, celebrate creativity, not candy!

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Quick and Easy Portobello Mushroom Pizza Recipe by Jill Weisenberger

Every day we’re bombarded with messages to limit the amount of processed foods in our diets and instead eat more fruits and vegetables.
But that advice can be harder than it seems since processed foods are abundant and convenient. So we asked our friend and colleague, Nationally Recognized Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and  Education Specialist, and Best-Selling Author Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, FAND, and CHWC, for creative ways to add more vegetables to our meal plans. Lucky for us, she also shared a delicious, easy-to-make mushroom pizza recipe! 
Q: Small changes often have big rewards. Can you advise us on how to add more vegetables to your meals – like breakfast and lunch?  
Jill Weisenberger (JW): For breakfast, you can add veggies to something you’re already eating. For example, top your eggs with salsa or scramble your eggs with any veggies you like. Alternatively, you can simply add vegetables on the side. I learned a lot of ideas from traveling. Roasted mushrooms and grilled tomatoes are often served in some European countries. In Greece, I sat down to stuffed grape leaves, Greek salad, and a bowl of olives. And in Israel, every breakfast included raw chopped tomatoes and cucumber or something similar.
I get vegetables at lunch by reaching into my fridge for anything raw and tasty: jicama, snap peas, radishes, carrots, etc. Plus, I usually have leftovers from the previous night’s dinner that I can heat up.
Q: Can you share some tips and resources to make eating more plant-based meals easier without sacrificing food and restaurants?
JW: Start with the plant-based foods you already love. Do you have a favorite lentil soup or chickpea salad? Put them into the rotation more often.
You don’t have to give up meat if that’s what you’re used to. Simply add plant proteins. Can you add white beans to chicken soup, red beans to beef chili, or canned chickpeas to a salad with leftover baked salmon?
In restaurants, double up on any vegetable to tame your appetite for a smaller serving of meat.
And try some new recipes based on your favorite flavors. Italian? You can get some ideas simply by entering “healthy Italian bean recipes” into your internet browser. Or, if your family loves tacos, create bean or lentil tacos and omit the beef.
Jill shares her simple portobello mushroom pizza recipe that you can personalize for a fast lunch or snack. Each member of your family can create and enjoy their own personalized pizza. There’s no portion distortion!!

Portobello Mushroom Pizza Recipe by Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, FAND, CHWC

Ingredients

  • Large or medium-sized portobello mushrooms
  • Tomato bruchetta or jarred spaghetti sauce
  • tomato slices or any veggies on hand
  • Cheese
  • Fresh or dried herbs or a combination of both

Click HERE for the Full Recipe

Jill Weisenberger is the author of Diabetes Weight Loss Week by Week is a bestseller and can help you manage your weight and blood sugar at the same time, The Overworked Person’s Guide to Better Nutrition offers solutions to your everyday food and nutrition problems – no matter how busy you are, 21 Things You Need to Know about Diabetes and Your Heart gives you specific actions to take to improve your health right away, and her newest book Prediabetes: A Complete Guide featuring dozens of concrete steps to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other chronic health problems.
Jill Weisenberger’s Stick With It is a self-paced video course that guides you step-by-step to the healthy habits you want. You’ll learn why your motivation and willpower move up and down like a roller coaster and what you can do to keep them up higher and longer!
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Mr. Divabetic Goes To The White House

Last Friday, September 30, 2022, I went to the White House in Washington, DC. to attend the first-ever White House High Holidays reception.! My role was to support and manage the logistics for violinist Itzhak Perlman‘s breathtaking performance.

It was a quick trip but worth it.

Friday morning, Mr. and Mrs. Perlman and I arrived at the White House at 11 AM. As we walked between the first two security gates, we saw POTUS leave the White House campus in a motorcade.  There were at least 10 black SUV’s in the motorcade. I was told by our escort that POTUS rode n the second one.
President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, referred to as the “four principles,” were on their way to see  Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson formally sworn in.
Members of the Supreme Court with the President (L-R) Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, and Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Associate Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Patrick G. Jackson, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Elena Kagan, and Brett M. Kavanaugh pose at a courtesy visit in the Justices Conference Room before the investiture ceremony of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
It’s interesting to note Justice Sonia Sotomayor was diagnosed with T1D at only 7 years old.  Since putting on the black judicial robe, she’s been working to raise diabetes awareness —intentionally and as a byproduct of being on the bench.
After the ceremony, the four principals returned to the White House for a quick photo op with Mr. and Mrs. Perlman before the first-ever White House High Holidays reception began. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff – the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president in U.S. history – delivered remarks after the First Lady and then the President.

At the end of the speeches, our Administration wished everyone, including the 250 VIP’s from the Jewish Community, a happy and healthy new year.
Since Mr. Perlman was a surprise guest, he did not go into the Gold Room where the speeches were given. Mr. and Mrs. Perlman and I watched it on screen in the Green Room.
 
Backstage, I witnessed the First Lady pat the Second Gentleman on the back after he gave his speech and hugged him. The President reached for the VP’s hand and grasped it. She smiled at him.
 
Itzhak Perlman gave a short speech before his performance n the main foyer about the piece he was performing.  He explained to the crowd that it had been performed in many styles, but he would perform it the way he heard it as a child in Israel. He performed “Avinu Malkeinu,” a well-known High Holy Day prayer begging God, “our father, our king,” for the forgiveness of sin, to thunderous applause. He played the piece on his 1714 Soil Stradivarius, known as the “Mona Lisa” of musical instruments, crafted by Antonio Stradivari at the peak of his golden period.  Enjoy a snippet of Itzhak Perlman’s in the video below: 

Immediately following Itzhak Perlman’s performance was a reception. We chose not to stay, but my eyes feasted on the spectacular abundance of food on the table.
I  was amazed to see how much the four principles accomplish in one day. Their teams (each with an entourage) were courteous, helpful, friendly, and professional.

It was an unforgettable experience! And a great way to celebrate the success of Divabetic’s 9th Annual Mystery podcast, Tomorrow Is Not On the Menu, available on demand.

In Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu, the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, lands his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat. Everything seems low pressure and low calorie until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s new chef knives. Now he’s the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation!

Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Or will he be trading his fruit suit for coveralls with stripes?

Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Starring Mr. Divabetic, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage,’ Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller and Lorraine Brooks. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir. Special thanks to our colleague, the multi-talented Wendy Radford.

Music from The Pink Panther and The Return of The Pink Panther soundtracks by Henry Mancini courtesy of SONY Music.

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Weighing In on Divabetic’s Mystery Podcast

This past Tuesday, we presented a live performance of Divabetic’s 9th Annual Mystery podcast, Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu. The podcast is available on-demand to listen to at any time using the player below.

The goal of Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu is to empower people living with, at risk, and affected by diabetes to overcome the shame and blame associated with the disease, especially as it relates to their weight.

In a society where being thin equates with beauty, youth, intelligence, and success, there is often little sympathy or patience for people who struggle to maintain an acceptable weight.

According to statistics, more than 85% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, so it stands to reason that the main focus for managing Type 2 diabetes is reaching and staying at a perceived healthy weight. But it’s also important to note that people not considered overweight can still get both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. 

If you worry that you’ll never be thin enough to live well with diabetes, please be aware that there’s more to managing diabetes than the number on the scale. We urge you to seek healthcare collaborators who will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and offer solutions to treat every number related to your diabetes accordingly.

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, lands his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat on the Jersey Shore. Everything seems low pressure and low calorie until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s new chef knives. Now he’s the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation!

Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Or will he be trading his fruit suit for coveralls with stripes?

Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Starring Mr. Divabetic, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage,’ Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller and Lorraine Brooks. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir. Special thanks to our colleague, the multi-talented Wendy Radford.

Music from The Pink Panther and The Return of The Pink Panther soundtracks by Henry Mancini courtesy of SONY Music.

 

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Mama Rose Marie Stars in Divabetic’s Mystery Podcast

From time to time, podcast listeners ask me who plays ‘my mother’ on Divabetic’s mystery podcasts. The talented actress playing “Mama Rose Marie” is my actual mom. It’s a blessing that she participates every year. She’s a good sport too.

Our mystery podcast storylines routinely put her in dangerous situations to rescue me. She’s escaped prison, shook her shimmy in a Coney Island burlesque show, hit glass-shattering high notes in Christmas carols like Celine Dion, and dressed up as a pirate, ninja, and snow leopard. Once, she was even knocked unconscious by a deranged scientist who impersonated her in an attempt to get me to endorse a ‘magic pill’ for curing diabetes. Thankfully, she woke up in time to kick his butt and save me from jeopardizing my reputation.
In reality, my mom has been with me every step of the way on the Divabetic journey and I couldn’t be happier. She sold the first “Divabetic” t-shirt in Columbia, SC, in 2003. She was a  National team member of our signature Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes outreach program, worked backstage on the national TV show, dLife, demonstrated How to Prada Your Pineapple on several local TV shows, judged Divabetic’s Hat Boxing Competition, beautifully decorated our healthy Halloween program, The Broomstick Bash, and much much more over the past nineteen (!) years of outreach.

I love my Mom. Thank you, thank you! You have given my mom and me so many wonderful and magical memories. Working side-by-side with her to present diabetes outreach diva-style has brought me joy, enriched my life, and made me a better person.
I hope you will tune in to this year’s mystery podcast to find out what trouble my mom gets in to save me! I wish everyone could have a mom like mine; if you don’t, let us team up with you so we can stay happy and healthy together.
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Tonight! Don’t Miss Divabetic’s 9th Annual Mystery Podcast Live Broadcast

The BIG DAY is finally here!!!

Join us tonight for Divabetic’s 9th Annual Mystery podcast, Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu!

Find out what happens when the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, lands a to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage‘s Wellness Retreat on the Jersey Shore. Everything seems low pressure and low calorie until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s new chef knives. Now he’s the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation!

Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Or will he be trading his fruit suit for coveralls with stripes?

The fun begins at 6 PM EST.

Enjoy loads of diabetes information and self-care tips wrapped up in a cozy mystery radio drama. Tune in using this link.

Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Starring Mr. Divabetic, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage,’ Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller and Lorraine Brooks. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir. Special thanks to our colleague, the multi-talented Wendy Radford.

Music from The Pink Panther and The Return of The Pink Panther soundtracks by Henry Mancini courtesy of SONY Music.

 

The fun begins at 6 PM EST.

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