complications – Divabetic

05/30/202506/03/2025

50 Years of Dazzling with Type 1 Diabetes

Our friend, clinical Psychologist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Dr. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDCES, proudly displays her 50-Year Award and Medal for living with type 1 diabetes, presented by the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

Dr. Bev has appeared at multiple Divabetic events and on podcasts, including a series that addresses the emotional aspects of living with diabetes. She often compares adjusting to a diabetes diagnosis to the five stages of grief (such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance).

During a phone conversation, Dr. Bev noted that the grief process may continue for many individuals until they reach a state of acceptance.

Dr. Beverly S. Adler: “You can easily feel burned out trying to manage your blood sugar with all it’s protocols: check your blood sugar (multiple times per day), take your medication (insulin and/or pills, multiple times per day), eating healthy, being active, keeping up with medical appointments to monitor your diabetes. That said, you might experience anxiety and depression trying to manage diabetes self-care, but you can’t live in denial without risking serious health complications.”

Q: How did Dr. Bev feel when she was first diagnosed with diabetes?

Dr. Beverly S. Adler: “It was a Monday morning in March 1975 when my General Practitioner told me with great certainty that I would be blind within ten years. He gave me my first injection of insulin. There were no practice shots for me to learn how to inject myself. There were no diabetes educators or support groups for me to ask for guidance.”

Q: Yikes! What did she do?

Dr. Beverly S. Adler: “At the time, I was in college studying psychology, but the doctor’s prediction made me question whether I should continue my studies. Ultimately, I decided to persevere, believing that I could still hear my patients even if I couldn’t see them. Ten years after my diagnosis, I still believed I would go blind. However, when I visited my ophthalmologist, he found no damage to my eyes. After 20 years of living with diabetes, my ophthalmologist reassured me that I had never experienced any damage, so my vision would remain intact. At the forty-year milestone, another ophthalmologist confirmed that my eyes were in pristine condition. And after 50 years, my opththalmologist still reports that my eyes are in excellent shape.”

Q: How has she managed to defy her doctors’ predictions?

Dr. Beverly S. Adler: “Although I’m the first to admit that I’m not perfect—nobody is—diabetes doesn’t take a vacation. But I still have my busy practice specializing in the emotional challenges faced by people with diabetes. I made lemonade out of lemons, and I’m very happy that living with diabetes has led me to embrace a healthy lifestyle and pursue a career in diabetes psychology!”

Dr. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDCES, has published two books, My Sweet Life: Successful Women with Diabetes and My Sweet Life: Successful Men with Diabetes, which include insightful lessons of empowerment written by successful men and women with diabetes. Available for purchase on her website.

I am filled with immense gratitude for the diabetes educators, nutritionists, doctors, and healthcare institutions that I have partnered with over the years. Their support has been invaluable in shifting perceptions about living with diabetes. Without their collaboration, Divabetic would not have achieved even a fraction of its impact. My unconventional and vibrant approach to diabetes outreach may not resonate with everyone in the healthcare field. Still, when I encounter educators who go the extra mile to lend their credibility and respect to a Divabetic program, my appreciation knows no bounds.

Today, I would like to shine a spotlight on Dr. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDCES, as she celebrates an inspiring milestone: fifty years of living well with type 1 diabetes. I have the privilege of calling her Dr. Bev, and her contributions to Divabetic are immeasurable. She has appeared on numerous podcasts, penned insightful blog posts, served as a keynote speaker at events in Philadelphia and Downstate Medical Center, and even participated in our inaugural Diabetes Escape Room Experience, Clued Inn. Her dedication and passion for empowering others with diabetes are truly remarkable. Thank you, Dr. Bev, for all that you do!

In this moment of division in our country, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for Dr. Bev, a true ally to the LGBTQ+ community. During PRIDE month, as a cisgender gay white man, I want to acknowledge her kindness, compassion, and dedication, which have helped me create a safe space for others to feel seen and valued. Thank you, Dr. Bev, for being a beacon of hope and understanding during these challenging times. Your efforts are genuinely appreciated!

01/03/202501/03/2025

Don’t Go Into Your Fear Box

Fear isn’t the best way to motivate ourselves, and while it might give you a little boost to take better care of your diabetes, it often doesn’t last.

The stress and anxiety that come along with fear can really weigh us down. Instead, a more effective way is to mix a little fear with positive incentives, creating a supportive environment that encourages actions in a happier, more uplifting way.

As I reflected on the experience of finding my boss, Luther Vandross, after he suffered a stroke due to mismanaged type 2 diabetes in the Luther: Never Too Much documentary, I became acutely aware of the trauma I endured. Those memories still feel fresh, even after two decades!

Rather than using Luther’s health journey to scare or pressure people at Divabetic programs into tighter diabetes management, I created an upbeat atmosphere using games, music, crafts and makeover experiences to empower people.

I aim to boost everyone’s confidence in their ability to manage their self-care and guide them towards optimal health. Inspiring someone by uplifting their self-belief is far more effective—encouraging them with a heartfelt ‘Yes, you can do it!’ is much better than saying ‘Be careful, watch out!’

It could be fact or fable, but I was told that director Dawn Porter’s team listened to my Luther Vandross Tribute podcasts while developing. the Luther: Never Too Much documentary.

10/02/202410/02/2024

Luther Vandross Documentary Opens Coming To Theaters In November 2024

Luther Vandross’s Never Too Much documentary opens in theaters starting November 1st!

I’ve seen it thrice and walked away with a different insight each time. One of the things I enjoy most is seeing Luther’s discipline, drive, and determination to succeed. It’s easy to think Luther had no trouble getting signed to a record deal, but the opposite is true. He spent his own money, earned from singing jiggles, to finance his demo and was rejected by several labels.

I never met anyone with his convictions. He taught me to believe in myself and my ideas and to invest in them.

The documentary relives the many stunning moments of Luther’s musical career while exploring his personal life, health struggles related to mismanaged type 2 diabetes, and a lifelong battle to earn the respect his music deserved.

Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Luther tells his story with assistance from his closest friends, ME (!), and musical collaborators, including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson, and Roberta Flack.

It’s strange to see yourself on screen and share such a traumatic experience. I am grateful to everyone who has supported, participated, and partnered with me with my diabetes nonprofit organization, Divabetic.

After Luther’s stroke, I could have left his side and found work supporting another musical artist. Instead, I chose a different path. I educated myself about diabetes (I have a family history of type 1 and type 2 diabetes) and helped educate and empower others so that we could all keep our house a home.

I still believe that’s the best way to honor Luther’s legacy.

01/25/202401/25/2024

Barry White’s History of Hypertension

Ignoring high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications, as highlighted by the unfortunate story of Barry White.

He was twice admitted to the hospital after suffering from hypertension – once in 1995 and again in 1998. Before his passing in 2003, Barry White announced that he was on dialysis and searching for a kidney donor.

Over time, chronic high blood pressure can cause damage to the arteries around the kidneys, leading to kidney failure. The scary part is that many of us are unaware that we have high blood pressure because it often has no visible symptoms. Even those aware of their condition may not take the necessary steps to manage it properly.

It’s important to understand that high blood pressure puts a great deal of strain on the heart, and if left unaddressed, can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious medical issues. The good news is that by taking steps such as managing stress, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption, we can control our blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing complications.

So let’s prioritize our health and take action to manage our blood pressure before it’s too late.

Barry White’s unique vision delivered romantic soul music that seduced the world. Tell us how you feel about how love, intimacy and relationships affect your diabetes in our first-ever Love At All Stages Of Life Survey with Diabetes Sisters. We

05/20/202105/20/2021

Product Review: Metamucil Sugar Free

“A day without Metamucil is like a day without sunshine,” writes one customer on Amazon.

Can a spoonful of an orange powder really provide relief for one of the most common yet often overlooked complications related to diabetes — CONSTIPATION?

I’ve Got Diabetes, But Why Am I Constipated?

Healthline reports a whopping 60% of people with long-standing diabetes deal with constipation.

High blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage in the digestive tract which can cause constipation, diarrhea, and incontinence.

While constipation can be a sign of poor long-term diabetes management, it could also be due to something as simple as not getting enough fiber. And consuming ample amounts of fiber each day can also lower your blood sugar levels and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Constipation can be defined as having fewer than three regular bowel movements each week. It can also be defined as infrequent, unpleasant, and painful bowel movements. The kind that makes people make agonizing low guttural noises in the bathroom similar to those of a moose caught in a bear trap.

If eating more fiber, drinking more water, and increasing your physical activity doesn’t help then talk with your doctor about moving on to fiber supplements, stool softeners, or laxatives.

One supplement that’s pretty much everywhere is Metamucil Sugar-Free.

Metamucil Psyllium Fiber Supplement Sugar-Free Powder – Orange Smooth

How Does It Work? Metamucil works by increasing the bulk in your stool, an effect that helps to cause movement of the intestines. It also works by increasing the amount of water in the stool, making the stool softer and easier to pass. Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative that can also help treat lower cholesterol.

Metamucil can play a role in helping certain people with diabetes get enough fiber, especially if they are constipated. But read the label carefully. This product replaces sugar with Aspartame.

Some people with diabetes have found that the aspartame-sweetened (Nutrasweet) Metamucil spikes blood sugar, in spite of the lack of sugar in it, which could be from the maltodextrin (an additive that makes the product nice and smooth).

Dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than directed.

WebMD warns that this product may decrease the absorption of other medications you may be taking. Take this product at least 2 hours from your other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

It may take 1 to 3 days before this medication starts working. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. Do not take this medication for more than 7 days unless directed by your doctor.

Others humorously warn of potential side effects, “You should be aware that there may be an odorous side-effect, that for me, usually presents itself during church, so when those around you look in your direction, just discretely, point, with your thumb, to sweet old Sister Thompson sitting near you!,” writes Mike on Amazon.

“Metamucil is made from [a fiber called] psyllium husk, which slows down the absorption of glucose and can cause less of a spike in blood sugar,” says Audrey Koltun, RDN, a registered dietitian in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Lake Success, New York for Livestrong. But “this does not mean someone with diabetes who eats a high-carbohydrate/high-sugar diet can expect normal blood sugars after taking Metamucil.”

Dana Greene, RD, a dietitian in Brookline, Massachusetts, says she suggests fiber supplements like Metamucil to patients with diabetes when they can’t get what they need through diet, describing supplements as “a good backup plan.”

“ The taste of this product is great. I take it as a quick drink 2x a day and in conjunction with adding more fiber to my diet got me to go a little more frequently. It’s no miracle, but I definitely needed more fiber for my cholesterol and I take many medications which stop me up incredibly,” writes Angela in a product review.

Keep in mind when you increase your fiber intake too quickly with supplements you may experience bouts of painful gas, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation.

Don’t forget to talk to your Doctor, Registered Dietitian (RD), and/or Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) before adding supplements to your diabetes self-care plan.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, virtual diabetes support program with style. Divabetic’s dynamic diabetes program features ‘What To Wear When Nothing Fits for Summer’ presented by Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller and ‘How To Master The Menu at The Cookout’ presented by MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST.

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