Buttons
I’ve never had buttons On top of my jeans | I’ve only been able | To wear size of “queens”.
Read Buttons in its entirety here.
Buttons
I’ve never had buttons On top of my jeans | I’ve only been able | To wear size of “queens”.
Read Buttons in its entirety here.
The movement appears to be doing a great job at encouraging people of all shapes, sizes, and colors to love their body. This appealing sentiment can be found all over social media, in particular on Twitter. On Twitter it is common to find celebrities standing up for those that aren’t shaped like supermodels by showing their own bodies as examples of what the “average” women really looks like.
Poet Lorraine Brooks shares her insights about body image in her poem, “Buttons”, written specifically for our free monthly podcast, Diabetes Late Nite.
BUTTONS by Lorraine Brooks
I’ve never had buttons
On top of my jeans
I’ve only been able
To wear size of “queens”.
Elastic has often been
Something I needed
In clothing that made me feel
Somewhat defeated.
I longed for the feeling
Of putting on pants
Not worrying if people
Looked at me
Askance.
No more stretch fabric
And no more a “plus”,
And seeing my booty
As big as a bus.
I’m tucking my shirt in,
I’m wearing no sleeves,
My body is freedom
My body believes.
The old grey sweatshirt
That I used to dread
I’m wearing a cardigan sweater
Instead.
I know that this “victory”
Might not seem much
And that I am not “perfect” or
Gorgeous and such.
But trust me and listen
When I have to say
I buttoned my jeans today…
Hip, hip hooray!
Don’t miss our 6th Year Anniversary Podcast featuring music by P.M. Dawn on Tuesday, July 9, 2016, 6-7 PM, EST. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Mama Rose Marie, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, Janis Roszler RD, CDE, Luther Vandross historian Leon Petrossian, Lynette Luckers from the Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation and Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic. TUNE IN
A Little Respect
Look at me. Look at the pain | In my eyes. | All that you see | Is my Overweight size. | Inside is a person Who needs to Be heard.
Read A Little Respect in its entirety here.
Many people consider Type 2 diabetes to be the ‘Rodney Dangerfield’ of chronic conditions because it’s gets little to no respect from the general public.
Although Type 2 diabetes can wreak havoc from head to toe with health-related complications such as kidney disease, stroke, blindness and amputation, it isn’t considered as serious a health threat as cancer or heart disease, according to results from a recent American Diabetes Association focus group.
This lack of concern is particularly worrisome, considering the condition now affects Americans in record numbers : 24 million people have it, and another 57 million have prediabetes .
Poet Lorraine Brooks shares her insights about this issue in her poem, “A Little Respect”, written specifically for Diabetes Late Nite.
A LITTLE RESPECT by Lorraine Brooks
Look at me.
Look at the pain
In my eyes.
All that you see
Is my
Overweight size.
Inside is a person
Who needs to
Be heard.
Needs to let go of
The hurt
I’ve incurred.
I’m not uninformed
And I’m not unaware.
I am not lazy
And yes, I DO care.
I haven’t abandoned
My health or my needs.
I’ve just redefined
What it means
To Succeed.
I am not here
To live up to your charts
Or conform to your standards
For my body parts.
It’s not called depression
It doesn’t need meds
I won’t go to blazes and
I won’t drop dead.
I don’t have the answer
To all of life’s queries,
I don’t want to hear about
All of your theories.
Just treat me with value
As part of the clan
And do not compare me to those
Smaller than.
Look at me
Look at the smile
I reflect
And treat me with love
And a little
Respect.
Speaking about ‘Respect’, the Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin said, “I have diabetes, really, from years ago when I was really badly and grossly overweight. Now, I’m back to my natural size and thrilled about it.”
Aretha has struggled with her weight throughout her life, underwent surgery in 2010 for an undisclosed ailment. After being hospitalized, Aretha completely changed her lifestyle and lost 85 lbs. in 2012.
Diabetes Late Nite with music by A Tribe Called Quest LISTEN: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2016/06/14/diabetes-late-nite-inspired-by-a-tribe-called-quest
It’s Not My Denial, It’s Yours
I have diabetes and that I can’t deny.
I cannot spend time wondering
How or which or why.
Read It’s Not My Denial, It’s Yours its entirety here.
We’re still reeling from the recent sudden deaths of P.M. Dawn’s Prince Be and A Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg from kidney disease related to diabetes this year. Both men died in the mid 40’s which seems way too young to me. The similarities of their life stories don’t stop there either. Both men admitted to being in denial about living with diabetes for quite a long time.
According to the American Diabetes Association ‘denial’ is so common among people living with diabetes that some doctors think it’s part of the process of accepting the diagnosis.
The trouble comes when you keep on denying your diabetes. Long-term denial stops you from learning what you need to know to keep yourself healthy and provides an opportunity for a diabetes health-related complication such as stroke, blindness, amputation or kidney disease to occur.
Poet Lorraine Brooks puts her own spin on the topic of ‘denial’ in her poem, ‘It’s Not My Denial, It’s Yours‘ from January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
It’s Not My Denial, It’s Yours by Poet Lorraine Brooks
I have diabetes
and that I can’t deny.
I cannot spend time wondering
How or which or why.
Every day’s a challenge
But I meet it with a smile.
So please don’t ever, ever think
That I am “in denial“.
I think it’s more the other way.
The people,that I know.
I think denial is THEIR thing,
Because THEY do not know.
they do not know the pain we feel
With needles, and finger sticks.
They do not know how hard it is
And so they try to fix.
They tell us that if only we
Would do like Cousin Fred.
He stopped eating cabbage and
Now he is off his meds.
They tell us that we’re doing wrong
By eating birthday cake.
But they don’t see us counting all the carbs,
For heaven’s sake.
People think they know our deal
Because they know some others.
But each of us is different.
we are not like our brothers.
It’s simply not that easy
Than to just say DONT EAT THAT.
It’s simply not that easy to lose weight
And not be fat.
I wish that everybody would
Leave well enough alone.
And let us diabetic folks
Get answers on our own.
I’m not saying not to help
Or share your deep concern.
I’m saying that unless you’re here,
You’ve got a lot to learn.
So, I’m not in denial, no.
I’ve struggled and I’ve fought.
And everything I do and want to do
Requires thought.
So please just let me vent, and don’t feel like
I need advice.
I know that I must limit things like
Bread and fruit and rice.
Dont shut me down when I complain.
I sometimes scream and curse.
And don’t bellittle what I say by saying
It could be worse.
So I’m not in denial, no.
I just choose not to speak.
But you should not in any way
Consider that I’m weak.
I fight, I cry, I think, I pray.
I do it with a smile.
But please do not believe at all
That I am in denial.
LISTEN NOW: January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Adele. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Mama Rose Marie, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR), Jennifer Jacobs, Dana Collins Carr and Cindy Lou, who is living with type 2 diabetes from Kentucky.
On June’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast, the happy healthcare host Mr. Divabetic talked to his guests about how to be a living legend with diabetes.
John Legend got his ‘legendary’ stage name from his friend, poet J. Ivy, who said, “I heard John’s music and it reminded me of music from the old school so I told John, you sound like one of the legends. As a matter of fact, that’s what I’m going to call you from now on! I’m going to call you John Legend.”
What is your legend about you? Are you holding yourself back from being your most wonderful self? Choosing to live a legendary life means giving ourselves permission to be amazing! Poet Lorraine Brooks shared her inspiring poem, BE MY LEGEND:
I don’t know what a legend is
But I hear it in your name
Tell me who you truly are
And what’s your claim to fame.
Are you the one who’ll teach me how
To recognize my strength?
I’ve heard it said, to have me
You would go to any length.
Are you the one who’ll teach me how
To recognize my strength?
I’ve heard it said, to have me
You would go to any length.
I don’t know how to give you
All the things I know you need
I don’t know whats important
And love’s never guaranteed.
I’ve never given all of me
To anyone but you
It’s taken everything I have
To see your point of view.
But we’re all legends, aren’t we?
To someone here on earth
Our words and our behavior
Have meaning, depth, and worth.
We don’t need fame and fortune
to be an influence
All we need’s compassion
To make a difference.
Listen, trust, observe, and pray
Stimulate, and articulate
Be the sort of human being
That others gladly imitate.
That’s what you are – Each one of you
Who’ve made us strive and seek
And how we all admire all your
Passion and mystique.
So be my legend, be my friend
Inspire me to live.
Ordinary people do have
Lots of things to give.
Be my legend, teach me well
Inspire me to BE…
And know that you have taught me
How to give you
A!ll of me.
Keep up on the latest in health, wellness and beauty right here with What’s Fresh! with Mr. Divabetic and share your thoughts at Divabetic on Facebook.
WATCH NOW: Easter Parade in NYC with Mr. Divabetic
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Be My Legend
I don’t know what a legend is | But I hear it in your name | Tell me who you truly are | And what’s your claim to fame.
Read Be My Legend in its entirety here.