Divabetic Makeover Your Diabetes

09/03/2023

The Divabetic Vault: Mother Love, Jessica Issler and Catherine Schuller

Enjoy another flashback from the Divabetic Vault. We spotlight three fantastic divas: Mother Love, Jessica Issler RD, CDCES, and Catherine Schuller.

Here’s the backstory on how I met these fabulous divas photographed and how they helped me pioneer diabetes outreach for women.

I met comedian and talk show host Mother Love, who is living with type 2 diabetes, while volunteering backstage on the National TV show dLife. Mother Love was one of the four hosts on the program. She was under contract with Novo Nordisk when Divabetic partnered with Novo to sponsor Divabetic’s national outreach program, “Divabetic- Makeover Your Diabetes.” Every show needs a diva, so I chose Mother Love over the other celebrities under contract when Novo Nordisk asked me if we wanted a celebrity to join us at our outreach events in Philadelphia, PA, New York, NY, and Cleveland, OH. She even appeared in one of our Serve, Taste, or Trash! Videos at the American Diabetes Association’s Expo in New York, NY.

I’m so glad I did!! She was terrific on and off stage. She lights up the room. She would join me on stage to host our Glam More, Fear Less fashion shows and host one of the six education stations, The Tunnel Of Love, in the Makeover Maze. The Tunnel Of Love offered advice on love, intimacy, and sexual health issues related to diabetes.

I hosted pre and post-outreach program meetings and dinners in every city for my national team members and their families. Mother Love and her husband would join us for both meetings (which wasn’t in her contract.) She was hysterically funny and always, always made everyone feel loved. At our post-event dinners, I made it a tradition to toast everyone at the table and express my gratitude. After Luther’s stroke, I didn’t want to take a moment for granted. I also wanted people to know how much I enjoyed presenting this program. I consider Divabetic’s Makeover Your Diabetes national tour my biggest accomplishment. And I didn’t do it alone – I had a dazzling team of incredible people who partnered with me.

My parents and I met certified diabetes care and education specialist Jessica Issler CDCES (second from left) backstage at dLife, too. We met everyone in the diabetes community, including Jessica, while volunteering as audience coordinators at show tapings. Jessica attended a taping with two other young female diabetes educators, whom I nicknamed “Charlie’s Angels of Diabetes.” After the taping, we exchanged contact information after realizing a shared passion for helping empower and educate at-risk people affected by and living with diabetes in fun ways. I invited her to one of our monthly Divabetic Club support meetings at the local YMCA. Shortly after, she began volunteering as a facilitator at several meetings.

Jessica also volunteered as our sole diabetes educator at our first makeover program, Lipstick & Laughter, at MESS Makeup Studios in New York City. She met with women after they received free makeup applications to discuss issues concerning their diabetes.

When Novo Nordisk requested that I create a core National Makeover team consisting of diabetes care and education specialists, stylists, fitness experts, and makeup artists, she was the second name on my list. Between stops on our makeover tour, Jessica and I created several new, original outreach programs targeting children and their families affected by diabetes with Mount Sinai’s Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Department. All of our programs, like our Makeover program, featured progressive education. Participants would travel from one education station to the next, getting the information they needed to problem-solve issues related to self-care and diabetes wellness. I am opposed to lecture-style outreach.

Our first program, Walk To The Penguins, featured an obstacle course through Central Park that ended at the Zoo’s Penguins exhibit.

Our second program, the Broomstick Bash was a healthy Halloween party featuring several education stations, Ghost & Boast (goal setting for the holidays, Monster Moves (fitness), Freaky Foods (nutrition), and a broomstick decorating area. The program was first held in the Department offices and moved to Mount Sinai’s main lobby in the following years. The third annual Broomstick Bash was our largest outreach event, with over a thousand attendees.

Jessica replaced Joy Pape, we met at dLife too, as the lead educator for Divabetic’s Makeover Your Diabetes program from 2007-2009. She also worked with me on another health and wellness program called Energy Up!, targeting at-risk young women. Then, Jessica consulted and created recipes for Energy Up! founder Katie Dolgin aka High Voltage’s bestselling book, The Sugar Savvy Solution.

I’m wearing an Energy Up! t-shirt instead of a Divabetic t-shirt in this photo because I was moonlighting for my friend High Voltage’s Energy Up! wellness program. Early in Divabetic’s history, I chose to focus solely on adult women, not children. Since there wasn’t any diabetes outreach exclusively for women yet, I didn’t want to dilute our message by trying to all things to all people. But I still wanted to help younger people living with, at risk, and affected by diabetes, so I channeled my creativity into helping High Voltage with her programming rather than muddy the waters with Divabetic. I had a great time presenting and producing programming for both organizations.

Funny side note: I wanted to be booked as a guest when I heard about the national TV show dLife starting. Sadly, the producers disagreed. However, I still volunteer backstage during show tapings as a production assistant. One day, the producers took pity on me and let me host a table selling Divabetic merchandise in the cellar where the audience waited before the tapings. It turned out to be a life-changing moment because the Who’s Who of the New York City Diabetes Community (at the time) attended these show tapings. I met people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, their family members, authors, fitness instructors, hospital administrators, nurses, doctors, politicians, diabetes educators, and celebrities (like Mother Love). So I was rubbing elbows with the Who’s Who, hosting a Divabetic merchandise table in the cellar.

After a taping, I invited my parents to fly to NYC from Columbia to help me backstage on the show. We would put on Divabetic and Dude-A-Betic t-shirts and head to the studio. We sold merchandise as well as offered free healthy snacks. Yes, I coerced my Mom into making snacks in my tiny one-bedroom apartment before shows for audience members!! One day, the tapings upstairs in the studio were delayed, so the head of the production asked me if I could entertain the audience while they waited. Let’s say a star was born when I got handed the boombox with the microphone!!! I held runway contests between audience members, played games like charades, and made everyone dance to Luther Vandross‘s music. Sometimes we would have so much fun in the cellar that no one would want to go upstairs for the tapings. People noticed us. I don’t think they had a choice.

The woman in the picture on the far right is Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller. I didn’t meet Catherine at dLife. I met Catherine when we sat next to each other as judges for a Plus Size Beauty contest. We fell into a quick and easy friendship. She is amazing! She inspires me every day. She inspires me to create, challenge myself, and live my best life. Over the past twenty years, she has given her time, talent, support, and enthusiasm to Divabetic.

The morning of our last Makeover program, Catherine suffered a stroke. We hosted the program at Riverside Church, the location of Luther’s memorial. Catherine was rushed to the same hospital, Presbyterian Hospital, where Luther Vandross recovered from his stroke related to mismanaged type 2 diabetes. She also received treatment from the same team of physical therapists who helped Luther during her recovery. Catherine also put our Glam More, Fear Less philosophy to work at rehab. She did her hair and makeup and wore a glitzy sweatsuit before going to rehab sessions. She felt the attendants treated her differently because she made an effort.

Looking back, I feel grateful and fortunate to partner with so many women on Divabetic. Thank you for letting me share my memories from our 20-year history. It’s been a fantastic journey for me.

05/07/2022

Pass The Boa at Divabetic Club Meetings

Roughly nineteen years ago, I began hosting Divabetic’s first free monthly diabetes support meetings in New York City. Our meetings were open to all types of people living with, at-risk, and affected by diabetes and were held at the McBurney YMCA. At the first, the meetings were structured as ‘coaching sessions’ and presented by Life Coach, Dana Hariton, professional dancer and choreographer, Amy Jordan, both living with type 1 diabetes, and myself. The three of us came up with the idea after meeting in the audience at a dLife TV show taping. Initially, these meetings were called ‘Be A Diva’ and I’d make flyers that I would post on the walls of the Y with our meeting dates and times.

Later when I began volunteering backstage on a regular basis (and appeared on screen) at dLife, I met a wonderful, kind, and knowledgeable educator named Joy Pape RN, CDCES.

As Dana and Amy’s appearance began to taper off at our meetings, Joy joined and agreed to moderate our ‘Pass The Boa’ discussions. ‘Pass The Boa’ was our way of introducing ourselves to each other at the start of each meeting. We took turns passing a hot pink-colored feathered boa around the room and sharing our stories with each other. Everyone had a chance to be in the spotlight and voice their diabetes wellness successes and struggles.

As the years went by, different guest speakers ranged from florists, tea makers, tai chi instructors, beauty experts, fitness instructors, and even a passion pleasure expert. Actually, the pleasure toys meeting inspired me to add a sexual health and intimacy education station to our free national program, Divabetic Makeover Your Diabetes. Through the years the program’s name continued to change until it became known as the Divabetic Club. We also began hosting similar meetings in Cleveland OH and Philadelphia, PA with outstanding local educators and organizations such as The Diabetes Center Of Cleveland and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Today, I’m proud to say that we’re still offering free programming but it’s now virtual. Please join us and pass the boa at our upcoming baking party!

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris, aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST on Zoom.

02/11/202202/11/2022

Diagnosis To Diva Stories: My Type 1 Diagnosis Was A Scene From A Fellini Movie

Hearing you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes can be difficult. And painful. Still, February’s Divabetic podcast guest, Fran Carpentier, describes her experience like a scene from a Fellini movie.

The Brooklyn-born media maven was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age fourteen. Fran remembers the weeks before her diagnosis, “having rapid weight loss, unquenchable thirst, and exhaustion. it was bad.”Although her type 1 diabetes diagnosis was life-changing, Fran admits that her Italian mother, Stella, provided some much-needed yet unintended comic relief in the doctor’s office. “Naturally, I was scared and very nervous,” Fran recalls. “However, when the doctor uttered the diagnosis—’Frances has diabetes‘— my mother fainted and collapsed onto the floor. Her sister, my Aunt Elizabeth, and I had to pick her up. We kept fanning my mom while Dr. Handelsman—a renowned diabetologist of the time—attempted to reassure her about my diagnosis. First, he tried to calm down my mother by telling her that I was fortunate to be diagnosed when I was and not forty years earlier. He went on to explain that the reason I was ‘lucky’ was because today we had insulin; a few decades earlier, I’d be dead. When my mother heard the word ‘dead,’ she collapsed and fainted again.”

The doctor pulled Fran aside and said, “I usually put a newly diagnosed child with juvenile diabetes [which is what type 1 was called in those days] in the hospital for a week.” Back in 1969, which is when Fran was diagnosed, hospitalization for diabetes was pretty typical. Dr. Handelsman continued, “But I can tell that, if I put you in the hospital, I would need at least two beds—one for you, and one for your mother.”

The good doctor added, “So, instead of sending you to the hospital, my nurse will teach you how to give yourself insulin injections, then I’m going to send you home. Come back tomorrow and we’ll teach you more about how your daily life will be from now on.”

The Carpentier family’s theatrics continued after they got home from the doctor’s office. “That same evening, my mother’s ten sisters came over to our house to ‘mourn’ me,” says Fran. “To this day, I blame their reaction on the ignorance and fear that was associated with diabetes then. Sadly, a lot of ignorance and fear are still prevalent today.”

If all that extra drama seems almost too much to handle, then you don’t know Fran, who went on to explain, “Later on in bed that first night, I told myself that God must have sent diabetes to me for a reason. Somehow, that outlook served to motivate me in managing my diabetes for the past fifty years.”

She adds, “I think I had enough of a sense of self to not be ashamed of my condition. I spent a lot of time in the early days allaying my parents’ fears.”

For the past fifty years, Fran Carpentier has been an outspoken diabetes advocate, a passionate fundraiser, and a Divabetic inspiration in her personal and professional life.

For close to three decades, Fran worked as the Senior Editor at Parade, the national Sunday newspaper magazine that, during her tenure, reached more than 70 million readers every week. Fran had the opportunity to meet celebrities, best-selling authors, thought leaders, leading doctors, and top scientists in diabetes. “As a journalist, I had direct access that got me in front of as many diabetes experts as possible. Then, every November, I would oversee an article on diabetes in the Sunday issue. Our goal was to share with our millions of readers what was new in diabetes and where everyone—including people living with diabetes, their families, their friends, their co-workers—could find hope.”

In 2006, I met Fran Carpentier for the first time when she attended Divabetic Makeover Your Diabetes national outreach program at Gotham Hall in New York City. At the time, she was still working for Parade. She remembers attending our ‘Glam More, Fear Less’ style event offering one-on-one diabetes education with free makeover services as “the fun and fabulous.” In addition, she says, “The men and women at the Divabetic program had really great energy.”

Hear more of Fran’s funny and fascinating memories of living with type 1 diabetes on Divabetic’s February podcast.

01/26/2022

Denial’s Not My Style: Divabetic Outreach Then & Now

This morning, I found this old Divabetic card in a stack of papers. “Denial’s Not My Style’ was the second phrase I came up with after ‘Sugar’s the Bitch. Not Me’ back in 2003.

We used it as one of the station names in the Makeover Maze at our national outreach program, Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes (2005 – 2008), and on limited edition Divabetic branded t-shirts.

The Makeover Maze consisted of six different diabetes care and education stations. One diabetes self-care topic per station. Complimentary mini massages, makeup application, and image consultation areas surrounded the Makeover Maze.

Divabetic’s ‘Denial’s Not My Style’ station offers one-on-one education on the ABC’s of diabetes. The ABCs of diabetes stand for: A —the A1C test, which measures average blood sugar over 2 to 3 months. B —blood pressure, the force of blood flow inside blood vessels. C —cholesterol, is a group of blood fats that affect the risk of heart attack or stroke.

The ‘Sweet Inspirations‘ station focuses on goal setting help. Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation

The ‘Glam More, Fear Less’ station focuses on our diabetes affects our personal appearance. From our teeth to our skin, to our feet and our hair, what you see in the mirror can reflect your self-care. Did you know people with diabetes are more likely to have a condition called alopecia areata? With alopecia, the immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to patches of hair loss on the head and on other parts of the body. Some people with diabetes may experience thinning hair or hair loss. The primary causes of hair loss are mismanaged blood sugar levels, emotional and physical stress, and hormone imbalances.

The ‘Tunnel of Love’ focuses on sex, and intimacy issues related to diabetes. Women with diabetes have can experience low sexual desire and response, vaginal dryness, and painful sex can be caused by nerve damage, reduced blood flow to the genitals, and hormonal changes. Men with diabetes may face the inability to have an erection. Damage to the vascular system can reduce blood flow.

The ‘Grab Green And Go’ station focuses on nutrition, creating personalized meal plans, and our relationship to food. Sometimes it’s not what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating you that’s important to your diabetes health too.

And finally, ‘The Twist And Shout’ station focuses on fun ways to exercise. Staving off boredom by adding variety to how your workout is a great way to stick to a routine. Exercise variation is an important factor when designing an exercise program, with many benefits when you change exercises every so often, such as increased performance and decreased injury risk.

The back of Divabetic’s Denial’s Not My Style card asks two questions: Describe how you initially felt about being diagnosed (in one word). And, Describe how you feel about living with diabetes today (using one word).

We posted everyone’s answers on the walls of our diabetes outreach events for everyone to see.

I am so proud of Divabetic’s ongoing efforts over the past 19 years to promote a new attitude about living with diabetes. Although we are not currently presenting live outreach events, we continue to produce monthly podcasts and virtual programs on Zoom.

Divabetic Podcasts & Virtual Programs

Divabetic’s latest monthly podcast is available on-demand and features music from Teddy Pendergrass‘s album, Life Is A Song Worth Singing, and guests: Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Build Jake’s Place Executive Director Arthur Anston, and Yoga For Diabetes Author and Founder Rachel Zinman.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for Divabetic’s upcoming free, fun Virtual Valentines-themed Baking Party on Zoom with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, February 9, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST.

During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a Valentine’s Day Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in your favorite recipes.

Over 150 people registered for our last two Divabetic Baking Parties on Zoom so don’t miss out!

REGISTER NOW

07/14/2020

31 Days Of Divabetic Podcasts, Day Fourteen

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 14, we’re spotlighting tonight’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Patti LaBellle. Back in 2003, Patti LaBelle inspired me to coin the phrase ‘Divabetic’ when she said “I have diabetes, diabetes doesn’t have me.” Her outspoken attitude about living with diabetes pierced my heart as I sat in the audience. I wished that Luther had spoken to me about his diabetes and how to help him in case there was an emergency. Of course, you can’t turn back the clock. All I can do is share my experience with you in the hope you will be motivated to involve your family, friends and co-workers in your daily diabetes self-care.

Tonight’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast also signifies a new milestone in diabetes outreach for Divabetic. For the past decade we have produced at least one podcast each month of every year.

“All great achievements require time,” said Dr. Maya Angelou. She added, “Nothing will work unless you do.”

I staged a ‘comeback’ and so can you!

Back in July 2010, I was brokenhearted and discouraged. A full year had passed since Divabetic lost it’s major funding for it’s national outreach program, Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes and there was no light in sight. I felt like a failure. I was staring at a pile of rejection letters from numerous foundations and pharmaceutical companies requesting funding and another pile of requests from women with diabetes and/or certified diabetes educators begging us to bring Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes to their city. So it’s probably not a shock to learn that I said, “no” when it was suggested that I host a podcast.

Why would I want to do something new when I had just failed so miserably and let so many people down?
Starting over is not easy. However, I’ve had to do it several times in my life. In 2003, when I found my boss, Luther Vandross after he suffered a devastating stroke related to mismanagement of type 2 diabetes. In 2005, when Luther Vandross died and I lost my job (as well as my identity). In 2009, when Divabetic lost it’s major source of funding. Somehow after suffering every one of these ‘soul punches’ I persisted and so can you! That’s the message of this milestone.

Thank you to my team, our guests, SONY Music and you, our listeners for an amazing decade of diabetes podcasting. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for your help in helping me get back my groove. GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS!

We’re celebrating Divabetic’s 10th Year Podcast Anniversary with music from the world’s most famous “Divabetic”– Ms. Patti LaBelle. She has inspired us to adopt and promote a ‘NEW ATTITUDE’ about living with diabetes!

Thank you to our loyal listeners for sharing your stories, questions, concerns, and successes with us over the past decade. Our aim has been and continues to be to broaden the appeal of diabetes education with music, beauty/style, games, real-life stories, cozy mysteries radio dramas, and laughter.

10th Year Podcast Anniversary guests include: Patricia Addie-Gentle, RN, CDE, Lorraine Brooks, 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, Catherine Schuller, Terri Seidman and special guests.

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