Tag: diabetes advocacy

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Divabetic Celebrates World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on November 14 to mark the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting. He discovered the insulin hormone along with Charles Herbert Best in 1922. According to experts, an estimated 463 million people worldwide are living with diabetes.

The theme for World Diabetes Day 2021-23 is “Access to Diabetes Care – If Not Now, When?”, putting across the timely message for diabetes care.

The World Diabetes Day organization highlights a greater need for education on disease and treatment, dietary changes, and exercise to keep blood sugar levels within tighter management.

We’re advocating for insulin for all. A hundred years ago, Frederick Banting and Charles Best sold the patent for $1 each to be accessible for all. Today the cost of insulin has increased by over 1,200%. Why the cost of insulin has skyrocketed is more complicated than a hashtag or meme to explain. You can point the finger at manufacturers, insurance companies, middlemen, politicians but still, miss a few others. Regardless of who is to blame, the hard truth is that this crisis forces people to resort to drastic measures to stay alive. Many, many, many people are rationing their insulin with tragic consequences. This has to stop. Maybe it’s time on World Diabetes Day to advocate for #insulin4all?

Artwork courtesy of Miss Diabetes. Visit: https://missdiabetes.com

Over the years, Divabetic has presented many free outreach programs and podcasts supporting World Diabetes Day.

Earlier this week, we hosted both a podcast and virtual program in support of World Diabetes Day.

On this podcast, we’re celebrating people’s ability to thrive living with diabetes with inspiration from the great Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, who lived with diabetes before the discovery of insulin. Guests include Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.  Throughout this podcast, we feature music from Puccini: Great Opera Arias courtesy of SONY Music.

This past Thursday, we hosted a free program, ‘Once In A Blue Moon’ featuring Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD, MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR and Catherine Schuller on Zoom

We have proudly partnered with the American Diabetes Association, Mount Sinai and Beth Israel Hospitals in New York, NY, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. We’ve also taken to the streets and hosted free health fairs at Union Square Park and the Apollo Theater in New York, NY.

However, one of our fondest World Diabetes Day memories dates back to a decade ago. Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller persuaded Wendy Williams to “GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS” on national TV! As a result, Wendy wore a blue dress on her daytime TV show supporting World Diabetes Day. It was a fantastic moment!!

https://youtu.be/6b0a7Ic0YEs

In early September, Wendy Williams was allegedly rushed to the hospital for psychiatric services. One source said,” Wendy was drinking every day, even while filming the show,” leading to her hospitalization.

Thankfully, the TV star recently posted this message on Instagram: “HOW YOU DOIN’? I MISS YOU ALL! As everyone knows, my health has been a hot topic.” She added, “I’m a woman of a certain age, and I know enough to listen to my doctors and will return to my purple chair as soon as we all agree I’m ready. I’m doing everything I can to get back to work, but right now, Wendy has to focus on Wendy.”

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Don’t Wait For An Occassion To Get An Eye Exam

It’s important for anyone with diabetes to rise to the occasion, not delay and get an annual eye exam from an ophthalmologist so that diabetic retinopathy can be detected early.

In its early stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR), you may not notice any symptoms or changes to your eyesight that this condition is damaging your eyes. If it is not detected and treated in a timely manner, your vision can be damaged permanently.

A basic eye exam cannot detect all aspects of diabetic retinopathy so you will require special exams. To get a better look at the inside of the eye, your doctor might use eye drops to dilate the pupils and may then view the retina with lenses and a special light called a slit lamp.

What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy? 

Over time, high blood sugar damages the walls of the small blood vessels in the eye, altering their structure and function. These blood vessels may thicken, leak, develop clots, close off, or grow balloon-like defects called microaneurysms. Often, fluid builds up in the part of the retina used in tasks such as reading. This condition is called macular edema.

What is Macular Edema?

Like I mentioned above, macular edema is the build-up of fluid in the center of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye and the macula is the part of the retina responsible for sharp, straight-ahead vision. Fluid buildup distorts vision

In advanced cases, the retina loses its blood supply and grows new, but defective, vessels. These fragile vessels can bleed and cause more problems, including glaucoma.

I had my pupils dilated at my recent eye exam. It’s not painful, and the peace of mind alone is worth protecting my sight was worth any discomfort with light sensitivity.

Still, hesitating to go to the eye doctor? Let the R & B group, Deele‘s biggest hits, “Two Occasions”(you’ve got two eyes, right?)  inspire you to schedule a regular eye exam to maintain healthy vision.

There is a big difference between comprehensive eye exams and routine eye exams. Routine eye exams are the appointments that you make when you need to get a new prescription for your glasses.

A comprehensive eye exam is typically an annual appointment where your eye doctor checks both your vision and overall eye health. This is important because the eye is a small, complex, and essential part of the body. Not only do our eyes help us to see, but they can also show signs of other eye and health conditions.

We’re talking about Eye Challenges related to Diabetes with musical inspiration from TLC on August’s Diabetes Late Nite Podcast on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, 6 PM, EST 

Guests include two leading doctors, Optometrist Sherrol Reynolds M.D. (Associate Professor and Chief of Advanced Ophthalmic Care at the Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, President of the National Optometric Association (NOA)), Retina Specialist and Surgeon Rishi Singh, M.D. (Retina Specialist and Staff Surgeon at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic), two Diabetes Eye Health Advocates Andrea Sledge and Natalie Karabel, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. Hosted by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.

Throughout our podcast, we are featuring music from TLC’s CrazySexyCool album courtesy of SONY Music.

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 Salad Making Party with special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FAND on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

FREE REGISTRATION – REGISTER NOW 

 

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Louie Vega Pays Tribute to Luther Vandross on Lockdown Sessions

DJ Louie Vega is hosting a Special Luther Vandross Tribute on tomorrow’s Lockdown Session (virtual Dance party) featuring Luther’s friends, musicians and singers, and FANDROSS family sharing their favorite Luther memories on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

This is a great opportunity to take a break, get on your feet and dance to some wonderful music.

For me, Max ‘Mr. Divabetic‘ Szadek, this virtual dance party will be an opportunity to reflect on the time I spent working for Luther as well as the past 15 years of I’ve spent working as a diabetes advocate. I will always regret that I didn’t know more about diabetes and diabetes self-care while I was working for him. My regret, anger, and sadness motivate me everyday to wake up and get to work to serve you as a member of your diabetes wellness entourage.

Luther Vandross was the ultimate entertainer, a generous boss and a kind-hearted friend who in life and death made me a better person. Since his passing in 2005, I have dedicated my life to raising awareness for diabetes and diabetes health-related complications such as stroke. I strive to create diabetes programs, podcasts and videos that inform, inspire and entertain. I seek out friendly diabetes educators, stylists, healthcare professionals, therapists, fitness experts, makeup artists, musicians, chefs, actors, authors, poets and more to lift your spirits and provide expert advice on the topics that matter the most to you, even the embarrassing ones,: like mental and sexual health.

https://youtu.be/Gu2JBMNBbKo

I’d like to encourage fellow listeners to ‘keep their house a home’ by asking their loved ones, friends, co-workers and bosses (!) to get checked for diabetes.

Share my story (I showed up to work to find my boss laying on the floor after suffering a debilitating stroke. “This could have been avoided” were the first words that the doctor in the emergency room told me after we arrived. Then, tell them that many of the symptoms of diabetes can be subtle. Maybe you’re thirstier or more hungry than usual. Perhaps you’ve noticed patches of darker skin in your armpits, elbows, knees, groin, or on your neck. Or you can’t figure out why you’re more tired than usual. All these symptoms can be caused by type 2 diabetes. If you are living with type 1, type 2, prediabetes and/or gestational diabetes, please take the necessary steps to prevent a diabetes health-related complication from occurring. After all, well managed diabetes is the leading cause of NOTHING but mismanaged diabetes can lead to stroke, blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage and heart disease. Trust me, I know. I also know it takes a team effort of friends, family members, co-workers and healthcare professionals to help you stay upbeat, proactive and motivated to cope with the day-to-day challenges of living well with diabetes. We’re here to help!

Diabetes is also an invisible disease that puts a lot of fabulous people at high risk for COVID-19. Wearing a mask helps to keep my house a home ( all of the members of the diabetes community (divabetic.org) that I serve) safe and well Join us for Louie Vega’s Luther Vandross Tribute on Lockdown Sessions click here

Enjoy this look back at my trip to New York City’s Pride March to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way!

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Outreach Party best-selling Intimacy & Diabetes co-author, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on Thursday, July 16, 7 – 7:35 PM, EST. REGISTER NOW

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White Beans For Dessert?

Beans are considered to be a diabetes super food. The American Diabetes Association advises people with diabetes to add dried beans or no-sodium canned beans to several meals each week. They are low on the glycemic index and can help manage blood sugar levels better than many other starchy foods.

Of course, white bean are versatile, easy, delicious, and nutritious but what about to a dessert?

I’m sure some of you are thinking,  “Really? Beans for dessert? How can that work?”

Yes! Actually adding beans to dessert recipes can be a dynamite culinary creation.

“When the beans are pureed and mixed with other ingredients they form together to create a good binding agent for your batter, ” says Randall Beans on his website. “This allows you to cut out flour completely from most recipes. It seems like a strange concept, baking without flour. However, once you find a replacement for the binding you soon learn how replaceable and expendable flour really is.”

Check out Randall Beans’ Guilt-Free Chunk Cookie Dough Recipe with White Beans 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrxaUBfnO7L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Melanie Underwood, author and chef instructor at the Institute for Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City has also created a unique cheesecake recipe that just might tempt you to reimagine white beans in a whole new way.

White Bean and Herb Olive Oil Cheesecake Recipe By Melanie Underwood

Ingredients
1 can (15 ounces, or 420 g) white beans
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup (60 g) tahini
1/4 cup (60 ml) lemon juice
2 tablespoons (30 ml) water
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

FULL RECIPE

Making Artisan Cheesecake Book

Making Artisan Cheesecake presents the classic and well-loved cheesecake in a new, adventurous, and modern way, and answers any questions about it that home cooks and bakers- foodies who love delicious classic desserts- might ask.

In addition to sharing many variations, author Melanie Underwood teaches all the techniques behind building a range of different styles, and encourages readers to develop their own unique recipes.

She also covers options for crusts, cheeses, and batters; baking techniques; how to keep the top from cracking; and the differences among various styles, including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Italian, Brazilian, and Japanese.

BUY BOOK

 

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