Tag: diabetes podcast

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Billie Jean King Talks About Disordered Eating in Her New Autobiography “All In”

Billie Jean King has just released her autobiography, All In. She told Robin Roberts on Good Morning America that she developed an eating disorder, binge eating, at the age of 51.

“It took me forever to be comfortable in my own skin,” says Billie Jean King. “I think 51 when I went through the eating disorder.”

The trailblazing leader in gender equality admits she admired Naomi Osaka for discussing mental health.

Billie Jean King spoke to Naomi Osaka about Roland-Garros (The French Open), their inspirations, and how they’ve used their platforms for social change.

Her advice for others coping with challenges from disordered eating to alcoholism is to name it.

“When you own it, it actually dissipates at little. Then you have a chance to make it okay.”

Billie Jean King was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007, long after her professional tennis career ended. Reportedly she was not shocked by her diagnosis.

“It’s a wake-up call but I also knew from some of the people around me that you can live a great life, “says Billie Jean King. “You don’t have to let it defeat you. You can defeat it.”

Billie Jean King developed disorder eating issues at the age of 51. Eating disorders can also increase a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Binge eating disorder has been shown to increase insulin resistance and weight gain, both of which are risk factors for type 2.

A quick google search reveals diabetes puts people at risk of poor mental health because of the stress it can cause. People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes usually find that diabetes changes their relationship with food. Many people feel that they can no longer eat ‘intuitively‘ or eat in the same way as non-diabetic friends and family. Having a complicated relationship with food affects our enjoyment and the way we spend time with family or friends. In many cases, this can lead to disordered eating.

Patient. Com reports Eating disorders are far more common in people with type 1 diabetes than in people without diabetes. One review estimated that EDs were seen more than twice as frequently amongst girls and women with type 1.

People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing disordered eating. But new evidence-based interventions may have an answer.

In All In, Billie Jean King details her life’s journey to find her true self. She recounts her groundbreaking tennis career—six years as the top-ranked woman in the world, twenty Wimbledon championships, thirty-nine grand-slam titles, and her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes.” She poignantly recalls the cultural backdrop of those years and the profound impact on her worldview from the women’s movement, the assassinations and anti-war protests of the 1960s, the civil rights movement, and, eventually, the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

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Mr. Divabetic spotlights LGBTQAI+ people living with, affected by, and at risk of diabetes on June’s Divabetic podcast with music from Indigo Girls.

Research shows that LGBTQAI+  people have unique health disparities and worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts, related to diabetes care and education.

Guests include The Flood Girls & The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton Author Richard Fifield, and Mutha Chucka, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES.

Marriage equality was a mere pipe dream when Indigo Girls duo Emily Saliers and Amy Ray came out in 1988, coinciding with the release of their eponymous Epic Records debut. With regard to popular entertainment, particularly within the music business, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray were at the forefront of the queer rights movement. They won a Grammy and released chart-toppers like Closer to Fine. And they refused to let their sexuality get in the way of their success, brazenly being themselves at a time when being a gay public figure was uncommon and even downright scary.

Throughout the podcast, we will be featuring music from their Indigo Girls album courtesy of SONY Music.

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Diabetes Whodunnit: Kill Me Madam, Part 1-3

Divabetic’s Hallmark-style Mystery podcast Kill Me Madam, Part 1-3 is available for free on-demand. Enjoy great diabetes information and advice packed into a Whodunnit!:

There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten-time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’. But resentment, greed, and Britannia’s own bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off.

Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police after meeting her just once! As if his life wasn’t crazy enough before, escaping a murderous mishap in New York and attempting a fresh start in Nantucket has become a complete and utter baking disaster.

Now Max, along with his friends and nosy mother, have to add tracking down a murderer to his To-Do list, as well. Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake an actually edible cake?

FEATURING Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, and Seveda Williams. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

If you’re craving a slice of key lime pie after listening to Divabetic Mystery podcast, then why try to easy-to-make recipe by our friend, Stacey Harris aka (The Diabetic Pastry Chef) After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (The Diabetic Pastry Chef) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from a traditional bakery item.

Sugar-Free Key Lime Pie Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients

One 9″ pie crust, baked (traditional or graham cracker crust)
3 large eggs
1 c. granulated Whey Low®, Splenda® or Truvia® sugar substitute
1 c. half & half
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
3/4 c. key lime juice
1 Tbsp. finely grated lime zest
1/8 tsp. salt
whipped cream

FULL RECIPE

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, September 23, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

FREE PROGRAM -REGISTER NOW

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Divabetic’s Swan Wake Mystery Podcast Ratings Spike

Divabetic fans have turned Divabetic’s 5th Annual Mystery podcast, Swan Wake, a bonafide hit during the pandemic with high than average ratings over the past month.

“I’m overjoyed by the news that people are rediscovering our cozy mystery twist on presenting diabetes information,” says Max’ Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “Zippora Karz’s real-life story as a ballerina living with type 1 diabetes inspired our story. I talked to Zippora several times to ensure the ballet details are correct.”

Currently, Max is in the midst of rehearsals and script rewrites for this year’s mystery podcast, A Christmas Peril.

Max adds, “this rating boost makes all the time, effort, and talent that our cast members devote to this podcast so worthwhile.”

When the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, heads to the box office to fix a mix-up with his Swan Lake tickets, he’s faced with an even bigger problem – a murder. To make matters worse, one of his latest culinary creations, a gluten-free cheesecake, is covering the victim’s face. Even more shocking are the numerous scandals swirling around the Gotham City Ballet and its members that have everyone walking around on tiptoes. So could our happy healthcare host’s questionable culinary skills make him an accessory to a crime?
So now, Mr. Divabetic, with the help of his team of whip-smart Diabetes Educators, a Best-Selling Mystery writer, Tonya Kappes, and his own nosy Italian Mother, Mama Rose Marie must whip up his own crime-solving recipe. Fast–before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends his diabetes advocacy and healthy catering career once and for all.


Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, We Are Diabetes organization founder Asha Brown, Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Mary Ann Nicolay MEd, DTR, Mama Rose Marie and Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ and Lorraine Brooks star in Divabetic’s 5th Annual Mystery podcast, Swan Wake.

Throughout Divabetic’s fifth annual Diabetes Mystery podcast we will be featuring music from Leonard Berstein‘s recording of Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 in celebration of the centennial of America’s greatest classical composer and conductor courtesy of SONY Music.

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Eye Health, Vision Loss, Diabetes, and Tiaras!

We’re thrilled to announce that the reigning Ms. Texas Plus U.S United, Andrea Sledge, has chosen Divabetic as her platform for this year’s pageant.  

Andrea told us, “I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2011. My diagnosis was a complete surprise. I had attended a health fair at work, and they took my blood sugar, and the nurse immediately asked me to sit, asked me if I felt ok and then told me my blood sugar was 325.” She continues, “I had been seeing a doctor for regular physicals, but he never said a word to me even though I have a family history of diabetes. My maternal grandmother and both of my paternal grandparents suffered from diabetes.”

“Once I heard the words ‘you are diabetic,’ I was in denial! I went into a deep depression., I immediately thought of myself as less than. So I searched for an outlet that would help me get back to ME. I started competing in pageants and using diabetes and diabetes awareness as my platform. It made me so much stronger because then I took control of how it made me feel and the stigma surrounding diabetes. I wanted people to understand that being diabetic does not look nor define you as a person. You just have to do some things differently, but you can still be social. I did pretty well for several years until 2019 when I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy.”

Diabetic retinopathy is when high blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels can swell and leak. Or they can close, stopping blood from passing through. Sometimes abnormal new blood vessels grow on the retina. All of these changes can steal your vision.

Diabetic retinopathy is best diagnosed with a comprehensive dilated eye exam. For this exam, drops placed in your eyes widen (dilate) your pupils to allow your doctor a better view inside your eyes. The drops can cause your close vision to blur until they wear off, several hours later.

During the exam, your eye doctor will look for abnormalities in the inside and outside parts of your eyes.

There are two main stages of diabetic eye disease.

NPDR (non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy)

This is the early stage of diabetic eye disease. Many people with diabetes have it.

With NPDR, tiny blood vessels leak, making the retina swell. When the macula swells, it is called macular edema. This is the most common reason why people with diabetes lose their vision.

Also with NPDR, blood vessels in the retina can close off. This is called macular ischemia. When that happens, blood cannot reach the macula. In addition, sometimes tiny particles called exudates can form in the retina. These can affect your vision too.

If you have NPDR, your vision will be blurry.

PDR (proliferative diabetic retinopathy)

PDR is the more advanced stage of diabetic eye disease. It happens when the retina starts growing new blood vessels. This is called neovascularization. You might see a few dark floaters. If they bleed a lot, it might block all vision.

These new blood vessels can form scar tissue. Scar tissue can cause problems with the macula or lead to a detached retina. 

PDR is very serious and can steal both your central and peripheral (side) vision.

If you have proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, you’ll need prompt treatment. Depending on the specific problems with your retina, options might include: injecting medications into your eyes, photocoagulation, panretinal photocoagulation, and vitrectomy.

While treatment can slow or stop the progression of diabetic retinopathy, it’s not a cure. Future retinal damage and vision loss are still possible.

Even after treatment for diabetic retinopathy, you’ll need regular eye exams. At some point, you might need additional treatment.

“I was totally blind for about a year after my surgery. I have now lost my vision in my left eye, but I am still pressing on,” says Andrea. But, she adds, “I chose not to quit the pageant because I can inspire others to push past the curve balls life throws at us.”

The mission of the U.S. United Pageant is to promote health, fitness, and inner beauty among women and children of all ethnic groups while producing positive role models for the community; to develop women that will promote self-confidence, self-worth, moral, academic, and social support for our youth; and to publicly recognize women who have obtained personal, professional and community achievements.

“Following your organization, Divabetic, over the years has really helped me in so many ways,” says Andrea. “One thing I do that makes me feel better when I am feeling down is put on makeup!! I also practice meditation to keep myself centered. In addition, I believe mediation aids me in achieving better health. It helps me manage my blood pressure and stress which is no good for anyone, but surely not a diabetic.”

Regular eye care can have a life-changing impact on preserving your vision. Eye diseases are common and can go unnoticed for a long time and/or have no symptoms at first. A comprehensive dilated eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist is necessary to find eye diseases in the early stages when treatment to prevent vision loss is most effective.

This August, we’re focusing on eye health, and vision loss related to diabetes with two leading doctors(an Optometrist and a Retina Specialist, and Surgeon)and two diabetes advocates, and musical inspiration from TLC.

Did you know August is Vision & Learning Month?

The goal of this national observance is to help increase awareness among parents and educators on the prevalence of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed vision problems.

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults. This is a growing problem as the number of people living with diabetes increases, so does the number of people with impaired vision. Diabetes can cause a disease of the eye called diabetic retinopathy (DR). In its early stages, you may not notice any symptoms or changes to your eyesight, and you cannot tell that this condition is damaging your eyes. If it is not detected and treated in a timely manner, your vision can be damaged permanently.

Among adults aged 45 and over with diagnosed diabetes, 9.2% had vision loss due to cataracts, 4.1% had vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy, 2.2% had vision loss due to macular degeneration, and 2.1% had vision loss due to glaucoma.

Guests include 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)), Rishi Singh, M.D. (Retina Specialist and Staff Surgeon at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic), Andrea Sledge, Natalie Karabel, 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.

 

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August’s Diabetes Late Nite Podcast features Music from TLC’s CrazySexyCool

This August, we’re talking with two leading doctors(an Optometrist and a Retina Specialist, and Surgeon)and two diabetes advocates about eye health, and vision loss related to diabetes with musical inspiration from TLC. 

Let this be a friendly reminder to get your eyes checked. Why? A routine, comprehensive eye exam can detect vision problems, eye disease, and general health problems before you are aware a problem exists.

Did you know that August is Vision & Learning Month? The goal of this national observance is to help increase awareness among parents and educators on the prevalence of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed vision problems.

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults. This is a growing problem as the number of people living with diabetes increases, so does the number of people with impaired vision. Diabetes can cause a disease of the eye called diabetic retinopathy (DR). In its early stages, you may not notice any symptoms or changes to your eyesight, and you cannot tell that this condition is damaging your eyes. If it is not detected and treated in a timely manner, your vision can be damaged permanently.

Diabetes can lead to swelling in the macula, which is called diabetic macular edema. Over time, this disease can destroy the sharp vision in this part of the eye, leading to partial vision loss or blindness. Macular edema usually develops in people who already have other signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Fortunately, diabetic retinopathy and macular edema can be treated and even prevented if caught early (which is why getting an annual dilated eye exam is so important for people who have diabetes).

Another eye problem that’s more common in people who have diabetes is dry eye. According to the National Eye Institute, dry eye is a condition in which the eye does not produce tears properly. It can also involve tears not having the right consistency or evaporating too quickly. Tears are necessary to help maintain moisture on the surface of the eye and for clear vision. In many cases the surface of the eye becomes inflamed; if not treated, pain, ulcers, scars, and possibly loss of some vision can occur. One study showed that people who have diabetes have a 50% chance of getting dry eye.

Among adults aged 45 and over with diagnosed diabetes, 9.2% had vision loss due to cataracts, 4.1% had vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy, 2.2% had vision loss due to macular degeneration, and 2.1% had vision loss due to glaucoma.

Guests include 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)), Rishi Singh, M.D. (Retina Specialist and Staff Surgeon at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic), Andrea Sledge, Natalie Karabel, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. Hosted by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.

Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcasts mix great music with diabetes information, health tips, real-life testimonials, and common sense advice to help you live well with diabetes

Throughout our podcast, we are featuring music from TLC’s CrazySexyCool album courtesy of SONY Music. CrazySexyCool has been certified 12-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making TLC the first girl group in history to be awarded Diamond status. CrazySexyCool has since sold over 14 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by an American girl group.

In addition to its commercial success, the project was also critically acclaimed and earned six Grammy nominations. The group would take home hardware for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (“Creep). The trio also broke ground by winning four MTV Video Music Awards in 1995 including Video of the Year. This made TLC the first African-American act to ever receive the honor.

A number of R&B groups would follow in the footsteps of TLC and leave their mark on the music world. But, none have yet to duplicate the magic captured by T-Boz, Chili, and Left Eye.

Released on November 15, 1994, CrazySexyCool served as a rallying cry for young women across the globe embracing their liberal nature, while analyzing various matters of the heart.

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Divabetic Reader #2: Nancy Thayer’s Family Reunion

On the heels of reading Viola Shipman’s The Summer Cottage and Nancy Thayer’s Family Reunion books back to back, I noticed two trends. First, readers are obsessed with stories about homes located in idyllic spots like Nantucket and Lake Michigan. Second, authors go to extreme lengths, not to mention the protagonist’s size.

Now, I like nothing more than watching a new homeowner knock down a retaining wall to open up space on HGTV but still, I get easily bored reading about an actual house like its the main character. I imagine that we all have a natural curiosity to know what type of people living in white elephants and cottages on the coastlines of oceans and lakes. Or even in the garden districts of cities like Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans.  In both novels, the protagonists’ family have owned their property for several decades. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind inheriting beachfront property either, regardless of the home’s condition. However, I would hope owning a home wouldn’t be my only claim to fame or strongest personality trait.

Regarding the second issue, the ambiguous shape and size of protagonists in fiction. Several authors have mentioned their publishers have pressured them about the size and shape of the protagonists on Divabetic’s monthly podcast. Publishers either want authors to describe the protagonists in general terms or make their protagonists smaller in shape and size. For example, one author interviewed told me that her publisher forced her to make her size 18 protagonist a size 12. She stated that her publisher didn’t think it was believable for a size 18 woman to have a romantic life.

I admit that I found Viola Shipman and Nancy Thayer’s ambiguous references to their protagonists’ size distracting. Descriptions of both main characters lead the reader to believe their beautiful. Both characters also express their own dissatisfaction with their bodies too. But that’s about the extent of it. Both authors’ avoidance seems downright obvious. So what is the big deal? There are plenty of women who looks like the cast of ‘Sex & The City’ but still manage to have active, fulfilling sex lives.

A widow over seventy starting to date again is an exciting story regardless of her size! However, if I had a clearer picture of what she looked like, I think I would have enjoyed reading more about Eleanor’s dating adventures.

Strangely, there are many mentions of her displeasure with the softness of her upper arms but nothing else.

Eleanor struggles with her energy level, and lack of focus, and coping with financial matters as she ages.

A lot of Family Reunion is about accepting the aging process.  I found these passages to honest and heartfelt. Here’s a quick synopsis:

Eleanor Sunderland loves living on Nantucket, in a gorgeous cliffside home that has been in her family for decades. Yet this year she can’t help but feel a bit isolated, even as the island begins to come alive with summer tourists and travelers. Her best friend has skipped town on a last-minute cruise, leaving Eleanor feeling lonely and nostalgic about her family’s weekend trips to the island, made less frequently in the years since her husband’s passing. Now, her money-driven children contact her mostly to complain and to beg her to sell her beloved home for a steep payout. Hoping to kick the season off on a good note, Eleanor decides her seventieth birthday may be the perfect occasion for a much-needed reunion.

Fresh off the heels of her college graduation, Eleanor’s dear granddaughter, Ari, has just ended an engagement that felt less like true love and more like a chore. She longs for a change of scenery and to venture far from her parents’ snobbish expectations. Taking advantage of her newfound freedom, she heads to Nantucket to clear her head before graduate school, moving in with her grandmother and taking a job at the local beach camp. As she watches Eleanor begin to form a bond with an old acquaintance, Ari herself becomes completely smitten with a friend’s charming older brother. But just as grandmother and granddaughter fall into a carefree routine, a few shocking discoveries throw them off course, and their ideas of the future seem suddenly uncertain.

Eleanor and Ari make exciting connections, old and new, over the course of an unpredictable, life-changing few months, and learn to lean on each other through every new challenge they face in life and love, in this tale filled with Nancy Thayer’s signature Nantucket magic.

Here’s what we were snacking on while reading Family Reunion. Grilled romaine lettuce, with tomato and topped with Tabitha Brown‘s carrot bacon. Added a little olive oil to make a simple marinade for the dressing.

Tabitha Brown is an American actress and social media personality. She creates online video content incorporating veganism, humor, and motivational speaking. Brown has over four million followers on TikTok and over three million followers on Instagram as of July 2021.

Check out Tabitha Brown’s favorite bacon substitute is Carrot Bacon! 

https://www.facebook.com/ActressTabithaBrown/videos/217570532863818/

 

As for her advice for others who are considering starting a vegan diet, Brown recently told our sister magazine Health that “food can be medicine, or it can be the thing that puts us in the ground…You have to start with your ‘why.’ My why was that I was sick. My why was life or death. I chose life,” Brown said. Sure, it will be challenging at first. “Do I still get cravings? Yeah, girl, right now I could see myself dipping a crab leg into some butter. But my why is strong enough. I say: ‘Be easy on yourself. Take your time. Don’t be hard on yourself. The world is hard enough already.'” Truer words have never been spoken, Tab.

 

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Montana Bride’s Guide To Diabetes

Mama Rose Marie and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek returned safely from their ‘Theo & Louise’ whirlwind cross country travel odyssey this past weekend. We attended an outdoor family wedding in Missoula, Montana, on the 4th of July. It was lovely to celebrate all things ‘Red, White, and Blue’ in such a picturesque part of America.

My second cousin, Maria, and her husband, Nate are not living with diabetes. My maternal grandmother, Maria’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary Zinni, had diabetes. She died of heart failure at the age of 78. This year, marked the 100th Anniversary of her marriage to my grandfather, Dominic Zinni. Although my grandfather could not read or write, he raised several college graduates. I’m proud to say our family legacy includes several teachers, doctors, lawyers, horticulturists, civil engineers, energy healers, retail specialists, artists, musicians, and a happy healthcare host!

If you are and you’d like some tips to celebrate the ‘Big Day’ with Diabetes tune in to Divabetic’s Bride’s Guide to Diabetes podcast using this link:

 

We were overwhelmed by the scenery and overjoyed to be part of such a beautiful celebration. The bride and groom wrote rhyming vows that they exchanged to each other to everyone’s delight and astonishment! Several couples were asked to offer their pearls of wisdom to the newlyweds. Mama Rose Marie shared insights into her 50 + years of marriage to my father, Stanley Szadek, Jr. during the ceremony. 

“I’d like to compare my fifty years of marriage to the fifty or so mile journey I took from my hometown of Batavia to my new home in Rochester. A long stretch highway that my husband drove with me by his side in our blue-colored 1959 Opel car. Although our journey started with love, first and foremost, like many newlyweds embarking on a new life together, we were scared. We wondered if we had enough things in common to stretch the distance and bridge the gap between our pasts and our future. And probably most of all, we wondered if there was some map to lead us in the right direction. Midway through the years, we found ourselves no longer traveling alone. There were three then four children in the backseat. The small car we started out in was now a full-sized station wagon! Bumps in the road that once brought tears or laughter became precious memories between my husband and me as we kept driving. At some point, we didn’t need a map because we had our faith, commitment, and strength to lead us in the right direction after a half-century together.

As you begin your journey together, I want you to know the only road map to follow in your marriage is the one in your heart. It’s not where you go, but who you are traveling with that’s important. Congratulations!”

If Missoula, Montana sounds familiar to you, it’s because our recent Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Author Richard Fifield (The Flood Girls, The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton) lives there. Unfortunately, epic travel delays prevented a face-to-face meeting but you can still enjoy our interview with the best-selling author on June’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast using the link below:

 

5 things you need to know to stay safe and healthy this summer from the American Heart Association:

  • Heat illness strikes thousands each year
  • The 65+ and other risk factors
  • Keep hydrated, by the numbers
  • Sun protection 101: Use SPF 30 or higher
  • Swim safely, don’t become a statistic

Keep cool as you refuel tips from the American Heart Association:

Try light, healthy pre-and post-workout snacks that can also help you stay cool, such as:

  • Chilled or frozen fruit
  • Cold salads loaded with vegetables, beans, legumes, and heart-healthy fish like albacore tuna or salmon
  • Crisp, chilled raw veggies like cucumber, carrot, or celery with a light, cool dip
  • Cold sparkling water with a splash of 100% fruit juice or slices of citrus or cucumber
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Toni Braxton Inspires Divabetic’s 11th Podcast Anniversary in June

We’re celebrating Divabetic’s 11th Podcast Anniversary with musical inspiration from Toni Braxton on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at 6 PM, EST.

The seven-time Grammy Award-winner has sold over 70 million records and is one of the best-selling R&B artists of all time. She also has overcome several setbacks in her life including bankruptcy, divorce, and a lupus diagnosis. Hopefully, she can encourage you to overcome the obstacles in your life that are stopping you from living your best diabetes life!

When Toni Braxton was first diagnosed with systemic lupus in 2008, her doctors told her that she would need a heart transplant and might not ever perform again.

“I remember being petrified,” Braxton said in a phone interview with Business Insider. “I was scared. I didn’t know anything about lupus.”

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. It can also lead to heart disease and kidney disease.

Insulin resistance is increased in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).  Insulin resistance occurs when excess glucose in the blood reduces the ability of the cells to absorb and use blood sugar for energy. This increases the risk of developing prediabetes, and eventually, type 2 diabetes.

Lupus also disproportionately affects women, and especially women of color. About nine out of 10 adults with lupus are women, with African American women being three times more likely than white women to be diagnosed with lupus. 

Since her diagnosis in 2008, Braxton has developed microvascular angina and blood clots. 

“Of the lupuses, I have the worst — but of the worst, I have the best,” Braxton said. “I’m always trying to be positive about it.”

Braxton said she reached a point where she could perform again by educating herself about the disease and using CBD to cope with her symptoms and flare-ups.

 

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Faith & Diabetes

Carrie Underwood is inspiring us to talk about “keeping the faith when living with diabetes on this episode of Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
The country superstar and her husband are very outspoken about how important Jesus is in their lives.
‘How do your spiritual values impact your diabetes health?
Are your spiritual and religious beliefs and practices harming or helping your daily diabetes routines?
Mr. Divabetic talks to the experts on ways you can keep your faith in your self-care management during your darkest hours and gets a ‘real-life’ perspective on how faith has transformed their health of a Divabetic FB community member. In less than 10 years.
US research indicates religious beliefs can have a positive impact on how people living with diabetes and their spouses cope with the stress related to diabetes.
Carrie Underwood has sold 64 million records worldwide, scored 18 #1 singles, and earned nearly 100 major accolades, including six GRAMMY® Awards with hit songs including “Before He Cheats”, “All-American Girl”, “Cowboy Casanova”, “Blown Away,? ?See You Again,? and her six-week #1 breakthrough hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel”.
“I got to go into the studio to sing these songs that are so hopeful and so peaceful,” says Carrie Underwood. “I hope people find some peace and comfort in these songs.”
We will be playing selected songs from her Greatest Hits album throughout the podcast courtesy of SONY MUSIC. Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDCES, Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDCES,  Mama Rose Marie, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and  Carrie from New York.

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Divabetic Raises Awareness for Disordered Eating Behaviors on Podcast

We’d like to thank We Are Diabetes founder, Asha Brown and Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman for helping to raise awareness for disordered eating behaviors related to diabetes on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast. These two advocates performed a short skit highlighting symptoms and common behaviors of disordered eating before a follow-up discussion with Integrated Diabetes Services‘ Dana B. Roseman, MPH, CDCES, RDN, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. Below is the full script:

SOUND EFFECT: Street Sounds

Brittany (Asha): Thanks for coming with me to shop for Bridesmaid’s dresses. Glad you made it despite the traffic.

Jordan(Trisha): Sure, no problem.

Brittany: It’s so cool that Ashton’s letting us pick out our own dresses!

Jordan: I know, right? And we finally get to spend some time together. I never see you!

Brittany: Me too. Work is so crazy. I’m bummed I missed Ashton’s bridal shower. I heard about the cake!

Jordan: It was so much fun! Do you mean the Hummingbird cake from Magnolia’s?

Brittany: Yes, it sounded so good like everything else in there. I’m addicted to their chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting. I practically eat one every day.

Jordan: No way! If I ate cupcakes every day, I’d be as big as a whale.  How do you stay so thin?

Brittany: You’re kidding, right? I’m huge. Diabetes always gets in the way.

Jordan: What was that?

Britany: Never mind, let’s look for dresses.

Jordan: Didn’t you already show Ashton a dress last month?

Brittany: You mean the blush-colored Vera Wang? There’s extra fabric bunching around my waist now. I look pregnant in it.

Jordan: I don’t believe that! Your waist is so tiny. What are you doing?

Brittany: Oh, you know the same ole thing. Just a few more yoga classes.

Jordan: Why can’t that work for me? I go to spin class four times a week and still, I can’t seem to lose any weight. Hey Britt – let’s take before and after selfies to send to Ashton. C’mon, smile!

Brittany: No! I don’t like what I am wearing.

Jordan: Hey, are you okay? You look kind of pale.

Brittany: I’m fine. Let’s just sit down for a minute, okay?

Jordan: Should you check your blood sugars maybe?

Brittany: No, I checked before we met. I’m fine. Work is stressing me out.

Jordan: Look, there’s a Jamba Juice over there. Shouldn’t I get you something?

Brittany: No way! I can’t drink that. Their drinks are so fatting- just like milkshakes.

Jordan: Are you sure? Don’t you need to drink something?

Brittany: I’m okay, okay? I know how to handle this.

SOUND EFFECT: Street noise

Research suggests that eating disorders are probably more common among women with diabetes than women who do not have diabetes. However, those with type 1 are twice as likely to suffer from disordered eating patterns.

If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating behaviors please contact We Are Diabetes.

To hear Asha and Trisha’s performance and our follow-up discussion click on the link below:

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