Our recent Divabetic Baking Party’s Peak 10 Skin giveaway winner, Sandra is a tech-savvy diva who relies on several diabetes self-care tools to live her best life!
“I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2006”, says Sandra. “After 6 years of injections, I was put on an insulin pump and then later got a Continuous Glucose Monitor.”
Many people with type 1 diabetes use insulin pumps. Insulin pumps work by delivering a basal, or set, rate of insulin through a tube called a cannula.
The insulin pump is attached to a thin plastic tube (an infusion set) with a cannula (like a needle but soft) at the end of which insulin passes. This cannula is inserted under the skin, usually on the abdomen. The cannula is changed every two days. Your doctor works with you to determine the amount of insulin needed each day. Insulin pumps can also deliver an insulin bolus.
A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is a wearable sensor that automatically measures glucose levels 24 hours a day. A thin, disposable needle called a sensor stays under your skin. The sensor is removed and changed every few days. Glucose readings are provided at specific intervals, every five minutes or so. It also shows how your glucose levels are trending in the form of a trend arrow. You can tell if your glucose level is rising or dropping and treat yourself accordingly.
“My current pump communicates with the CGM and automatically adjusts my insulin when my glucose readings are out of range, she adds.
“Thank goodness for technology! It has made my diabetes easier to manage, and I can be more discreet. (no more finger sticks or insulin syringes!).”
Since Sandra participated in our Baking Party, we asked her about her sweet tooth.
” I still watch what I eat (I read the nutrition label for everything I eat) and take the dog for walks twice a day (4 miles total), but I do NOT deprive myself of dessert.”
We love her attitude!
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?
Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts this free, fun Virtual Mother’s Day-themed Baking Party with special guests, Stacey Harris, aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef and Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, on Thursday, April 28, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST on Zoom.
Win gifts courtesy of Arthel Neville Design FABULOUS East/West Tote, Dr. Remedy’s Enriched Nail Care gift set, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes‘s Camper Cozy Mystery, Walden Farms Zero Calories, Zero Net Carbs Salad Dressings, and Peak 10Skin’s Save My Sole Foot Rescue Cream during Mr. Divabetic’s random drawings. You must be present at our Baking Party to enter our gift drawings to win.
Over 150 people registered for our last Divabetic Baking Party on Zoom, so don’t miss out!
This morning, I found this old Divabetic card in a stack of papers. “Denial’s Not My Style’ was the second phrase I came up with after ‘Sugar’s the Bitch. Not Me’ back in 2003.
We used it as one of the station names in the Makeover Maze at our national outreach program, Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes (2005 – 2008), and on limited edition Divabetic branded t-shirts.
The Makeover Maze consisted of six different diabetes care and education stations. One diabetes self-care topic per station. Complimentary mini massages, makeup application, and image consultation areas surrounded the Makeover Maze.
Divabetic’s ‘Denial’s Not My Style’ station offers one-on-one education on the ABC’s of diabetes. The ABCs of diabetes stand for: A —the A1C test, which measures average blood sugar over 2 to 3 months. B —blood pressure, the force of blood flow inside blood vessels. C —cholesterol, is a group of blood fats that affect the risk of heart attack or stroke.
The ‘Sweet Inspirations‘ station focuses on goal setting help. Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation
The ‘Glam More, Fear Less’ station focuses on our diabetes affects our personal appearance. From our teeth to our skin, to our feet and our hair, what you see in the mirror can reflect your self-care. Did you know people with diabetes are more likely to have a condition called alopecia areata? With alopecia, the immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to patches of hair loss on the head and on other parts of the body. Some people with diabetes may experience thinning hair or hair loss. The primary causes of hair loss are mismanaged blood sugar levels, emotional and physical stress, and hormone imbalances.
The ‘Tunnel of Love’focuses on sex, and intimacy issues related to diabetes. Women with diabetes have can experience low sexual desire and response, vaginal dryness, and painful sex can be caused by nerve damage, reduced blood flow to the genitals, and hormonal changes. Men with diabetes may face the inability to have an erection. Damage to the vascular system can reduce blood flow.
The ‘Grab Green And Go’ station focuses on nutrition, creating personalized meal plans, and our relationship to food. Sometimes it’s not what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating you that’s important to your diabetes health too.
And finally, ‘The Twist And Shout’ station focuses on fun ways to exercise. Staving off boredom by adding variety to how your workout is a great way to stick to a routine. Exercise variation is an important factor when designing an exercise program, with many benefits when you change exercises every so often, such as increased performance and decreased injury risk.
The back of Divabetic’s Denial’s Not My Style card asks two questions: Describe how you initially felt about being diagnosed (in one word). And, Describe how you feel about living with diabetes today (using one word).
We posted everyone’s answers on the walls of our diabetes outreach events for everyone to see.
I am so proud of Divabetic’s ongoing efforts over the past 19 years to promote a new attitude about living with diabetes. Although we are not currently presenting live outreach events, we continue to produce monthly podcasts and virtual programs on Zoom.
Divabetic Podcasts & Virtual Programs
Divabetic’s latest monthly podcast is available on-demand and features music from Teddy Pendergrass‘s album, Life Is A Song Worth Singing,and guests: Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Build Jake’s Place Executive Director Arthur Anston, and Yoga For Diabetes Author and Founder Rachel Zinman.
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 Divabetic’s upcoming free, fun Virtual Valentines-themed Baking Party on Zoom with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chefon Wednesday, February 9, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST.
During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom,The Diabetic Pastry Chefwill prepare a Valentine’s Day Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in your favorite recipes.
Over 150 people registered for our last two Divabetic Baking Parties on Zoom so don’t miss out!
Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but lipstick runs a close second. Why not incorporate your diabetes self-care into your daily beauty routine?
Don’t let diabetes dim your dazzle!
I truly believe that you have to love yourself enough to want to improve your diabetes health. Since 90% of women feel that wearing lipstick makes them feel better about themselves, why not reward yourself before you check your blood sugars by adding some color to your lips? The little boost of confidence you gain from your favorite shade can help you to cope with those unexpected readings too.
15 MINUTE Beauty‘s Best Splurge Red Lipsticks: Mac’s Ruby Woo is one their best selling reds for a good reason! It’s a classic bright red that works for almost everyone. BUY IT
If you’ve struggled in the past with adding your diabetes self-care into your daily routine then a SUGAR LIPS log just might be the answer. Experts agree that linking my new habit with a current behavior make it much easier to change. No need to be motivated. No need to remember.
One good example of this concept is creating a new habit of flossing by always doing it after brushing your teeth. The act of brushing your teeth is something that you already do and that acts as the reminder to do your new behavior. READ MORE
When you stop and think that most women apply their lipstick 4 or more times in one day the resulting SUGAR LIPS log data could prove to extremely beneficial to you and your doctor. If you try it, I bet you will both be smiling! And guess what? A new tube of lipstick is a healthy way to reward yourself for lowering your A1C.
15 MINUTE Beauty‘s Best Splurge Red Lipsticks: Chanel Rouge Allure in Pirate is a classic red shade with a lot of blue mixed in, and the red isn’t too bright. It’s a go to for many women! BUY IT
How to Keep A SUGAR LIPS Log
Write down your blood sugar values after each application of lipstick throughout your day. Jot down the time of day, your medication, and any changes in food, activity, illness and/or stress related to your blood sugars. Keep in mind when checking your blood sugar that the important thing is to know how to interpret the numbers and take the necessary action. For example, if you take insulin and your blood sugar is high, you may need to bolus, or take more rapid-acting insulin, to bring your levels down into range. If you manage your Type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise, you might treat high blood sugar with a walk around the block.
Now imagine how good you’ll feel at your next doctor’s visit when you take out your SUGAR LIPS logbook filled with pages of blood sugar readings!
BEAUTY TIP: Extend the life of your lipstick application by setting your lips reports Bustle. Blotting helps press color into the lips, but if you really want your lipstick to stay put, hold a single ply of tissue over your lips, and dust a setting powder on top.
Face Your Diagnosis Like A Diva!
Unlike some other diseases that rely primarily on professional medical treatment, diabetes treatment requires active participation by the person who has it. You have to have ATTITUDE!! Monitoring your blood sugar level on a regular basis and analyzing the results is believed by many to be a crucial part of the treatment equation.
Self-monitoring is an integral part of diabetes management because it puts you in charge. Regardless of how you manage your diabetes — through diet and exercise alone or combined with oral medicines or insulin — regular blood sugar monitoring provides immediate feedback on how your program is working.
“Checking your blood glucose gives you the freedom to make choices without worry, the confidence to learn from your actions, and the motivation to keep striving to do better,” says Linda Dale, RN, BA, CDE, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Outpatient Diabetes Education Program at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Diabetes Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan as reported by Diabetes Self-Management. “Monitoring tells you that what you’re doing either is working or isn’t, and it serves as motivation to keep up actions that are working or to make changes.” READ MORE
15 MINUTE Beauty‘s Best Splurge Red Lipsticks: Tom Ford’s Lip Color in Cheery Lush is on the pinker end of the red spectrum and is fairly bright. It’s a statement lip color best paired with minimal makeup.BUY IT
DIVABETIC TIP: You should wait to check your blood sugars if you usually reapply your lipstick after eating or drinking. Most of the food you consume will be digested and raises blood glucose in one to two hours. To capture the peak level of your blood glucose, it is best to test one to two hours after you start eating. The American Diabetes Association recommends a target of below 180 mg/dl two hours after a meal.
Do you feel like you self-sabotage your best efforts? Use “But” – According to LIfeHac, when you start to think negative thoughts, you should use the word “but” to interrupt bad thought patterns. “I’m no good at this, but, if I work at it I might get better later.” READ MORE
BEAUTY TIP: Lip liner can be a game-changer for a few reasons reports Bustle. The first is that it keeps lipstick from bleeding outside the lines of your lips. By applying it all over the lips, it can also help make your lipstick last longer by giving it something to stick to. Lastly, if you want to up your lip game, using a liner that is slightly (and I mean slightly) darker than your lipstick can give flattering dimension to the lips.
GOLDEN RULES OF STYLE Podcast: Healthcare host Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek presents the golden rules of style with celebrity style and image expert Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, LISTEN
GOLDEN RULES OF A DIABETES DIET Podcast: Healthcare host Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek presents the golden rules of a diabetes diet with Jessica Issler, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator LISTEN
