Slightly Sinful Shortbread Recipe from SPLENDA®

A lot of us living with diabetes who are cutting back on high-carb foods like starches, desserts and processed snacks still have a sweet tooth.

Keep in mind, SPLENDA® contains maltodextrin and dextrose, two carbs that supply about 3 calories and 1 gram of carbs in each packet ( 6 ) even though it’s calorie-free. SPLENDA® can be substituted for sugar in a 1:1 ratio for most recipes.Happy baking! 

Combine flour, SPLENDA® Granulated and rice flour. Beat butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until smooth. Press evenly into a greased 8’ square baking pan. 
 
Bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 35 minutes or until lightly browned at the edges and firm to touch. Cool on rack. Cut into small squares. Store in the refrigerator.

FULL RECIPE

Divabetic Bookshelf: Shortbread And Sorrow

“A light, cozy mystery read with a cat-loving and cafe-owning amateur female sleuth, in a small English village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes! Contains mild peril.

Plot Summary: When Julia’s gran, Dot, wins an all-inclusive spa trip to Scotland, Julia finds it difficult to refuse the offer of a relaxing week away from her café. Along with her sister, Sue, they pack up her tiny vintage car and drive all the way from Peridale to Seirbigh Castle, ready to be pampered. The last thing Julia expected was to be caught up in another murder investigation, but when the cruel owner of the family-run spa, Henry McLaughlin, is shot dead, she can’t resist ditching the facemasks and massages in favour of cracking the case.

Julia quickly befriends the young cook and talented-baker, Blair, and acquires a job in the kitchen so she can observe the strange family in the wake of the murder. Henry’s wife and children are acting suspicious, and with an incompetent young Detective Inspector on the case, Julia makes it her mission to discover the secrets held within the ancient walls before Seirbigh Castle claims another victim.

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Divabetic’s Carb Kitty Video Game

Divabetic Remembers Luther Vandross

We’re celebrating R & B legend, Luther Vandross on his birthday weekend. Luther suffered a severe stroke linked to diabetes and hypertension on April 16, 2003. He was in a coma for nearly two months before relocating to a rehabilitation center at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey.

Divabetic shines the spotlight on Luther Vandross with its annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcasts to celebrate his musical accomplishments as well as raise awareness for the link between diabetes and stroke. Keep your ‘house a home’ and learn how to prevent a diabetes health-related complication from occurring.

Luther Vandross

We’re honored to celebrate our friend and mentor, Luther Vandross and his musical legacy as well as raise awareness for diabetes health-related complications (such as stroke) on Divabetic’s annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast.

In the years since Luther’s passing, one constant has remained to define his life and musical success: the voice. Like any great singer of the past 100 years, Luther Vandross’ voice and distinct singing style led to not only monumental success, but an instant recognition when you hear him singing–through your stereo, car radio, on TV or in a movie. Coupled with that voice was Luther’s unique ability to write and sing about love and the shared emotions we all feel in that search for and enjoyment of love. Through his songs, for the last two generations Luther Vandross became a staple in the most joyous moments of people’s lives.

Divabetic’s 2017 Luther Vandross Tribute podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Luther percussionist Steve Kroon, Luther vocalists Tawatha Agee and Pat Lacy, Luther historian Leon Petrossian, members of ‘The Luther Re-Lives Experience’, family members, friends and superfans.

Throughout the  podcast we will be featuring selected songs from the album entitled ‘Luther Vandross’ courtesy of SONY Music.

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Mystery Monday: Swan Wake

Zippora Karz’s life story of being a soloist ballerina with the New York City Ballet  (1983- 1999) living with type 1 diabetes inspires Divabetic’s Diabetes Mystery podcast ‘Swan Wake’.

Zippora was featured in a variety of roles choreographed by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins as well as works choreographed for her by such choreographers as Peter Martins and Lynne Taylor Corbett.

By age 20 she was starring as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, dancing roles by Jerome Robbins, and having new ballets created on her by Peter Martins: the company director following the death of George Balanchine.

Then her world came crashing down when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 21. Her body fell apart as she tried desperately to hold on to her dancing and life.

 Read Zippora Zarz’s memoir “The Sugarless Plum”  click here

Swan Wake

When the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic heads to the Gotham City Ballet Company’s box office to fix a mix up with his ‘Swan Lake’ tickets he’s faced with a even bigger problem – a MURDER! To make matters worse, one of his latest culinary creations, a gluten free cheesecake, seems to be covering the victim’s face. Even more shocking are the numerous scandals swirling around the Gotham City Ballet and it’s members that have everyone walking around on tip toes. Could our happy healthcare host’s wacky culinary skills make him an accessory to the crime or even a possible side dish?

Now Mr. Divabetic with the help of his team of  Certified Diabetes Educators, a Best-Selling Mystery Author and his own nosy Italian Mom must whip up his own crime-solving recipe, and fast–before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends his diabetes advocacy and healthy catering career once and for all.

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

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Leonard Berstein’s recording of ‘Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20” in celebration of the centennial of America’s greatest classical composer and conductor courtesy of SONY Music.

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Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Nina Simone

We’re talking about RADICAL IDEAS about DIABETES on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite with music from Nina Simone.

“It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the time in which we live,” said Nina Simone.

https://youtu.be/q7YjY8W8NZA

It’s interesting to note that what might have seemed ‘Radical’ twenty or thirty years ago is most likely considered ‘commonplace’ today. Take for example, society’s changing attitudes about what it means to be ‘healthy’. From tennis superstar Serena Williams to Bill Clinton, it seems like everyone’s either ‘vegan’ or gluten-free’ today while only a few years back no one was using these terms! We’re quickly moving out stairmasters to make room for yoga mats. The only thing wrong with being ‘radical’ about your health is that most of us don’t do enough of it. We jump on the latest lifestyle trend, fad diet or fitness craze without investing the time, energy and effort into finding out if it’s the right solution for us with our healthcare providers.

Nina Simone

Guests include Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Stephanie Gaber, PharmD, CDE, Dr. Beverly Adler, PhD, CDE, Mama Rose Marie Szadek and Best-Selling Author Lauren Hawkeye.

In tribute to Nina Simone’s fantastic range as a performer, we’re showcasing her music courtesy of SONY MUSIC on this Diabetes Late Nite podcast. 

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Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Carrie Underwood

We’re talking about “keeping the faith with diabetes” on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from Carrie Underwood.

Carrie Underwood believes that fitness is a lifelong journey. She wasn’t born with the toned arms and strong legs that fans know her for. Like all of us, she has to work hard every day to look the way that she does! In  her new book, Find Your Path she shares her secrets with readers, with the ultimate goal of being the strongest version of themselves, and looking as good as they feel. 

Find Your Path

The country superstar and her husband are very outspoken about how important Jesus is in their lives. ‘How do your spiritual values impact your diabetes health? Are your spiritual and religious beliefs and practices harming or helping your daily diabetes routines?  

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic talks to the experts on ways you can keep your faith in your self-care management during your darkest hours and gets a ‘real-life’ perspective on how faith has transformed their health of a Divabetic FB community member.

In less than 10 years, Carrie Underwood has sold 64 million records worldwide, scored 18 #1 singles, and earned nearly 100 major accolades, including six GRAMMY® Awards.

Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Neva White DNP, CDE, Mama Rose Marie, Lorraine Brooks.

In less than 10 years, Carrie Underwood has sold 64 million records worldwide, scored 18 #1 singles, and earned nearly 100 major accolades, including six GRAMMY® Awards.

Carrie Underwood is celebrating the first amazing chapter in her career with the 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville release of Greatest Hits: Decade #1, a 25-song collection that includes such radio staples as “Before He Cheats,” “All-American Girl,” “Cowboy Casanova,” “Blown Away,” “See You Again,” and her six-week #1 breakthrough hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” We will be playing selected songs from Carrie’s Greatest Hits: Decade #1 album throughout the podcast courtesy of SONY MUSIC. 

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Diabetes Late Nite Podcast Inspired by Maren Morris Coming In April

Country’s brightest star, Maren Morris inspires GIRL TALK about the challenges of living with diabetes on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2020, 6 PM, EST.

Do you know that being a woman with type 2 diabetes poses distinctive challenges along the path to tight diabetes management? 

“Many of the challenges due to diabetes women face are related to their hormones — namely, estrogen and progesterone”, says Gregory Dodell, MD.

Additionally, when it comes to getting treatment for type 2 diabetes, women may have much more of an uphill battle compared with men.  A review of 21 scientific studies from around the world, published in the Indian Journal of Public Health, observed that women deal with many more types of care-related obstacles. These include personal, economic, psychological, and health system–based barriers.

“Among those with diabetes, women were less likely than men to receive the care recommended by guidelines, and women received less-intense therapy and monitoring,” said  Neethu Suresh, PhD.

Women also tend to give less of a priority to their own health, and they often lacked family and social support to get medical attention compared to men. 

Our Diva Inspiration, Maren Morris has opted to do things her own way, shirking convention and obliterating expectation at every turn.

Her new album, Girl offers a masterclass in country rock (“All My Favorite People,” which features Brothers Osborne), super-sized pop (“Girl”), and pulsating soul (“Make Out With Me”). “The Feels” is anchored by a reggae groove, while “Flavor” and “RSVP” embrace heady ’90s-era R&B. 

“Getting married made me want to better myself and figure out why I do the things I do,” Maren Morris says of the decision to look beyond her songbook for relief. “And, for my own mental health, as I go deeper and deeper into this world of music, I need another outlet besides writing songs to get out what I’m feeling.”

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Maren Morris’s Girl album courtesy of SONY Music. 

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Doctor Dre Helps Raise Awareness for Vision Loss on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute Podcast

Hip hop legend Doctor  Dre, known for being the co-host of “Yo! MTV Raps”, has lost his vision due to complications from type 2 diabetes. He’s helping us to honor Luther Vandross’s legacy by sharing his story on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 6 PM, EST.  TUNE IN

Since his diagnosis in 2007, the famed DJ launched the Visually Impaired Can Foundation that aims to provide resources for those with vision obstacles. “Basically I’ve been going through a whole different resurgence of my life,” he said. “I stopped at one point, and now I’m doing this and through the blessings of the late great Dick Gregory and some people he’s known I’ve worked through different holistic doctors out there to change what goes in my body and actually work with trying to do the best. We can treat diabetes.”

Diabetic eye disease, caused by diabetes, is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss. Because of the high risk for eye disease, all people with type 2 diabetes should receive an annual dilated eye exam.

Guests include Andre “Doctor Dre” Brown, Michelle Cobbs-Hardy, Dr. Khoshnevis, Danny Clay, Luther Vandross Historian Leon Petrossian, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Luther Vandross’s album, ‘The Night I Fell In Love’ courtesy of SONY Music.  

Discussing the eight tracks on The Night I Fell in Love, Luther Vandross says, “Yeah, that’s a good album. There was something magical about the way everyone responded to it, which to this day I can’t account for.”

FANDROSS 2020

FANDROSS: The Night I Fell In Love with Luther Live Concert

Join fellow Luther Vandross fans for an evening of music, memories, and magic at the third annual FANDROSS concert. Luther’s former bandmates, vocalists and special guests will to perform your favorite Luther songs under the musical direction of Nat Adderley, Jr. This incredible night will have audiences remembering the magic of his brilliant voice. 

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Leave Lizzo Alone, Jillian Michaels!

It seems as though every January, no matter what else is happening in the world of greater significance (hello Australia, hello impeachment, hello Iran…???) if a celebrity loses weight or gains weight or is a fat, happy person, there is no peace for the plump.  The internet is abuzz…. Did Adele lose too much weight too quickly, did Lizzo get fatter and Jillian Michaels get snarkier about Lizzo’s weight “problem?”  

As one of the first plus size models in the early 80’s, I’m known for having carved a curve out in the industry and become plus royalty.  I can’t lie, I wish I was born with the thin gene, but I’ve long given up beating myself into an unnecessary place of body bashing and self-bullying.  I’ve made peace with my abilities and learned to dress for the size (and shape) that I am.  And I’ve become a role model in the meantime.  I don’t claim, “Come on girls get as big as you want, we have clothes for ya…”  I try to be a better eater, not a perfect eater and move and groove with the rhythm of my life’s purpose.  And being a member of Divabetic has helped me fulfill my desire to tamper my message in a world of finger wagging and blame/shame games.  I have a balance in my meal program… and I don’t binge and purge, or starve and sate myself.  I live in the means and watch my numbers.  It’s called mindfulness….

All these accusations and admonishments, where do they come from?  Why do we need examples of who is getting it right, and what does that even mean?  It all stems from the fact that we live in a completely image and size obsessed world and have been since the photograph and camera was invented. (Well, maybe Eve said to Adam, “Does this leaf make me look fat?”)  It all comes down to that little aperture, the shutter that should make you shutter, that moment in time captured and frozen for all to gaze upon like some reverse narcissistic trip.  The invention of the camera started it all, then airbrushing and lighting and photo retouching came about (long before photoshop there still was retouching).  But the one invention, the fitness expert, the guru, the admonishing diet industry has worked its way into our self-doubt and self-loathing, finding a way to lower our self-esteem and compare ourselves to others even more.  And like gawkers at a car crash site, we are curiosity seekers wanting to see the transformation or the cat fight that ensues from the comments, criticism and backlash that spirals out of control.  Going viral is almost a rite of passage, like it hasn’t mastered the art of breaking through and causing a riot if it hasn’t been posted, pounced on or passed on.  It’s a giant train wreck on social media these days.  Sometimes what’s trending is so vapid and yawn-inducing that you wonder when people are going to get real lives and start living off their smart phones.  I think the fact that we can make comments and they are uncensored to the point of being downright demonic, mean spirited, snarky and border on bullying, really tests one’s capacity of finding inner peace and tuning out the noise.   No matter if we are not particularly obsessed with the person losing weight, it’s as if everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon and express their opinion.   There is a vast assortment of gurus and trainers who want us to “give ‘em twenty” – and have you PAY them for it and fan the flames that capitalize on the debate that ensues!!!  

I just was called on yesterday by Cindy Hsu of CBS News and asked to come out and make a comment on Adele’s 50 pound weight loss.  It’s like she wanted me to say something like, “Well we lost another one.” But Cindy is great because she and I analyze what does this mean societally and she calls on me for that wisdom.  Somehow every celebrity succumbs to the industry’s obsessive pressures to lose weight.  It wasn’t Twiggy who glamorized the gaunt look, it was Wallis Simpson who claimed, “you can never be too thin or too rich”  Now that seems to be something at least we all would somewhat agree on.  Except if one has become rich by being too fat.  

Enter Lizzo…she would never be Lizzo unless she was a beautiful, talented, songstress who is sort of the more zaftig, musical equivalent of the sassy, quick witted, and lighthearted Tiffany Haddish.  They are the epitome of the African American woman who is allowed to be voluptuous and almost garish in her garb.  Fishnets, short shorts, body con dresses, hips and butt twerking for the masses.  And that flute. Lordy, lordy….she is a in your face, this is me, take it or leave it (we’ll take it) and her song is infectious and anthematic.  Just like Gwen Stefani with her “ain’t no holler back girl song,” this Lizzo music is annoyingly memorable and sing songy, too.  And Lizzo’s lyrics are empowering and rap clever. (“I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch”)…. 

Enter today’s latest news cycle war….Lizzo vs. Jillian….Jillian Michaels who is a taut and toned, somewhat judgmental, ex -coach of The Biggest Loser, whip cracker, and a fitness expert who makes her living from getting people completely reinvented and molded into shape is criticized for fat shaming.  The fat shaming label is being kind to what she used to do to people’s egos on that show.  Jillian has somewhat mellowed now that she is not trying for Loser rating gains.  I don’t think she was shaming her.  She was merely pointing to the facts, and the facts don’t lie. She is large enough that she may be developing a metabolic syndrome.  Our bodies are just giant chemical reactors and we eat foods that produce too much glucose, that gets stored as fat  and we become pre-diabetic if not diabetic because we are insulin resistant.  She never criticized her beauty or talent.  Everyone wants her to just focus on how talented she is.  But that’s not Jillian’s brand.  She is using Lizzo as much as Lizzo is using her.  Battle of the brands.  I am okay the way I am, get out of my face Lizzo to Jillian who wants to highlight the dangers of obesity.  I know that she is citing the facts, and it has nothing to do with the fact that they are directed at Lizzo.  Take Lizzo out of the equation and level them on anyone who is overweight for any period of time.  Everyone heard judgment from Jillian.  I heard facts.  Lizzo is young enough that she has a few good years of werking the twerk left before she may have knee problems, or back problems or become pre-diabetic.  She shied away from Instagram and she was a vegetarian and a vegan for seven years and she has an Instagram account called @LizzoBeEating.  It came her food reviews and morphed into music. I don’t know what her food regimen is, but she has a bold style and no one tells her what to do these days I am guessing.  She can’t eat before she performs because she feels sluggish but as she says, after I perform, “It’s going DOWN!”  I love both these messages and think the operative word again goes back to BALANCE.  It really is that simple. Stay outta the comment section or the viral spiral and live YOUR best life.  As the liberated Lizzo says in Truth Hurts, “I put the sing in single” and “Don’t text me tell it straight to my face.”       

Catherine Schuller

This Divabetic blog post was written by Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller. Catherine Schuller is one of the plus size industry’s pioneers to know. Former Ford model, consumer advocate, promoter, marketer, editor, image consultant (Certified by AICI), author, and entrepreneur (owner of Catherine Schuller Enterprises, (Emerging Visions Enterprises and CurveStyle: Reshaping Fashion) as a Plus Size spokesperson and diabetes advocate she has changed attitudes about living well with diabetes for thousands of people. In partnership with HiTechMODA, Catherine presents the best and most talented emerging designers in an unparalleled runway style during New York Fashion Week!

Doctor Dre’s Loss of Vision Linked to Type 2 Diabetes

Celebrated hip-hop-oriented entertainer and educator, Andre “Doctor Dre” Brown has recently lost  his vision from mismanagement of type 2 diabetes.

“My stubbornness put me where I’m at. Now my energy is going to change that,” Doctor Dre told the NYTimes. “We got young people, grown people, old, all having this. We can prevent this. We can cure this. I have an idea how to do it.”

 He spoke to WABC about complications stemming from his struggle with type 2 diabetes.

“I had my retinas reattached, so I didn’t go totally blind from the diabetes. In the reattachment, I have scar tissue behind my eyes, so when that kind of fluctuates, my vision comes back,” he said.

Long-term mismanaged diabetes can lead to high blood sugar levels that damage small blood vessels over time. This damage can lead to problems with a part of the eye called the retina. This can create blurred vision. In a person with diabetes, fluid can move into and out of the eye due to high blood sugar levels.

Dre has been fighting type 2 diabetes for years, which has caused him to also lose a toe, according to ABC.

“I have a foundation called the Doctor Dré V.I.C (Visually Impaired Can) Foundation.

From 1989 to 1995, he co-hosted “Yo! MTV Raps” with Ed Lover,  the tv show that did more than any other to make rap music and hip-hop culture global phenomena.

Diabetes-related retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in American adults and it affects over 1 in 4 of those living with diabetes, while 4% have severe cases of retinopathy. Diabetes-related macular edema is a swelling that can occur with retinopathy.

November has been declared by Prevent Blindness as Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month to educate the public on the effects of diabetes on vision, risk factors and treatment options. Prevent Blindness offers a variety of free resources dedicated to the education of diabetic eye disease at preventblindness.org/diabetes.

Skyrocketing Cost of Insulin on October’s Diabetes Late Nite

We’re talking about the skyrocketing cost of insulin on Diabetes Late Nite with music from Destiny’s Child courtesy of SONY Music.

With song lyrics like: “Can you pay my bills, Can you pay my telephone bills
Can you pay my automo-bills, If you did then maybe we could chill, I don’t think you do, So, you and me are through”
, Destiny’s Child underscores how many people in the diabetes community feel about big pharma and insurance companies.

According to reports the list price of insulin has nearly tripled since 2002 and the average price of insulin has increased by 64 percent since January 2014. People blame big pharma, pharmacies, health plans, and employers for the cost. We’re talking the experts about who or what do you feel is behind the skyrocketing cost of insulin.

T1International is an advocacy organization aimed at helping people with type 1 diabetes worldwide overcome problems of access to affordable insulin supplies.

“Our advocates are truly fighting for their lives and their dignity. It’s as grass roots as you can get, and it has grown naturally,” says T1International founder, Elizabeth Pfiester.

We will be spotlighting music from Destiny’s Child. It’s the 20th Anniversary of their second studio album, Writings on the Wall throughout the broadcast. The breakout album featured mega-hits like “Say My Name,” “Bills, Bills, Bills,” and “Jumpin’, Jumpin’.”

Essence magazine referred to the album as a masterpiece of Black femininity, women empowerment, and honestly just a banger that still gives us nostalgic feels.

Guests include T1International‘s US Advocacy Manager Alison Bailey, Mary Ann Hodorowicz RD, MBA, CDE and Patricia Addie-Gentle. 

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot’. 

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