How To Feel ‘Diabetes Strong’ with Christel Oerum

We’re excited to announce our special line-up for Divabetic’s World Diabetes Day edition of Diabetes Late Nite. Diabetes Strong founder, Christel Oerum will stop by the studio to share her experience thriving with type 1 diabetes and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin will provide musical inspiration. Join us here on Wednesday, November 14 from 6 – 7:30 PM.

Christel is a certified personal trainer, diabetes writer and advocate. She has been living with type 1 diabetes since 1997, and lives by the motto “there’s nothing you can’t do with diabetes.” With a wonderful life motto like that, we had to ask Christel to share some advice and guidance on staying strong with diabetes prior to our podcast interview.

Q: You posted on Diabetes Strong that when you first started to work out that you didn’t understand the difference between being ‘skinny’ and being ‘fit’. Can you explain how this impacted your fitness goals?

Christel Oerum: It shifted my whole approach to health and the way I structure my workouts and nutrition. While “skinny” can easily become an endless chase to “lose weight”, being fit and strong is more tangible. My focus is now more on increasing strength and eating to ensure my body can perform. I find strength incredibly empowering and I never go to the gym for “punishment” or to lose anything. I go because I like it and when I leave, I feel accomplished.

Q: Most women don’t want to lift weights because they’re afraid of looking ‘too bulky’ – what’s your opinion?

Christel Oerum: Building muscle is surprisingly hard, especially for women, so I don’t think women have to fear that. To “bulk up”, you have to consistently (we’re talking years) lift heavy and eat enough to support muscle gain. I’ve done that, and I don’t think I look “bulky” but that I look strong.

Q: What does your saying ‘forget about “toning” and focus on “building” mean?

Christel Oerum: “Toning” is such a weird term. Toning indicates that you lean out (aka reduce your body fat) to reveal your muscle tone. Well, you need to build muscle first in order to show it off. I think a lot of people (especially women) become frustrated when they lose weight and still don’t have the “toned” body they want.

Obviously, we all carry muscle even if we never lifted a dumbbell, but if you really want to “tone”, you’re probably also interested in having a little more muscle tone to show off.

Q: How do you deal with blood sugar fluctuations before, after and during your workout?

Christel Oerum: I limit the fluctuations by having a good understanding of how different workouts most likely will affect my blood sugar and by knowing which blood sugar management strategies are optimal to implement. I’ve written several articles on that on Diabetes Strong because it’s something many struggle with, and it takes time and effort to figure out what works for the individual.

But gaining that knowledge is golden. By knowing which types of exercise most likely will increase blood sugar and which won’t, we can adjust our medication and food accordingly and just enjoy exercise more.

Q: How do you feel that knowing how many calories you’re eating and what kind of calories you’re eating is important?

Christel Oerum: I don’t think it’s always important to know your calorie intake. I definitely don’t track what I eat all the time. However, if you do want to gain or lose weight, it’s important to know how much you’re consuming compared to how much you should be consuming. And the most efficient way to determine that is by tracking your food for a while. There are different methods for that and I always recommend people choose the right method for them. If tracking calories result in unwanted eating pattern and eating disorder behavior, I highly recommend a different method.

Q: How can others living with diabetes learn how to make peace with their obstacles and find ways to turn them into something positive?

Christel Oerum: I truly believe in finding your way through joy and support. We all have obstacles we need to tackle, and if they’re not approached with some level of positive outlook, they will become practically impossible to work your way out of. Diabetes is an obstacle, but it’s also an opportunity to become extremely aware of how your body works and responds to pretty much anything you do. And you’re not alone in this journey. There is a vast diabetes community online that you can tap into. We’re in group chats, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and in person at meet-ups around the world, you just need to reach out.

Q: We’ve read that you often advise people living with diabetes who are interested in starting a fitness routine to do ‘what gives them energy’ what does that mean? Can you explain?

Christel Oerum: I find that when we enjoy something, when we have fun, it makes us happy and gives us energy. If you love to dance, you might be smiling all the way through that favorite song of yours, and you’ll probably have a smile on your face or in your heart even after the song is over, even if you are out of breath and covered in sweat. That’s how I feel about resistance training. I might not always want to go, but I pretty much always feel amazing afterward. I feel energized and happy.

Do what you like and what makes you happy – not what someone else says is the “best” way to exercise.

We’re celebrating World Diabetes Day with a special Diabetes Late Nite musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 – 7:30 PM.

There are many reasons that Aretha Franklin is the legend of legends, a groundbreaking singer with the fortitude to transcend race and genre, using that tremulous voice as the bulldozer to break down every barrier set up in her way.

Aretha’s own health journey is sparking a discussion about the uncertain connection between pancreatic cancer and diabetes. Long-standing diabetes can be considered a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. It causes a modest increase in risk of 1.5- to two-fold. Some of the other risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), family history of pancreatic cancer, obesity and certain genetic syndromes.

Guests include Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Strong‘s owner Christel Oerum, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup”Author Suzanne Perez, Jessica Clark, Trisha Artman and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ courtesy of SONY Music.

FREE DIVABETIC GIVEAWAY: We’re giving away a copy of Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport and Dr. Sandra Neshin Bernstein’s Friendship Matters: Memoir, Life Lessons, Laughter on November’s Diabetes Late Nite. Tune in (using this link to win!

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.

11/06/2018

‘Diabetes & Friendships’ with Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport L.S.C.W., Psy.D.,

We’re excited to announce our special line-up for Divabetic’s World Diabetes Day edition of Diabetes Late Nite. Wendy Satin Rapaport, LSCW, PsyD, a social worker and psychologist specializing in diabetes for the past 28 years will stop by the studio and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin will provide musical inspiration. Join us here on Wednesday, November 14 from 6 – 7:30 PM.

“Dr. Wendy” recently co-authored a new wisdom-filled guide, Friendship Matters: Memoir, Life Lessons, Laughter, to provide insight on how to create more meaningful relationships. Divabetic’s founding principle encourages an entourage of support to help make the difference between someone living with diabetes feeling overwhelmed or empowered. We were intrigued and asked Dr. Wendy to share some advice on the subject prior to our podcast interview.

Q: How can our friendships help us to better manage our diabetes?

Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport (WSR): There is nothing worse than feeling alone in the world. I wrote a book with my friend Dr. Sandra Bernstein (also a psychologist) as a celebration of our friendship. We also wanted to highlight the superpowers of friendship in general: improved health and longevity; enhanced capability in relationships and decision making; the pleasure of a sweet loving connection. Friendship includes someone who is a good mother to you – has your back, is interested to really know you and is worthy of your trust. He/she genuinely accepts you as you are, good diabetes care or not, and still with the goal of partnering with you to change to more positive attitudes and habits. That is the setting for you to take better care of your diabetes and to help someone else take better care of their diabetes.

Friendship enables us to share vulnerability, normalize it, feel understood, remind us to feel compassion, and then move forward to problem solving. It’s a gift which is often reciprocal to us and the other person. When we have friendship, we can share our fears and our roadblocks to taking care of diabetes. Friends might just listen or offer up good ideas. The prerequisite is being open-hearted and open-minded. We can have good boundaries by being interested in, and not taking over the problems of diabetes. When we have a truly strong and effective friendship, we realize the skills in giving and getting criticism. If a friend says, “You are always eating the wrong things,” you can smile and say, “I know you care about me, and perhaps worry. What I would find helpful is asking not criticizing.”

The moment I meet someone with diabetes, I “match” them with someone else…it may be someone with more or less success with handling the diabetes…I just know the connection to each other is relieving and uplifting.

Q: What advice can you offer to someone living with diabetes who is interested in telling their co-workers and employers about their diabetes?

(WSR): First, get your self-esteem, resilience, and sense of humor intact. People say things unwittingly that can make us crazy. Anticipate possible scenarios and prepare for them. You might begin by asking “Do you know anyone who has diabetes because if you don’t, now you do.” Next you can ask what that means to them or what they know. You want to be ready with what kind of help friends can give you, as well as how they can reach out to you. Realize what you need can change over time. Formulate a response when someone seems intrusive and say the true positive (authentic) first such as “Thanks so much for your interest -caring…I’d rather not discuss that now.”

Q: In your book, Friendship Matters, you discuss ’emotional regulations’ and ‘emotional literacy’. Can you explain what these terms mean?

(WSR): Emotional literacy is our capacity to know how our emotions function such as what pleases us, aggravates us, turns us passive or aggressive, or throws us into frustration and despair. This self-awareness allows us to regulate or tamp down with acknowledgement. We also want to recognize our self-talk to eliminate negative behavior toward ourselves, as in making poor diabetes choices. For example, when testing blood sugar and it shows 240, we might say to ourselves, “I give up. I am not testing. It just depresses me.” Recognition allows us to instead apply compassion and reason and say, “I am a good person with elevated blood sugars. I am so glad I tested. Now I know why I am irritable. I will call my friend to meet me and take a walk to get it down and cheer myself up by my discipline and her friendship.”

It pays to be emotionally literate because we make better choices and feel better about ourselves and our friends as well as bosses, partners, children, etc. It works everywhere, with consciousness, practice, and forgiveness of ourselves and friends.

Q: Why do you feel a psychologist should be the first person you see after your initial diagnosed?

(WSR): I want people to start out with a psychologist (social worker or coach) because they need to mourn and accept the diagnosis. It’s good to do it with a party who is trained to hear and not judge and help the family go through it together. Our goal is to get you to realize you are a terrific person, with diabetes. The professional can help with coping skills for handling problems and prevent the burnout which often can come with the labor-intensive work involved in taking care of oneself. To prevent the potential loneliness of having to live with a chronic illness, I recommend a support group. It helps people feel the connection, normalcy and the mutual high from being able to help each other. My doctoral dissertation was on humor as a coping mechanism in diabetes and I recommend the groups be fun as well as cathartic and instructive on being more successful with the diabetes and with just being a person!

I also love the concept of prevention…avoiding problems that might occur by initiating support, constructive ideas, and good habits. When I start out right away with a family, I teach them to stay positive. For example, when their child has a 300 blood sugar, they might say “I’m so glad you tested. That might explain your feeling tired and irritable.” If I don’t teach that right away, the parent might be screaming, “Why don’t you care about yourself? What did you do? What did you eat?” The child will repeat the same critical response in his/her self-talk later. The criticism leads to sneaking and shame whereas the acceptance and interest leads to behavior change and problem solving such as “Thanks for letting me know that you didn’t want to test in front of your friends, so you ate something without checking it out. This is a problem we can solve.”

Authors Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport and Dr. Sanda Neshin Bernstein are both clinical psychologists who co-authored a wisdom-filled guide, Friendship Matters: Memoir, Life Lessons, Laughter, which shows us how to have more meaningful relationships. Through examples of their own friendship, they explore the power of this connection and show that, while friendship takes work, it should be celebrated for the ways it can improve our lives and help us grow. Close friends are lifelines—the people who help us through the worst days and who cheer us on during the best. We can learn to nurture our friendships most effectively by keeping a few principles in mind. With good friends by our side, anything is possible!

We’re celebrating World Diabetes Day with a special Diabetes Late Nite musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 – 7:30 PM.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Strong’s owner Christel Oerum, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup”Author Suzanne Perez, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ courtesy of SONY Music.

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.

11/04/2018

Caponata Quinoa Salad Recipe by Chef Jonathan Bardzik

Storyteller, Cook and Author Jonathan Bardzik surely knows a thing or two about the importance of cooking with fresh ingredients! He’s one of the hottest chefs in the Washington D.C. area, as his ‘farm to table’ cuisine has lit up farmers markets, including Mosaic Central Farm Markets, and even on the shelves at local bookstore.

“I believe that life can and should be lived well, and that living well is within reach – across many economic levels – each and every day by preparing a simple meal, setting a table and sharing it with those you love, even – and maybe especially – when that is a table for one,” said Jonathan in an interview with Instinct magazine.

Caponata Quinoa Salad Recipe by Jonathan Bardzik

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

3 tbs olive oil

3 small eggplant in 1/2” dice

2 medium sweet peppers

3 tbs capers

1 lg tomato, diced

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

2 tbs chopped basil

1/4 cup chopped parsley

3 cups cooked quinoa

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

2/3 cups olive oil – the good stuff!

Directions:

Warm 2 tbs oil in 12” skillet over medium heat. Cook until lightly browned on all sides, then reduce heat to medium low and cook until fork tender. Remove from pan.

Warm 1 tbs oil over medium heat. Thinly slice peppers and add to pan. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add capers and cook until fragrant, 1 minute longer.

Toss together eggplant, peppers, tomato, onion, basil and parsley.

Mash garlic into a paste with a pinch of coarse salt. Whisk together garlic, red wine vinegar and mustard. Whisk in olive oil to form a creamy emulsion.

Dress salad and serve over quinoa.

Jonathan Bardzik is the author of three incredible cookbooks: ‘Simple Summer’, ‘Seasons to Taste’, and ‘Fresh and Magical Vinaigrettes‘, all of which are chock full of delicious recipes that you can make for your own friends, family or that special someone all year round.

Storyteller, Cook and Author Jonathan Bardzik will appearing at Collar Greens: Wellness Day & Dog Parade to help families and their pets to stay healthy and happy at Mosaic Central Farm Markets on Sunday, June 9, 2019. Check out all the amazing activities from this year’s Collar Greens event:

11/02/201805/21/2020

Common Questions About Sweeteners with Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, FAND

Recently we received this question about sweeteners from Linda in Rochester NY, a member of the Divabetic community, who is living with type 2 diabetes on Divabetic’s FB page.

Linda writes “Splenda (sucralose) is my sweetener of choice, tasting the most like sugar. I’ve been told it raises blood sugar. I’ve also heard that stevia does not affect blood glucose levels, but it has a nasty after taste to me. Splenda has a stevia product out that’s not bad, but expensive. Your thoughts?”

We contacted our good friend, a Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator and Best-Selling Author Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, FAND, who consulted to Splenda about two years ago on a small project. Currently, Jill is a consultant to the Calorie Control Council, a trade organization for non-nutritive and low calorie sweeteners like sucarlose and stevia. Below are Jill’s answers and advice regarding Linda’s questions.

Q: Can Splenda raise blood sugars?

Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, FAND(JW): Splenda is a brand. It’s not a specific product. I assume that you mean sucralose, as this was the original Splenda sweetener.

There is no reason to think that a compound that is essentially without carbohydrate (like sucralose) could directly affect blood sugar. A teaspoon of sucralose provides less than a gram of carbohydrate. A teaspoon of sugar provides 4 grams, and a teaspoon of honey provides about 5 grams of carbohydrate. From a blood sugar standpoint, sucralose is the better choice.

Q: Can Stevia raise blood sugars?

JW: As with other non-nutriitive sweeteners (NNS), it cannot directly affect blood sugar levels.

Q: Can you recommend any Stevia products that have little to no after taste?

Some newer stevia products use the extract Reb D instead of Reb A. I find that Reb D tastes better, but taste is an individualized thing. Splenda Naturals is a stevia sweetener made with Reb D. If you hunt around in the supermarkets, you might find others as well.

Q: What sugar substitutes do you recommend?

JW: I have no real preference. I am not fearful of low calorie and non-nutritive sweeteners. Many of the scary headlines are misleading or based on studies that provide only a small picture of the full health landscape. Other headlines are downright false. That being said, I don’t think anyone needs artificial or NNS. We can adjust our tastes to learn to enjoy foods without added sweetness or we can use very small amounts of regular sugar. I use very little of any type of added sweetener, but I use a wide variety of types – both natural and artificial, both with calories and carbs and without. But since I use very little, I know that it affects me minimally.

Q: Can you share a few tips about using sugar substitutes for people living with type 2 diabetes?

JW: If anyone is truly fearful but wants to continue using sweeteners, I recommend using a variety, so no one sweetener is consumed in large amounts. The category of NNS is quite large, and each compound is metabolized differently. Keep in mind that the dose makes the poison. Small amounts of NNS are not considered harmful. But even water when consumed in very large amounts can cause death.

Jill Weisenberger’s comprehensive guide, ‘Prediabetes: A Complete Guide: Your Lifestyle Reset to Stop Prediabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses’ will lead you through dozens of concrete steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Taking an individualized approach to your lifestyle “reset,” this book will allow you to choose your own path to wellness, help you gain a greater sense of wellbeing, boost your confidence in your abilities to maintain a healthful lifestyle, and potentially even help you reverse prediabetes and avoid type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses. You’ll be feeling better than you have in years! Inside, you will learn to:

Identify your risks for developing type 2 diabetes

Set personalized and meaningful behavioral goals

Identify and build on your motivation for a lifestyle reset

Create positive new habits

Change eating habits for weight loss and greater insulin sensitivity

Choose wholesome foods in the supermarket and when away from home

Tweak your favorite recipes

Reduce sedentary time

Start or improve upon an exercise plan

Reduce emotional eating

Organize and track your progress with tools included in the book

Much more

Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND is a great resource for all things nutrition, food and diabetes. Whether she’s speaking, writing, chatting on social media, appearing on TV or working with individuals, her candid and energetic approach appeals to busy people, and her sound nutrition and fitness advice gets results. In fact, her appreciation for science and ability to translate science into actionable information earned her a place in US News & World Report’s 10 Dietitian’s You Need to Follow on Social Media.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music by Patti Austin. We’re talking about healthy strategies to help you deal with the “FOOD POLICE” with guests: Poet Lorraine Brooks, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Chris Pickering co-founder of ‘The Betes Bros, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and Mama Rose Marie.

Mr. Divabetic is celebrating World Diabetes Day with musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin on Diabetes Late Nite scheduled for Wednesday, November 14, 6 -7:30 PM, EST. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Strong‘s owner Christel Oerum, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup”Author Suzanne Perez, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ courtesy of SONY Music.

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.” Enjoy over 175 free podcasts available on demand anytime, anywhere on blogtalkradio.com and i-Tunes!

10/31/2018

Diva Beauty Tips with Beautyphonics CEO & “Beneath The Makeup” Author, Sue Perez

We’re revving up our ‘DIVA’ quotient and making diabetes education dazzle on November’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with special guest, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup” Author, Sue Perez on World Diabetes Day, Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 -7 PM, EST.

Ready to turn up your inner ‘DIVA’? Check out Emmy Award Nominated TV Makeup Artist, Sue Perez‘s expert tips and tricks for the most common makeup problems exclusively for Divabetic:

Q: Why does my foundation look orange?

Sue Perez: Because it’s either not the right shade, your using too much or you are setting it with a pressed powder or bronzer. Makeup will naturally oxidize during the day. Only a sheer translucent powder needs to be used for everyday wear after your base makeup.

Q: Why doesn’t my makeup last?

Sue Perez: If you don’t hydrate your skin it could be drier. Our skin will absorb what you put on top of it to prevent moisture loss. Being a professional makeup artist I always use under makeup primers that will protect your foundation from vanishing during the day. The same is true of eye makeup. Using a eye shadow base will increase the longevity of your eye makeup

Q: Why does my eyeliner smudge?

Sue Perez: All pencil liners tend to move, as they are oil based. Try using a waterproof pencil or apply eye shadow over your liners to set them. Liner used in the water line will move more as we blink our eyes so decide if you need to use liner in that area of the eye. I outline a great easy makeup application in my book that all women can do for a daytime makeup.

Q: Why do some of shades of lipstick make my teeth look yellow?

Sue Perez: Try using cooler colors that have a blue undertone like pinks and reds. It will contrast with the color of your teeth and bring out the white. The same is true of your eyes. Using navy, royal blue or cobalt blue eyeliners, mascara and eye shadow will brighten the whites of our eyes.

Q: How often should I clean my makeup brushes?

Sue Perez: Once per month. Don’t soak your makeup brushes! This can make the hair fall out more from the ferule base of the brush. Just use a little hair shampoo diluted in water, rinse and squeeze out the excess water. Lay brushes flat on a dry surface or towel and let them air dry.

Q: Why do I have to wash off my makeup?

Sue Perez: When I was working as an esthetician I got to see a lot of women with clogged pores and blackheads. I could tell which clients didn’t wash off their make up. Makeup and dirt left on the skin along with any makeup will get absorbed through your pores. Another reason why you should not workout wearing cosmetics either. I talk about this in my book and make recommendations.

Q: The official color of World Diabetes Day is blue. But blue eye shadow seems so 1960’s. What’s a diva to do? How do you recommend adding blue to your makeup?

Sue Perez: Blue is better on any eye color except blue! Brown eyed babes wear dark navy or royal blue of you like intensity. Gorgeous green eyes look best using violet, mauve, and lavender, which is blue based and will contrast the green /hazel and make their eyes appear greener. And for my blue-eyed gals they should use pinks, rose, grey and charcoal smoky shades to contrast that often-fantastic sky blue eye color. ( Note: no one is born with black eyes, they “appear” black. )

Q: For a lot of women with diabetes tending to their self-care cuts into their time to put on their makeup. What tips can you offer to look fabulous without a lot of time?

Sue Perez: Working as a fast television makeup artist I have created short cuts to a quick makeup application. Being Emmy Nominated for my work inspired me to write about my experiences and share my knowledge with the world. In my book “Underneath the Makeup” I have a makeup application anyone can do using just a few products and makeup brushes in 15 minutes! My Book is for ALL women that truly want to understand and define their own unique beauty. You will learn the secrets that are easy and fun to understand so you can do your own makeup effortlessly.

You can also view videos on Sue Perez’s website for more instruction at Beautyphonics.com where we created an instructional self care video that is great for women who have diabetes!

We’re celebrating World Diabetes Day with musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin on Diabetes Late Nite scheduled for Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 -7:30 PM, EST.

There are many reasons that Aretha Franklin is the legend of legends, a groundbreaking singer with the fortitude to transcend race and genre, using that tremulous voice as the bulldozer to break down every barrier set up in her way.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Strong’s owner Christel Oerum, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup”Author Suzanne Perez, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ courtesy of SONY Music.

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.”

10/28/201805/21/2020

Aretha Franklin Sparks Talk About Diabetes & Pancreatic Cancer

In honor of November’s Diva Inspiration, Aretha Franklin, we’re talking about the connection between diabetes and pancreatic cancer on Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Wednesday, November 14, 6 PM, to help you and your loved ones to stay happy and healthy.

Although the Queen of Soul didn’t talk much about her diabetes, she admit to a local news station in 2014 that she was living with diabetes, but did not specify whether it was type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Later on in another interview reprinted in BlackDoctor.org, she alluded to living with diabetes when she discussed maintaining her 85 pound weight loss. 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.”

Four years later her pancreatic cancer diagnosis was confirmed by her family after her death. Aretha Franklin’s oncologist also confirmed that Franklin passed away from advanced pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, according to a CNN report.

Aretha’s health journey is sparking our interest to discuss the uncertain connection between pancreatic cancer and diabetes.

Below are excerpts from a recent interview published on the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network website with Suresh Chari, a professor of medicine and consultant in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Mayo Clinic and a member of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s (PanCAN’s) Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (SMAB), who was instrumental in the discovery that new-onset diabetes can be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer.

Q: Is Long-standing diabetes is a (modest) risk factor for pancreatic cancer?

Professor Suresh Chari (SC): Long-standing diabetes can be considered a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. It causes a modest increase in risk of 1.5- to two-fold. Some of the other risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), family history of pancreatic cancer, obesity and certain genetic syndromes.

The duration of diabetes matters.

Q: Are you more at risk the longer you’re living with diabetes?

Professor Suresh Chari (SC): Individuals who’ve had diabetes for more than 5 years can be considered at a slightly higher than average risk of developing pancreatic cancer. But those with new onset of diabetes after age 50 have a nearly 1 percent chance of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within one to three years following their diabetes diagnosis. In this case, the pancreatic tumor caused the diabetes.

Hot Topic: A Diabetes Diagnosis After Age 50 May Be an Early Sign of Pancreatic Cancer in Black, Latino People

Everyday Health reports that a study published June 18 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that a type 2 diabetes diagnosis after age 50, called late-onset diabetes, is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer, and in Latino and African-American people with diabetes who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years, pancreatic cancer itself may manifest as diabetes.

Previous previous research seems to support these findings. According to a review of 500 medical records that was published in the March 2013 issue of Pancreas nearly 40 percent of people with pancreatic cancer had also developed diabetes within the three years prior to their cancer diagnosis.

Pancreatic cancer has poor survival rates because doctors often don’t catch the disease early enough for treatment to be effective. Pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of only 8.5 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

READ MORE

Q: Diabetes is a symptom of pancreatic cancer?

Professor Suresh Chari (SC): It’s thought that pancreatic cancer can cause cells in the body to become resistant to insulin, a key hormone produced by the pancreas, that helps regulate blood sugar levels. In other insulin-resistant conditions (like obesity), the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas produce more insulin to overcome the insulin resistance. But pancreatic cancer appears to impede the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas from responding adequately to this insulin resistance. This results in development of diabetes. It’s important to note that even though pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) arise from the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas, diabetes is neither a symptom nor risk factor for PNETs.

READ FULL ARTICLE

It’s very appropriate that World Diabetes Day, November 14th, and World Pancreatic Cancer Day, November 15th, happen within a few days of one another. Both ailments can present with vague symptoms that can be dismissed by both doctors and patients, and both can be much more manageable if diagnosed early and accurately. PanCAN’s focus on Demand Better this November means that we need to demand earlier detection of pancreatic cancer.

Don’t Miss Diabetes Late Nite on World Diabetes Day, Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 PM, EST. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Owner of DiabetesStrong.com Christel Oerum, Makeup Artist & Skincare Expert Suzanne Perez, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ courtesy of SONY Music.

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.”

10/27/2018

Happy Diabetic’s Turkey Joe’s Fast Recipe

Chef Robert “The Happy Diabetic” Lewis, who is living with type 2 diabetes, has made it his goal is to live happy and healthy and to create recipes that celebrate great-tasting food that both diabetics and non-diabetics can enjoy. His cookbooks are filled with tips, tidbits and humorous anecdotes that he hopes will make cooking fun! Below is one of our favorites:

Happy Diabetic’s Turkey Joe’s Fast Recipe

“Happy and Healthy sloppy style joes made with simple ingredients and ground turkey. Can you feel the love?”, says Chef Robert Lewis.

What’s In It?

2 pounds ground turkey

2 cups tomato sauce (low sodium)

1 can tomato paste

1 Tablespoons garlic powder

¼ teaspoon Mrs. Dash Table Blend Salt

¼ Tablespoons chili powder

2.5 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup

1 16 oz can diced tomatoes, drained (optional I like to reserve the juice incase I want or need to thin down the sauce)

Let’s Put It Together:

In a large sauce pan, brown ground turkey over medium heat until completely cooked.

Stir in all ingredients. Once mixed, heat on low for an additional 10-15 minutes.

The NUTRITION Facts (approximate): Serving Size 4 oz, Calories 220, Total Fat 8 g, Sodium 178.7 mg, Total Carbohydrates 14.5 g, Protein 22.1 g

In a recent profile on the Everyday Diabetes website, Chef Robert Lewis admitted that he feared the worst for his own love of great food following his diagnosis with Type 2 Diabetes in 1998.

“I suspected that my days of good eating were over,” Lewis writes on his blog. “Yet, as I worked through my ups and downs, I came to realize that the selection of foods I could and should eat was vast and included many of my favorites. This motivated me to attempt to create delicious, diabetic-friendly dishes that were also easy to prepare.

Today he’s a man on the go! is a man on the go. When he’s not working as a director of training for 60 restaurants in the Midwest, he’s traveling around the country as a keynote speaker for Taking Control of Your Diabetes and/or hosting his own podcast, ‘The Happy Diabetic Kitchen Podcast’! Read more about Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ in Diabetes Health Monitor magazine.

Chef Robert “The Happy Diabetic” Lewis stars in Divabetic’s 5th Annual Diabetes Mystery podcast, “Swan Wake” starring 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. Available for free on demand LISTEN NOW

10/25/2018

How Much Do You Know About Insulin? Part 2

How much do you know about insulin?

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic has created a new game to test one lucky listener’s ‘INSULIN IQ’ featuring a series of questions about insulin for November’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin’s rendition of ‘Teach Me Tonight’ from her Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics album courtesy of SONY Music.

Can’t wait until Wednesday, November 14th? Test your knowledge with these two ‘Teach Me Tonight Challenge’ questions (answers appear at the bottom of this blog post):

3: Which animal was insulin first tested on?

A. A cow

B. A pig

C. A dog

4: What year was insulin first used on a human?

A. 1912

B.1922

C. 1932

5: How many people are living with diabetes in the world?

A. 322 million

B. 399 million

C. 422 million

Are you concerned about the average price of insulin skyrocketing in recent years – nearly tripling between 2002 and 2013?

Join us in calling for increased transparency and more affordable insulin. More than 377,207 people have signed the American Diabetes Association’s petition to support those struggling with insulin affordability. Add your name today. CLICK HERE

Don’t miss November’s Diabetes Late Niteon Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 PM, EST.Divabetic will be hosting November’s Diabetes Late Nite with music by Aretha Franklin on World Diabetes Day Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 PM EST in celebration of World Diabetes Day.

You may be wondering why November 14th is World Diabetes Day?

November 14th is a significant date in the diabetes calendar because it marks the birthday of the man who co-discovered insulin, Sir Frederick Banting. Banting discovered insulin in 1922, alongside Charles Best. Insulin isn’t just a drug. It’s the difference between life and death for millions of people with diabetes – and it’s something they will need every day for the rest of their lives.

Guests included Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Owner of Diabetes Strong Christel Oerum, Makeup Artist & Skincare Expert Suzanne Perez, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Plus, win a copy of Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport’s newest book,

“Friendship Matters: memoir, life lessons, laughter” as part of our World Diabetes Day giveaway! TUNE IN

ANSWERS: 1). C: DOG. Canadian physician Frederick Banting and medical student Charles H. Best would be credited with discovering the hormone insulin in the pancreatic extracts of dogs. Banting and Best injected the hormone into a dog and found that it lowered high blood glucose levels to normal. 2). B: 1922. On 11 January 1922 insulin was first used in the treatment of diabetes. Insulin was discovered by Sir Frederick G Banting, Charles H Best and JJR Macleod at the University of Toronto in 1921 and it was subsequently purified by James B Collip. 3). C: 422 MILLION. According to the World Health Organization, 422 million people are living with diabetes worldwide, nearly doubling the prevalence from 4.7 percent in 1980 to 8.4 percent in 2014. In the United States alone, an estimated 29.1 million adults and children are affected.

10/24/201805/21/2020

Taverns – The Midwest SLOPPY JOES Recipe from Happy Diabetic Style…of love

One of our Divabetic community members, Deb L.., who is living with type 2 diabetes, recently contacted us through Facebook to ask for a healthy Sloppy Joes recipe. Our good friend and colleague, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ offered this delicious recipe. Enjoy!

‘Taverns – The Midwest SLOPPY JOES Recipe from Happy Diabetic Style…of love’

“Sometimes when you just want to prepare a classic with a healthier twist. Ok Let’s get cooking!,” says Chef Robert Lewis

What’s In It?

1 ½ lbs lean ground beef or Turkey

1 t Mrs. Dash Table Blend Salt

1 carrot, finely minced

½ celery stalk

1 medium onion, finely minced

3 cloves garlic, minced or 1 T jarred garlic in olive oil

1/4 cup green bell pepper, minced

1 t balsamic vinegar

1 t Worcestershire sauce

1-2 t yellow mustard

2 cups tomato sauce (low sodium)

1 can tomato paste

2 T honey

Let’s Put It Together:

Mince all the vegetables using a food processor or your knife skills

In a large sauté pan heat over medium heat.

Add the meat to the pan and break it up as it cooks.

Season with steak seasoning or season salt and cook the meat until it browns up.

Add celery, carrots, onion, garlic, peppers to the skillet.

Reduce heat to medium and add vinegar and Worcestershire sauce and mustard, cook 10 more minutes.

Add tomato sauce and paste and honey the to sauté pan, stir it up well.

Cover and reduce heat to simmer and cook an additional 5 minutes.

TIP- if the mixture is to thick add a little water or beef stock to thin it out.

Using a measuring cup, pile 1/2 cup of sloppy meat onto toasted buns.

Yield: 8 servings, Serving Size: 1/2 cup

The NUTRITION facts(approximate): Calories: 121.8 calories, Total Fat: 3.7, Sodium: 300mg, Carbohydrates: 9.9g, Fiber: 2.1g, Sugar: 5g, Protein: 13.7g

In a recent profile on the Everyday Diabetes website, Chef Robert Lewis admitted that he feared the worst for his own love of great food following his diagnosis with Type 2 Diabetes in 1998.

Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ stars in Divabetic’s 5th Annual Diabetes Mystery podcast, “Swan Wake” available for free on demand LISTEN NOW

Mr. Divabetic hosts the new hilarious culinary podcast, Serve, Taste or Trash! Game. A delicious combination of crazy food challenges and fresh perspectives on the latest food trends. Guests include Wellness and Diabetes Coach, Ginger Vieira, the author of “Your Diabetes Science Experiment” and “Emotional Eating with Diabetes”, Co-founders of Central Farm Markets, Debra Moser and MeatCrafters owner, Mitchell Berliner, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, the ‘Queen of the Green’ Miss Aida Romaine and Laura from Chattanooga, TN who is living with diabetes.

10/21/201805/21/2020

How Much Do You Know About Insulin? on November’s Diabetes Late Nite

Divabetic will be hosting November’s Diabetes Late Nite with music by Aretha Franklin on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 PM EST in celebration of World Diabetes Day.

You may be wondering why November 14th is World Diabetes Day?

How much do you know about insulin?

Mr. Divabetic has created a new game to test one lucky listener’s ‘INSULIN IQ’ featuring a series of questions about insulin for November’s podcast with musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin’s rendition of ‘Teach Me Tonight’ from her Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics album courtesy of SONY Music.

Can’t wait until Wednesday, November 14th? Test your knowledge with these two ‘Teach Me Tonight Challenge’ questions (answers appear at the bottom of this blog post):

1. What is the most common methods of injecting insulin?

a. insulin syringe

b. insulin inhalers

c. insulin pens

2. In ancient times, doctors would test for diabetes by?

a. Check the patient’s eyes

b. Tasting the patient’s urine

c. Listening to the patient’s heart

Are you concerned about the average price of insulin skyrocketing in recent years – nearly tripling between 2002 and 2013?

Don’t miss November’s Diabetes Late Nite on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 PM, EST with Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Owner of Diabetes Strong Christel Oerum, Makeup Artist & Skincare Expert Suzanne Perez, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. TUNE IN

Answers: 1. (a.) The most common method of injecting insulin is by syringe, but there are a lot of other options available, such as insulin pens, inhalers and pumps. Talk to your doctor to find out what’s best for you. Answer 2 (b). In ancient times, doctors would test for diabetes by tasting the patient’s urine to see if it was sweet. People who tasted urine to check for diabetes were called “water tasters.” Other diagnostic measures included checking to see if urine attracted ants or flies.