Don’t Miss Tonight’s Divabetic Virtual Scavenger Hunt & Smoothie Party on Zoom

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, Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and Registered Dietitian Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, where everything you need to win is within your own home on Thursday, June 18, 2020, 7 – 7:30 PM, EST.

Whether you have had diabetes for a long time or have only recently been diagnosed, having a diabetes management plan and supplies in place are essential for living life to the fullest.

How prepared are you to cope with a diabetes self-care curveball? Hand sanitizer, water bottles, extra syringes and test strips, fast-acting sugars, and measuring cups as well as all the other items to help ease your anxiety are all in play for a fun night of diabetes wellness!

Everyone might think that all smoothies are ‘healthy’ but that’s just a bit of wishful drinking. In reality, many of the most readily available smoothies in America also contain loads of calories, added sugars and carbohydrates.

Find out what types of smoothies and/or smoothie ingredients you should enjoy and which ones you should avoid as we make our own smoothies in our homes during this Zoom Party. It’s a good idea to have a blender, glass, spatula, spoon handy as well as ingredients to make a smoothie.

One lucky Zoom Party participant will receive their pick of one of Jill Weisenberger’s sensational books in our random drawing during this Divabetic outreach event:

Diabetes Weight Loss Week by Week is a bestseller and can help you manage your weight and blood sugar at the same time.

The Overworked Person’s Guide to Better Nutrition offers solutions to your everyday food and nutrition problems – no matter how busy you are.

21 Things You Need to Know about Diabetes and Your Heart gives you specific actions to take to improve your health right away.

Prediabetes: A Complete Guide leads you through dozens of concrete steps to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other chronic health problems.

During this Zoom Party, Jill Weisenberger will be answering your questions about diabetes self-care and nutrition. Here are some ideas for questions to spark your suggestions for tonight:

Q: What’s the difference between juicing and smoothies?

Q: How can I make my smoothie have a thick, creamy texture without adding more calories and/or carbohydrates?

Q: When’s the best time to have a Smoothie (morning, noon and/or night)? Are they good for weight loss?

Q: Should I add protein powder?

Zoom Party Code
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72029469773?pwd=QjljU0hralg0d294czN6VUtYWlpXQT09

Meeting ID: 720 2946 9773
Password: 056473

After this Zoom Party ends please fill out this quick, short Post-Event Survey to help us improve our programming: https://divabetic.typeform.com/to/sDCjSG

08/05/201911/21/2020

What You Should Know About Intermittent Fasting & Diabetes with Jill Weisenberger

A new study from New Zealand suggests intermittent fasting is good for someone living with Type 2 diabetes. Since then Divabetic’s social media feed is blowing up with story after story about this topic. We reached out to our friend and colleague, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND to help us understand what intermittent fasting is and why or why not we might want to include it fasting in our diabetes self-management. Here’s her response:

Q: what is intermittent fasting?

Jill Weisenberger (JW): There are a variety of approaches, but they all put emphasis on restricting eating at certain times. One common version of IF is the 5:2 plan, which means to eat healthfully and normally for 5 days of the week and to restrict eating to just a few hundred calories 2 days per week. Another form of IF is to extend the overnight fast to 12 or even 16 hours.

Q: I’ve read that intermittent fasting can help with weight loss and lowering A1C. Are these outcomes realistic for people with type 2 diabetes?

JW: Some studies do show improvements in weight and blood glucose control and even insulin sensitivity. However, when these IF diets are compared to other dietary strategies for weight loss, the results aren’t so clear that one way is better than another. IF, especially the 5:2 plan, can increase the risk of hypoglycemia in anyone taking a medication that has hypoglycemia as a side effect. There may be populations in which IF is a potentially harmful, such as pregnant women, adolescents and people with eating disorders.

My limited experience with the 5:2 plan suggests that it makes daily exercise very hard.

Q: Can intermittent fasting help people with prediabetes? If so, why? If not, why?

JW: If the person with prediabetes is overweight and if IF leads to weight loss, then yes, IF can help people with prediabetes. There was one study in men with prediabetes who were instructed to eat only during 6 hours of the day and to fast for the other 18. Compared to people eating for 12 hours and fasting for 12 hours, those in the longer fasting group saw improvements in blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and beta-cell responsiveness.

Overall, I think that IF can be a tool for some people. In others, it might not be helpful at all, and in some it can be harmful. I like to discuss it in depth with my patients before they decide to give it a try. If someone wants to restrict the hours of eating, I think it’s important to let this work with the circadian rhythms, so stop eating hours before bed and fast longer during the night. I don’t suggest eating a large dinner and fasting all day.

Intermittent Fasting Calculator

Intermittent Fasting (IF) Calculator helps you cycling between Eating and Fasting: CLICK HERE

Jill Weisenberger’s comprehensive guide, ‘Prediabetes: A Complete Guide: Your Lifestyle Reset to Stop Prediabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses’ will lead you through dozens of concrete steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Taking an individualized approach to your lifestyle “reset,” this book will allow you to choose your own path to wellness, help you gain a greater sense of wellbeing, boost your confidence in your abilities to maintain a healthful lifestyle, and potentially even help you reverse prediabetes and avoid type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

Diabetes Late Nite with music from Patti Austin

Jill Weisenberger appears on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music by Patti Austin. We’re talking to Jill about healthy strategies to help you deal with the “FOOD POLICE”.

LISTEN NOW

04/03/2018

Join us for Fandross ’80’s Fashion Brunch on Sunday, May 13, 2018

Join us for the inaugural Fandross Festival presented by the Vandross Family Estate and Divabetic celebrating the musical legacy of Luther Vandross and raising awareness for the prevention of diabetes health-related complications such as stroke.

New York City’s liveliest brunch spotlights ’80’s ‘GLAM’ Fashions as a tribute to Luther Vandross and his love of all things Gianni Versace. $45 Brunch Special. Come and enjoy a Fun-Filled Sunday afternoon featuring:

‘80’s FASHION SHOW: Our inclusive catwalk features innovative integration with all sizes, shapes, heights, genders, ages, ethnicities, nationalities, persuasions and orientations on the same runway.

DIABETES DISCUSSION: Diabetes by the Decades Spotlights the ’80’s: A Dynasty of Self-Care Discoveries with Dr. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDE known as ‘Dr. Bev’. Dr. Bev is a Clinical Psychologist and Certified Diabetes Educator who has been living well with type 1 diabetes for over 40 years. Moderated by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek

DIVA RAFFLES: Win a copy of one of Dr. Beverly S. Adler’s books, ‘MY SWEET LIFE: Successful Men Living with Diabetes‘ and ‘MY SWEET LIFE: Successful Women Living with Diabetes’ and the ’80’s Dress of Your Choice!

’80’s DRESS AUCTION: Bid for your favorites over a Bloody Mary or Mimosa and help raise funding for America’s leading women’s diabetes outreach organization, Divabetic.

SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS!

Hosted by Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.

Reservations Required: (212) 505-0005

ADMISSION: $45.00 (Includes Brunch Entree, one Mimosa or Bloody Mary and Gratuity. Tax not included)

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL TICKETS: Receive 2 Free Raffle Prize Tickets & Goody Bag before 4/20/18

The Vandross Family Estate and the national diabetes nonprofit organization, Divabetic (divabetic.org), proudly present Fandross Festival. “Keep your House a Home” and learn how to prevent diabetes health-related complications (such as stroke) from occurring.

We invite Luther fans of all ages to attend and celebrate Luther’s “so amazing” contributions to music, arts, and culture from Thursday, March 10 – Sunday, March 13, 2018 in New York City.

Fandross Calendar of Events: Fandross Kick-Off Party at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar on 5/10/18, Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton at the Blue Note on 5/11/18, Fandross Festival at SVA Theater on 5/12/18, Fandross Sunday Brunch at Casa de Femme on 5/13/18. All tickets sold separately on Eventbrite. More event details at Divabetic.org

Fandross Festival 2018 Hotel Accommodations:

Vandross Family Estate and Divabetic have secured a discounted room rate ($239.00) per night at the New York Marriott East Side located at 525 Lexington Avenue at 49th Street, New York, NY 10017.

Call: (212) 755-4000 mentioned ‘Luther Vandross Fan Club’. Hotel’s room rates are subject to applicable state and local taxes.

12/08/201712/09/2017

Our Seventh of Blue Christmas Gift Ideas from Asha Brown

On the seventh day of Blue Christmas my true friend, Asha Brown sent to me a copy of ‘Unleash Your Inner Diabetes Dominator: How to Use Your Powers of Choice, Self-Love, and Community to Completely Change Your Relationship with Diabetes for the Better’ by Daniele Hargenrader to inspire me.

Divabetic is celebrating a Blue Christmas to bring attention to the mental health issues related to living with diabetes.

You probably know better than we do how diabetes affects your holiday experience. 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.

That’s why we asked our panel of experts, friends and past Diabetes Late Nite podcast guests to spread some holiday cheer by sharing their favorite products to help keep you ‘happy and healthy’ all year long.

Asha’s pick: “Unleash Your Inner Diabetes Dominator” is a guidebook filled with inspiring stories showing you how to claim your personal power written for people with diabetes and our loved ones. Learn how to use your powers of choice, self-love, and community to completely change your relationship with diabetes for the better, and how to turn a perceived adversity into advantage.

After reading this book, you can expect to feel a paradigm shift in the way you look at diabetes, an increased confidence in yourself and your capacity to handle any challenges you are faced with, as well as a feeling of pride and accomplishment as you take the actions you need to take and see positive results.

3 BONUSES: Get an online health and wellness training program for FREE (over $100 Value) when you take action now. See diabetesbook.com for details.

Readers have also reported feeling a sense of freedom from the physical and emotional stress and anxiety of the day to day management of diabetes including type 1, type 2, pre-diabetes, LADA, gestatational, and MODY.

“This book is perfect for ANY person living with diabetes. It will help you learn how to live your life with joy and empowerment!,” says Asha Brown.

What is a Diabetes Dominator?

“Diabetes Dominator is a state of mind: Instead of diabetes being perceived as a weakness or a curse, diabetes can actually be a great source of strength if we choose to let it,” says Danielle. “We all have the power to turn adversity into advantage. Diabetes can be a catalyst for improving our lives, paying closer attention to what matters most in life, and for being of service to others. I didn’t always feel this way, and that’s why I wrote this book,” adds Danielle.

ABOUT DANIELLE: After Danielle Hargenrader’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 9 and the unexpected and sudden death of her father a few years later, she ballooned up to 200 pounds, and battled clinical depression and a binge eating addiction for over 8 years. Through these adversities, she eventually took herself from obese to athlete. Her book ‘Unleash Your Inner Diabetes Dominator’ provides you witha shortcut (system) to the she took, and continues to travel to this day.

Asha Brown is the Founder and Executive Director of the amazing We Are Diabetes (WAD) organization. WAD is primarily devoted to promoting support, education and awareness for type 1 diabetics who suffer from eating disorders. WAD is dedicated to providing guidance, hope and resources to those who may be struggling, as well as to their families and loved ones.

Asha Brown was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 5 years old. As a dancer, actress and a fitness instructor by the time she was 17, the obsession with maintaining a healthy size and weight while coping with multiple autoimmune disorders (hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as type 1 diabetes) became a full-time job. Asha’s experience with symptoms of diabulimia led her to start the We Are Diabetes organization.

Today, Asha works with families, patients, and health professionals across the USA. She uses her personal experiences with ED-DMT1 to offer hope and support to those still struggling. She also establishes relationships with eating disorder facilities and diabetes organizations across the county to help connect people to appropriate care. Asha has presented at NEDA, AADE, and JDRF, among others. She writes for numerous websites including Diabetes Health, Diabetes Daily, and Beyond Type 1. She is a member of Diabetes Advocates and BEDA.

If you or someone you know is a type 1 diabetic who is struggling with an eating disorder and are seeking support, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to WAD

For the past three years, Asha Brown has made our Diabetes Mystery podcasts truly sparkle! She’s played the organic farmer, ‘Christine’ in ‘Phantom of the Okra’, the uptight, overworked personal assistant, ’Primrose Crump’ in ‘Suspect Boulevard’ and most recently the glitzy burlesque dancer, Coco Mimosa in this year’s Diabetes Mystery: ‘Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’. She truly brings out the best of each performance. I’m so grateful to Asha for sharing her wonderful acting talents with our listeners and helping us raise awareness for diabetes and educate people about diabetes self-care in a fun, new way.

On December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast we’re celebrating a Blue Christmas. I chose this theme in December because ‘Blue’ is the color that I most closely associate with diabetes and I feel that the mental health issues related to diabetes are often overlooked and ignored. Some listeners may feel that talking about depression is depressing which is understandable. However, I feel it is far more important to reach out to those coping with diabetes distress and burnout and let them know they are not alone. Please join us!

TUNE IN! Don’t miss December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music by Elvis Presley on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 6 PM, EST. We will be discussing ways to not let diabetes make you feel ‘blue’ during the holiday season with our panel of experts. Guests include ‘Walking With Peety’ Author Eric O’Grey, Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” album courtesy of SONY Music. The album brings together Elvis Presley’s best-loved yuletide performances from “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (1957) and “Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas” (1971) re-imagined with sublime and exquisite new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

NEED MORE INSPIRATION? Our panel of experts, Divabetic community members and past Diabetes Late Nite guests will be sharing more Blue Christmas Gift suggestions on this blog for the next twelve days to help you enjoy the festive spirit of the season without compromising your diabetes health!

Are you feeling ‘blue’ this holiday season?

You’re not alone.

While it’s true that sadness and/or depression at holiday time can be a reaction to the stresses and demands of the season, people with diabetes are more likely to be depressed than others states David Spero BSN, RN for Diabetes Self-Management.

Diabetes can cause complications and health problems that may worsen symptoms of depression. Depression can lead to poor lifestyle decisions, such as unhealthy eating, less exercise, smoking and weight gain — all of which are risk factors for diabetes.

The good news is that diabetes and depression can be treated together. And effectively managing one can have a positive effect on the other.

If you think you might be depressed, seek help right away. Your doctor or diabetes educator can refer you to a mental health professional.

https://youtu.be/Uwfz5mMLSDM