Divabetic Cozy Mystery: Kill Me Madam, Part 8

Narrator: With no time to spare before the competition’s official start, Max hurries below deck to retrieve his food processor.

SOUND EFFECT: footstep (man clopping)

Narrator: Making his way back to the deck, Max is ambushed by a woman who is blocking his path. It’s the stylish Millicent Merriweather. And she’s holding the stolen pearl handled pistol.

Millicent: Stop right there and hand over that box!

Max: This box? It’s just a kitchen appliance! Granted it has 8 speeds and reversible blades but still –

Millicent: I saw you handing cash to Britannia for that food processor in the parking lot after you left without buying anything. I searched Britannia’s trunk after I ran her over and the whales’ there weren’t there. The only place they can be is in that box.

Max: So that’s why Britannia put those Botox receipts in my pocket. She was warning me about you. They’re yours! You get Botox shots to numb your feet so you can wear sky high heels.

Millicent: It’s a small price to pay for how great my legs look in these Manolo Blahniks. Now this gun is going to eliminate another source of my pain.

Max: Wait! Those heels don’t have any scuff marks. If a robber had dragged you into the storeroom then there would at least be scuff marks or a broken heel.

Millicent: Yes, Captain Obvious, I faked the robbery to give me an alibi. Britannia Coffin betrayed me. I had no choice but to kill her. We planned this heist for months. She couldn’t pull it off alone in her condition. We agreed she would get the insurance money and I would sell the teeth to the highest bidder. I even had a buyer lined up but then she went behind my back and made a deal herself.

Max: That’s why you killed her?

Millicent: The retail business is dead thanks to Amazon. Those whales’ teeth were my ticket to a new life. After she came into my shop this morning and didn’t bring me the whales’ teeth like we’d agreed, I thought Britannia might be planning to double cross me. That’s when I called the buyer and found out she’d made a new deal with him and had cut me out. Then I remembered seeing her give you that box in the parking lot. I was heading over to her house to confront her when I saw her coming out of the Treasure Island Antique Shoppe. I just saw red!!! She was an easy target without her poles.

Max: You won’t get away with this. My friends are probably already looking for me.

Millicent: Open that box and give me what’s inside!

Max: Look! It’s only a food processor.

Millicent: I can’t see. Move your mangy stuffed parrot out of my way. Where are they?

Max: I swear I don’t know. I don’t have them. But why don’t you let me help you find them?

Millicent: Not unless they are at the bottom of the ocean. Let’s go, Jolly Roger!

Max: No, you don’t want to do this!

Millicent: You know too much! I’m going to make you walk the plank like in one of those old pirate movies. You’re already dressed for the part.

Max: You do know I can swim, right?

Millicent: Not with a bullet in you. Goodbye, Captain Bartholomew Maxwell!

SOUND EFFECT: gun shot and splash

Narrator: Max falls headfirst into the ocean with his food processor.

TO BE CONTINUED

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast, Kill Me Madam, 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.

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 Tea Party with special guests, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, Tessie’s Teas’ owner Rose Hall and Harlem Heaven’s Hats owner Evetta Petty on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

FREE REGISTER – REGISTER NOW

11/02/202011/02/2020

Divabetic Cozy Mystery: Kill Me Madam, Part 7

With less than two hours before the official start of the competition, our amateur sleuths, attired in full pirate regalia, hurry to Britannia Coffin’s historic mansion on the cliff overlooking the ocean. They scramble over a wall of sandbags and enter through the unlocked back door.

Patricia: These gold framed portraits lining the hall must be the Hussey family ancestors.

Mama Rose Marie: And I’ll bet that room at the end of the hall is Britannia’s office.

Max: I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming here! If I get arrested, it’s all Renata Whisk’s fault!

Tonya: Renata Whisk didn’t buy the food processor – you did, Bartholomew!

Patricia: Well, Loretta is certain Britannia stole the whales’ teeth. If that’s true. They must be here somewhere.

MaryAnn: Let’s look around. Maybe they’re in one of these boxes?

Mama Rose Marie: This box is filled with insulin pens, vials and cartridges.

Max: Same with this one! Maybe she was planning to donate these supplies.

Patricia: New, unopened medical supplies can be donated to the regions impacted by natural disasters. But, you need to make sure they haven’t expired.

Tonya: Look, what’s in this box. It’s loaded with herbal medicines and supplements.

MaryAnn: It looks like she was searching for a quick fix to manage her neuropathy.

Max: She was probably hoping to use it during the competition to alleviate her foot pain.

MaryAnn: She wasted her money. There is no quick fix. The best way to help minimize pain is to stick to proper diabetes self-care management.

Mama Rose Marie: Well, we’ve searched all these boxes and there’s no sign of the whales’ teeth.

MaryAnn: Hold on, look what I found on her desk. This stack of overdue bills explains why Britannia was so desperate for money. She must’ve spent close to a million dollars on sandbags, flood insurance and healthcare. It looks like Loretta was telling us the truth about Britannia’s money problems.

Mama Rose Marie: Hmmm, the high costs of healthcare seems unavoidable. What can you do?

Patricia: Make certain you understand all your healthcare benefits. Many people don’t know what their plans will and will not cover until it’s too late.

Max: Yeah, but check out this card I just found. It says, “This year you’ll be the one dying with envy!” And look, it is signed by Loretta.

Patricia: That sounds like a death threat to me.

Max: Geez, some people will do just about anything to win a baking competition!

Tonya: Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

SOUND EFFECT: Footsteps (shorter) needs a crash

Mama Rose Marie: Shush! Everyone be quiet. I think I hear someone in the hall.

Loretta: What’s going on? How did you get in here?

Tonya: Loretta! We can ask you the same question. You scared us half to death.

Loretta: I’m looking for the stolen whales’ teeth. I’m certain Britannia stole them to collect on the insurance.

Tonya: Well, they’re not here.

Loretta: Why should I believe you? Look at you, you’re dressed as pirates. For all I know, you helped Britannia steal the whales’ teeth.

Max: No! I’m just a baking competitor.

Tonya: You see “Bartholomew” here has a bad habit of being in the right place at the wrong time when someone gets murdered. But he’s perfectly harmless. We’re trying to solve Britannia’s murder so the police don’t arrest him.

Loretta: Then the police need to interrogate Goldie Highcastle. Britannia couldn’t have robbed the museum by herself. There are too many stairs. She had to have an accomplice.

Tonya: You think Goldie helped Britannia rob the museum?

Loretta: Britannia asked Goldie if she knew of any tycoons interested in buying ivory when we were in her store this morning.

Max: Was she talking about the whales’ teeth?

Loretta: What else? Like I said earlier, those ivory teeth are worth $5 million dollars.

Tonya: That gives Goldie another motive for murder!

Loretta: I wouldn’t put it past her. Goldie makes a living profiting off other people’s misfortunes. She probably helped Britannia steal the whales’ teeth and then killed her so she could keep the money all to herself!

Max: So … You DIDN’T kill Britannia to win the baking competition?

Loretta: You must be joking! I had to withdraw from the competition this morning to search for the whales’ teeth. But if they’re not here, where else can they be?

SOUND EFFECT: Phone rings

Max: Hello? This is Ma-x, I mean Max-well. Bartholomew Ma –. What’s up? (Pause) Oh no! That’s terrible.

Tonya: Another murder?

Max: Worse. The finals are about to start, and I still need to finish making my pie!

TO BE CONTINUED

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

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?

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10/21/2020

Divabetic New Product Spotlight: Tessie’s Teas

Rose Hall is the founder of Tessie’s Teas, a company that pays homage to the wisdom passed down from her mother and celebrates her love of tea. She was our guest on October’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Q: You worked for 20-years as a mental health therapist and social worker. Tell us about that experience:

RH: I always felt that helping others in life’s most difficult situations is my calling. I worked in the department of psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, the Bronx, with dual diagnosis clients, who had mental health diagnosis and drug dependency. Through the years, I also worked with teens and children with behavior issues and situations of neglect. I found out that is heartbreaking gut-wrenching work.

Q: What inspired you to start a new career as an entrepreneur after you retired?

RH: The positions I have held over 25 years have been overwhelmingly stressful, I was burnt out, I know my life’s purpose is to help people, but I needed to do it in a different way. I am an avid tea drinker who learned at an early age the benefits that can be derived from drinking herbs, spices, and roots.

Q: Tell about your mother, growing up in Jamaica, and the Caribbean tradition of tea drinking that inspired you to start Tessie’s Teas.

RH: We lived with my great grandmother who drank tea every day, all day it seemed. Any ailment, she had a tea for that. She would go out and pick some bushes and boil them and tell you to drink it down and you would be better that day or the next day depending on the symptoms. I watched her live a productive life well into her 90’s, and my grandfather drinking different teas daily lived to be 107. So, these personal experiences are the reason why I believe in drinking tea.

Q: Describe your teas – flavors, etc. and your two flagship all-natural teas with no additives, no preservatives, and no caffeine.

RH: We provide ginger rolled in honey with a little cane sugar to help with the crystallization process and have mint infused with raw cane sugar. Ginger and mint have many medicinal health benefits. They have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, digestive, and anti-viral aids while helping to boost the immune system. Mint helps with weight loss because it’s a natural appetite suppressant. I find if I drink a cup of mint tea before I eat, I eat less and feel full faster. We have customers who report losing weight from drinking our mint tea. The teas are instant – just add water, stir and enjoy. There are no additives, no preservatives, and no caffeine and they are healthy, delicious, and convenient.

Q: You traveled to over 10 countries sourcing tea and gaining an understanding of the tea business. Tell us about your experience.

RH: My best adventure was in Sri Lanka, which border’s India. My driver came to pick me up around 5:00 am because it’s a long trip up the mountain to the tea gardens. On the way up we passed an elephant orphanage in a rock quarry and experienced a remarkable scene when one of the elephants tripped on a rock and fell. The other elephants walked over to the fallen one and got done on their knees, used their shoulders as a team to push him up until he was standing again. It was amazing, I thought to myself imagine if all humans did that for each other, what would this world be like?

Q: How can people purchase your teas?

RH: We have a website: www.tessiestea.com We’re also, on Etsy and Amazon.

We’re talking about the symptoms, causes and prevention of stroke with musical inspiration from Angela Bofill on this episode of Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the US. As many as 5 to 14 percent of stroke survivors have a second stroke within one year.

Angela Bofill suffered two strokes but neither stroke could take away her positive, humorous personality and her fighter spirit. After she lost the ability to sing, she returned to the stage for “The Angela Bofill Experience” in which she skillfully narrated her life story, while her band and other singers .

Podcast guests include Angela Bofill, Catherine Schuller, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Neva White DNP, CRNP- BC, CDE, and Rose Hall from Tessie’s Teas.

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?

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09/20/202009/20/2020

Divabetic Exclusive: Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes Interview

USA Today Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes stars in Divabetic’s newest Mystery Podcast, ‘Kill Me Madam’ available on demand with this LINK.

Tonya Kappes has written more than fifty Southern Cozy Mysteries, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and two of them have been selected as a Woman’s World Book Club pick. Best known for stories charged with southern charm, emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews.

We caught up with this busy best-selling author to ask her a few questions about her books and to learn more about her passion for diabetes advocacy.

Q: I don’t even know where to start with questions because you’re such a busy author. Why don’t you tell us about your Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery series.

Tonya Kappes (TK): I really wanted to create an older sleuth since most Cozy Mystery sleuths are in their 20’s. And…it’s easier to give the sleuth, Bernadette, some real life issues since she’s older and has seen more of the world than a 20 year old. With that said, I knew I could make the sleuthing a little more fun by her using her knowledge and her skills as a mail carrier to help sniff out the killer. Trust me…your mail carrier knows a lot of secrets you’d never want anyone to know. I knew that would be a great angle for a sleuth too.

Q: You mentioned on July’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast that your involvement in Divabetic’s Annual Mystery podcasts, over the past eight years, inspired your main character, beloved mail carrier, Bernadette Davis’s health issues. Can you explain?

TK: As you’ve been doing the mystery podcast and weaved information about diabetes self-care, I realized how I could easily inject real-life issues into Bernadette’s story. It makes her more relatable as an everyday person. For examples, I made her a widow with a not-so-great dead husband because relationships can be stressful and not always rosy behind closed doors. And what 50-something woman hasn’t gone through a socially awkward menopause moment? Bernadette’s moment might just be during a stakeout, but her health provides a shared connection of a genuine situation.

Q: Share a diabetes self-care tip you’ve learned from one of Divabetic’s past Mystery podcasts?

TK: My dad has diabetes with severe neuropathy. I’ve learned how much you need to take care of your feet, which leads to making sure your blood levels are good, which leads into your diet. These tips have made me more educated when I go to his doctor appointments with him and talk to his doctor. It’s made me a better advocate. In fact, he will tell you that now he’s feeling better than he has in twenty years. He’s had diabetes for twenty-seven years.

Q: You were known as a storyteller, but not as a writer or reader. How did you become a best-selling author?

TK: Gosh, that’s hard to answer. I like to think that my interactions with my readers and my gratitude for them has played a big role.

Q: What do you love about mysteries? Specifically, Cozy Mysteries?

TK: I love the small town, quirky characters, and the gossip that goes into solving the crimes.

Q: When did you realize that you’d actually made it as a writer?

TK: Have I?

You can find Tonya Kappes all over social media and at Tonyakappes.com.

09/02/202009/02/2020

Divabetic Mystery Phrase #35

Can you solve Divabetic’s Mystery Phrase #35? Our phrase could be useful in preventing and treating Rheumatoid arthritis and insulin resistance.

If you have diabetes, you may be wondering if gluten is something you should avoid.

Gluten is a type of protein found in certain grains. These include wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten can cause inflammation of the small intestine in people with celiac disease. Roughly 10 % of people living with type 1 diabetes have celiac disease according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Celiac disease is chronic; there is no cure. “The only treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet,” says Edwin Liu, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist and director of the Colorado Center for Celiac Disease at Children’s Hospital Colorado as reported by Diabetes Forecast magazine. The diet helps relieve symptoms and allows the intestine to heal.

Gluten-free foods are currently trendy, so the diet is easier than ever to follow. Still, it can present some challenges due to all those sneaky sources of gluten including soy sauce and some hot dogs. Unless you see a “gluten-free” label, assume most pastas, baked goods, beer, and snack foods have some gluten.

People with non-celiac gluten sensitivities might notice digestive problems, lethargy, headaches, joint pain, and other issues after ingesting gluten. The only way to keep symptoms at bay is sticking with a gluten-free diet. In this case, you should consult with a doctor or try temporarily removing gluten from your diet to see if it helps.

Solving the Mystery of Your A1C

Many people wonder how their hba1c number relates to their blood sugar levels. After all, daily diabetes self-care management can be a jumble of numbers: weight, blood sugar levels, carbohydrate counts, fat grams, serving sizes, etc. Hopefully, this handy chart will provide some clarification.

When it comes to the numbers, there’s no one-size-fits-all target. A1C target levels can vary by each person’s age and other factors, and your target may be different from someone else’s. If you feel your hbA1C number is on a higher side, say over 7 or 8%, do not worry! Knowledge is power. You can lower your hbA1C by creating your own personal self-care plan with your healthcare professional.

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.

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.

08/27/202008/27/2020

Vegan Key Lime Pie Recipe (with Pecan Pie Crust) from Kill Me Madam

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic offers an interesting twist to key lime pie with a gluten and dairy free, vegan recipe in Divabetic’s newest Mystery Podcast: Kill Me Madam available on demand.

His creamy dreamy vegan key lime pie is made with a crunchy pecan pie crust. When making this recipe it’s best to use a food processor or blender to get pecans very finely chopped. They need to be in tiny pieces so that they form a crust to hold together all of that delicious pie flavor. Enjoy!

Kill Me Madam Key Lime Pie Recipe

Pie Filling Ingredients:
1 cup raw cashews (soaked for 4-6 hours or overnight, then drained)
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup coconut oil (melted)
3-4 large limes juiced (3-4 limes yield ~1/2 cup juice)
1 tbsp lime zest
1/2 cup agave nectar

Pie Crust Ingredients:
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 tsp monk fruit sweetener

Instructions

For the Crust:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crush pecans finely using a food processor until you achieve a fine meal.

Add butter and monk fruit sweetener to crushed pecans and pulse until all of the ingredients are mixed throughly

Grease a pie pan then add crust mixture.

Grease the back of a spoon and use it to carefully smooth the pecan mixture in the bottom of the pie pan and up the sides.

Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool.

For the Filling:

In a blender (but you can also use a hand mixer) blend the raw cashews, coconut milk, coconut oil, lime juice, lime zest and agave nectar until the mixture is smooth. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more lime zest/juice for more tart, or more agave for added sweetness.

Pour filling mixture into pecan crust and set aside.

Spread the homemade whipped cream on top of the key lime layer.

Freeze your key lime pie for 2 hours before serving or until it sets up.

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

08/19/2020

12 Cozy Mystery Authors and Their Readers to the Rescue Down Under

Looking for cool cozy mysteries for hot summer days?

Then you’ll love the Summer Snoops Down Under collection of stories in this purr-fectly paw-some cozy boxed set from twelve USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon best-selling authors including Judith Lucci, Colleen Mooney, Anna Celeste Burke, Dianne Harman, Sam Cheever, Amy Vansant, Fiona Quinn, Cindy Bell, J.A. Whiting, Kathi Daley, Summer Prescott and Tonya Kappes.

These cozy, friendly stories are full of wily sleuths, cagey plots, and un-fur-gettable tails on sandy beaches, in shimmering waterways, at mountain top resorts, and small-town celebrations!

Judith Lucci: The Most Slippery Crime of the Year: Death on the Slopes – When the pour is just too perfect.
Colleen Mooney: Politicians, Potholes and Pralines – There’s no place like New Orleans to have a good crime!
Anna Celeste Burke: A Tango Before Dying – When trouble waltzes in, it’s not long before Georgie Shaw and Detective Jack Wheeler step in when a famous ballroom dance champion is murdered.
Dianne Harman: Murder in Cottonwood Springs – Sheriff Rich got the call every lawman dreads – a relative’s murder. And it’s even worse when it’s your sister.
Sam Cheever: Bayou Bubba – Where Miss Chance meets Cal Amity.
Amy Vansant: Pineapple Lies – If Janet Evanovich and the Golden Girls had a baby, it would be the Pineapple Port series!
Fiona Quinn: Mine – A sleepy town in southwest Virginia wakes up to a nightmare of untimely deaths.
Cindy Bell: A Tough Case to Crack – It is a race against the clock to solve a murder so Nuts about Nuts can open on time.
J A Whiting: Reversal of Fortune – Will Claire’s paranormal intuition help solve the case or will her skills fail her when she needs them the most?
Kathi Daley: The Curse of Hollister House – How is one to start again after losing the one thing that speaks to your heart and fuels your passion?
Summer Prescott: Spellstruck – If you liked Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, you’re going to love Spellstruck. Pirate, the talking cat, will charm your socks off!
Tonya Kappes: Stamped Out – More than mail is being delivered…there’s a murder ’bout to happen!

All proceeds from the Summer Snoops Down Under boxed set support the Wildlife Victoria charity rescuing wildlife affected by the bush fires in Australia.

BUY NOW

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 8th Annual Mystery Podcast, Kill Me Madam, set to debut on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 6 PM, EST.

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 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, 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 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 be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

TUNE IN

07/09/2020

31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts: Day Nine

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 9, we’re spotlighting our Studio d: Diabetes Foot Care podcast from April 2012.

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic steps in the studio with Dr. Maasi J. Smith (DPM), founder and director of the Rittenhouse Foot and Ankle Associates in Philadelphia (PA) and the website, www.mybadfeet.com, to talk foot care, diabetic wound care and to get general advice for healthy feet.

Bad feet are scary; but Dr. Maasi Smith (DMS) has seen it all and is committed to promoting foot health. This award winning surgical podiatrist admits that our feet are often the most neglected part of our body.

Due to the suppression of the immune response and reduced blood flow to the feet in people with diabetes, the body may be unable to heal wounds you suffer to your feet. As sensation has already been reduced, if you aren’t checking your feet regularly, you may not realize your feet are injured until it’s too late. If left untreated, bacterial infections can lead to gangrene, which may require amputation to ensure that the infection does not spread to other parts of the body.

What Can I Do?

There are some simple precautions you can take to keep your feet healthy as a diabetic.

Check your feet daily.
Keep your diabetes well managed.
Wash your feet daily.
Keep your feet moisturized (but no lotion between the toes, as moisture here can create conditions friendly to fungal infection).
Encourage circulation in your feet by wiggling your toes and changing positions regularly.
Meet regularly with your trusted podiatrist.

If you’re living with diabetes, it is crucial that you ensure foot health by working with your podiatrist to reduce the likelihood of infection and quickly treat any infection that arises.

Many foot conditions can worsen without prompt treatment from a qualified podiatrist. So don’t hesitate – if something feels wrong, call your healthcare team.

Divabetic’s free 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. All podcasts are available on demand at blogtalkradio and i-Tunes.

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

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 Scavenger Hunt on Zoom with special guest, Best-Selling Intimacy & Diabetes co-author, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:35 PM, EST.

One lucky winner in our random drawing will win Janis Roszler’s best-selling e- book, Intimacy & Diabetes. A second lucky winner in our random drawing will win a Dario Blood Glucose Meter starter kit. This all-in-one pocket-sized device can track blood sugar fluctuations and trends and identify hyper/hypoglycemic episodes right from your smartphone, providing readings within as little as 6 seconds. It’s scientifically proven, HIPPA compliant, and includes Dario Coaches to offer support and motivation to help manage your diabetes.

REGISTER NOW

Thank you to everyone who has taken measures to protect our Divabetic community members and their loved ones by wearing cloth face coverings and social distancing. We are so grateful! Divabetic will continue to provide free Virtual Diabetes Outreach events with qualified health experts to keep you safe, informed and connected. Please join us!

06/21/202006/21/2020

Patti LaBelle’s Freeform Apple Tart Recipe

Patti LaBelle was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes over 25 years ago and it took awhile for her to get in tune with her condition. She admits she was angry at first but now this self-proclaimed “Divabetic” says she’s not just living with diabetes, she’s living well with diabetes.

She’s incorporated small changes into her recipes to make them healthier. Enjoy her Free-Form Apple Tart recipe from Eating Well, which uses light sour cream and just a little butter to keep calories in check.

Patti LaBelle’s Freeform Apple Tart

Ingredients (Partial List)

1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons ice water
2 tablespoons light sour cream

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:190 calories; 11 g total fat; 6 g saturated fat; 25 mg cholesterol; 80 mg sodium. 21 g carbohydrates; 1 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 3 g protein. Serving Size: 1 Slice

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE

Patti LaBelle tells Rachael Ray she calls herself a ‘Divabetic’

Patti LaBelle loves being in the kitchen even after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This might sound strange for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to hear since many of them have knee jerk reactions to modifying their diets. But Patti LaBelle told People magazine that cooking for herself is why she’s still alive because she controls what she puts in my food and avoids all the things that aren’t good for diabetes. In her latest cookbook, Desserts LaBelle: Soulful Sweets to Sing About, she’s modified some of her signature recipes for fellow “divabetics” using sugar substitutes and cutting down on butter.

Poet Lorraine Brooks shares her thoughts about modifying recipes while sheltering in during the pandemic in her poem, Alone In The Kitchen.

Free Virtual Diva-Style Diabetes Outreach on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:30 PM, EST

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?

We are having a ball at our free virtual events. Stay safe, stay in and join us for some good times connecting with other people living with diabetes.

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Indoor Scavenger Hunt on Zoom with best-selling Intimacy & Diabetes co-author, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:30 PM, EST.

Relationships play an important role in our everyday lives. But when diabetes enters the picture, it can complicate even our casual relationships. Janis will answer your questions about how diabetes affects the 8 types of Intimacy: Aesthetic, Spiritual, Intellectual, Social, Emotional, Affection, Physical, and Sexual.

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MythBusters: White Foods Are Unhealthy

Recent Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND, who is a nutrition professor at Boston University and the host of the health and wellness podcast SpotOn!, says that the biggest nutrition fallacy she sees online is the advice to avoid white foods.

“The biggest myth is that white foods, such as pasta and white vegetables, are nutrition slackers compared to whole grain and more colorful, phytochemical-rich veggies,” explains Salge Blake as reported in US News & World Reports. “This is totally wrong.” Pasta is fortified with riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, iron and especially folic acid, a B vitamin that is critical for pregnant women – and many don’t consume enough folic acid in their diets. Similarly, a cup serving of potatoes (about one small baked potato) costs less than 20 cents, yet will provide over 650 milligrams of blood pressure-lowering potassium. Because most Americans don’t get enough of this nutrient, a potato is a cheap way to fight high blood pressure. In addition, Jones explains that white foods like Greek yogurt, natural aged cheeses and milk, potatoes and even many enriched grains can contribute significant amounts of nutrients: calcium in dairy, fiber and potassium in potatoes and B-vitamins in enriched grains. “Ironically, one of the most popular veggies these days just happens to be white – cauliflower!” Jones notes.

We’re talking about ‘HEART HEALTH & DIABETES’ with musical inspiration from the rock band “Heart” on March’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.

People with insulin resistance or diabetes in combination with one or more of these risk factors are at even greater risk of heart disease or stroke. However, by managing their risk factors, people with diabetes may avoid or delay the development of heart and blood vessel disease.

The rock band “Heart” was started in Seattle in the 1960s.Heart’s mix of hard rock and folk yielded one of the longest lasting and most commercially successful bands of all time. The band is fronted by sisters, Ann and Nancy Wilson who wrote many of the band’s songs.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Author of ‘Nutrition & You’ Dr. Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND Mama Rose Marie, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Heart’s “The Essential Heart” album courtesy of SONY Music.

Tag: Divabetic podcast

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Patti LaBelle’s Freeform Apple Tart Recipe

Patti LaBelle’s Freeform Apple Tart

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE

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?

MythBusters: White Foods Are Unhealthy

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