Ali Stroker Brings Disability Representation to Romantic Comedies

Tony winner actress, Ali Stroker stars in Lifetime’s Christmas Ever After, premiering December 6 at 8pm ET.

“I remember growing up and never seeing any women in wheelchairs portrayed on screen or stage,” she told Theatermania. “I knew I wanted to be a professional actress, so this has just become a part of my mission because there are so many different kinds of people represented. They’re the leads of these storylines, not just side characters; they’re the storyline, which is so refreshing and so exciting to me.

At the age of two, Ali Stroker was in a car accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the chest down. Unable to walk, she uses a wheelchair. She is the first actress who uses a wheelchair for mobility to appear on a Broadway stage

Ali Stroker stars as Izzi Simmons, a successful romance novelist who spends every Christmas at her favorite bed-and-breakfast. This year, she’s struggling with writer’s block and finds her groove with the help of the B&B owner. Like Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts before her, Stroker is more than ready to take on the rom-com genre and spread joy while doing it.

Many people living with diabetes may require a wheelchair for several different reasons. Diabetic sensory neuropathy often impairs lower limb position sensation. If vibration sensation is impaired, proprioception is usually impaired.

Severe painful neuropathy can also hamper walking.

Additionally people with diabetes are more likely to have muscle weakness or wasting (sarcopenia) than those without diabetes. Muscle infarction or infection occurs in diabetes, and surgical intervention saves limb or life, but may leave deformity or dysfunction.

We’re sharing our FAVORITE THINGS in diabetes wellness with musical inspiration from Gospel superstar, Yolanda Adams on this holiday edition of Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nitepodcast.

This Grammy-winning Gospel/Adult Contemporary artist has one of the most persuasive and popular voices in music and works closely with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources to ensure that kids in low- income areas receive immunizations. Along with that nationwide program, she lends her energy and commitment to Houston charities such as juvenile diabetes and The Escape Center. ”I’m very involved with kids because after being a teacher for seven years, I just can’t stop loving the kids. I am a teacher forever.”

When Yolanda Adams was asked what she loves about her music and ministry she said, “the music brings joy. I truly believe that my songs bring the answers and the solutions, as opposed to just talking about the problems. My music at its core is joyful.”

Does Yolanda like Christmas music?

“I like to listen to Christmas music year-round. It puts a smile on your face, and then it gets you in a spirit heart-wise to give and be gracious,” she admitted.

December’s podcast guests include Dr. Bart Roep of City of Hope, Janis Roszler, LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, Hint Water‘s Anthony Fiorello, FAND ‘Know Diabetes By Heart’ Ambassador Christina Herrera, Elizabeth Gallagher, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Yolanda Adams’ album,“What A Wonderful Time” courtesy of SONY Music.

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.”

12/06/2020

Diabetes Late Nite Podcast Inspired by Anthony Hamilton

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rings in the holiday season with inspiration from Grammy® Award winner Anthony Hamilton on Diabetes Late Nite.

This fast-paced, fun-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice focuses on healthy celebrations for the holidays.

Diabetes Late Nite guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Susan Weiner RD, MSN, CDE, CDN, Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Author Lisa Eugene, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie.

When it came to recording for his first ever Christmas album, “Home For The Holidays” Anthony Hamilton said, “This album is for the people who really love the holidays and what feelings they bring. I wanted to remember every joyful, wholesome, tender, raw moment you feel during the holidays. I feel like some of the things we enjoy most, we can only feel with our hearts.”

Throughout the podcast, we will be featuring songs from “Home For The Holidays” courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

12/04/2020

Tune In to December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring Holiday Music from Harry Connick, Jr.

We’re talking about ’Eating Right, Being Bright’ during the holidays with musical inspiration from Harry Connick, Jr. and his 16 piece big band on December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST.

Harry Connick, Jr. is among today’s most successful and multi-talented artists, who has garnered acclaim in both music and acting. His won both Grammy and Emmy awards as well as received Tony nominations.

Harry Connick, Jr.’s wife, Jill Connick is a breast cancer survivor. The couple credit timely screening and early detection for her good health and well-being. Together they have teamed up to encourage people 50 years and older to talk with healthcare providers about colon cancer screening, including the modern, noninvasive options.

Podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Lorraine Brooks, Dan Houdeshel, Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ and Pendulum Glucose Control‘s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Orville Kolterman and Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy Author Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Harry For The Holidays album courtesy of SONY Music. Harry Connick, Jr.’s second Christmas album, Harry for The Holidays is as much a salute to his New Orleans musical roots as it is to the season.

TUNE IN

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, December 10, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

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09/29/202009/29/2020

So Amazing White Apple Martini Cocktail Recipe

Today, September 29, FANDROSS celebrates the AMAZING songwriting skills of Luther Vandross. To mark this special occassion my friend and bartender, Erich Courage from GYM Sportsbar NYC created this Apple Martini inspired by Luther’s song ‘So Amazing’.

Join us as we raise a glass to toast the musical genius of Luther Vandross!

So Amazing White Apple Martini

Ingredients

1.5 fluid oz of Skyy Green Apple Vodka

.5 oz of clear Apple Juice

.5 oz Apple Schnapps

Splash of Spring Water. ( if needed to cut sweetness)

Directions

Place all ingredients and some ice in shaker glass. Shake vigorously. Strain into chilled martini glass, Garnish with a slice of green apple with one end that’s been lightly dipped in brown sugar, Place on rim of glass.

If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol may cause your blood sugar to either rise or fall. Plus, alcohol has a lot of calories. If you drink, be mindful of your blood glucose levels. Talk to your healthcare team for suggestions.

Divabetic celebrates the musical legacy of Luther Vandross and raising awareness for diabetes health-related complications (such as vision loss) on 2020’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast.

Diabetic eye disease, caused by diabetes, is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss. Because of the high risk for eye disease, all people with type 2 diabetes should receive an annual dilated eye exam.

A 2019 Vision Source study of 1,000 U.S. consumers found that more than 50% had issues with their vision in the past year, and 34% did not go for a professional eye exam. The major barriers to having an annual eye exam included not thinking they needed one (33%), unsure of where to go (25%), lack of insurance, (22%) and expense (22%).

Comprehensive eye exams are key to overall wellness and preserving a high quality of life. In addition to evaluating vision, annual eye exams can detect serious health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, and even cancer.

Guests include Andre “Doctor Dre” Brown, Nat Adderley Jr., Dr. Khoshnevis, Danny Clay, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Luther Vandross’s album, ‘The Night I Fell In Love’ courtesy of SONY Music.

09/21/2020

How To Blind Bake Pie Crust

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’ in Divabetic’s Mystery Podcast, ‘Kill Me Madam’. The secret to her success is blind baking.

What is blind baking?

Blind baking a pie crust is pre-baking the crust, without filling, then adding the filling once the crust is baked according to the King Arthur Baking Company. The pie can then be placed back in the oven for the filling to bake; or the baked crust can be filled with cooked filling, the whole left to cool and set.

Why is it necessary to blind bake pie crust?

READ MORE

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes 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, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

Are you interested in learning how to bake with sugar substitutes? 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, December 10, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

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09/01/202009/01/2020

Is Cashew Cream The Best Alternative to High-Fat Dairy ?

Most experts agree that incorporating some form of dairy on a regular basis may be beneficial for diabetes management.

Additionally, the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, jointly published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recommend including dairy sources such as milk, yogurt, and cheese regularly in the diet, though they stress that these sources should be fat-free or low-fat.

However, no one disagrees with cutting back on high fat dairy products. But if you love putting half and half in your coffee and/or savor a dollop of sour cream on your nachos is there an alternative?

Why not try cashew cream?

Cashew cream has the texture and thickness of dairy. Depending on how much water you use, it can range from the constancy of regular milk to sour cream—and everything in between.

Many people have used cashew cream as a substitute for sour cream, ice cream, and pie filling.

The first step in making cashew cream is to soak your cashews. You can either soak them overnight or for a speedier process, pour boiling water over the cashews.

READ MORE

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.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

08/25/202009/16/2023

How Much Sugar Is In Starbuck’s Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte?

Starbucks announced that the popular Pumpkin Spice Latte is officially coming back today, August 25, for its earliest recorded release day ever!

The drink is back for its 17th year (!!!) and as always you can get it hot, iced, or blended.

Starbuck’s Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte with 2 percent milk and whipped cream is 380 calories, according to Starbucks’ website. This includes 14 grams of fat, 52 grams of carbs and 50 grams of sugar.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends eating no more than 12.5 teaspoons of sugar each day, or about 50 grams (the same amount found in a Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte and a 16 oz. bottle of Coke!). You are having a day’s worth of sugar in one drink!

The idea is to limit sugar consumption to 10 percent of a person’s daily total calories. Currently, Americans get about 16 percent of their calories from added sugars on average.

Over time, consistently taking in more sugar will lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t easily take up glucose from your blood, leading to prediabetes.

Prediabetes means your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

A new report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that among Americans age 20 and older, as many as 73 million Americans have prediabetes, which is about 1 in 3 Americans! That’s a lot of missed opportunities to prevent diabetes by cutting down on sugar intake.

Help Us Light the Way During National Diabetes Awareness Month (November)

Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Did you know that over 80% don’t know they have it? Prediabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

This November, join Divabetic’s Blue Candle initiative and encourage your friends, co-workers, and family members to be screened for pre-diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers a quick, easy online Pre-Diabetes risk test.

Prediabetes Risk Test

Be by their side when they check, and share your experience of living well with diabetes so they can see that living well with diabetes is possible. Together, we can help others come out of the dark, address their diabetes health status, and start living their lives to the fullest.

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’ in Divabetic’s Mystery Podcast, Kill Me Madam

But resentment, greed, and Britannia’s 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 turned into 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, too.

Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake a cake that’s actually edible?

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

08/20/2020

Encore Presentation of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes Mystery Podcast

Enjoy this Encore Presentation of Divabetic’s 6th Annual Diabetes Mystery Podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes.

Our mystery is set in the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s healthy culinary misadventures continue in this year’s escapade as he enters the competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape.

Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation. Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail? Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?

The cast of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

08/03/202008/03/2020

Divabetic Remembers Wilford Brimley

Wilford Brimley, the mustachioed actor who appeared on the big screen, television shows and commercials (Quaker Oats and Liberty Medical) has died. He was 85.

Sources with direct knowledge of Wilford’s health say he was in an ICU wing of a hospital on dialysis, and very sick for days.

High blood glucose levels can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys over time. When the blood vessels are damaged, your kidneys cannot clean your blood properly. About 30 percent of the people with Type I diabetes and about 10 to 40 percent of the people with Type 2 diabetes will eventually develop end-stage kidney failure, requiring treatment to maintain life according to the National Kidney Foundation.

Wilfred Brimley’s movie credits include “Cocoon,” “The Natural” and “The Thing.” He also starred in several television shows including NBC’s “Our House”.

Most people with diabetes will likely recognize his raspy baritone from LIberty Medical commercials urging people to check their blood sugar often.

Wilford Brimley was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1979, and was very open about his condition. The American Diabetes Association honored him for his lifetime of advocacy in 2008.

He became so closely identified with Liberty Mutual that actor John Goodman did a parody of his diabetes commercial on “Saturday Night Live”.

Enjoy Divabetic’s 10th Year Podcast Anniversary Special with music from the world’s most famous “Divabetic”– Ms. Patti LaBelle. She’s encouraging you to have a ‘NEW ATTITUDE’ about living with diabetes! Guests include: Patricia Addie-Gentle, RN, CDE, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OB-GYN, Luther McRae, Mama Rose Marie, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Seveda Williams and Terri Seidman.

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 Cooking Party with special guest Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ on Zoom on Thursday, August 13, 2020, 7 – 7:40 PM, EST on Zoom.

Having diabetes doesn’t mean you need to deny yourself all the foods you love, but you do want to make healthier food choices. One good choice is to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, which are heavy in nutrition but light in calories.

During this virtual Cooking Party on Zoom, Chef Robert Lewis will prepare a recipe that won’t compromise your diabetes wellness.

Chef Robert Lewis, The Happy Diabetic, is a nationally recognized author and motivational speaker who is passionate about helping people learn to live a healthier lifestyle. Chef Lewis graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in 1976. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1998. Thus began his motivation to create great tasting dishes that are easy to prepare. He travels the country speaking on the benefits of healthy eating not only for people affected by diabetes, but also for anyone who would like to eat and live a healthy lifestyle.

REGISTER NOW – IT’S FREE

07/22/2020

31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts, Day Twenty Two

Divabetic (Divabetic.org) presents a month-long showcase celebrating 10 years of diabetes podcasting. Each of the featured podcasts spotlights our favorite guests, topics, poems, games and/or musical inspiration. Enjoy!

On Day 21, we’re spotlighting Divabetic’s Mr. Divabetic Show on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder podcast from July 2019.

Mr. Divabetic discusses Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) on this one hour of wellness with a wow podcast.

PMDD is a severe, sometimes disabling extension of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that start about 7 to 10 days before a woman gets her monthly period.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that at least 85 percent of menstruating women have at least one PMS symptom as part of their monthly cycle. PMS is much more common than PMDD.

The symptoms of PMDD are similar to but more severe than those experienced in PMS.

Symptoms of PMDD include:

mood changes, including irritability, nervousness, anxiety
severe fatique
crying and emotional sensitivity
difficulty concentrating
heart palpitations
paranoia and issues with self-image
coordination difficulties
forgetfulness
abdominal bloating, increased appetite and gastrointestinal upset
headaches
backache
muscle spasms, numbness or tingling in the extremities
hot flashes
dizziness
fainting
sleeplessness
vision changes and eye complaints
respiratory complaints, such as allergies and infections
painful menses
decreased libido
easy bruising
heightened sensitivity

Biologic, psychological, environmental, and social factors all seem to play a part in PMDD. It is important to note that PMDD is not the fault of the woman suffering from it or the result of a “weak” or unstable personality. It is also not something that is “all in the woman’s head.”

Rather, PMDD is a medical illness that impacts only 3% to 8% of women. Fortunately, it can be treated by a health care professional with behavioral and pharmaceutical options.

Podcast Guests: Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Peak 10 Skin founder Connie Elder, We Are Diabetes founder, Asha Brown, and Laura L. who are both living with type 1 diabetes.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing selected songs from P.M. Dawn’s live album courtesy of SONY Music.

Our monthly podcasts are dedicated to Music Lovers living with, at risk and/or affected by diabetes. We aim to be the epicenter of the circle of care, a link between patients and their health care providers, a translator of clinical speak and a bridge between denial and acceptance, fear and confidence

Divabetic was inspired by the late music legend, Luther Vandross and created in 2005 by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, who, as Vandross’ assistant of 14 years, witnessed his boss, mentor, and friend struggle in silence and solitude with the diabetes and its related complications. Since its inception, Divabetic has presented outreach programs in 15 major U.S. cities, reaching hundreds of thousands of women, their families and health care professionals.

Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at divabetic.org