Category: Inspiration

I hope you enjoy Poet Lorraine Brooks’ poem is “Beauty & The Beach”from our Diabetes Roundtable podcast inspired by Esther Williams that was originally broadcast in July 2013. Without a doubt this poem is the most popular poem that Lorraine has ever shared on our podcasts. It also marks an important turning point in our podcast’s content because the bravery and honest emotions expressed in her poem opened the door for us to tackle more sensitive subjects on future podcasts.

I remember talking to Lorraine about this poem prior to our live broadcast. She had an uneasy feeling that I might not like her poem because it wasn’t ‘upbeat’ or ‘happy’ enough to fit in with our typical podcast format. I assured her that it didn’t matter if her poem strayed from our ‘happy’ outlook about living with diabetes because it was simply great. To be honest, it had never occurred to me that our podcasts might seem unabashedly upbeat to our listeners until our conversation. Up until then, my intent with each show was to provide a forum for our guests to ‘let their hair down’ and talk about their diabetes. I never intentionally censored anyone’s words or comments and/or suggested to alter their story to be more inspiring. However, after our conversation I took Lorraine’s words to heart and quickly began re-shaping our podcast to reflect a more authentic view of diabetes; the good and the bad along with everything in between.

It’s interesting to note that people have expressed mixed feeling about Lorraine’s poem over the years. Some people think it’s sad and depressing. Others argue it’s true and honest. No matter what you think I’m sure you will agree with me that Lorraine’s words need to be heard!

Beauty and the Beach by Poet Lorraine Brooks

I’m not Esther Williams.

I’m not even close.

My body in bathing suits

Feels clumsy and gross.

I look at the swimmers

And look at the pool,

And suddenly feel

Like a a fat ugly fool.

I try to ignore them,

These feelings I feel…

But the bottom line truth is,

The feelings are real.

Will I wear a bathing suit?

Probably not.

I’ll probably stay in my clothes,

And feel hot.

I’ve tried, please believe me,

To listen to those

Who tell me its OK

To take off my clothes.

Then I look at others

And what comes to mind?

I sense they are judging me

And being unkind.

I wish I was comfortable,

I Wish I fit in…

I wish I was normal.

I wish I was thin.

I wish People saw me

For more Than my weight…

I wish that I had

A much different fate.

So, hats off to Esther

Who swam like a fish…

Who by all accounts

Was a beautiful “dish”.

But I am not Esther.

I’m all I can be…

And sometimes I struggle

Just being me.

One more small thing,

I must say it out loud –

If I had a body

Of which I was proud…

If tank tops and 2-pieces

Were within my reach

I’d be more than happy

To join you at the beach.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable inspired by Esther Williams Diabetes Roundtable Hosted by Mr. Divabetic. Special Guests include: Author Brenda Novak, Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Mama Rose Marie, Fitness Expert Tiffany Savion, Kathy Gold, RN, CDE, Neva White CRNP, CDE and Leslie living with type 1 diabetes.

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On last night’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast I discussed the topic of ‘anger and diabetes’ with our panel of experts.

If you have or are feeling angry about your diabetes – you’re not alone. It’s more common than you think. Diabetes is the perfect breeding ground for anger. Anger can start at diagnosis with the question, “Why me?” You may dwell on how unfair diabetes is: “I’m so angry at this disease! I don’t want to treat it. I don’t want to control it. I hate it!”

Poet Lorraine Brooks shares her perspective on what makes people with diabetes feel angry in her new poem, ‘Bittersweetness’ written specifically for August’s Diabetes Late Nite.

‘Bittersweetness’ by Lorraine Brooks

I have diabetes, that’s generally known,

And sometimes there’s cause for concern.

When others assume, that what I have shown

Is reason for them to be stern.

So what makes me angry, occasionally,

Is questioning my food decisions.

It’s when people judge, even well-meaningly,

And then look at me with derision.

It’s when doctors give me a guilt-making talk,

As if I have failed in my dealing.

It’s when people think that they’re walking the walk,

But they don’t understand how I’m feeling.

I often get angry when numbers don’t jive

In spite of the effort I’m making.

When blood sugars rise to two,hundred and five,

And my carb-counting may be mistaken.

Or how about not being able to lose

Any weight, even though I am trying.

I try all the diets, end up confused,

And sometimes I just feel like crying.

I never would choose this, the way that I live,

Because of the changes required.

And I can get angry and cannot forgive,

And I can get real sick and tired.

Counting, and checking, and eating, or not,

Cooking and shopping, and staying aware…

Trying to balance the changes I’ve got,

And making the most of my need for healthcare.

I know that some people will not understand,

That sometimes I’m hurt and I’m scarred.

But all I can say is, respect who I am,

And know that some days, it’s just HARD.

So walk in your beauty, and walk in your pride,

And use all your anger as fuel.

It’s not always easy to be on this ride,

And people,can often be cruel.

But also don’t let people,stand in your way

And don’t let yourself get unwound.

Even if you’re not feeling completely OK,

Get off of the merry-go-round!

Focus, be thoughtful,,and give it your best,

Because that’s really all you can do.

Let go,of the anger and feeling depressed…

Stand up, and enjoy being YOU!

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Late Nite ‘ The Angry Show’ podcast hosted by Mr. Divabetic. Podcast guests include Author of “Overcoming Destructive Anger” Dr. Bernard Golden PhD, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDE, CDN, Laura Laria MA, CASAC-T, Jill Knapp- Woolsey, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Mama Rose Marie, and the Charlie’s Angels Outreach.

Our good friend, Judith Jones-Ambrosini would like to invite you the Wise Women of Diabetes Retreat on Friday, September 16, 2016 in Pumpkin Hollow Retreat Center near Hudson NY.

This retreat was designed for women with diabetes by women with diabetes, to integrate extraordinary self-care techniques in their day to day lives.

We are mothers, sisters, daughters, and grandmothers who have honed the skill of caring for others. Be it in the workplace or at home, we cook nutritious meals, care physically, emotionally and financially for our loved ones and yet, often, find little time to care deeply for ourselves.

If you are a woman with diabetes who has struggled to remember to test/monitor your blood sugar, gain adequate rest or exercise, feel overwhelmed or misunderstood, this Self-Care Retreat was designed specifically for you.

Research shows that stress elevates blood sugar and makes it harder to manage. This retreat focuses on useful ways to manage stress and manage your blood sugar as well as the other myriad elements of the challenge of diabetes.

This retreat program was designed by two Registered Nurses (type 1), a chef/author (type 1) and a psychotherapist (type 2).

REGISTER NOW: Wise Women Of Diabetes Retreat

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Is your relationship with diabetes like ‘Beauty & The Beast’? Do you feel like a beauty who is dealing with beastly blood sugars?

In the popular Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast a young woman named Belle lives in the captivity of a hideous monster, the Beast. For many people living with diabetes, it’s not hard to re-imagine the story line with diabetes in the role of the ‘beast’.

I reached out to Poet Lorraine Brooks to get her take on this diabetes twist to the popular fairy tale. Enjoy!

‘Beauty & The Beast’ by Lorraine Brooks

A beauty named Belle, says the story,

Was a lovely and humble young lass,

She was regal in all of her glory,

But she had diabetes, alas.

She thought diabetes was just a big beast,

And that it was going to get her.

But with education her courage increased,

And she knew she was going to get better.

One day she was high, And the next day too low,

She tested and looked at her meter.

She took her supplies with her, where’er she’d go,

Diabetes wasn’t going to defeat her.

She looked at that beast right straight in the face

And said, “I am not scared of you!”

Diabetes was something she couldn’t erase,

So she had to do all she could do!

Take care of it, own it, and make it your friend,

And don’t be afraid to embrace it.

There is no beast on earth that you cannot defend

If you only have courage to face it!

For eight years I presented diabetes education and empowerment at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Expo in Pittsburgh, PA. Every year I would come up with a different theme to our outreach presentation to make learning about diabetes more fun and enjoyable. Our themes ranged from the ‘Golden Girls’ and ‘Gillian’s Island’ to Diabetes Time Machine.

One year I came up with the idea to present diabetes education using fairy tales. Its quite possible that I stumbled upon this idea after watching too many episodes of ABC’s ‘Once Upon A Time’ television series. I believe fairy tales can teach us about the higher qualities of ourselves and others and make us feel like we can conquer our fears about living with diabetes.

Thankfully Lorraine agreed to write nine wonderful Diabetes Fairy Tales featuring popular fairy tale characters and diabetes self-care advice for our Expo show. (Beauty & the Beast happens to be one mod my favorites.)

Before anyone accuses me of making ‘light’ of a diabetes diagnosis or diabetes self-management by using costumes, props and games in my ongoing diabetes outreach efforts, I’d like to add that every Divabetic program features qualified healthcare professionals. Although today it’s much more trendy to use ‘peers’ to educate about diabetes, I still prefer to working with healthcare professionals. Call me ‘crazy’ but I like the fact that certified diabetes educators spend over 3,000 hours learning about diabetes from a diverse patient base before they are certified. For our Diabetes Fairytales program, our Pittsburgh team featured an outstanding group of local educators, CDE’s, RN’s and MD’s who provided expert advice on different topics such as food, fitness and managing medications.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Fairytales podcast featuring Connie Frazier RD, CDE, Lori Bednarz RN, CDE, Makeup Artist and Esthetician Sue Perez, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Lorraine Starsky RN and Neva White CRNP, CD.

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The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic talks about the positive impact that practicing gratitude has on living with diabetes on Diabetes Late Nite with Poet Lorraine Brooks.

Expressing, or being in a state of, gratitude often requires reframing our current situation through mindfulness, or acute awareness, of how fortunate many of us are in our lives.

Research supports the fact that having more gratitude, or being in a state of gratitude more often, has been associated with increased quality of life, general happiness, better self-esteem and less depression.

Grateful by Lorraine Brooks

shopping in cities with big crazy malls,

answering emails and returning calls…

holiday parties with glitter and mirth,

visiting family from all round the earth.

hustle and bustle and running around

no time for resting – no time to sit down.

but is that really what this is about?

is Christmas supposed to be knocking us out?

to me it’s about, not the drinks and the food,

but rather the time we spend doing things good.

to me it’s about, not the presents and toys,

but rather the gratefulness, prayers, and joys.

The messages Christmas and Channukah do,

are peace, love, and kindness,

And thankfulness too.

Same thing with Kwanzaa and all of the rest.

they show us that gratitude’s always the best.

that Jesus’ family could not find a bed…

it meant he was born in a manger instead.

that oil that was barely enough to give light,

provided the comfort and warmth for 8 nights.

and instead of remembering why this is relevant,

we call out our brethren, and do things malevolent.

regardless the challenge we face day to day,

we’ve got to be thankful we’re really OK.

we’ve got to give thanks we have things we can use,

and we’ve got to give thanks we have freedom to choose.

I choose to be grateful for all that I’ve got

and not to be jealous of things I have not.

I’m grateful for numbers that stay in the range,

and try not to worry about things I cant change.

I’m grateful for meters, and lancets and pumps,

and people who help keep me out of the dumps.

I’m grateful for lights and the cool decorations,

and for holiday treats, if I use moderation.

I’m grateful i still have the will to succeed…

I have more than I hoped for, and more than I need.

so lets all make a promise to stop being hateful…

and focus on staying eternally grateful.

Reinforcing the relationship between gratitude and depression, new clinical research demonstrates that using a self-paced online training to increase gratitude directly improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression in adults with diabetes. As depression is a known barrier to improving self care (i.e., making dietary changes or getting more physical activity), learning to practice more gratitude may be a strategy toward behavior change for those with diabetes.

LISTEN: Diabetes Late Nite inspired by P.M. Dawn featuring games and prizes. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Mama Rose Marie, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Lynette Luckers from the Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, FAND and Leon Petrossian. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

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Last night we celebrated our 6^th Anniversary of podcasting on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from P.M. Dawn. The group’s frontman, Prince Be lived with diabetes for more than two decades and developed various health problems over the years. He suffered multiple strokes, amputation and renal kidney disease during his short life.

Poet Lorraine Brooks shares her perspective on living with diabetes health-related complications in her newest poem, It’s Complicated written specifically for Diabetes Late Nite.

It’s Complicated by Lorraine Brooks

So many things can go wrong with our parts…

It’s scary to think of, I know.

The thought of a failure, infection or worse…

Of losing a foot, or a toe.

It can affect us in so many ways

And sometimes it’s not always plain.

Sometimes it sneaks up, disguised and alone

Sometimes there’s even no pain.

Some people suffer more than the rest

And have issues others don’t have to deal with.

But make no mistake in seeing the truth

It’s a disease we had better get real with.

Luther, and Patti…and, and Hanks and Prince Be

George Michael, Vaughn, Halle, and Quest

This disease has no boundaries, and doesn’t ask who…

And bad things can happen, in spite of our best.

Open the dialog, talk to your friends

Talk to yourself, and the people who mind you

And let your struggles and feelings be heard

And empathetic ears will invariably find you.

LISTEN NOW: 6th Year Anniversary Divabetic podcast featuring Poet Lorraine Brooks, Lynette Luckers from the Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, Janis Roszler MS, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Luther Vandross historian Leon Petrossian and Mama Rose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

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