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.
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
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.
Keith was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes back in 2006. However, he doesn’t feel his family history of diabetes (a few extended members with diabetes) is responsible for his diagnosis. Instead, he blames his eating habits.
“I didn’t take my diabetes seriously for the first ten years of my diagnosis,” Keith admits. “I never checked my blood sugars. I wasn’t exercising or watching what I ate. My doctors told me I had diabetes, and I didn’t do anything about it. I had all the information at my disposal. But I wasn’t applying it. I’d lie about checking my blood sugars with my doctor. My doctor would look at my blood work and challenge me. My grandmother had this saying, “someone will never do what they need to do until they’re ready to do it” — which pretty much sums up my mindset back then.“
Looking back, Keith feels his careless attitude could result from no one around him growing up taking their diabetes seriously either.
“As a kid, we referred to diabetes as ‘sugar.’ I knew I had diabetes, but it was just a word; I didn’t think of it as a disease. I never thought it was something fatal. Or as something that could take your limbs, sight, or life. I didn’t put any of that into perspective for the first ten years.”
“My close friend’s unexpected passing from diabetes was a wake-up call. That’s when I started to manage my diabetes. ”
Keith continued with regular doctor visits but started to adhere to a medication routine, exercising at home (watching exercise DVDs), and eating healthy.
Eventually, he had to have part of a toe removed.
“My foot issue happened about five years ago after I got serious with my diabetes.”
Keith’s foot issues sparked his desire to have weight loss surgery.
“Four years ago, I had gastric sleeve surgery. Several friends and family underwent the same surgery, so I knew about it. I talked to my doctor about it after I found out it would help with my diabetes.”
“I was pretty successful at managing my weight until I got the Security job in December of 2020. The stomach is a muscle and can be stretched back to its original shape if you’re not exercising and eating right. Both of which have happened since taking this job. I’ve been doing ok since being off for the summer, but at 56 years old, it’s hard to get that momentum back and in high gear to where I was before getting my job.”
Managing diabetes at work can be challenging, especially if you cannot get up and move around freely. I spoke to Keith about his new security job on the NBC TV show, The Blacklist, what a typical day is like, and how his work environment has been affecting his diabetes wellness.
Q: What is your typical schedule for the day and week when you work security?
A: On the Security job, I work 16-18 hours or more a day. I don’t get any breaks; the only break is when you go to the bathroom. Lunch is brought to you from craft services. So basically, you on your post from the time you arrive at 4:30 am until you leave, which can be anytime in the evening/night.
Q: How does your work schedule affect your health?
A: My health has been up & down gained weight since starting this job on 12/2020.
Q: Has your sleep schedule changed?
A: I don’t get much sleep. I get up at 2:15 am and work till at least 7 or 8 pm.
Q: Has your diet changed since starting your job? Gained or lost weight since working this job?
A; I have gained ten pounds. I’ve gone from 176 lbs to 186 lbs (I was weighed at the doctor today).
Q: Has your fitness level changed?
A: With these job hours, I haven’t worked out since starting the job.
Q: Have you been to the doctor since starting this job? If so, have there been any changes? What are they? In meds? A1C? etc.
A: I still make all my doctor appointments, my weight has gone up my A1C fluctuates from good to not so good. I blame it on me being a foodie and craft services and having no self-control.
Photo by Flex Point Security on Unsplash
Q: How much physical activity do you get at work? If you don’t get physical activity, then describe what you do – are you sitting all day, in one place, moving around from area to area, etc.
A: I get absolutely NO physical activity on this job. I sit, stand, walk, but it’s not enough to break any kind of sweat or get the body in a serious routine. I have to control my eating, and that’s it with this job.
Q: What do you typically eat when you’re at work?
A: I eat pretty healthy. I eat many fruits, vegetables, some fish & chicken, water, tea, nuts, etc.
Q: Do you bring your own food, or is it provided?
A: We have Craft Service, which has EVERYTHING you can imagine, from shrimp calamari ribs soups, fish wraps, vegan dishes, cakes, pies, cookies, etc. So I eat pretty healthy fruits, vegetables, fish and chicken nuts, water tea sometimes snacks like cookies, chips, gummies, but not much.
Q: Describe some of the challenges you face managing type 2 diabetes at your job?
A: As I mentioned before, I’m a foodie, and there isn’t a lot to do. You’re bored lots of the time, so I eat it’s all me. So I’ve gotta have better self-control.
Q: What would make it easier for you to manage your diabetes at work?
A: Honestly, not going back. The job is also located on the water, so it’s extremely cold even when the weather is nice outside. The studios are located right alongside enclosed parking lots. There are always continuous drafts. No matter how layered up you are being in one place for hours, the cold still creeps in on the body.
Q: Any additional thoughts on the ‘the struggle is real’ scenario?
A: As I mentioned earlier, I’m a ‘foodie.’ I’ve got to have self-control over myself; I can’t give in to boredom. I must develop a backbone.
Since many of us are facing similar issues that Keith mentioned, I reached out to Divabetic friend and colleague, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND to get her advice on the issues that Keith is facing in his current work environment.
Jill has authored four books. Diabetes Weight Loss Week by Week is a bestseller and can help you manage your weight and blood sugar at the same time. The Overworked Person’s Guide to Better Nutrition offers solutions to your everyday food and nutrition problems – no matter how busy you are. 21 Things You Need to Know About Diabetes and Your Heart gives you specific actions to take to improve your health right away. And Jill’s newest book Prediabetes: A Complete Guide leads you through dozens of concrete steps to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other chronic health problems.
Q: What advice can you share for someone who tends to overeat out of boredom?
Jill Weisenberger (JW): I like making rules with exceptions. For example, “I do not eat unless it’s a meal or a planned snack. Period. Except when … ” So, for me, it’s except when I’m offered something I will have no opportunity to try another time (gelato in Italy, Sacher torte at the Sacher Hotel, etc.)
Q: What strategies can you share for someone who is surrounded by too much food at work that’s trying to maintain a healthy weight?
JW: Same as above. Additionally, I think it’s important to build in treats. Once I worked at a job that always had lots of junk food. So I planned that every Wednesday afternoon, I’d pick one thing. I did that for 8 years.
Q: What advice can you give someone who admits to having ‘no self-control’? (I know you have written about this topic. Can you also share the link to one of your blog posts on it?)
JW: Most importantly, address your environment. You have more control over your environment than you do over your willpower.
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 Salad Making Party with our special guest, Nationally recognized Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes EducatorJill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FANDon Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
Eating a salad sounds healthy, doesn’t it? But a leafy green salad can go bad when you pile on the high calorie and high carb toppings, dressings, and other deep-fried offerings.
How do you make a great-tasting salad without sacrificing your diabetes wellness?
Special Guest, Jill Weisenberger shares 2-3 of her favorite nutrient-dense salad and tasty dressing recipes that you can make at home and answers your nutrition questions.
In the game, you’re given three choices of popular foods. You must decide which one you’d serve, which one you’d taste and which one you’d trash
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic plays Serve, Taste or Trash! Food Game at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.
The happy healthcare host, Mr Divabetic plays the hilarious Serve, Taste or Trash! Food Game with Mother Love and the attendees at the American Diabetes Association’s Expo in New York, NY.
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic plays Serve, Taste or Trash! Food Game at Central Farm Markets in Bethesda, MD during our annual Bake Bethesda a Pie Contest over Labor Day Weekend 2012.
Mr. Divabetic hosts the new hilarious culinary podcast, Serve, Taste or Trash! Food Game. A delicious combination of crazy food challenges and fresh perspectives on the latest food trends.
Tonight Mr. Divabetic discusses easy ways to go from ‘Farm To Fabulous’ with co-founders, Debra Moser and Mitchell Berliner of Central Farm Markets and one of the market’s featured vendors.
Our Serve, Taste or Trash! Food Game challenge features jerusalem artichokes, kale and oranges. One lucky contestant must decide which choice they’d serve, which choice they’d taste and which one they’d trash. But will they regret their decision after hearing our guest culinary wizard’s mouthwatering recipes for each choice? Can low-sodium foods rate high in taste? Stay tuned.
Special guests include Wellness and Diabetes Coach, Ginger Vieira, the author of “Your Diabetes Science Experiment” and “Emotional Eating with Diabetes,” Co-founders of Central Farm Markets, Debra Moser and MeatCrafters owner, Mitchell Berliner, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, the ‘Queen of the Green’ Miss Aida Romaine and Laura from Chattanooga, TN who is living with diabetes.
We’re talking about a ‘New Year, New You‘ attitude about living with diabetes with musical inspiration from Aaliyah on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
Although Aaliyah died at the age of 22 and had a short music career due to her early passing, the singer’s music helped to redefine R&B, pop, and even hip-hop. And her legacy continues to live on. Her hard work ethic, creativity, and her sweet demeanor have inspired fans over the past two decades.
January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Pendulum Therapeutics CEO and Co-Founder Colleen Cutcliffe, Ph. D., (the maker of Pendulum Glucose Control), Virginia Valentine, APRN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, Dr. Darren Wayne from MealBetix and Yoga For Diabetes Author Rachel Zinman.
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic talks with Rachel Zinman about how yoga and meditation practices can help you to manage the mental health aspects of living with diabetes.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Aaliyah’s Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number album courtesy of SONY Music.
Tune in over 140 Diva TalkRadio podcasts available for free on i-tunes (search ‘Divabetic’).
Get the latest in diva news, diabetes headlines and inspiration by joining our Divabetic facebook page.
Green Giant has turned cauliflower into a low carb version of onion rings!
Their “onion rings,” are made with real cauliflower and come in two flavors: the Cauliflower Three Cheese with Bacon and Cauliflower French Onion
I tried a package of Green Giant® French Onion flavored Veggie Rings® and really enjoyed them! The texture was smilar to a real onion ring and the flavor was enjoyable.
Cauliflower is one of the most versatile and popular low-carb vegetables. One cup (100 grams) of raw cauliflower contains 5 grams of carbs, 3 of which are fiber.
Some low-carb diets may have health benefits beyond weight loss, such as reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. A low-carb diet generally limits grains, legumes, fruits, breads, sweets, pastas and starchy vegetables, and sometimes nuts and seeds.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that carbohydrates make up 45% to 65% of your total daily calorie intake. So if you consume 2,000 calories a day, carbs would account for between 900 and 1,300 calories a day.
We’re talking about ’Eating Right, Being Bright’ during the holiday season with musical inspiration fromHarry Connick, Jr. and his 16 piece big band. Podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dan Houdeshell, Pendulum Glucose Control‘s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Orville Kolterman and Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy, Author Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE, and Mama Rose Marie.
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.
We’re talking about ’Eating Right, Being Bright’ during the holidays with musical inspiration fromHarry Connick, Jr. and his 16 piece big band on December’s Diabetes Late Nitepodcast 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.
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.
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.
“Pureeing the typical ingredients with a of bit bread transforms this tomato soup into something rich and creamy. And the bread adds a mere 30 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving – a boon to dieters and to people with diabetes,” says Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND.
Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe by Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND
Ingredients
2tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil,divided
1large onion,chopped
4garlic cloves,chopped
1tablespoontomato paste
1(26.46-ounce) box of chopped or crushed Italian tomatoes
1/2teaspooncoarse black pepper
2 1/2cupsvegetables broth
1 1/2ouncesParmesan cheese
2ouncesbread(no seeds or nuts), torn into about 4 pieces
Special Guest Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND will prepare a hearty Fall Harvest Soup recipe and share expert tips on flavorful ways to reduce salt in recipes and meal prepping during the holidays on Divabetic’s free Zoom Cooking Party on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, 7-8 PM.
Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Chris Pickering co-founder of ‘The Betes Bros, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring songs from ‘The Best Of Patti Austin’ album courtesy of SONY Music.
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.
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.
Diabetes isn’t invisible on instagram. Below our some of favorite #diabetes instagram posts from around the world to inpire you to open up with friends, family, co-workers and influencers about your experience living with diabetes.
In this roundup, people are wearing masks out in public, enjoying cake in moderation and celebrating 10 year old heroes living with type 1 diabetes.
The pelvic floor includes the muscles, ligaments and connective tissue in the lowest part of the pelvis. It supports your organs, including the bowel, bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum. The pelvic floor prevents these organs from falling down or out of your body. It also helps the organs function properly.
Thanks to Billie for sharing their work on Unsplash.
Mismanaged diabetes can weaken the pelvic floor muscles. A damaged pelvic floor weakens normal functioning of the bowel, bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum can be affected. In plain English, people with mismanaged diabetes may experience an overactive bladder, poor control of sphincter muscles that surround the urethra, urine retention, and urinary tract infections.
Pelvic floor symptoms are significantly associated with reduced sexual arousal, infrequent orgasm, and painful intercourse (known in medical terms as dyspareunia).
Getting Help
There’s no question that incontinence can have a significant impact on the quality of life. Unfortunately urinary incontinence can be uncomfortable to talk about with anyone including your doctor. But talking is the first step to getting properly treated and taking back control of your life.
Once you have a conversation, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for follow-up care.
Bladder Control Quiz – Is this Happening to You?
Bladder control issues are not a normal part of aging and they are not something you have to just live with. Take control of your pelvic health by completing this short quiz to find out if its time for you to reach out for help.
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic explores issues of love, intimacy and diabetes on this special one hour podcast.Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to sexual health complications including vaginal dryness, sensation and performance. Up to 50% of men and 25% of women may experience some kind of sexual problem or a loss of sex drive.
Mr. Divabetic’s guests include Best-Selling Author Lisa Eugene, Jennifer Martsolf from Trigg Laboratories (the makers of Wet Lubricants) and Janis Roszler MS, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND (2008-2009 Diabetes Educator of the Year (AADE).
If you or your partner is experiencing sexual difficulties, you may find it helpful to meet with a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, marriage counselor or sex therapist. These professionals can help you learn how to reduce stress and change behaviors and attitudes, particularly when impotence is caused by stress or other mental health issues.
GLAM MORE FEAR LESS: Join Divabetic’s growing Facebook and Twitter communities. We’re celebrating 10 years of presenting diabetes educational outreach that dazzles!
