Connected, injected, collected, in touch,
Devices are sometimes a need or a crutch.
If I find myself in the mall with no phone,
I suddenly feel afraid and alone.
With all this technology right in our hands
It increases pressure and makes more demands.
I’m beeping, and buzzing, and vibrating too,
They tell me the traffic and tell me what’s new.
Weather, and movies, and amber alerts,
Baseball and football and music concerts.
I have the world in my pocket at will,
But often I feel that I’m out of it still.
There’s hazards to all of this need to be known.
There’s risks to,our health, as studies have shown.
The false sense of intimacy when we’re online
Is making connections that aren’t genuine.
There’s many days when I just put down my screen,
And those are the times when I feel most serene.
I put up my boundaries, turn off the sounds,
And try to connect with the peace to be found.
We all need alone time, to take care of us,
Time away from the hustle and fuss.
My message is always essentially this…
Take care of YOU FIRST, And don’t be remiss.
Don’t allow,life to just fritter away,
And turn off your phones for a part of the day!
Poet Lorraine Brooks reads her poem, ‘Disconnect’ on January’s Diabetes Late Nite with music from P!NK. We’re talking about ‘Mindfulness & Diabetes’ with guests: 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 the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE. Throughout the podcast we’re spotlighting songs from P!nk’s album, ‘Beautiful Trauma’ courtesy of SONY Music. LISTEN NOW
Enjoy this original poem, ‘Blue Christmas’ by Lorraine Brooks written for December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
Blue Christmas by Lorraine Brooks
Thinking about the holidays and all the endless cheer
Carols, lights and Christmas trees, and ringing in the year…
Friends and folks and families all gather in the home
We look around at all the hope, but sometimes feel alone.
While others eat and drink and dine enjoying foods we make
I’m calculating insulin, and how much I should take.
If I want pie or something sweet, I have to stop and think.
But other people can just eat, and never have to blink.
If I am honest and up front, I have to just admit
That all the food around me sometimes makes me want to quit.
The holidays can make me sad with all thats going on
I wish that I could just be glad, and sing a happy song.
Its better to be pleasant though, and think of all I’ve got
And if I can remember it, I know I’ve got a lot.
This time of year can be so blue, we have to just remember
It’s only one month of the year…only the month of December.
There’s lots of colors that I want to be, and I choose not to be blue.
I’d rather be gold or purple or pink, and maybe lavender too.
i’m not gonna stress about all,the treats, I’ll try to be sensible though.
And after I eat maybe I’ll go outside for a walk in the snow.
So,I will have a holiday that’s full of fun and cheer
And I’ll be happy and give thanks that I made another year…
and I’ll enjoy my Christmas day, and I will make it right.
And I will have a Christmas that’s the way it should be – white.
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 feel is most closely associated with diabetes and more importantly, it gives us an opportunity to raise awareness for the mental health issues related to diabetes. Guests include 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, Rachel Zinman, Dr. Mandy Reece PharmD, CDE, BC-ADM, 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.
Are you feeling ‘blue’ this holiday season?
If so, 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.
We’re talking about ‘What Scares You the Most About Diabetes?’ on October’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, 6 PM, EST with musical inspiration from the chart-topping band, Old Dominion.
Does diabetes and/or it’s diabetes health-related complications scare you?
According to the members of Divabetic, Diabetes – What To Know, Diabetes Type 2 Group Support Facebook communities, people fear experiencing diabetes health-related complications such as: amputation, blindness and kidney disease.
Many of our members posted messages about their fears including:
“The questions I didn’t know to ask. You just don’t know what you don’t know” – Marie Jean
“Not being in control of my appetite and not being able to lose weight!” – Chrysta
“Having kids and passing diabetes on to them” – Mallory
“Not having a family that I can talk about this!”– Gaye
“Not knowing if the meds I’m taking are actually helping or creating more of a problem. My belly is super bloated from metformin with digestive issues all the time.” – Kristine
“There’s so much to fear, so much I don’t know, and so much to learn. I guess in hindsight, I don’t want diabetes to become my life.” – Stephanie
“My biggest fear is that I will never have it under control and it will over take my life causing harm to not only myself but my loved ones” – Karen
“My son died two years ago from diabetes health-related complications. He absolutely didn’t do anything to help himself. He lost his right leg and half his left foot. He was going blind and just totally gave up. I’m heartbroken that I lost him, but I watched him give up on himself. As diabetics, we have to fight every second we are alive to be as healthy as we can with this disease. Don’t fear, fight.” – Roberta
“I appreciate that there is a lot to be scared of. I had a few days of being afraid of all of these things when I was first diagnosed. But then I got a new mindset. I refuse to be afraid of it. I will fight it with everything I have for the rest of the days God gives me. And if it does eventually get me, well I will go down swinging. Life is too short and precious to be afraid. And there are so many good things we can do to fight it.” – Sam
How does fear of diabetes affect your life and your daily self-care, and more important, what do you do about it?
Small amounts of fear may energize you and get you to pay attention, but the threat has to seem manageable. If there’s nothing you can do, and the future looks too awful, you will tend to give up and try to enjoy the time you have left.
Of course, some fear of diabetes is justified. The complications of diabetes are truly ‘scary’ as our members indicated in several posts. So are the effects fear can have on your family and your finances.
Fears are stressful, and stress isn’t good for diabetes. Fear increases insulin resistance and blood pressure and interferes with the body’s natural healing systems. It makes it harder to enjoy life.
So what do we do about it? Tune in to October’s Diabetes Late Nite to get advice from our panel of experts including: Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Michele Summers Colon DPM, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, CNC, Dr. Andrea Chisholm MD,OB-GYN, Ansley Dalbo (founder of Diabetes – What To Know), Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and Jackie Mernit Muhlstock.
Throughout the podcast we will be playing selected songs from Old Dominion’s “Happy Endings” album courtesy of SONY Music.
The country band, Old Dominion’s success makes it hard to believe that its members were once just a group of individual songwriters trying to navigate Nashville’s music industry, playing tiny bars and hoping their songs would catch the right ears. They’ve quickly become of one ofNashville’s savviest songwriting collectives with their highly acclaimed new album Happy Endings.
Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.”
Who doesn’t love nachos? Especially seafood nachos that are easy to make?
Since great food makes for a great party I asked several of my friends to share their favorite recipes on this blog.It’s all part of the preparations for ourbiggestpodcast event of the year, Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast: ‘Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’ on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, 6 PM, EST.Since this year’s zany adventure takes place in New York City’s historic seashore, Coney Island we’re spotlighting seafood dishes.
Don’t let diabetes dim your DAZZLE! Get in the spirt and enjoy my good friend, Best-Selling Cookbook Author, Holly Clegg’shealthy Crab Nacho Recipe. It’s sure to win over your family and friends at your next party!
“Every time I make these baked nachos I have to sneak a few before I set them out because they will be all polished off before I know it!,” says Holly.
Crispy tortilla chips baked with a splendid southwestern-seasoned crab mixture and smothered with cheese is quick to prepare and quicker to disappear.
How can Holly’s delicious crabmeat nachos possibly be healthy?
“By using reduced-fat ingredients and baked tortilla chips, you get a wonderful crab southwestern topping for a baked nachos recipe,” says Holly. “! I have the best
6 dozen baked tortilla flour chips
1/2 cup nonfat sour cream
3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 pound lump, white, or canned crabmeat, picked through for shells
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded, reduced-fat, sharp cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese
Paprika
1. Preheat oven to broil. Arrange tortilla chips in single layer on baking sheet.
2. In bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, green onions, green chilies, cumin. Fold in crabmeat, salt and pepper to taste.
3. Divide mixture on chips. Sprinkle with cheese and paprika. Bake 6-8 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Makes 3 dozen nachos. Nutritional information per serving: Calories 57, Calories from fat (%) 29, Fat (g) 2, Saturated Fat (g) 1, Cholesterol (mg) 14, Sodium (mg) 143, Carbohydrate (g) 5, Dietary Fiber (g) 0, Sugars (g) 0, Protein (g) 5, Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 lean meat
Holly Clegg’s Cooking Tip: If you don’t have fresh crabmeat available, my second choice is the pasteurized crabmeat you find in a can. Of course, you can always use snow crab, king crab or imitation crabmeat for this crab nachos recipe.
Crab Nachos from Holly Clegg’s Gulf Coast Favorites cookbook is packed with Louisiana Cajun recipes. Superbowl party or just a Friday night game night with friend, set these melt in your mouth healthy crab nachos out and you will be the ‘divabetic’ hostess with the mostest!
With over 1 MILLION COOKBOOKS sold, Holly Clegg has become a culinary expert on easy healthy everyday recipes through her nationally recognized best-selling trim&TERRIFIC® and Eating Well cookbook series, including Eating Well Through Cancer, (English, Spanish and Chinese editions), Eating Well to Fight Arthritis and Diabetic Cooking with the ADA. Clegg attended the Cordon Bleu Cooking School, London and has appeared on Fox & Friends, NBC Weekend Today, QVC, The 700 Club, USA Today, Cooking Light Magazine, Web MD, and Huff Post. She consulted and did spokesperson work for Walmart, Teflon, DuPont, The Coca-Cola Company, and hospitals throughout the country. For more information, visit About Holly or The Healthy Cooking Blog for more recipes and tips.
Join us for the broadcast of our newest Mister Divabetic Mister entitled “Gypsies, Tramps and Peas”.
Diabetes advocate turned reluctant amateur sleuth, Mr. Divabetic finally takes the plunge and ventures into a new career as a healthy caterer. With the help of his co-workers and nosy Italian mother, he heads for Coney Island to cater his first party aboard a yacht for his former swim coach, Ted Rockow. But his nautical soiree quickly capsizes when the guest of honor is found swimming with the fishes. What it an accident or foul play? Now Mr. Divabetic’s grilling Burlesque dancers, a lifeguard lothario and some sequined mermaids, all intent on keeping their secrets buried deep within the sand. Can Mr. Divabetic prove Coach’s death was a murder, not an accident? Or will he end up floating out to sea?
Will he sink or swim? Tune in to find out if he can solve the murder of his former swim coach with the help of his friends, some sassy mermaids and a cooky fortune teller. Along the way to revealing the identity of the murderer he uncovers expert tips for diabetes self-care during the Summer months.
USA Today Best-Selling Author, Tonya Kappes, Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, Seveda Williams, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, Mama Rose Marie and Poet Lorraine Brooks help the fruit suit clad sleuth in this seaside adventure. Healthy delicious recipes provided by Chef Robert Lewis and Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’.
This year’s mystery podcast features music from the original cast recording of ‘Gypsy’ courtesy of SONY Music.
Join the show! Get the full script for ‘Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’ and read along as our cast performs. Please e-mail: mrdvabetic@gmail.com
Check out the latest headlines in diabetes, diabetes self-management, healthy lifestyles and diva entertainment that caught our eye this week
What’s Trending: 6 Things People With Diabetes Can Do To Have a More Supportive Partner
People with diabetes who are married to a supportive partner have a secret weapon in helping to better manage their disease reports the OnTrack Diabetes website. However, it’s also common for tension, misunderstandings—and even unintentional sabotage—get in the way of your relationship, even when your spouse wants the best for you.
“I go to a diabetes support group . . . I have a place where I can go and talk. But I am concerned he has nobody to talk to except me and he is not coming to me with his fears,” a woman with diabetes explained in a recent survey.
These strategies can help you get the support you need from your spouse, so you can work as a team to stay healthy READ MORE
What’s Trending: Mom says Daughter was Not Permitted on Water Slides due to Insulin Pump
A 12-year-old girl with type one diabetes says she was not permitted to ride the water slides at a public water park in Kettering because of the insulin pump attached to her body reports Fox 45Now.com.
12-year-old Alexis said a lifeguard told her the reason she could not ride was the insulin pump attached to her right hip.
“It was that one slide and that one lifeguard, that when I walked up there she pointed at my insulin pump and said you cannot go on the slide with that on,” Alexis said.
Alexis said the pump makes her insecure and this was the first occasion that she had worn a two-piece bathing suit and exposed it in public. READ MORE
What’s Trending: Proof that Your Life is ‘Richer’ from Growing & Eating Vegetables! (Canadian woman, finds long-lost Diamond Ring wrapped around Carrot)
After losing her engagement ring on her family farm more than a decade ago, Canadian Mary Grams resigned herself to the idea she would never see it again reports the Guardian.
That is, until the diamond ring showed up this week – 13 years after she lost it –wrapped tightly around a misshapen carrot that had been freshly plucked from the garden.
The 84-year-old said she likely lost the ring as she was pulling a large weed from her farm in central Alberta in 2004, prompting a frantic search. “We looked high and low on our hands and knees … we couldn’t find it. I thought for sure either they rototilled it or something happened to it,” she told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. “I cried so many times.” READ MORE
What’s Trending: ‘Girls Trip’ Crosses $100 Million at Domestic Box Office
Universal Pictures’ “Girls Trip” has crossed the $100 million mark at the domestic box office after four weeks, to become the studio’s sixth film to reach that milestone this year reports Variety.
“Girls Trip” has also taken in $9.9 million internationally as it starts its foreign rollout. Australia and Romania will release the film on Aug. 31, with additional markets launching the film through the end of the year. READ MORE
What’s Trending: Donatella Versace ‘Lip Syncs for Her Life’ to ‘Versace On The Floor’
Donatella Versace was the muse to her brother – the late, great Gianni Versace – before she took over the reigns at the house. It’s great to see her having fun with her image!
With a gang of models – all dressed in Versace, of course – the Italian designer mouths the words to Bruno Mars’ song, “Versace on the Floor”, dancing around what is presumably a room in the grand Versace mansion. Serena Williams and Bruno Mars himself were among the fans commenting on the Instagram post. With any luck, it will become the official music video for the song. Donatella proving once again that she lives up to the ‘Don’ in her name. READ MORE
From Our Diva Vaults: Diabetes Roundtable podcast Inspired by Gloria Estefan!
Superstar Gloria Estefan inspires September’s Diabetes Roundtable’s one hour whirlwind of wellness hosted by the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic.
“Gloria’s inspiring us to talk about the discipline and commitment it takes to stay at the top of her game for over thirty years in music or diabetes self-care,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.This seven time Grammy Award winner Gloria Estefan’s music, heritage and films infuse our Hot Topic discussions and Diabetes Numerology Game segments. Special guests include: Best-Selling author, Cherry Adair, Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE, ‘The Complete Diabetes Organizer’ co-authors Susan Wiener RD, CDE and Leslie Josel, Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Jeff James, Mama Rose Marie and ‘My Bleeding Finger’ blogger, Tim Brand, who is the father of daughters living with type 1 diabetes. LISTEN NOW
