Adopted Dog Sparks 100+ Pound Weight Loss

This past Saturday, I attended Broadway Barks, a free event promoting pet adoption, hosted by Bernadette Peters and Randy Rainbow.

Since its inception, Broadway Barks has helped thousands of NYC shelter animals find permanent homes.

The event prompted me to revisit a past Divabetic podcast with guest, Walking With Peety: The Dog Who Saved My Life Author Eric O’Grey, who turned his type 2 diabetes diagnosis around after adopting a rescue dog.

Eric O’Grey’s weight had ballooned to 320 pounds, and he was spending more than $1,000 a month on medications for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol when his naturopathic doctor suggested he adopt a shelter dog.

Eric took that advice, heading to the Humane Society, and adopted an obese middle-aged dog named Peety.

Together, Eric and Peety started walking for at least a half-hour a day. Eric also adopted a plant-based diet. Ultimately Eric lost 140 pounds, and Peety lost 25 pounds.

Hear Eric’s interview on this episode of Divabetic’s popular podcast.

Podcast guests include Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog, and Scent Detection Expert Debby Kay, Walking with Peety Author Eric O’Grey, Poet Lorraine Brooks, ‘Yoga for Diabetes’ Author Rachel Zinman, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE.

Throughout the podcast, we will feature songs from P!nk’s Beautiful Trauma album courtesy of SONY Music.

25th Anniversary of Broadway Barks

I attended the 25th annual Broadway Barks pet adoption event in Shubert Alley on Broadway on Saturday, July 8, 2023. People could meet and greet adoptable cats and dogs with celebrity presentations hosted by  Broadway Barks co-founder and Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters and Randy Rainbow and appearances by  Josh Groban from ‘Sweeney Todd’ and Jason Alexander from ‘Seinfeld.’

The free event was open to the public, and proceeds benefited the participating rescue and shelter groups, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Several celebrities showed up. Marsha Mason, and Carol Kane, introduced dogs with multiple health issues up for adoption. Tony winner Victoria Clark from “Kimberly Akimbo” introduced a beautiful dog.

Perhaps the strangest moment of the rag-tag show featuring ongoing sound system issues was Donna Murphy’s heartfelt but uninteresting tribute to her dog.  The long-winded, dull-as-dishwater story of her dog’s adoption, with tidbits like her dog, hails from South Carolina, after a delayed start, left audience members wanting to give her the hook. “Learn how to read the room, lady,” one disgruntled audience member barked at the stage. Her story had nothing to do with the actual dogs up for adoption.

Tony winner Victoria Clark from “Kimberly Akimbo” introduced a beautiful dog. Victoria Clark has performed in numerous Broadway musicals and other theatre, film, and television works. Her soprano voice can also be heard on various cast albums and animated films.

Ageless Bernadette Peters was often abrupt with her cohost and seemed distracted during most of the show. However, she and Divabetic inspiration Mary Tyler Moore co-founded Broadway Barks.

Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 33 years; she was on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.  Her public statements about type 1 diabetes humanized the condition and gave voice to the thoughts, struggles, and experiences of many others living with the disease.

She changed the world for people living with diabetes, researchers seeking its cure, and health care providers for those with the disease.

“Mary will go down in the annals of comedy history as a genius comedy actor,” Bernadette Peters told ABC News’ “20/20.” “She was an original… She came from a true place inside herself, which we all can relate to. She made us look at it in a different way, in a funny way.”

Over 1,700 dogs and cats have found permanent homes due to Broadway Barks. Originally conceived as a program to promote the adoption of shelter animals, Broadway Barks has fostered a community spirit among many animal shelters and rescue groups. 

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS produces Broadway Barks each year, providing the talent and expertise that has helped make Broadway Barks successful and memorable year after year.

Mr. Divabetic chats with ‘New York Times bestselling author Mark Dagostino about his latest book Ellie & Coach: Diabetes, the Fight for My Daughter’s Life, and the Dog Who Changed Everything on this episode of Divabetic’s popular podcast.

Elle & Coach is the true story of a Type-A mom struggling to care for a daughter who has Type 1 diabetes and of an incredible service dog who changes their lives for the better.

Stefany Shaheen tries everything to manage her daughter Elle’s deadly and unpredictable disease. Overcoming the skepticism that a dog can provide answers that medical science is still seeking, the family finds a resounding sense of peace and reassurance through Coach’s near miraculous abilities as a medic-alert dog, specially trained to detect dangerous changes in blood sugar levels.

Plus, Professional Animal Trainer Debby Kay, who specializes in scent detection work with dogs, shares how diabetes-alert dogs help people with type 1 diabetes. Debby Kay’s Super Sniffer® Medical Alert Dog Seminar for Trainers provides everything you need to start.

 

‘From Broadway to the Beach!’ on August’s Diabetes Late Nite

Everything’s Coming Up Roses! on August’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast when we feature music from the original Broadway cast of ‘Gypsy’ scheduled for Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 6 PM, EST.

Gypsy is musical that loosely tells the story of burlesque stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, but the story focuses on her star struck, verging on maniacal, mother Rose Hovick who was bound and determined to make vaudeville stars out of her children

The list of dynamic divas who have played the infamous stage mother, Mama Rose, in Gypsy include Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly,  Bernadette Peters, Patti Lupone, Rosalind Russell and Bette Midler.

The way each of these amazing Broadway legend tackled the role of ‘Mama Rose’ is comparable to how people manage their diabetes because everyone’s self-care management is unique and different with subtle nuances based on one’s own life and lifestyle. And that’s perfectly acceptable!

“Each Rose blooms differently and produces unique petals, fragrances and thorns, just as Mama Rose has been given a wide-range of complex performances and distinct interpretations, “ wrote Mark Robinson, a theatre, television, and film historian, for Playbill.

Diabetes management is personal too. Let Ethel, Bernadette, Patti or Bette inspire you to not let diabetes dim your dazzle! To truly succeed you have to make it yours! Know what makes your blood sugar level rise and fall – and talk to your doctor about how you can manage these day-to-day factors in your life.

We’re also heading the beach on August’s Diabetes Late to discuss Summertime Diabetes Management, the Best in Swimsuit Cover ups, Body Image Issues, Health Hazards of Eating Contests like Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Healthy Desserts and how a Broadway Diva manages her type 1 diabetes eight shows week.

The August heat is tough enough for the average person, but for the estimated 21 million Americans with diabetes, special precautions may be required. Joslin Clinic offer the following tips for people with diabetes during these steamy summer days:

  • Keep hydrated. Dehydration, or the loss of body fluids, can happen on these very hot summer days whether you have diabetes or not. If you have diabetes, dehydration also can occur when blood glucose is not under control. When blood glucose is elevated, this can lead to an increase in the body’s excretion of urine. To prevent dehydration drink plenty of caffeine-free fluids such as water, seltzer or sugar-free iced tea and lemonade. Limit your intake of alcohol.
  • Watch for signs of heat exhaustion, especially if you are working or exercising outdoors. People with diabetes and other chronic diseases like heart disease are more susceptible to overheating. Symptoms include: feeling dizzy or fainting; sweating excessively; muscle cramps; skin that is cold or clammy; headaches; rapid heartbeat and/or nausea. If you experience any of these symptoms, move to a cooler environment, drink fluids like water, juice or sports drinks (based on your healthcare provider’s instructions) and seek medical attention. MORE TIPS

BE AN INSTANT WINNER: Test your Diabetes IQ and send your answer to the question below to  mrdivabetic@gmai.com. Correct answers will be entered into our random drawing to win August’s PRIZE GIVEAWAY. Prize package includes Dr. Greenfield’s Hand & Body Cream, Cabot Cheese, Nu Naturals and a Summertime Fashion accessory.  Our INSTANT WINNER will be announced on-air during August’s Diabetes Late Nite this coming Tuesday, August 8, 6 PM, EST.

Plus, we’re going behind the scenes on our newest Mr. Diabetic Mystery podcast. ‘Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’ with music from the Original Broadway cast of ‘Gypsy’ courtesy of SONY Music.

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. What it an accident or foul play? Now Mr. Divabetic’s grilling Burlesque dancers, a lifeguard lothario and some sequined mermaids, all intent on keeping their secrets buried deep within the sand. Can Mr. Divabetic prove Coach’s death was a murder, not an accident? Or will he end up floating out to sea?

Will he sink or swim?

Our annual diabetes mystery podcast hopes to encourage you to become a Diabetes Detective. Look for clues, search for patterns, investigate the reasons behind your blood sugar high’s and low’s and report to the authorities (your healthcare team) about medical information found on the internet.

August’s Diabetes Late Nite guests include Best-Selling AuthorTonya Kappes, Broadway Star Soara-Joye Ross,  Poet Lorraine Brooks, Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, We Are Diabetes organization founder, Asha Brown, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR and Mama Rose Marie. TUNE IN: August’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Gypsy schedule for Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 6 PM, EST.