Tag: Constance Brown Riggs

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Dining Out With A Dietitian

Some people looking at this photo may see a cozy place to sit and eat, while others see a minefield.

Chances are, if you’re newly diagnosed with diabetes, the concept of food and eating may be overwhelming. If you’ve never paid attention before to what you’re eating, you may find there’s a steep learning curve to learning to count carbohydrates and monitor saturated fats, added sugar, and calories. Plus, the chaos and contradictory messages surrounding what to eat and what not to eat can make you want to give up before you pick up a fork or order.

Navigating your favorite restaurant’s menu can prove difficult for anyone with dietary issues and living with diabetes. 

Our Dining Out With A Dietitian segment is among our most popular on Divabetic’s monthly podcast. During the segment, a registered dietitian, like our friend Constance Brown-Riggs,  reviews the menu and advises us on what to order without letting us feel deprived.

First and foremost, we’re told to watch our portions. Restaurants tend to serve large portions, possibly double what you normally eat or more. Eating half and getting a container to take the other half home is better.

Frequently, we’ve been advised to avoid fried and battered options and instead choose grilled or poached entrees. And if we’re going to have a burger,  order it without cheese but with tomato and lettuce; also, look for turkey or veggie burger options.

Don’t search for the parking spot closest to the restaurant. Get a little extra activity by parking farther away, leaving the car at home, and walking. A brisk walk can help you avoid after-meal blood sugar spikes.

Sally Field inspires this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with all the glamour and style of the red carpet hosted by the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic.

Sally Field’s films, interests, and relationships infuse our Hot Topics discussion, Dining Out with A Dietitian, Sexy Little Numbers, and Diabetes Numerology Game segments with Oscar-worthy advice. Go ahead, “Drink your juice, Shelby!”

Did you know the film, Steel Magnolias’ was based on a true story?

Actor and writer Robert Harling wrote the play based on the true story of his sister, Susan Harling Robinson, who died from complications related to mismanaged diabetes.

Podcast guests include diabetes advocate, author, and coach Riva Greenberg, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, Connie Elder, Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDCES, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDCES, Mama Rose Marie and Marilyn from Pasadena, CA, who is living with diabetes.

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Should New York State Ban Menthol?

Whitney Houston smoked Newport menthol cigarettes. She admitted many times she could not quit even though she was aware of the damage to her voice caused by smoking. By the end of her life, her voice was shot.
Clive Davis recalls her admitting, “I understand I can’t just cut back. I’ve got to stop. I promise I will.”
Unfortunately, Whitney’s failure to quit smoking menthol cigarettes is not uncommon.
Menthol flavoring masks the harsh taste of cigarette smoke, and menthol smokers engage in more intense smoking behaviors than regular cigarettes.
Basically, menthol cigarettes numb your lungs. It has a cooling and painkilling effect, so people who smoke menthol tend to inhale more deeply and have a harder time quitting smoking. As a result, they suffer greater damage to their health.

About 18.5 million people in the United States are regular menthol smokers. That’s 37% of the cigarette market. Here’s a breakdown of their use by race in the United States:

  • 85% of Black smokers smoke menthols
  • 46% of Hispanic smokers smoke menthols
  • 39% of Asian American smokers smoke menthols

The health effects of smoking disproportionately impact black and brown communities with a higher rate of menthol use.

One can speculate that a superstar like Whitney Houston had the means to seek professional support to help her overcome her menthol addiction. She even had an excellent reason to quit.

Clive Davis feels that menthol cigarettes destroyed Whitney Houston’s voice. If they can damage a powerful voice like hers, imagine what they can do to your lungs.

“We were trying to get her to stop smoking,” Clive Davis told Playboy, WENN.com reports. “It was a serious problem because it affected her singing.”

Menthols and mint are also extremely popular among teenage smokers. More than half of cigarette smokers ages 12 to 17 use menthol cigarettes.

The more cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk for type 2 diabetes. People who smoke cigarettes are 30%–40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people who don’t smoke. Smoking also makes it harder to manage your diabetes.

New York State Governor Hochul hopes to ban menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco while raising the tax on smokes by $1 — claiming it’ll fuel the black market, be hard to enforce and worsen police-community relations.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in New York and the US. In 2020, 22.5% of youths used an e-cigarette. Every year, approximately 4,300 New Yorkers under 18 become daily smokers, statistics show.

About 280,000 New Yorkers under 18 are projected to die prematurely from smoking, while 28,200 New York adults die annually.

To get help to quit using tobacco products, can text VAPEFREETX to 88709. Parents can text QUIT to 202-899-7550 for tips and advice for helping teens and young adults quit using tobacco or vape products.

Learn how to become your own ‘Diabetes Bodyguard’ on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with musical inspiration from one our all-time favorite divas, Whitney Houston.

Guests include  Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDCES, Constance Brown Riggs MSEd, RD, CDCES, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDCES, Mindy Bartleson, T1D, blogger at “There’s More to the Story,” and author, Hairstylist & Salon Owner, Karline Ricketts, and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’.

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Divabetic Spotlights Chaka Khan

Divabetic superstar Chaka Khan has released a new song, Woman Like Me. We hope it’s just as successful as her healthy lifestyle makeover after her diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Her new empowering track, Woman Like Me,  hints at an earlier classic, I’m Every Woman, which she made famous but with a sharper edge.

A lot of people know about Chaka Khan’s life of excess. The star almost died mixing sleeping pills and cocaine once. She suffered from alcohol addiction until the early 2000s, after which she became sober, but after an injury, she became addicted to painkillers. However, she has been trying to stay clean since 2013 and said, “I call myself an ex-addict.

But not many people know that the star is living with type 2 diabetes. The Queen of Funk’s granddaughter sparked her adopting healthy habits

“I adopted my 10-year-old granddaughter. I have to be there for her. I knew I couldn’t go out like this so I just fasted for, like, a month, then I went vegan and went off meats and all dairy and anything with eyes. If I have a craving for a little baked fish or something, I might eat it. But that’s about it. I’ve mostly been doing a lot of high-protein foods and a lot of vegetables.”
Chaka Khan admits, “I don’t like exercising at all. I guess if I had one (exercise) of choice, it would be walking. I do not run, and I’m losing, like, on average, about five pounds a month. I’ve lost 60 pounds.”

Slimmed-down superstar diva Chaka Khan is inspiring this episode of Divabetic’s monthly podcast. Mr. Divabetic’s guests including Chaka Khan’s former bandmember and producer, Ivan Hampden, Jr.,  Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Pam Butler MS, CDCES, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDCES, CDN, Holly Clegg who is the author of six cookbooks including ‘Kitchen 101’ Mama Rose Marie and real-life diva, Ginger Vieira, who is the author of ‘Your Diabetes Science Experiment’ and record-setting competitive powerlifter living with type 1 diabetes.

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Quiet Tropical Storm Week: Natalie Cole en Español’

Quiet Storm Fans invites you to kick back, relax and enjoy Quiet Tropical Storm Week, an audio feast celebrating the timeless and influential sounds of Latino musicians, vocalists and producers in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic and Latino Americans make up a diverse group that includes people of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South and Central American, and other Spanish cultures, and all races. Each has its own history and traditions, but all are more likely to have type 2 diabetes (17%) than non-Hispanic whites (8%). And over their lifetime, they have higher rates of kidney failure caused by diabetes as well as diabetes-related vision loss and blindness.
The Center of Disease Control’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) can help you prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and improve your overall health. You’ll learn the skills needed to lose a modest amount of weight through healthy eating and being more physically active. (Classes are available in Spanish and English.) Learn more about the National Disease Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle change program, and find a class near you (or online).
‘Natalie Cole en Español’ is the twenty-third and final studio album by Natalie Cole, released in 2013. Produced by the Cuban American composer Rudy Pérez, it is her first and only Spanish album and her first record released following her kidney transplant in 2009. “I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe everything happens for a reason. That this was a Latin family, I feel like I’m part Latino now. That (made) the desire to make this record became even stronger,” Natalie Cole said.
Her donor was a young woman from El Salvador who died while giving birth to a baby boy, Lucas, said Cole. The Grammy-winner received the donation after suffering from hepatitis C, a liver disease spread through contact with infected blood.
A new study on risk factors of new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) following liver transplant found that a history of obesity, impaired fasting glucose and hepatitis C infection (HCV) paired with the use of a particular immunosuppressant are associated with an increased risk of NODM.

Both Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole recorded their Spanish albums learning the lyrics phonetically; neither of them spoke the language.

“Black people and Hispanic people have the same kind of feel for passion, for music, for fun, for heart,” Cole said. “We are very similar in that way, and that to me is the next language. I love French … I love Portuguese, I love Italiano, but for me right now is Espanol.”

We’re talking about different ways to ‘SPICE UP’ your diabetes life with musical inspiration from the “Queen of Salsa”, Celia Cruz.

Celia Cruz was one of the most accomplished singers of the 20th century. She was known for her powerful voice and her rhythm-centric musical style. Hailing from humble beginnings in the poor neighborhood of Santos Suarez in Havana, Cuba, her mother knew immediately that she was destined to be a singer.

Celia Cruz’s late husband, Pedro Knight, a former lead trumpet player for Cuba’s legendary band La Sonora Matancera, suffered from complications of type 2 diabetes and had a series of strokes before his death.

Guests include Best-Selling Cookbook Author (Eating Well Through Cancer Cookbook – Spanish Edition), Holly Clegg, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Celia Cruz’s The Absolute Collection courtesy of SONY Music. Beautifully and wonderfully designed, The Absolute Collection contains her all time classic hits remastered, extensive liner notes, and brand-new commentary from prominent artists of today. All of the songs were carefully selected and represent every transcendent era of her career. The majority of the tracks are from the great and vast catalog of the legendary Fania Records label where Celia Cruz recorded the majority of her historic recordings.

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Constance Brown Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN Shares The Soul Food Pyramid on Tonight’s Diabetes Late Nite Podcast

Tonight, we’re talking about popular movie characters with diabetes on August’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music from 2Cellos’ album, Score,  on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 6 PM, EST.

In the film, Soul Food (1997), the character, Mother Joe (played by Irma P. Hall) is the force that keeps her family together until she suffers a stroke and falls into a coma after surgery for lower limb amputation.  The character is assumed to be living with type 2 diabetes.

Certified diabetes educator and Registered Dietitian Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN helps people with diabetes fit their favorite foods into a healthy eating plan with her own inventive “Diabetes Soul Food Pyramid” in her book,  The African-American Guide to Living Well with Diabetes.

She shares pages of calorie, fat and carb counts for traditional Southern dishes, as well as how to read labels and sample meal menus. Most chapters in this book end with a “For Your Spirit” section where spiritual principles and biblical allegories remind readers of their inner resources.  These passages may also bolster confidence and commitment to meet the challenges of diabetes self-care.

“Many members of my family have diabetes and years ago when someone got it, all I associated with it was amputation,” says Constance Brown-Riggs in an interview with A Sweet Life.

“As I became more educated and started learning about nutrition, I realized that doesn’t have to be the outcome of having diabetes. Unfortunately, a great many people aren’t educated about food, nutrition and healthy eating, particularly if they were raised, as so many African Americans are, on traditional Southern cooking.”

Constance created the Diabetes Soul Food Pyramid to show people how to fit them into the USDA Food Pyramid. She includes the proper portion sizes of foods like fried chicken, collard greens and sweet potatoes.

 

We’re talking about movie characters with diabetes including Steel Magnolias, Soul Food, Mad Money, The Baby-Sitter Club and Nothing In Common. How realistic are these portrayals? How accurate is information about diabetes and diabetes self-care? And how do we feel after viewing them? With all the emotional and physical complications comes drama, making characters with the condition a good plot point on the silver screen.

Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, Kent Gash, Jessica Clark and Muniq Gut Health Shakes Founder Marc Washington.

Throughout this podcast we will be featured music from the album ‘Score’ by 2Cellos courtesy of SONY Music.

 

Having diabetes doesn’t mean you need to deny yourself all the foods you love, but you do want to make healthier food choices. One good choice is to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, which are heavy in nutrition but light in calories.

During this virtual Cooking Party on Zoom,Chef Robert Lewis will prepare a recipe that won’t compromise your diabetes wellness.

Chef Robert Lewis, The Happy Diabetic, is a nationally recognized author and motivational speaker who is passionate about helping people learn to live a healthier lifestyle. Chef Lewis graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in 1976. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1998. Thus began his motivation to create great tasting dishes that are easy to prepare. He travels the country speaking on the benefits of healthy eating not only for people affected by diabetes, but also for anyone who would like to eat and live a healthy lifestyle. 

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, fun Virtual Cooking Party with special guest Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ on Thursday, August 13, 2020, 7 – 7:40 PM, EST on Zoom.

REGISTER NOW – IT’S FREE

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31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts, Day Twenty Five

Divabetic (Divabetic.org) presents a month-long showcase celebrating 10 years of diabetes podcasting. Each of the featured podcasts spotlights our favorite guests, topics, poems, games and/or musical inspiration. Enjoy!

On Day 25, we’re spotlighting Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Whitney Houston from November 2017.

Learn how to become your own ‘Diabetes Bodyguard’ ! Our team of experts share ways to safeguard you and your family from experiencing diabetes health-related complications including

  • Heart disease and stroke: People with diabetes are two times more likely to have heart disease or a stroke as people without diabetes
  • Blindness and other eye problems:
    • Damage to blood vessels in the retina (diabetic retinopathy)
    • Clouding of the lens (cataract)
    • Increase in fluid pressure in the eye (glaucoma)
  • Kidney disease: High blood sugar levels can damage the kidneys and cause chronic kidney disease (CKD) pdf icon[PDF – 1.08 MB]. If not treated, CKD can lead to kidney failure. A person with kidney failure needs regular dialysis (a treatment that filters the blood) or a kidney transplant to survive. About 1 in 3 adults with diabetes has CKD. You won’t know if you have CKD unless your doctor tests you for it.
  • Nerve damage (neuropathy): One of the most common diabetes complications, nerve damage can cause numbness and pain. Nerve damage most often affects the feet and legs but can also affect your digestion, blood vessels, and heart.
  • Amputations: Diabetes-related damage to blood vessels and nerves, especially in the feet, can lead to serious, hard-to-treat infections. Amputation can be necessary to stop the spread of infection.
  • And more:
    • Gum disease can lead to tooth loss and increased blood sugar, making diabetes harder to manage. Gum disease can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
    • Diabetes increases the risk of depression, and that risk grows as more diabetes-related health problems develop.

Diabetes health-related omplications usually develop over a long time without any symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to make and keep doctor and dentist appointments even if you feel fine. Early treatment can help prevent or delay diabetes-related health conditions and improve your overall health.

Guests include  Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Constance Brown Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE, Mindy Bartleson, T1D, blogger at “There’s More to the Story”, and author, Hairstylist & Salon Owner, Karline Ricketts, and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’.

 

Enjoy an exclusive first listen of “Whitney Houston – I Wish You Love: More From ‘The Bodyguard’” ahead of the album’s release date courtesy of SONY Music. This 25th anniversary of “The Bodyguard” soundtrack album features the hit song, “I’m Every Woman” echoing the recent statistics that 1 in 10 women are now living with diabetes.

Our monthly podcasts are dedicated to Music Lovers living with, at risk and/or affected by diabetes. We aim to be the epicenter of the circle of care, a link between patients and their health care providers, a translator of clinical speak and a bridge between denial and acceptance, fear and confidence

Divabetic was inspired by the late music legend, Luther Vandross and created in 2005 by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, who, as Vandross’ assistant of 14 years, witnessed his boss, mentor, and friend struggle in silence and solitude with the diabetes and its related complications. Since its inception, Divabetic has presented outreach programs in 15 major U.S. cities, reaching hundreds of thousands of women, their families and health care professionals.

Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at divabetic.org

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31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts: Day Ten

Divabetic (Divabetic.org) presents a month-long showcase celebrating 10 years of diabetes podcasting. Each of the featured podcasts spotlights our favorite guests, topics, poems, games and/or musical inspiration. Enjoy!

Our monthly podcasts are dedicated to Music Lovers living with, at risk and/or affected by diabetes. We aim to be the epicenter of the circle of care, a link between patients and their health care providers, a translator of clinical speak and a bridge between denial and acceptance, fear and confidence

On Day 10, we’re spotlighting one of our most popular podcasts of all time, Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Chaka Khan from November 2012. The slimmed down superstar diva, Chaka Khan is inspiring Diabetes Roundtable for National Diabetes Awareness Month! 

The year before, The Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2011. Her diabetes diagnosis sparked an impressive weight loss.

“I had type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. So I went on a radical change in lifestyle. I was on liquids for a year, and that gave me a good jump-start,” Chaka Khan said in an article on Diabetes.co.uk. “It sort of changed my whole way of thinking. You have to get the mindset.”

Her new diet, combined with regular exercise sessions, has led to a dramatic improvement in health and allowed the singer to ditch her type 2 diabetes medication.

Mr. Divabetic hosts for this thirty minute whirlwind of wellness with superstar guests including Chaka Khan’s former bandmember and producer, Ivan Hampden, Jr.,  Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Pam Butler MS, CDE, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, Holly Clegg who is the author of six cookbooks including ‘Kitchen 101’ Mama Rose Marie and real-life diva, Ginger Vieira, who is the author of ‘Your Diabetes Science Experiment’ and record-setting competitive powerlifter living with type 1 diabetes.

“The only downside to this Chaka Khan inspired podcast is that back in 2012 we weren’t playing music between show segments,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “On the bright side, we have a great excuse to feature Chaka Khan’s music on an upcoming Diabetes Late Nite podcast!”


 

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, fun Virtual Scavenger Hunt on Zoom with special guest, Best-Selling Intimacy & Diabetes co-author, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:35 PM, EST.

One lucky winner in our random drawing will win Janis Roszler’s best-selling e- book, Intimacy & Diabetes. A second lucky winner in our random drawing will win a Dario Blood Glucose Meter starter kit.

https://youtu.be/wPSuO-zUHik

This all-in-one pocket-sized device can track blood sugar fluctuations and trends and identify hyper/hypoglycemic episodes right from your smartphone, providing readings within as little as 6 seconds. It’s scientifically proven, HIPPA compliant, and includes Dario Coaches to offer support and motivation to help manage your diabetes.

REGISTER NOW

Thank you to everyone who has taken measures to protect our Divabetic community members and their loved ones by wearing cloth face coverings and social distancing. We are so grateful! Divabetic will continue to provide free Virtual Diabetes Outreach events with qualified health experts to keep you safe, informed a

Divabetic was inspired by the late music legend, Luther Vandross and created in 2005 by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, who, as Vandross’ assistant of 14 years, witnessed his boss, mentor, and friend struggle in silence and solitude with the diabetes and its related complications. Since its inception, Divabetic has presented outreach programs in 15 major U.S. cities, reaching hundreds of thousands of women, their families and health care professionals.

Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at divabetic.org

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