Tag: blood sugars

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U. S. Open, Mental Health & Overcoming Setbacks

I attended the U.S. Open earlier this week and witnessed some incredible matches. While on the grounds, I heard Sloane Stephens playing in one of the stadiums. She was ahead 6-0, 4-1, but ultimately lost in three sets. I can only imagine how devastated she must have felt after the loss. How does one bounce back from such a disappointing defeat on one of the U.S. Open’s main courts, especially when commentators like Chris Evert are critical of your performance? Rennae Stubbs, whom I greatly admire as an announcer, mentioned that Sloane needs to learn how to win again after a tough summer season. Losing a tennis match can be frustrating and disappointing, especially if you have high expectations for your performance.

Similarly, managing unexpected blood sugar levels can be a setback that requires steadiness and resilience. Just as in tennis, where you need to stay focused and composed even when things don’t go as planned, managing blood sugar levels demands steadfastness and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Both situations require patience, determination, and the willingness to adjust your game plan when things don’t go your way.

Sometimes, you need a plan B. For someone living with diabetes, that may mean finding a new healthcare collaborator. If you feel your provider isn’t providing advice, encouragement, or resources to help you, which is expected, then it’s time for a change. Constant worrying, negative thinking, and always expecting the worst can take a toll on your emotional and physical health. It can sap your emotional strength, leave you feeling restless and jumpy, cause insomnia, headaches, stomach problems, and muscle tension, and make it difficult to concentrate at work or on court. Check out this HelpGuide.Org RESOURCE Guide. 

During the match I was watching, I saw LuLu Sun from New Zealand, the surprise Wimbledon quarterfinalist, playing in her first U.S. Open with high expectations. Unfortunately, her match coincided with the big-serving American Chris Eubanks‘s intense five-set battle, spilling large crowds of Eubanks fans into the stands at LuLu’s match. So, there she was, New Zealand’s tennis ace, playing her first match on an outside court with fans screaming nearby and planes flying overhead. On top of that, the lighting was rapidly changing from day to night, making things even more challenging. Watching LuLu, I realized that the U.S. Open isn’t as glitz and glamour as expected.

Having high expectations or setting high standards for ourselves may increase stress and pressure to meet those expectations. If we perceive ourselves as falling short of our dreams, this can lead to anxiety, self-doubt, and feelings of inadequacy. The fear of failure and the constant drive for perfection can take a toll on our mental well-being, potentially leading to burnout and feelings of frustration. It’s essential to strike a balance and set realistic expectations to maintain a healthy mindset and prevent unnecessary strain on our mental health. If you’re plagued by exaggerated worry and tension, there are steps you can take to turn off anxious thoughts. Chronic worrying is a mental habit that can be broken. You can train your brain to stay calm and look at life from a more balanced, less fearful perspective. Check out this HelpGuide.Org RESOURCE Guide. 

Our friend, Dr. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CD, shares “Fear of Diabetes Complications” with our Divabetic community in this blog post. READ MORE. In the blog post, “Dr. Bev” states the topic of diabetes complications stirs up a lot of emotional issues. Some well-meaning but uninformed people (they call themselves your family and friends) may tell you that if you eat that slice of cake, you will lose a toe or go blind. Trying to guilt you into eating healthy does not work. It makes many people with diabetes become oppositional and eat that slice – and more – just because they want to be assertive.


National Mindfulness Day is coming up on Thursday, September 12, 2024. One tip to help cope with worrying is to write down your worries. If an anxious thought or worry comes into your head during the day, briefly note it and then continue about your day. Remind yourself that you’ll have time to think about it later, so there’s no need to worry about it right now. Also, writing down your thoughts—on a pad or on your phone or computer—is much more complex than simply thinking about them, so your worries are more likely to lose their power.

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Under The Vines: Adult-Onset Blindness

Season 3 of one of my favorite Acorn TV shoes, Under The Vines, tackles the challenges of adult-onset blindness.  The blindness of the owner of the neighboring vineyard, Hilary (Catherine Wilkin), is worsening. What Hillary is experiencing isn’t just a great storyline in a TV drama; it’s more common than you think. 

One of the leading causes of blindness in U. S. adults is mismanaged diabetes.  Diabetes Retinopathy is a condition caused by diabetes, which disrupts the body’s ability to convert food into energy and can damage the eyes. 

Many people with diabetes don’t realize they have it until organ damage has occurred, so regular health and vision check-ups are essential. 

Hilary struggles to accept her condition and ask for help. She is stubborn, willful, and narrow-minded, much like many people struggling with worsening health conditions. She flatly refuses her rival, Miranda’s offers to take her to the doctor, clean her house, and help run her vineyards. Of course, Miranda has ulterior motives for helping Hilary, but that’s another story. 

If you’re concerned about your vision, follow the advice of healthcare collaborators on how often you should go for exams. Always contact an eye care provider when you have a change in vision or something wrong with your eyes. Wear your prescription glasses and contact lenses when necessary.
If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels tightly managed, and manage your blood pressure if you have high blood pressure.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. They cause the eye’s lens to harden and turn yellow. In the US, nearly 20.5 million people over 40 have cataracts.

The type of treatment available depends on your condition. Providers can treat some forms of blindness with medications or glasses but can’t treat others, such as those where your eyes are missing or completely damaged. In these cases, your provider may recommend visual rehabilitation. Vision rehabilitation aims to enhance visual functioning to meet your goals and improve your quality of life. 

Actors Rebecca Gibney and Charles Edwards star in Under The Vines as two city slickers who inherit a failing vineyard, Oakley Vineyards, in rural New Zealand. The only problems are that neither of them has ever done a hard day’s work—and they despise one another.

Under The Vines is a fun, easygoing watch. 

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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. Podcast guests: Dr. Janis Roszler PhD, LMFT, RDN, LD/N, CDCES, FAND, and Donna Rice, MBA, BSN, RN, CDCES, FADCES, the co-authors of Divabetic’s new e-book, Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide to Love and Intimacy with Diabetes, available on Amazon.

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. This series is perfect for anyone (regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, or health status) looking to rekindle intimacy with their partner or be proactive about their sexual and emotional well-being. In. Bed With Barbie & Ken Podcast Music by Doug Clay.

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Watercolor Washes And Blood Sugars

My second watercolor class was about washes. It proved to be just as challenging as the first class, but it was still a blast from start to finish. We used a large brush and loaded up with the paint mixture in a smooth, sweeping motion side to side. The three main types of watercolor washes are flat, graded, and variegated. You can attempt them with a wet brush on dry paper or a wet brush on wet paper. My goal was to create transparency with the paint.

I adore my instructor, Eva, from Bulgaria. She’s passionate about art and teaching art. When she travels back to Bulgaria, she doesn’t like to take photos because she feels photos can’t capture your memories. I’m paraphrasing, but I love her thoughts.  I arrived early so I could ask her about her artwork. She is a chemigram artist. A chemigram has been called  ‘the ultimate adventure of gelatin silver bromide’. It’s made by painting with chemicals on light-sensitive photography paper.  According to Eva, you can’t see what you’re creating until you process the paper, and there’s a high probability that it might not work out. Eva likes it because you can’t control it.  


Drinking water can help dilute blood sugar levels, but no single food or drink can directly reduce the amount of sugar in your blood. Different foods affect your blood sugar differently, creating bigger or smaller rises for longer or shorter periods. High blood sugar—known as hyperglycemia—can lead to dehydration, as the body tries to eliminate excess glucose through urine. Excess urination is one symptom of diabetes.

When dehydrated, your blood becomes more concentrated, including glucose. Drinking water can help rehydrate your blood and dilute the sugar, which can help lower blood sugar levels. Water can also help your kidneys filter out excess sugar through urine, which can further help flush sugar from your body.

Taking fast-acting insulin medication is the fastest way to lower blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare collaborators about the best self-care plan for you. 

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Lilacs & Managing Diabetes In The Morning

Another gorgeous morning in East Hampton, NY, is another reason to show my home state pride. When I was growing up in Rochester, my mother told me lilacs were the official New York State bush, but they weren’t designated as such until 2006. 

Checking your blood sugar in the morning, known as fasting glucose, can help you assess your diabetes self-care plan. This measurement shows how well your body manages your blood sugar overnight. If you take insulin, a morning test can also help you determine how much to take before a meal.

In people with prediabetes or diabetes, morning blood sugar can remain high as the body becomes less sensitive to insulin or produces smaller amounts. This is known as the “dawn phenomenon.”

Some researchers believe the overnight release of certain hormones naturally increases insulin resistance. That causes blood sugar to rise. The hormones are called counter-regulatory hormones because they have an effect that opposes the effect of insulin. They include growth hormone, cortisol, glucagon, and epinephrine.

High blood sugar in the morning may be caused by:

  • Not getting enough insulin the night before.
  • Not getting the right dose of diabetes medicine the night before.
  • Eating a snack with carbohydrates in it at bedtime.

Talk to your healthcare collaborators if your blood sugar is consistently higher than it should be in the morning.

According to Greek mythology, Pan, the god of fields and forests, fell hopelessly in love with the nymph Syringa. After endless advances from Pan, Syringa turns herself into a lilac shrub to protect and disguise herself from him, proving once again how some guys don’t get the message. 

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Can You Reserve Diabetic Retinopathy?

The average woman takes 17 minutes to apply eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara and groom the eyebrows before going out for the night. If you spend that much time making your eyes look beautiful, why not spend a little extra finding out what’s happening inside them?
Make time for an annual eye exam. The macular edema and proliferative retinopathy treatments can prevent vision loss and even restore some of your lost vision.

Can You Reserve Diabetic Retinopathy?

You can’t reserve diabetic retinopathy. But we can reduce our risk of developing diabetic retinopathy or help stop it from worsening by keeping our blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels under tighter management.

Divabetic Tip

Create your healthcare entourage of healthcare collaborators who address your needs. Trying to manage all the aspects of diabetes can be overwhelming. If you’re not tech-savvy, it can be downright frustrating. It’s okay to ask for help. Managing diabetes means managing the health of the whole body. This is why you’ll want a diabetes care team with specialists from different fields.

These can include:

  • Primary Care Provider (PCP): This doctor (MD or DO), nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) gives you routine medical care, including physical exams, lab tests and prescriptions for medication.
  • Endocrinologist: This doctor (MD or DO) specializes in diabetes and other diseases of the endocrine system (the system that produces hormones such as insulin).
  • Ophthalmologist or Optometrist: This doctor (MD/DO or OD), also known as an eye doctor, diagnoses and treats eye diseases and disorders.
  • Podiatrist (DPM): This doctor, also known as a foot doctor, is trained to treat feet and lower leg problems.
  • Pharmacist (PharmD): This professional knows about medicines, what’s in them, and how they interact with each other.
  • Dentist (DMD or DDS): This doctor knows about oral care and is trained to care for your teeth and gums.
  • Registered Nurse/Nurse Navigator (RN): A nurse in your doctor’s office who helps coordinate your health care needs.
  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN): A dietitian is a nutrition expert (what food your particular body needs to stay healthy). Talking to a registered dietitian nutritionist, not your yoga instructor, will help you use what you eat and drink as tools for managing your blood glucose.
  • Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES): Previously known as Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs), these are health care providers with extensive training and experience working with people with diabetes who have passed a credentialed board exam. They can help you figure out how to manage what you need to do to manage your diabetes in a way that fits with your daily life, routines, environment, and family dynamics.
  • Mental Health Professional: This person may be a psychiatrist (MD or DO), psychologist (PhD) or clinical social worker (LCSW or LISW). These professionals can help you deal with the day-to-day challenges of living with diabetes and more serious emotional issues. Be sure to work with a mental health professional who understands diabetes and the medicine and insulin you take that may affect your blood glucose.
  • Fitness Professional: A physical activity specialist may be an exercise physiologist, personal trainer, or physical therapist. These professionals can help you find safe exercises and ensure you get the most out of your exercise program. Be sure to work with a fitness professional who understands diabetes and the medicine and insulin you are taking that may affect your blood glucose.

Choose diabetes care team members who can provide the level of support you want and help when needed. The more information you can give when you get help, the easier it is for someone to assist you.

On this episode of Divabetic’s podcast, we’re discussing diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye (retina). Poorly controlled blood sugar is a risk factor. Early symptoms include floaters, blurriness, dark areas of vision, and difficulty perceiving colors. Blindness can occur.

Podcast guests include singer Alfa Anderson, Diabetic Macular Edema patient Maryanne Kass, Artist Bryce Chisholm, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout the podcast, we will feature selected songs from several of Maxwell’s albums courtesy of SONY Music.
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Acorn’s TV Show, Under The Vines Sparks Alcohol & Diabetes Discussion

My mom and I are watching Acorn TV’s Under The Vines series. It’s an excellent drama-comedy about two city slickers, Daisy Monroe, portrayed by actress Rebecca Gibney and Louis Oakley, portrayed by actor Charles Edwards,  who both inherit a failing vineyard in rural New Zealand. The only problems are that neither of them has ever done a hard day’s work- and they initially despise one another.

Both of them are experiencing financial, social, and existential crises. They become interested in the winery’s future but frequently don’t see eye-to-eye. Furthermore, a neighboring vineyard wants to buy their vineyard, Oakley Wines, and isn’t happy that the inexperienced newcomers might stay.
What I like about the show is that the storylines tackle the complexities of modern life with humor. For example, Daisy’s best friend, Griffin ‘Griff’ Galway, is a closeted gay Australian famous international actor who chooses to hide his identity but then has to deal with the consequences.. Griff confronts Daisy about how selfishness has stopped her from finding long-lasting love. We rarely see the depth of friendship between a heterosexual woman and a gay man on screen, and if it is, it’s usually for laughs. This show digs deeper and shows how two chosen family members offer tough love.  Daisy and Griff aren’t afraid of being honest with each other about the other’s shortcomings, and they love each other for it. They sleep in the same bed and are comfortable with each other’s awkwardness, inconsistencies, and imperfections.
Struggling with coming to terms with your sexual identity can be challenging for your health. Research shows that LGBTQAI+  people have unique health disparities and worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts regarding diabetes care and education. We spotlight LGBTQAI+ people living with, affected by, and at risk of diabetes on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with music from Indigo Girls.  Podcast guests include The Flood Girls & The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton, Author Richard Fifield, Mutha Chucka, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES.  Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from their Indigo Girls album courtesy of SONY Music.

Watching Under the Vines also piqued my curiosity about winemaking. How couldn’t it? There are so many beautiful panoramic shots of the vineyard and countryside.

How do growers and winemakers know when grapes are ready for harvesting?
Many growers and winemakers still rely on sugar readings to decide when the grapes are ripe.
My friend, who works for a winemaker, said every winemaker is different. Most rely on the grapes’ sugar and acid levels and by taste. The winemaker she works for wants to make high-acid wines, so we pick early. Acid and sugar levels are inverse so the riper and more sugar in the grapes means less acid. Winemakers can fix it by adding acid back into the juice after they have been picked. You can also add sugar in some places (in others, it’s illegal). The winemaker my friend works for makes natural wine, so they don’t add anything, which makes the picking decision even more important!
Additionally, I’ve read that winemakers rely on technology to know when to harvest the grapes. They’ll take a portable refractometer into the vineyard and measure sugar levels. The higher the sugar, the riper the grapes. They’ll look for pH and titratable acid (TA) levels in the lab.

We’re talking about living well with type 1 diabetes, alcohol’s effects on blood sugar levels, and our love for ‘all things Italian’ on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with musical inspiration from Dean Martin.

Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti and was later nicknamed “The King of Cool.” His big break while performing as a duo with comedian Jerry Lewis, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes later in life at 71.

Podcast guests: Fran Carpentier, Mama Rose Marie, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. This podcast will feature music from The Essential Dean Martin album courtesy of SONY Music.

 

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Alexander Zverev Battles French Open Officicals About Injecting Insulin in Public

Imagine competing for one of the tennis world’s biggest titles and being told you can’t take your life-saving medication during a match because it looks weird.

At this year’s French Open, tennis player Alexander Zverev, who has been living with type 1 diabetes since age three, has struggled with tournament officials’ lack of awareness regarding insulin therapy.

Repeatedly he has been told to either seek medical attention or leave the court during matches when administering his self-care.

Even though many people living with type 1 diabetes are accustomed to getting strange looks from strangers when they administer insulin out in public, it still seems shocking to hear what’s happening at the French Open.

An umpire told Alexander that it looks “weird” if he injects himself on court. As a result, the official said he could not take insulin on court and was required to take a bathroom break instead. However, the French Open has a strict limit to the number of bathroom breaks a player can take under the rules, which Alexander noted could compromise his health, ‘guys, I might have to walk off the court four or five times. Decide what you want me to do’.”

To hear that he’s still winning matches while dealing with these issues is incredibly inspiring. In a previous match against American tennis player Frances Tiafoe, Alexander said there was a “supervisor who didn’t know that I was diabetic,” adding: “I then gave myself an injection, and he panicked and said I had to call a doctor if I gave myself anything.”

I hope Alexander’s brave stance in the face of opposition inspires others to take their medicine or injections as prescribed, even if they have to do it in a public place.

Managing your blood sugars with medicine or injection shouldn’t come with shame. Your health is a top priority, no matter what anyone else thinks. Always remember that.

Delaying your injection isn’t always possible, so you must do what’s best to manage your diabetes. You can’t control how other people respond. However, you can kindly and respectfully explain what you’re doing and why it’s essential if asked.

Thankfully, Alexander shared that this lack of understanding doesn’t happen at every tennis tournament stating, “on the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Tour, I do it on the court; here (French Open), they don’t allow me to do it,” Alexander told Eurosport Germany.

Let’s rally behind him as he heads into his Semi-Finals match tomorrow and do our part to raise awareness for insulin therapy.

Clarence Waldron talks about his stroke, recovery, working as Senior Editor and Writer of Jet Magazine, and his memories of Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin.

Twenty years ago, Clarence interviewed Luther’s mother, Mrs. Mary Ida Vandross, for Jet Magazine after Luther suffered a stroke due to mismanaged type 2 diabetes. Clarence’s story is an excellent reminder of why it’s essential to ACT F.A.S.T. if you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke. The acronym FAST (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time) has been used by the National Stroke Association, American Heart Association, and others to educate the public on detecting stroke symptoms.

Earlier treatment results in a greater chance of recovery, a reduced likelihood of permanent disability, and a lesser need for extensive rehabilitation. You’ll quickly hear Clarence’s upbeat attitude and ferocious appetite for music and divas have served him well during his recovery.

Throughout this podcast, we feature music from Aretha Franklin’s Get It Right album and Luther Vandross’s Live At Radio City Music Hall 2003 20th Anniversary Edition album courtesy of SONY Music.

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Senator Mark Rubio Plans To Cut Junk Food And Soda from SNAP

“This subsidization of junk food is fueling American health crises,” Florida Senator Mark Rubio wrote, who plans to introduce legislation that would “explicitly exclude” sugar-sweetened sodas and prepared desserts from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Food and Nutrition Service. He aims to rework the program to push for healthier food options such as milk and pure fruit juice. However, his adversaries argue his intention is strictly to lower government funding. 
 
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program, reaching 38 million people nationwide in 2019 alone. More than 65% of SNAP participants are in families with children.  
 
“More than 40 percent of U.S. adults are obese, and roughly half have diabetes or prediabetes. These diseases can be debilitating. They are also extremely expensive, costing hundreds of billions of dollars in medical costs each year,” Rubio wrote. “That SNAP plays a role in their spread is immoral, irresponsible, and reprehensible.”
 
Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 80% don’t know they have it.
How do you feel about your overall health? Are you aware of your risk of prediabetes?

Could You Have Prediabetes?

Take The Prediabetes Rick Test NOW

Prediabetes means you have a higher-than-normal blood sugar level. It’s not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes yet sufficient to be considered type 2 diabetes yet. But without lifestyle changes, adults and children with prediabetes are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. There’s good news, however. Progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes isn’t inevitable.

Eating healthy foods, making physical activity part of your daily routine, and staying at a healthy weight can help bring your blood sugar level back to normal. 

“If soft drinks and sweets are no longer SNAP-eligible, corner stores and supermarkets will have more incentive to stock healthier foods.”
 
The US Department of Health reports calories in sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda can contribute to weight gain and lead to other health risks, including obesity, tooth decay, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

According to a Harvard Medical study, replacing one daily serving of a sugary drink with a healthier beverage was associated with almost a 20% lower risk of death.
Facing your health risks and issues can be scary and overwhelming but there are
Our friend and colleague, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND, is an internationally recognized nutrition, diabetes, and prediabetes expert. Let her Prediabetes: A Complete Guide help you “reset,” improve your overall health, and get yourself in better shape.

Prediabetes: A Complete Guide, 2nd edition

Jill Weisenberger also offers courses, Prediabetes Turnaround and Prediabetes Meal Planning, to help you build motivation for healthy habits and prevent type 2 diabetes.  

The USDA report  Mark Rubio cites that 20 cents of every dollar spent under the benefits program go toward “sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, salty snacks, candy, and sugar.”

 
“There is nothing compassionate or responsible about spending taxpayer dollars on empty calories that contribute to health crises,” Rubio stated.

We’re talking about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘SUGAR’ with musical inspiration from Sade.

Sugar is everywhere. But do we understand the impact it has on our diabetes health?

You may think of sweets, chocolate, sodas, table sugar, and perhaps fruit if asked to name sugary foods. But sugar also appears in savory foods such as ready meals, soups, salads, sauces, and ‘healthy’ foods such as breakfast cereals and yogurt. Furthermore, starches such as bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes also convert to sugar in our bloodstream, having the same impact on our bodies. These ‘hidden sugars’ can add a surprising amount to our daily intake.

Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Tameka Milline, Catherine Schuller, Kathy Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, and Stephanie MacKendree. Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from ‘The Essential Sade’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

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Divabetic’s Giant Lube Review For Vagina Dryness

Vaginal dryness is common in women with diabetes. High blood sugar levels can cause damage to the blood vessels in your vagina. This leads to a lack of lubrication. As a result, you can experience discomfort during physical activity, burning, irritation, itching, and sex can be painful.


Divabetic shares our favorite lubricants for women with diabetes coping with vaginal dryness. Vaginal lubricants cannot treat the underlying cause of vaginal dryness, such as lower estrogen levels, but can relieve the discomfort caused by dryness.

Although you might feel embarrassed to shoot for personal lubricants at your pharmacy, most of the top brands can be bought online. Lubricants help reduce friction, ease penetration and stimulate the senses. They come in a wide variety of formulas, fragrances, and flavors.

Water-based lubricants are the most versatile because they’re easy to wash off and don’t degrade the latex in condoms. Some water-based products contain glycerin (derived from sugar), while others are specifically glycerin-free. Water-based lubricants can also contain other ingredients, such as preservatives and antimicrobials.

‘Good Clean Love’ and “Slippery Stuff” are organic, water-based lubricants that won’t alter pH levels, which can lead to UTIs or vaginal infections. They’re paraben-free, glycerin-free, alcohol-free, and no petrochemicals. This aloe-based lubricant is made with 95% organic ingredients and infused with lemon and vanilla for a light flavor.

Best natural lubricant: Sliquid Organics Natural Gel One of the safest bets for people with diabetes is a high-quality silicone lubricant. No studies have shown people having reactions to pure silicone lubricant.

Best silicone-based lubricant: Pink Silicone Lubricant  Oil-based natural lubricants like coconut oil can break down the latex in condoms, too. They can also alter the pH of the vagina, which can lead to more infections.

Grammy Award-winning Singer Patti Austin, who continues successfully manages her type 2 diabetes after having gastric bypass surgery, sings the theme song for any woman who is getting back in the swing of enjoyable sex.

“I had type 2 diabetes,” says the former 285- pound singer. “I had obesity-driven diabetes,” who now weighs 140 pounds. Patti Austin had gastric bypass surgery to reach her new weight, and the result has been remarkable. We applaud her hard work, determination, and tenacity to maintain her weight loss.

Podcast guests include 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.

This podcast features songs from The Best Of Patti Austin album courtesy of SONY Music.

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