Keeping a food journal can be a fantastic way to manage diabetes! It’s a helpful tool that lets you track what you eat, when you eat, and even how different foods and meal timings impact your blood sugar levels. This makes it easier to take care of yourself and stay on top of your diabetes management.
Jotting down your meals and snacks can give you valuable insights into your eating patterns. It can also help you spot particular foods or times that might lead to cravings or less healthy choices.
You might even find out about food intolerances (gluten) or sensitivities that could be causing you some discomfort.
And the best part? Just knowing you’re keeping track can motivate you to make healthier choices and stick to your goals. It’s all about feeling your best!
Living with diabetes is undeniably challenging, yet it also showcases remarkable resilience and strength. It’s disheartening to encounter thoughtless and hurtful comments from others, but focusing on your personal journey is essential.
Embracing your experience with diabetes allows you to celebrate the small victories and find joy in your accomplishments. Connecting with others who understand can provide support and encouragement, fostering a sense of community.
As you navigate this path, hold your head high and look toward the future with pride and hope.
We stopped by the Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York City to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way.
Today one out of every five Filipino adults or approximately 11 million has either pre-diabetes or diabetes.
Mr. Divabetic plays his food game, Serve, Taste or Trash! with participants and crowd goers to help encourage people to read nutritional labels. You might be surprised by the facts.
In the game you are given three choices of popular snack foods: Mounds Dark Chocolate candy bar, a Chocolate Brownie Cliff Bar and a Mixed Berry Blast Power Bar. To play you must decide which item you’d serve, which one you’d taste and which one you’d trash.
The American Heart Association (AHA) advises that women should limit added sugars to 100 calories (6 teaspoons) per day, while men should keep it to 150 calories (9 teaspoons).
Common sources of added sugar include items like cola, which can have around 41 grams (or 10 teaspoons) in a 12-ounce can, and cupcakes, which can contain about 18 grams (4.5 teaspoons) in a single serving. However, added sugars can also be found in less obvious foods such as ketchup (approximately 1 teaspoon per tablespoon) and bread (about a quarter teaspoon for a slice of white bread). Fruit drinks are another potential source of hidden sugars.
Can you tell which food item contains the most sugar? The Power Bar Mixed Berry Blast contains 29 grams of added sugar, Cliff Chocolate Brownie contains 23 grams of added sugar and the Mounds Dark Chocolate contains 21 grams of added sugar.
SAVE THE DATE: Divabetic returns with a free diabetes outreach program on November 8, 2025 to Philadelphia, PA.
Have you heard of a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)? It’s a device that tracks blood glucose levels continuously, providing real-time data to help manage diabetes and eliminate guesswork.
CGMs use a small sensor inserted under the skin to measure glucose levels. The sensor transmits data to a receiver (smartphone) that displays glucose levels and trends so you and your healthcare providers can identify patterns and potential problems with blood sugar levels.
Medicare and commercial insurance plans cover CGMs, but eligibility and specific coverage details vary.
If you’re tired of the challenges without answers, it might be time to talk to your healthcare collaborators about getting and qualifying for a Continuous Glucose Monitor.
Changing our diet or mindset can feel like a daunting task, especially when it seems like others are breezing through the process. For our free upcoming Divabetic outreach on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Philadelphia, let’s engage in an activity, Plate Poetry, that fosters open discussion and support.
In the comments, think about something you’re considering taking off your plate—maybe a beloved snack, negative thought or an indulgence. For example, imagine what your life and health would be like if you removed ‘SHAME’ from your diagnosis. Being diagnosised iwth diabetes is not your fault and blaming yourself can hinder you from seeking help and improving your well-being.
Share something you’d like to put on your plate, perhaps a healthier alternative, positive mindset or activity that excites you.
For example, a friend of mine, Manny, faced the challenging decision to eliminate gluten from his diet due to celiac disease. While the availability of gluten-free options has grown, it still requires significant adjustment, especially for someone who enjoys Italian cuisine. It’s certainly possible to embrace this change, but it’s important to recognize the difficulties that come with it.
Manny chose to put the word, ‘TRY’ on his plate. His first goal was to switch from eating rye bread to quinoa and oats. Experts agree that it takes three months or more of fully eliminating gluten from your diet for your body and immune system to respond.
I often recall the valuable insight from a Registered Dietitian who emphasized, “I focus on telling people what to put on their plate, not what to take off.” This perspective encourages us to view dietary changes as opportunities rather than restrictions.
Philadelphia’s beloved WDAS Radio personality, Patty Jackson, is a true inspiration! After surviving a stroke, she shared that she wasn’t drinking enough water or listening to her body before it happened.
Fast forward nine years, and Patty is staying hydrated and thriving as she continues to bring joy to her audience behind the microphone and camera. It’s heartwarming to see her enjoying life and spreading positivity!
We’re excited to share some highlights from our 2nd annual Love Across Life Stages of Diabetes Survey for Women, done in collaboration with DiabetesSisters!
With around 15 million women in the U.S. facing the ups and downs of diabetes daily, each of your stories is so important. Our survey seeks to shine a light on the unique experiences of women managing diabetes, hoping to provide insights that will enhance care, support, and encouragement.
It’s crucial to support women living with diabetes for their overall well-being. By connecting with others who understand similar experiences, expectations, and challenges, we can help ease the daily demands of self-care on your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Both DiabetesSisters and Divabetic are dedicated to creating safe spaces for women who are at risk, affected by, or living with diabetes, aiming to improve health outcomes and quality of life.
For the past 64 years. Barbie has been a part of our lives, a cultural touchstone, or the quintessential image of what a woman should be but never will be – a sex or beauty object. Greta Gerwig’s big screen makeover and the related marketing blitz are making us revisit and reevaluate Barbie’s impact on our lives, including our sex lives.
After all, if Barbie and Ken are confused about what to do at sleepovers, you might be too, especially if you’re dealing with sexual health issues related to diabetes. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in nearly all countries. People with diabetes experience sexual dysfunction more often than the general public.
Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide to Love and Intimacy with Diabetes, book one in the series, is your key to a happy, healthy intimate life with diabetes. Inside you’ll find: The common physical and emotional sexual complications of diabetes and treatment options for men and women. An overview of diabetes nutrition, physical activity, weight loss, and diabetes medications Information on how aging impacts diabetes management and intimacy. Guidance on how to talk to your healthcare provider about intimacy-related issues. Ideas and techniques for building sexual intimacy and communicating effectively with your partner. Tips to help you avoid dangerous or money-wasting fraudulent sexual treatments, Authors Dr. Janis Roszler and Donna Rice use humor, helpful examples, and insightful questions to present key topics about sexual health in an engaging, approachable way.
Diabetes advocate turned reluctant amateur sleuth, Mr. Divabetic finally takes the plunge and ventures into a new career as a healthy caterer. With the help of his co-workers and nosy Italian mother, he heads for Coney Island to cater his first party aboard a yacht for his former swim coach, Ted Rockow. But his nautical soiree quickly capsizes when the guest of honor is found swimming with the fishes. Was it an accident or foul play?
Now Mr. Divabetic’s grilling Burlesque dancers, a lifeguard lothario, a gypsy fortune teller, and some sequined mermaids, all intent on keeping their secrets buried deep within the sand.
Can Mr. Divabetic overcome his green pea phobia in time to prove Coach’s death was a murder, not an accident? Or will he end up floating out to sea? Will he sink or swim?
Tune in to find out if he can solve the murder of his former swim coach with the help of his nosey Italian mother and friends. Along the way to revealing the identity of the murderer, he uncovers expert tips for diabetes self-care during the Summer months.
FEATURING Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, We Are Diabetes Founder Asha Brown, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, Mama Rose Marie, and Seveda Williams. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.
We’re thrilled to launch the 2nd annual Love Across Life Stages of Diabetes Survey for Women in partnership with DiabetesSisters. By sharing your experiences, you play a vital role in shaping the future of diabetes care and support.
With approximately 15 million women in the U.S. navigating the challenges of diabetes every day, your stories are invaluable. Our survey aims to highlight the unique experiences of women managing diabetes, providing insights that can enhance care, support, and encouragement.
Stay tuned for the results in March, where we’ll share new insights and approaches to managing diabetes with love and resilience. Your voice matters!
The co-authors of Divabetic’s ebook, Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide To Love & Intimacy With Diabetes,Dr. Janis Roszler PhD, LMFT, CDCES, LD/N, FAND, and Donna Rice MBA, BSN, RN, CDCES, FADCES offer advice on discussing your diabetes diagnosis as well as issues related to intimacy, fertility, and menopause with the people you care about the most.
Changing our diet or mindset can feel like a daunting task, especially when it seems like others are breezing through the process. For our upcoming fee Divabetic outreach on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Philadelphia, let’s engage in an activity that fosters open discussion and support.
In the comments, think about something you’re considering taking off your plate—maybe a beloved snack, emotion, habit or an indulgence. Then, share something you’d like to replace it with, perhaps a healthier alternative, attitude, or activity that excites you. This exchange can inspire and motivate us all on our journey toward better health.
For example, a friend of mine faced the challenging decision to eliminate gluten from his diet due to celiac disease. While the availability of gluten-free options has grown, it still requires significant adjustment, especially for someone who enjoys Italian cuisine. It’s certainly possible to embrace this change, but it’s important to recognize the difficulties that come with it.
I often recall the valuable insight from a Registered Dietitian who emphasized, “I focus on telling people what to put on their plate, not what to take off.” This perspective encourages us to view dietary changes as opportunities rather than restrictions.
Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed by managing your diabetes? It’s completely understandable. Instead of focusing on what you can’t eat, why not shift your attention to the delicious options you can include on your plate?
One effective approach is the Plate Method, which can make mealtime both satisfying and manageable! Start by filling half of your plate with colorful non-starchy vegetables like asparagus, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts—these are not only nutritious but also add a lot of flavor.
Next, dedicate a quarter of your plate to lean proteins such as fish, chicken, beef, or soy foods. Lastly, don’t forget the carbs! The remaining quarter should be filled with wholesome carbohydrates like beans, whole grains, or pasta.
Puting The Plate Method into practice sounds simple, but it can be a bit tricky in practice. So, take your time and make gradual changes to your meals. You might find that tweaking your plate is a great way to enjoy your food while taking care of your health!
Let’s support each other by sharing our thoughts and experiences. Your participation can provide the encouragement we all need to make lasting changes together!
