Weekly Wow: Nutrition Labels

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I want to make learning about diabetes fun! That’s why I play games and give away great prizes to help you stay happy and healthy  on my monthly podcast, Diabetes Late Nite.

You can be an INSTANT WINNER on our November Diabetes Late podcast scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2016, 6 -7 PM, EST. Correctly answer the question below on Divabetic’s FB page and you could win our Prize Giveaways.

The “iconic” look of the nutritional label remains, but we are making important updates to ensure consumers have access to the information they need to make informed decisions about the foods they eat.

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ANSWER: These changes include increasing the type size for “Calories,” “servings per container,” and the “Serving size” declaration, and bolding the number of calories and the “Serving size” declaration to highlight this information.

By law, serving sizes must be based on amounts of foods and beverages that people are actually eating, not what they should be eating. How much people eat and drink has changed since the previous serving size requirements were published in 1993. The reference amount used to set a serving of soda is changing from 8 ounces to 12 ounces.

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LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Late Nite inspired by Ella Fitzgerald. Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDN, CDE, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie.

Carol B. Polis shares her ‘Fighting Spirit’ at ‘Victory Over Diabetes’ outreach event

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This year’s keynote speaker will be Carol B. Polis at our upcoming Divabetic – Victory Over Diabetes  outreach event of the year on Saturday, November 12, 2016, 11 AM – 3 PM at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA .

Carol B. Polis is the first female professional boxing judge in the world! She was appointed by the then governor of Pennsylvania, Milton Shapp, on February 1st, 1973. Since then, she has gone on to achieve many accomplishments. To date, she has judged title fights throughout the world. She also appeared on the TV show “What’s My Line?” and twice on “To Tell The Truth.” She even made an appearance in “Rocky V” as one of the Judges. She has finished her book with help from her co-author, Rich Herschlag, titled “The Lady is a Champ.”

Carol Polis’s life is one of personal triumph against long odds. Having officiated 27 title fights plus two high-profile non-title heavyweight fights with Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes, Polis, a single parent and recent cancer survivor, has an amazing, historically significant story to tell.

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The 1970s were a time of great upheaval for women. There was Roe v. Wade and the Equal Rights Amendment. There were Gloria Steinem, Billie Jean King, Golda Meir, and Carol Polis. In 1971, Carol Polis married a part-time professional boxing referee. Within two years, she went from being a squeamish spectator to a professional boxing judge-the first woman ever to do so. As luck would have it, not only was this period the golden age of women’s rights, it was also the golden age of boxing. Carol Polis had a ringside seat for all of it. Sometimes she was the main event. From cutting her teeth on three-round undercard fights at the gritty Blue Horizon in Philadelphia to finding herself at the center of a riot at Madison Square Garden; from being schooled in Joe Frazier’s sweat drenched gym on North Broad Street to officiating in a Don King tournament and being investigated by the FBI; from following the careers of local fighters like Boogaloo Watts and Willie “the Worm” Monroe to becoming a personal guest of Muhammad Ali; from speaking at the nearby Rotary Club to appearing as a contestant on What’s My Line and To Tell the Truth, five-foot-one, 115-pound Carol Polis, for better or for worse, was treated as an ambassador for all women, a novelty, and even a misfit. Polis was bound by none of these labels. First and foremost, Carol Polis was a mom. When her marriage breaks up in 1977, Polis’s life becomes more a matter of survival than knockouts. It is while keeping a roof over her kids’ heads and later raising her grandson that Polis earns her heavyweight belt.

Divabetic – Victory Over Diabetes is our biggest diabetes outreach event of the year on Saturday, November 12, 2016, 11 AM – 3 PM at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA . This free event hosted by Mr. Divabetic celebrates the fellowship of the Divabetic Club – Philadelphia, PA during National Diabetes Awareness month in November. Our goal is to comfort, connect and cheer on the members of the Divabetic Club and their loved ones for having a take charge attitude about their diabetes. Come enjoy a keynote address from Author Carol B. Polis (The first Woman Professional Boxing Judge), a live cooking demonstration with Katie Cavuto RD, a praise dance performance, a GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS Fashion show hosted by Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, free lunch, games and prizes. FREE ADMISSION. Register Now: 1-800-JEFF-NOW

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LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Game Show podcast with great prize giveaways courtesy of Dr. Greenfield’s Diabetic Foot, Hand & Body Creams. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic

Katie Cavuto RD Presents a Live Cooking Demonstration at ‘Victory Over Diabetes’

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Katie Cavuto RD joins us for our Divabetic – Victory Over Diabetes outreach event on Saturday, November 12, 2016, 11 AM – 3 PM at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

TV lovers will recognize Katie as a finalist on Season 5 of “The Next Food Network Star”. She’s also been the dietitian for the Philadelphia Phillies since 2009, worked with the Philadelphia Flyers for over two seasons and is the nutrition advisor for Unite for HER, an organization that educates and empowers woman with breast cancer.

“My food philosophy is rooted in the fact that nutrition and wellness messages are not one-size-fits all. I celebrate whole foods, and our need for simplicity in messages and in life,”says Katie.

Divabetic – Victory Over Diabetes is Divabetic’s biggest diabetes outreach event of the year on Saturday, November 12, 2016, 11 AM – 3 PM at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA . This free event hosted by Mr. Divabetic celebrates the fellowship of the Divabetic Club – Philadelphia, PA during National Diabetes Awareness month. Our goal is to comfort, connect and cheer on the members of the Divabetic Club and their loved ones for having a take charge attitude about their diabetes. Come enjoy a keynote address from Author Carol B. Polis (The first Woman Professional Boxing Judge), a live cooking demonstration with Katie Cavuto RD, a praise dance performance, a GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS Fashion show hosted by Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, free lunch, games and prizes. FREE ADMISSION. Register Now: 1-800-JEFF-NOW

The Divabetic Club is sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the American Diabetes Association (Philadelphia Chapter).

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LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Game Show podcast with great prize giveaways courtesy of Dr. Greenfield’s Diabetic Foot, Hand & Body Creams. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic

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Don’t Let Diabetes Kill Romance Tips from Author Anna J. Stewart

National & USA Today Bestselling Author of Sweet to Sexy Pulse-Pounding Romance, Anna J. Stewart guests on November’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Ella Fitzgerald scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2016, 6 PM, EST. This accomplished author is also an incredible diabetes advocate who has helped Author Brenda Novak with her successful diabetes online auction for several years.

This year, Anna contributed her novella, ‘Gingerbread Dreams’ to Brenda’s latest “digital box set for a cure,” ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS. This contemporary romance collection of stories featuring Brenda’s own Rita-nominated novella “A Dundee Christmas” as well as stories by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Debbie Macomber and romance favorites Bella Andre, Melody Anne, Violet Duke, Marie Force, Heather Graham, Laurelin Paige & Kayti McGee, Jane Porter, Melanie Shawn, RaeAnne Thayne, Melinda Curtis, Anna J. Stewart and Scarlett York. The set sells for only $9.99 (less than $1/story) and is up for pre-order now wherever e-books are sold. The box will be released November 1st and will only be available through December 31s

In the spirit of National  Diabetes Awareness month, I asked Anna to share some of her ‘Don’t Let Diabetes Kill Romance’ tips to help you add some sparkle to the holidays. Enjoy:

One of the things I enjoy most about the holiday season is the cold, quiet weather. If there’s rain pounding against the window, that’s nice, too. I live in California, so I don’t get a white Christmas. I try to set aside at least an hour each evening, once the sun has set. I turn off all the electrical “stuff”, turn on the tree lights, candles, and simply sit and immerse myself in the peace. It’s a kind of recharge for me and a reminder of what the season is truly about. Doing it together makes it even more special.

Put the focus on your significant other. There really is something to be said for setting yourself aside and paying attention to what your partner needs. Their favorite songs, their favorite holiday movies, their family holiday traditions if you haven’t created new ones of your own yet. This is also a perfect time to pull out all those holiday albums and pictures, reminiscence and remember those who aren’t with you any longer. Celebrate them.

It really is the little things. A love note here and there, a moment where you take to simply hold someone, hug someone, whisper in their ear. Again, those quiet moments can mean so much and small gestures of your affection and love can have lasting effects.  There’s so much more to intimacy than simply the physical act of love. Talking about those early times together, when everything, including that rush of attraction, was so new and exciting. Moments like these can help bring them back to the surface.

BUY: All I Want For Christmas (14 Novellas benefiting Diabetes Research) box set benefiting diabetes research 

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LISTEN NOW: November’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Ella Fitzgerald. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic. Guests include Author Anna Stewart, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDN, CDE, Mama Rose Marie and Poet Lorraine Brooks.  “Laugh a little, Learn a lot!”

Oatmeal Cookies by the Diabetic Pastry Chef

 

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The Diabetic Pastry Chef, Stacey Harris’s recipes are featured in  this year’s Diabetes Mystery podcast, “Suspect Boulevard” . Our carb counting caper also features Best-Selling Author, Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach and Lorraine Brooks. 

Millions of people with, at risk and affected by diabetes read mystery paperbacks and there’s a huge collection of books featuring super indulgent recipes that really bug me. I think it’s high-time someone wrote a mystery featuring healthy and delicious recipes so I asked Stacey Harris, The Diabetic Pastry Chef to contribute some recipes for this year’s diabetes mystery podcast.

Type 2 diabetes doesn’t stop Stacey Harris. From her tasty treats to her outlook on life, this pastry chef keeps things as sweet as can be! Her flavor combinations and attention to detail make Stacey’s treats so craveable, while her soft voice and gentle smile make this pastry chef just so lovable reports Diabetic Living magazine.

Oatmeal Cookies by the Diabetic Pastry Chef Stacey Harris

Ingredients

1 cup raisins

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3 eggs, well beaten

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

2/3 cup white whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking soda

2 cups oats

¾ cup pecans, chopped

1 cup butter or canola butter

2 cups Whey Low D Granular, sifted

1 tbsp. molasses

Directions:

Combine and let stand the raisins, vanilla and eggs.

In separate bowl, sift together the flours, salt, cinnamon and baking soda.  Add the oats and pecans.

In mixer bowl, cream together the Whey Low, butter and molasses.  Alternately add the egg mixture and the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and beat until incorporated.  Drop by tablespoons onto greased baking sheets and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.  Yield:  22 cookies.  Glaze with powdered sugar glaze and pecan halves if desired.

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LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Game Show podcast hosted by Mr. Divabetic. Guests include Dr. Stanley Greenfield PhD and Carlos from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ website.

We’re Giving Away Prizes for National Diabetes Awareness Month

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We’re celebrating National Diabetes Awareness month with special Diabetes Game Show podcast featuring fantastic prize giveaways courtesy of Dr. Greenfield’s Diabetic Foot, Hand & Body lotions and musical inspiration from Jazz Legend, Ella Fitzgerald.

Ella Fitzgerald, whose sweet, silvery voice made her the most celebrated jazz singer of her generation, stayed in the ‘swing of things; after having both of her legs amputated below the knee due to complications related to diabetes. But she didn’t let that stop her from doing what she loved doing best – singing.

I saw her perform live in San Francisco, CA in the early 90’s and thought she was sensational. I can only imagine the difficulties she faced while she traveled in and out of airports, hotels and venues around the world to entertain her fans.  As anyone who has suffered a diabetes health-related complication such as stroke and/or amputation knows the world doesn’t slow down for you. It takes a lot more time and effort to complete everyday tasks from taking a bath to getting the mail or going to the mall. We’re proud to  salute our listeners who has experienced a complication for getting back into the ‘swing of things’ like Ella Fitzgerald and living their life to the fullest by taking care of their health.

I also want to remind you that you can prevent amputations from occurring by inspecting their feet daily and by being vigilant for warning signs of ulcers, including irritation, redness, cracked or dry skin.

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LISTEN NOW: We’re giving away great Dr Greenfields Diabetic Foot, Body & Hand Cream prizes on Diabetes Game Show podcast in celebration of National Diabetes Awareness month.

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Halloween Tips for People with Diabetes

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Celebrating Halloween doesn’t have to mean overindulging in candy. You can have just as much fun by dressing up, playing Halloween games, working on arts and crafts projects and making a special Halloween snack together.

Mounting research  suggests that added sugar can have harmful effects on metabolism and contribute to all sorts of diseases.

“We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in research on the health effects of sugar, one fueled by extremely high rates of added sugar overconsumption,” as Laura Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of Health Policy at UC San Francisco, put it in a commentary in JAMA Internal Medicine. “Too much sugar does not just make us fat; it can also make us sick.”

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend a limit on sugar for the first time: no more than 10 percent of a person’s daily calories should come from added sugar. That amounts to about 12 teaspoons (50 grams) for someone consuming 2,000 calories a day (1 teaspoon contains about 4 grams of sugar).

The 10 percent limit matches the new one from the World Health Organization, which advises, however, that getting less than 5 percent of daily calories from added sugar (about 6 teaspoons and 100 calories on a 2,000-calorie daily diet) is an even better goal. The latter is similar to the strict recommendations from the American Heart Association: no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar a day for most women and 9 teaspoons for most men.

Limiting the amount of sugar you enjoy at Halloween doesn’t have to spoil the fun. You can bake popcorn balls and sugar-free treats. You can also plan games, such as bobbing for apples. By placing the focus on fun activities and not food, the holiday will be more memorable for everyone.

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Children with diabetes can eat candy on Halloween, just like any child.  However, parents should plan ahead to work the candy into their child’s diabetes meal plan or ensure they get enough insulin to cover the carbohydrates in the candy.  The Child Life Team at Joslin Diabetes Center provides tips for Halloween planning and handling treats with diabetes.

LISTEN NOW: Serve, Taste or Trash! Food podcast. Learn to love the foods you hate.

Grace & Frankie Tackle Vaginal Dryness

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The original Netflix series, “Grace & Frankie” starring Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda tackles  the topic of ‘vaginal dryness’ in post menopausal women in one episode in the first season.

Vaginal dryness is is the biggest sexual complaint in women with diabetes. Vaginal dryness is, this  twice as likely if you have diabetes. If you are in menopause or postmenopause, less estrogen may be the cause. If you aren’t, damage to the nerves that lubricate your vagina may be. Vaginal dryness can become a painful cycle. If sex hurts because of it, you may tense up during sex, causing more pain, or avoid sex altogether.

“I did want to talk about sexuality with older women because people usually go “Ugh” when you talk about an older woman having sex,” says “Grace & Frankie” co-creator Marta Kauffman.

“We can have sex when we’re older, and we’re going to find a way to make it beautiful and lovely and important. And it’s just as important for us as it is for a 20-year-old, if not more so, because it’s about intimacy. I got a little excited about that one. See, the dry vagina leads to everything”, says Kauffman.

About 35% of women with diabetes seem to have sexual issues. That doesn’t mean you have to live with them. There’s help to get your sex life going again.

“Some women’s issues may be more complex to treat than those of men, but most can be treated,” says frequent Diabetes Late Nite guest,  Janis Roszler, a diabetes educator, marriage therapist, and author of Sex and Diabetes: For Him and For Her. “There’s no reason for any woman with diabetes to deny herself the opportunity to have a fulfilling and pleasurable sex life.”

On the Netflix series, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda play 70-something frenemies whose husbands (played by Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen, respectively) leave them for each other— explores twilight years thrown into chaos, and Tomlin and Fonda anchor the emotional heft of the show. Though it has some missteps, seeing the two onscreen together feels like a victory.

Jane Fonda and  Lily Tomlin both want more “Grace and Frankie” — more seasons, more often. Spurred on by positive feedback for a terrific second season, the pair have gone so far as to lobby Netflix president Ted Sarandos about releasing more than one season per year.

dont-let-003LISTEN NOW: Don’t Let Diabetes Kill Romance podcast discussing sexual health issues related to diabetes.

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to sexual health complications including vaginal dryness, sensation and performance. Up to 50% of men and 25% of women may experience some kind of sexual problem or a loss of sex drive.

Don’t equate sexual performance with love or a fulfilling relationship; focus on letting your partner know you care and want to give pleasure as part of your relationship

Mr. Divabetic’s Guests include Best-Selling Author Lisa Eugene, Jennifer Martsolf from Trigg Laboratories (the makers of Wet Lubricants) and Janis Roszler MS, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND (2008-2009 Diabetes Educator of the Year (AADE).

If you or your partner is experiencing sexual difficulties, you may find it helpful to meet with a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, marriage counselor or sex therapist. These professionals can help you learn how to reduce stress and change behaviors and attitudes, particularly when impotence is caused by stress or other mental health issues.

Cigarettes and Viagra Don’t Mix

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It is estimated that about 35% to 75% of men with diabetes will experience at least some degree of erectile dysfunction — also called ED or impotence — during their lifetime.

Men with diabetes tend to develop erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years earlier than men without diabetes.

What happens if you’re a smoker living with diabetes and experiencing ED?

Smoking effects erections by constricting the blood vessels while viagra works to expand the blood vessels which means the two in combination cancel each other out. In most cases, viagra is not effective at all in this situation.

This topic came up during our discussion about ED at Divabetic’s first-ever men’s outreach event, ‘Meet You At the Barbershop’ at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, October 22, 2016.

Erectile dysfunction — the inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sex — is common in men who have diabetes. It can stem from problems caused by poor long-term blood sugar control, which damages nerves and blood vessels.

Sexual and urologic complications of diabetes occur because of the damage diabetes can cause to blood vessels and nerves. Men may have difficulty with erections or ejaculation. Women may have problems with sexual response and vaginal lubrication.

Talking about sexual health issues related to diabetes shouldn’t be embarrassing. In many cases, a sexual health problem is a precursor for diabetes health-related complications for both men and women.

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Our ‘Meet You At The Barbershop’ panel of experts included Dr.  James Plumb MD from the Center for Urban Health, Dr. Perry Weiner, MD, Urologist Thomas Jefferson Men’s Health at the Navy Yard, Rohit Moghe, PharmD, MSPH,CDE Advanced Practice Pharmacist Medicine/Endocrine/Geriatric, David Madison, MeD, Men’s Health Educator and Reverend Clarence Pemberton, Diabetes Advocate.

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FREE OUTREACH: Join us for Divabetic – Victory Over Diabetes on Saturday, November 12, 2016, 11 AM – 3 PM at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. REGISTER NOW: 1-800-JEFF-NOW 

 

Weekly Wow: Foot Health

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BE AN INSTANT WINNER: Correctly answer this question on Divabetic’s FB page and you could win our Prize Giveaway on November’s Diabetes Game show podcast scheduled for Tuesday, November 1, 2016, 6 -7 PM, EST.

People with diabetes are at risk for a variety of foot-related health concerns.

  • 25% of people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer in their lifetime.
  • 50% of those foot ulcers will get infected and up to 15% of those will require amputation.
  • Diabetes is the leading cause of lower extremity amputation accounting for over 60% of these amputations.
  • Every 30 seconds a leg is lost from a medical complication due to diabetes.
If left untreated, these relatively minor foot problems can develop into serious health complications, eventually leading to amputation of the foot or leg. Foot care is key.

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TUNE IN: Diabetes Game Show podcast hosted by Mr. Divabetic with prize giveaways courtesy of Dr. Greenfields  Diabetes Foot, Hand & Body Creams and Lotions. Special Guest: Dr. Stanley Greenfield, PhD. Dr. Stanley Greenfield is pharmaceutical chemist, with a passion for helping people with diabetes.