diabetes alert dogs

10/01/202410/01/2024

Divabetic Mystery Podcast: Suspect Boulevard

After writing and producing ten mystery podcasts, I can say that our Suspect Boulevard podcast is my favorite.

One reason is that the format loosely follows Billy Wilder’s iconic Sunset Boulevard film. Praised by many critics when first released, Sunset Boulevard was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.

I tell the story of mystery, diabetes, and intrigue from backward to forward, and the setting is a gilded mansion in Beverly Hills.

My main characters, two famous sisters, author Marjorie Melbourne Blaze and her actress sister Marjorie Melbourne, elude to Jackie and Joan Collins.

Diabetes alert dogs are one of the many diabetes health topics in this podcast. I interviewed my friend Debby Kay, a diabetes alert dog trainer, scent detection expert, and author, about them, their skills, and the training required.

Having a dog that reliably alerts to blood sugar levels can help individuals regain their independence in daily life. This degree of detection by your side gives many people with diabetes the confidence to return to activities they love.

Here’s a quick synopsis of Sunset Boulevard: On a bright sunny morning, our happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, arrives at the resplendent Beverly Hills estate of NYT Best-Selling Author and Socialite Marjorie Melbourne Blaze. He’s here to deliver the keynote address at the Annual Heart of the Diva Gala on diabetes and women.

But he soon learns that a roomful of rich and famous faces is full of way more drama than he had ever expected . . . and now murder.

So, can Max and our team find the killer before this red-carpet event is covered in blood?

Divabetic’s story of diabetes mystery and intrigue stresses why it can be deadly to blame others for your heart’s misfortunes.

FEATURING Max “Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, Lorraine Brooks, We Are Diabetes Founder Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic,’ USA Today Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES and Mama Rose Marie. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

One way to help prevent complications is to take a team approach to managing your diabetes and involve your friends, family, co-workers, and healthcare professionals in your self-care. Showing close friends where you keep your supplies and informing them of what you need when experiencing a low is a great way to safeguard against a health crisis. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

Divabetic® (divabetic.org) is a national nonprofit diabetes outreach organization committed to changing attitudes in people at risk, affected by and living with diabetes.

We strive to encourage prevention, early action, and education. Check out our free monthly podcasts (available on iTunes and BlogTalkRadio) and our Zoom outreach programs.

07/14/2023

Divabetic Remembers Doris Day

Somedays, you have to say, “Que Sera Sera.”

On this episode of Divabetic’s podcast, we pay tribute to Doris Day. Her music, films, glamour, and perkiness are sources of happiness for many people.

Doris Day was the queen of early ’60s comedies, coyly flirtatious films filled with sexual innuendo and double entendres. The most famous of these, Pillow Talk (1959), the first of three that co-starred Rock Hudson, established her persona as an independent and successful career woman, as comfortable in the board room as she was in jazz clubs. Like her other roles, her character didn’t see herself as incomplete without a husband—an idea still quite revolutionary at the time. She got on with her life. Her characters often had chic apartments, exciting jobs, and smashing wardrobes. In most of her films, Doris showcased a spunky, can-do personality and jaunty independence.

Doris Day experienced many professional and personal ups and downs in real life, but nothing seemed to dim her dazzle. She said, “No matter what happens if I get pushed down, I’m going to come right back up.”

Often Doris Day credited her pets for their support during hard times. She was a lifelong animal lover and advocate who used her celebrity status to make a difference for animals.

Pets can help their owners overcome depression through their companionship and unconditional love. They possess the natural ability to help you relax and enjoy life more. Pets can also help when you experience times of loneliness. They can also help lower blood pressure; if trained, they can alert their owners to dangerously low blood sugar levels.

Pets can also help you improve your lifestyle. 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.

Another book, Elle & Coach: Diabetes, the Fight for My Daughter’s Life, and the Dog Who Changed Everything, describes how a trained diabetes alert dog can help alert its owner to low blood sugar levels. It’s the true story of a Type-A mom struggling to care for a daughter with Type 1 diabetes and of an incredible service dog who changes their lives for the better.

Listen to our interview with Elle & Coach author Mark Dagostino about his book on this podcast:

Our Doris Day Tribute Podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDCES, Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDCES, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author and Romance Psychology Expert Rachel Van Dyken and Marguerite van Reenen from South Africa.

We feature music from the Essential Doris Day Collection during this podcast.

07/11/202307/14/2023

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.

01/14/202301/14/2023

Learning How. To Accept Your Diabetes Diagnosis

Divabetic’s podcast focuses on ACCEPTANCE with musical inspiration from the iconic musical group, The Isley Brothers.

The youngest member and bass guitarist of the Isley Brothers, Marvin Isley, was living with type 2 diabetes. He remained a group member until complications from his longtime battle with mismanaged diabetes forced him into retirement in 1997. Before his death, he had to amputate both legs.

In a 2001 interview, Marvin Isley told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he regretted the decades he spent ignoring his diabetes. “If I would have listened, if I would have understood diabetes like I understood music, maybe these things wouldn’t have happened.”

A diabetes diagnosis can be scary, but ignoring it won’t prevent it. Learning to accept your diabetes takes time, energy, and attitude. The transition from denial to acceptance and all the stages vary for everyone. Seeking a support group, online community, or a trained professional therapist can help you navigate your emotions. Once you learn how to accept your diabetes, you make unlock the key to a healthier and happier way of life.

Mr. Divabetic explores the process of ‘ACCEPTANCE’ with Dr. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDCES, in the final installment of our series on the emotional side of living with diabetes.

Additionally, ‘New York Times bestselling co-author and former Senior Writer for People Magazine Mark Dagostino. His book Ellie & Coach tells the endearing true story of a type-A mom caring for a daughter with type 1 diabetes – and the incredible service dog who changes their lives for the better.

Are you considering getting a diabetes-alert dog or training your own dog? Professional Animal Trainer, and Dog Detection Expert Debby Kay, who specializes in scent detection work with dogs, discusses the do’s and don’ts to diabetes-alert dogs. She also shares how the power of the human-animal connection changes hearts and lives with Terri Seidman and Mama Rose Marie.

Plus, Dr. Beverly Adler, PhD, CDCES and shares insightful advice about the learning curve of accepting a diabetes diagnosis.

Throughout the podcast, we feature elected songs from The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983), a monumental 23-disc box set collection chronicling the sonic evolution and abiding achievements of the unprecedented R&B ensemble courtesy of SONY MUSIC. This box set follows The Isley Brothers through their transformation from a 1950’s doo-wop/gospel vocal group into the world’s preeminent R&B rock ‘n’ soul powerhouse party band.

12/20/202212/20/2022

Divabetic Holiday Podcast Inspired by Leona Lewis

We’re talking about mindful eating and coping with diabetes during the holidays on December’s Divabetic podcast with musical inspiration from Leona Lewis.

‘Tis the season for family, festivity, and temptations that may disrupt daily diabetes health routines. That means it’s also the season when eating healthy, staying active, and taking medication on a schedule are harder. The added stress and anxiety of staying on track with your diabetes health may cause even those who are usually content to experience loneliness, anxiety, and a lack of fulfillment.

We also discuss using mindfulness to build a healthier relationship with food this season. It can be easy to get so caught up in celebrations that we lose track of regular, balanced meals that serve us so well the rest of the year.

Paying attention to what, when, and how you eat allows you to better tune in to your body’s true physiological hunger cues and make choices that keep feeling your best.

Studies show that people with diabetes have a greater risk of depression than people without diabetes.

Just like denial, depression can get you into a vicious cycle. It can block good diabetes self-care.

“I have a best friend who has severe depression, who takes medication and still struggles, so I know how bad it can be,” says Leona Lewis.

She describes herself as having “highs and lows” brought on by circumstance, not a clinical illness. In retrospect, frustrated and anxious might have been better termed to use, but she declines to dwell on it.

If you are feeling symptoms of depression, don’t keep them to yourself. First, talk them over with your doctor.

Guests include Diabetes Alert Dog expert Debby Kay CDT, CDTA, PDTI, Megrette Fletcher, MEd, RD, CDCES, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Janis Roszler RD, CDCES, LDN, Emmy-winning Producer Linda Bracero Morel, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and Mama Rose Marie.

Megrette Fletcher’s book, Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes: A Mindful Eating Program for Thriving with Prediabetes or Diabetes builds on the Mindful Eating Cycle and other principles to help readers with prediabetes or diabetes reduce their anxiety about diabetes self-management. Even people with diabetes can eat what they love, using awareness and intention to guide them.

Plus, we’re giving away six months of access to mySugr Pro app in our INSTANT WINNER challenge.

The mySugr app logs important therapy data such as blood sugar, meals, activity, insulin, and much more! Handy features like the Photo Function and entry customization mean you can embrace the wonderful world of data logging and kick old-school logbooks to the curb.

The podcast features music from Leona Lewis’ Christmas, with Love album courtesy of SONY Music.

12/10/202012/10/2020

Divabetic’s Popular Baking Party Postposted

Unfortunately Divabetic’s Baking Party with The Diabetic Pastry Chef has been postponed. We apologize for the inconvenience. We were looking forward to spending time together virtually with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ in 2021.

Sure, it’s disappointing that tonight’s virtual event is postponed but ‘Don’t get Down, Get DIVA!’ and enjoy these holiday offerings to help keep you safe, well and happy throughout the season.

Enjoy this December’s Holiday edition of our popular Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Dan Houdeshel, Pendulum Glucose Control‘s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Orville Kolterman and Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy Author Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDCES, Mama Rose Marie and music from Harry Connick, Jr.’s Harry For The Holidays album.

Flashback to last year’s Holiday edition of Diabetes Late Nite with Dr. Bart Roep, Janis Roszler, LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDCES, Hint Water‘s Anthony Fiorello, Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador Christina Herrera, Diabetes Alert Dog owner Elizabeth Gallagher, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES and festive music from Yolanda Adams’s What A Wonderful Time Of The Year album.

2 Great, Quick Reads To Keep You Healthy!

Navigating the Holidays With Diabetes from our friend, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES – READ

22 High-Fiber Foods You Should Eat – READ

Watch highlights from Divabetic’s last virtual outreach event featuring a Hat & Mask Fashion Show presented by Harlem’s Heaven’s Hats and poetry from Lorraine Brooks.

08/03/201908/03/2019

A Dog Saved My Life!

A white terrier, became the first dog to receive insulin in Frederick Banting and Charles Best’s laboratory on July 30, 1921 in Canada.

The scientists took blood samples from the dog every 30 minutes and saw a temporary drop in blood sugar from 0.2 percent to 0.12 percent. Banting was not knowledgeable enough about new developments in testing blood sugar to check for diabetes accurately, so he checked the urine, which was less reliable.

The dog died the next morning due to an infection, but the scientists noted the first signs of anti-diabetic action from the extract, which they had named isletin.

“Diabetics the world over owe much to the true, brave, faithful, loving little dog who played her heroic role as part of her day’s work.” -Frederick Banting, 1940

The next challenge in the discovery of insulin they faced was to find a method of producing islet cells, and therefore insulin, on a mass scale, so that it would have some use as a wide-scale medicine for diabetes.

Realizing that a supply of dogs for pancreas ligation was going to limit the progress of the research, Banting and Best moved on to using the pancreas of cows as source material.

Divabetic and Central Farm Markets proudly present Collar Greens Health & Wellness Day on Sunday, September 29, 2019, 9 AM – 1 PM. This free health and wellness event features health information for both pets and pet owners alike!

Enjoy Market Food Tours, Live Cooking Demonstrations, Family & Dogs Scavenger Hunts, Dog House Decorating for Kids, Amazing Service Dog Demonstrations, Live Music, Veterinarian Talks & Ask A Diabetes Educator Sessions!

Plus, visit 40 vendors for fresh local pork, chicken, fish, cheeses, produce, dairy, baked goods, prepared foods to go, eggs, flowers, and ice cream.

What’s Your Dog IQ? Take our FUN QUIZ

Meet Tabouli: The World’s Most Famous Diabetes Alert Dog!

Meet the World’s Most Famous Diabetes Alert Dog: Tabouli Gallagher and his trainer, Debby Kay at Collar Greens Health & Wellness Day on September 29, 2019.

Debby Kay has been a been an internationally recognized leader in medical, diabetes alert, and scent detection dog training for over 40 years. Her Super Sniffer® program is now in 22 countries, helping people utilize the remarkable talents of the dog’s nose. The best selling series of Super Sniffer® books are available online at: www.debbykay.com.

Can’t make it? We’re talking to the owner of the World’s Most Famous Diabetes Alert Dog, Tabouli Gallagher, Elizabeth Gallagher on August’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Phyllis Hyman scheduled for August 13, 2019, 6 PM, EST. TUNE IN

Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained to alert their owners in advance of low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar levels before they become dangerous.

Tune in to find out how this service dog not only helps Elizabeth who is living with type 1 diabetes, happy and healthy but also inspired a series of children’s books, “Tabouli: The Story of a Heart-Driven Diabetes Alert Dog” by Matt Pelicano

Win $500 Gift Basket! Enter Our Cutest Dog Contest

Upload your dog photos to Instagram and tag @centralfarmmarkets and include the hashtag #centralfarmdogcontest to enter the Central Farm Markets Cutest Dog Photo Contest.

07/23/201907/27/2019

The World’s Most Famous Diabetes Alert Dog: Tabouli Gallagher

We’re talking to the owner of the World’s Most Famous Diabetes Alert Dog, Tabouli Gallagher, Elizabeth Gallagher on August’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Phyllis Hyman scheduled for August 13, 2019, 6 PM, EST. TUNE IN

Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained to alert their owners in advance of low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar levels before they become dangerous.

Tabouli: The Story of a Heart-Driven Diabetes Alert Dog” Synopsis

Tabouli is a real-life diabetes alert dog who lives with his owner, 13-year old Elizabeth Vaughan, in Greenville, South Carolina. Striving to overcome his tragic beginnings, Tabouli’s love and devotion toward Elizabeth enable him to surmount challenges and obstacles, prejudice and doubt in order to become a certified service dog. When tragedy strikes, Tabouli must find his way out of the shadows of grief which threaten to undermine all he has accomplished. Deciding always to follow the adventure, this heart-driven dog is surprised to find within himself a greatness he never expected. Recommended by world-renown dog trainer, Debby Kay, this book “so perfectly captures the spirit and journey of a remarkable service dog.”

BUY NOW

Meet Tabouli Gallagher: the World’s Most Famous Diabetes Alert Dog!

Join us Divabetic’s’ Collar Greens Health & Wellness Day outreach program on Sunday, September 29.2019, 9 AM – 1 PM at NOVA Central Farm Markets located at George C. Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pikem Falls Church, VA 22043, 9 AM – 1 PM. FULL EVENT DETAILS

This FREE diabetes outreach event features wellness education for pets and pet owners alike! Enjoy Dog Photo Contest, Market Food Tours with healthcare professionals, Live Cooking Demonstrations, Family & Dogs Scavenger Hunts, Amazing Service Dog Demonstrations, Live Music, Veterinarian Talks and more!

Guest Presenters include World Renowned Diabetes Alert Dog & Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Chef Scott Sunshine, Nationally Recognized Diabetes Educator, Kathy Gold, MS, RN, CDE, ‘Tabouli: The Story of a Heart-Driven Diabetes Alert Dog’ Author Matt Pelicano, Homeward Trails Animal Rescue and more!

Win $500 Gift Basket! Enter our Cutest Dog Contest on Instagram. Post your favorite dog photo with the hashtag: #centralfarmdogcontest. CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS

What’s Your Dog IQ? Take Our Fun Quiz Now

12/04/201805/21/2020

Don’t Let Diabetes Dim Your Dazzle this Holiday Season!

The holidays are depressing times for some people. We think everyone else is partying with a loving family, while we don’t have family, or don’t like them, or they are far away. Diabetes doesn’t help.

You might feel the weight of diabetes more at this time, because you can’t let go and celebrate like everyone else. Or maybe you do let go and then beat yourself up over it.

Need some inspiration and advice to stay on track with your diabetes wellness goals this holiday season?

Tune in to Divabetic’s free Diabetes Late Nite podcast available on demand featuring holiday music by the sensational singer, Leona Lewis. Our podcast guests include Diabetes Alert Dog Trainer & Scent Detection Expert Debby Kay, Mindful Eating Expert Megrette Fletcher RD CDE, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, and ‘The Secrets to Living & Loving With Diabetes’ Author Janis Roszler RD, CDE, LDN.

Additionally, Emmy Award winning Producer Linda Bracero Morel, who is living with type 2 diabetes, shares her remarkable weight loss journey, Poet Lorraine Brooks provides wordy wisdom and Mama Rose Marie offers some motherly adivce.

One of Mama Rose Marie’s helpful tips is to start visiting neighbors, former co-workers, and older family members who are shut in during the holiday season. Help someone shop, escort them to doctors appointments (and take notes) and/or drive them to social activies like bridge. Please open your heart and share love and companionship to a population that is in need.

Enjoy Diabetes Late Nite featuring holiday music from Leona Lewis courtesy of SONY MUSIC. LISTEN NOW

07/13/201807/13/2018

Collar Greens Wellness Day & Dog Parade Coming To Fairfax VA in September

Divabetic presents Collar Greens Wellness Day at Mosaic Central Farm Market to help families and their pets to stay healthy and happy on Sunday, September 16, 2018.

It’s our biggest diabetes outreach event of the year and it’s totally free!

Do you want the freshest, most flavorful food available in your area? In that case, consider taking regular trips to Central Farm Market. According to statistics from the Farmers Market Coalition, more than 85% of vendors at your local farmers’ market have traveled less than 50 miles to sell their products and produce. In comparison, produce found in chain supermarkets has often traveled on average more than 1,200 miles before reaching your local shelves.

Did you know that Journal of Physical Activity & Health found that dog owners are more likely to reach their fitness goals than those without canine companions?

Researchers at Michigan State University found that dog owners are 34 percent more likely to fit in 150 minutes of walking per week than non-dog owners. The study also found that owning a dog promotes health and fitness even after you take your pup for a stroll, increasing leisure-time physical activity by 69 percent.

Collar Greens Wellness Day & Dog Parade features:

A Fabulous Dog Parade hosted by Mr. Divabetic and Scent Detection Expert Debby Kay. See all breeds dressed to the nines with prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors

Healthy Food Tours: Buy foods and see how they fit with ChooseMyPlate. Visit different booths to pick up seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

A Live Cooking Demonstrations with Chef Jonathan Bardzik aka “Farm Market Hero”. Jonathan employs stories and food to bring people together, building connections at farm markets and dinner tables, in board rooms and at conferences – everybody eats! Jonathan’s cooking demonstrations, teaching dinners, corporate and non-profit team building events and conference presentations have been enjoyed by audiences across the country.

A Family-friendly Scavenger Hunt of the Farmers Market. Our Scavenger Hunts gives people hands-on experience in learning about seasonal produce.

Poetry Readings: Diabetes Late Nite podcast cast member, Poet Lorraine Brooks reads some of her most popular diabetes empowerment poems to lift your spirits.

Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children (until 12 PM). Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van will host free sight (including glaucoma) and hearing screenings for all visitors (men, women, and children). They will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.

A Service Dogs Demonstration & Talk: Have you ever wondered what it takes to teach your dog to sense your oncoming low blood sugars and actually alert you to them? Internationally known Scent Detection Expert Debby Kay has 40 years of experience as a canine professional and pioneered many firsts in canine scent work. Enjoy an overview of the basics of dog training and dog care and details how your dog can sense your blood sugars and respond in different ways depending on whether your blood sugar is high or low.

Plate Poetry Project On Display: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCalsin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conversations that people have with themselves while eating. Divabetic volunteers help adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems.

Acoustic Blues Musician and Songwriter, Rick Franklin will be performing throughout at Diabetes Awareness Day. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.

LISTEN NOW: Hear what happens when Mr. Divabetic puts all of his guests inlcuding The Betes Bros, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle and Mama Rose Marie in the HOT SEAT for Divabetic’s 8th Year Anniversary Podcast Special

Tag: diabetes alert dogs