Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport

11/12/2021

Once In A Blue Moon Program Recap & Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic presented Divabetic’s Once In a Blue Moon program on Zoom. This free, fun-filled, informative hour of diabetes outreach featured presentations from Maryann Nicolay MEd, NDTR, Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD, and Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller.

Wendy Satin Rapaport, aka The Diabetes Psyche, shared strategies to help us overcome negative feelings related to judgment and stigma. Dr. Wendy encourages us to use a technique called positive reframing. Positive reframing involves thinking about an adverse or challenging situation in a more positive way. Rather than contemplating feelings of frustration and helplessness, look at your situation with fresh eyes. For example, instead of saying, “I’d did something bad,” when looking at the number on your glucose meter, say, “Oh, this is helpful information.” Suppose you’re in a situation you truly can’t change. In that case, you can reframe your thoughts and change how you feel about it by finding benefits in the situation you face. She also encouraged us to find humor in our daily diabetes lives. When you’re looking for benefits, it doesn’t mean you gloss over negatives; you simply notice positives as well and focus on them.

MaryAnn Nicolay spotlighted the benefits of adding winter squashes (butternut, acorn, pumpkin, and spaghetti) to your meal plan. Winter squashes contain LOTS of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. In addition, they can promote heart and eyes health, lower risks of some cancers, and help with high blood pressure.

Below is the Creamy Butternut Squash Soup recipe from MaryAnn Nicolay’s presentation.

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup Recipe from Robin Blair-Ackinson MPH

Ingredients

2 Butternut Squash, medium

2 Granny Smith Apples

2 cups Vanilla Almond Milk (or Soy Milk)

½ tsp Salt

1 tsp Ground Nutmeg

2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

½ tsp Ground Ginger (optional)

Directions:

Peel and dice squash and apples
Season squash with a little cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt
Roast squash and apples on a roasting pan for 40-45 minutes in a 425-degree oven
Heat milk to just below boiling
Place squash and apples in a blender. Slowly add milk. If the soup is too thick, thin it with a little vegetable stock.
Return to pot and add spices. Simmer until hot

Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller helped us to determine which style and type of blue jeans work with our figures. The blue circle is a symbol for World Diabetes Day, November 14, 2021. In addition, the blue circle signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic.

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?

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Holiday-themed Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 9, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

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

Over 120 people registered for our last Divabetic Baking Party so don’t miss out!

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 traditional bakery items.

REGISTER NOW – FREE REGISTRATION

11/20/202011/21/2020

Al Roker Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Al Roker told his Today show audience that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Roker, 66, mentioned that he will leave the show for a while to have surgery. “It’s a good news-bad news kind of thing,” he said. “Good news is we caught it early.”

He underwent a five-hour surgery by Dr. Vincent Laudone on November 9 at New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to remove his prostate and some surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.The surgery went well, and Al was already doing laps around the hospital hallways by that afternoon. He was home by the following day and bustling through his regular five-mile walk around the park just three days after the surgery.

“I feel good,” Al said. “The technology has gotten so good – they did it with a robot – that I felt much better after the surgery than I did with any of my joint replacements.

WATCH INTERVIEW

The 5 Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer

A painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation.
Frequent urination, particularly at night.
Difficulty stopping or starting urination.
Sudden erectile dysfunction.
Blood in urine or semen.

In addition, you may have pain around the base of the penis and behind the scrotum, pain in the lower back, and the feeling of a full rectum. As the prostate becomes more swollen, you may find it more difficult to urinate, and the urine stream may become weak.

We’re celebrating World Diabetes Day with musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin.

There are many reasons that Aretha Franklin is the legend of legends, a groundbreaking singer with the fortitude to transcend race and genre, using that tremulous voice as the bulldozer to break down every barrier set up in her way.

Aretha’s own health journey is sparking a discussion about the uncertain connection between pancreatic cancer and diabetes. Long-standing diabetes can be considered a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. It causes a modest increase in risk of 1.5- to two-fold. Some of the other risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), family history of pancreatic cancer, obesity and certain genetic syndromes.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Strong’s owner Christel Oerum, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup”Author Suzanne Perez, Jessica Clark, Trisha Artman, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ 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.”

07/31/2020

31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts, Day Thirty One

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 31, we’re spotlighting Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Maria Callas from January 2020. We’re talking about ways to help minimize the drama in our daily diabetes lives.

Maria Callas changed the way we listen to opera—and charged the ambition of the singers who followed her. Her ability to interpret a wide variety of different roles truly set her apart, establishing her as a phenomenon, an operatic diva. She was able to fully exploit the dramatic strength of her low vocal range as much as the high and bright notes of her high range.

Opera takes any type of dramatic story and tries to make it more exciting and more believable with the help of music. Symptoms and situations related to diabetes are often dramatic and come on very suddenly. But how do you react to them? Are you ‘drama queen’?

If there’s drama in multiple areas of your diabetes life, be honest with yourself—you’re the constant. Are you creating it? We don’t do anything repeatedly unless there’s something in it for us, so, what’s the payoff?

Every time we find ourselves immersed in something that seems overwhelming, we have an opportunity to learn how to deal with challenges better.

Guests include Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Lorraine Brooks, American Heart and American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador Rob Taub, Yoga for Diabetes Author and Director Rachel Zinman and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN,CDE.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Grandiose Stimmen: Maria Callas 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

https://youtu.be/sLcbfF9ypmM

07/28/202007/29/2020

31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts, Twenty Eight

On Day 28, we’re spotlighting Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Aretha Franklin podcast from November 2018.

Although the Queen of Soul didn’t talk much about her diabetes, she admitted to a local news station in 2014 that she was living with diabetes, but did not specify whether it was type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Later on in another interview reprinted in BlackDoctor.org, she alluded to living with diabetes when she discussed maintaining her 85 pound weight loss. Aretha Franklin said, “I have diabetes, really, from years ago when I was really badly and grossly overweight. Now, I’m back to my natural size and thrilled about it.”

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Strong‘s owner Christel Oerum, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup” Author Suzanne Perez, Jessica Clark, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ courtesy of SONY Music.

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

https://youtu.be/XHsnZT7Z2yQ

06/22/202006/22/2020

Divabetic Mystery Phrase #18

Can you complete our Divabetic Mystery Phrase below?

Not only does it simply feel good to believe in yourself, it can help you deal with stress and difficult emotions better.

Constant worrying or self-doubt about what you are or are not doing to manage your diabetes isn’t empowering. That inner dialogue isn’t true, or even real.

If you’re struggling to cope with your diabetes diagnosis: try repeating positive affirmations to yourself each morning to steer your mood in the right direction. This way of thinking can be helpful when the mental burden of diabetes management gets tough.

We also encourage you to seek out a qualified therapist like our colleagues: Dr. Beverly S. Adler CDE, PhD, Janis Roszler or Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD.

“People without diabetes can feel loneliness, anger, guilt, and shame or use denial, rebellion or secrecy. The addition of diabetes to your daily life increases the likelihood of complex emotions,” says Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport aka ‘The Diabetes Pysche’. She adds, “My goal is to help you recognize these normal and demanding feelings and then move past them to do better.“

“Wisdom is avoiding all thoughts which weaken you.” – anonymous

Making your diabetes wellness your top priority will help you find the life flow that you can manage and maintain.

Inner strength comes from knowing you have the tools you need to handle life’s challenges. If at first you don’t succeed then rely on your strength for progress. Optimism is a source of courage and confidence. It motivates us to set goals, to take risks. It encourages persistence in the face of obstacles.

Healthy Self-Belief is Not Bragging, or Boasting.

If you have lost your self-belief, remember that you can regain it with the right steps and actions. One way to jumpstart your self belief is to take inventory of what you’ve already achieved. If you’re struggling with your diabetes self-care, focus on the basics—don’t get bogged down in details or reaching for perfection. And don’t forget to celebrate your successes.

Understanding 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.

Healthy-ojas
Vital info for Healthier life

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.

06/16/202006/17/2020

Divabetic Mystery Phrase #17

Can you complete our Divabetic Mystery Phrase below? Diabetes self-care can be emotionally taxing, but reframing your mind-set with positive affirmations can have powerful results.

Constant worrying or self-doubt about what you are or are not doing isn’t empowering. That inner dialogue isn’t true, or even real.

We also encourage you to seek out a therapist like our colleagues, Dr. Beverly S. Adler CDE, PhD, Janis Roszler or Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD.

“People without diabetes can feel loneliness, anger, guilt, and shame or use denial, rebellion or secrecy. The addition of diabetes to your daily life increases the likelihood of complex emotions,” says Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport aka ‘The Diabetes Pysche’. She adds, “My goal is to help you recognize these normal and demanding feelings and then move past them to do better.“

“Wisdom is avoiding all thoughts which weaken you.” – anonymous

Making your diabetes wellness your top priority will help you find the life flow that you can manage and maintain.

Like many habits, inner strength, resilience and/or wherewithal can be attained states the Power of Positivity website. It doesn’t matter if someone is thought of as weak or timid; they can still overcome life’s challenges

We’re talking about overeating, binge eating and food addiction on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Mama Rose Marie, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Megrette Fletcher MEd, RD,CDE and Cat Beach with music from Kelly Clarkson.

06/13/202006/13/2020

Divabetic Mystery Phrase #16

Can you complete ‘The Staple Singers’-themed Divabetic Mystery Phrase below? Diabetes self-care can be emotionally taxing, but reframing your mind-set can have powerful results.

Constant worrying or self-doubt about what you are or are not doing isn’t empowering. That inner dialogue isn’t true, or even real.

We also encourage you to seek out a therapist like our colleagues, Dr. Beverly S. Adler CDE, PhD, Janis Roszler or Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD.

“People without diabetes can feel loneliness, anger, guilt, and shame or use denial, rebellion or secrecy. The addition of diabetes to your daily life increases the likelihood of complex emotions,” says Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport aka ‘The Diabetes Pysche’. She adds, “My goal is to help you recognize these normal and demanding feelings and then move past them to do better.

Self respect is a vital aspect of self love. The more you respect yourself, the more you are able to love yourself.

Making yourself feel good physically is one of the ultimate ways to respect yourself according to PositivelyPresent.com. Treat your body as you would the body of someone you love dearly. Healthy food, exercise, low stress. Respecting your body is an essential aspect of self-respect.

Start believing in yourself and believing deeply—on every level—that you are doing your best.

We think you’re fabulous! Taking care of yourself and your diabetes health.

Love a good mystery?

Listen to Divabetic’s Cozy Mystery Radio Drama, Swan Wake, available on demand with this player.

Swan Wakehttps://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2018/09/11/swan-wake–5th-annual-diabetes-mystery-podcast

When the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic heads to the Gotham City Ballet Company’s box office to fix a mix up with his ‘Swan Lake’ tickets he’s faced with a even bigger problem – a murder. To make matters worse, one of his latest culinary creations, a gluten free cheesecake, seems to be covering the victim’s face. Even more shocking are the numerous scandals swirling around the Gotham City Ballet and it’s members that have everyone walking around on tip toes. Could our happy healthcare host’s questionable culinary skills make him an accessory to the crime or even a possible side dish? Now Mr. Divabetic with the help of his team of whip smart Diabetes Educators, a Best-Selling Mystery writer and his own nosy Italian Mom must whip up his own crime-solving recipe, and fast–before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends his diabetes advocacy and healthy catering career once and for all.

Our Swan Wake cast features Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, We Are Diabetes organization founder Asha Brown, Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Mary Ann Nicolay MEd, DTR , Mama Rose Marie and Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ and Poet Lorraine Brooks.

05/27/202005/27/2020

Questions Your Therapist Might Ask During Your First Session

You made your first therapy appointment and although you know it’s a positive step, you may still feel hesitant. To ease your pre-appointment nerves, we asked our friend and Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Psy.D. LCSW aka The Diabetes Psyche, to share three questions she asks during the first therapy session to help clients living with diabetes feel more comfortable with the process.

1. What prompted you to seek therapy now?

Wendy Satin Rapaport Psy D (WSR): This is an important question because we, as therapists, want to understand whose idea it is (parent? spouse?) and what is bringing you, so that we have YOUR agenda. You can always ask us questions too because this is all about you and my goal as a therapist is to make you comfortable in this situation.

2. Up until now, how have you been coping with your diabetes?

WSR: This question allows you to begin to see the original response you had to your diabetes diagnosis and if and how you have changed. The question implies that people change over time. It also asks you to determine your opinion with your assessment – not the family or medical team’s response.

3. Have you ever done therapy before? If so, what parts were helpful and what parts were not? Do you think you will have the courage to let me know when I am helpful or not?

WSR: This series of questions gives the therapist an idea of your acceptance and/or resistance of getting the help and then honors your control over this experience. A therapist is for a resting place, education, and prevention of bad habits and the startup of good habits.

Getting to Know You …

WSR: Before your first session, your therapist will likely request intake paperwork and maybe a questionnaire that asks for your medical history, medications, mental health services, current issues or stressors, an assessment of depression or anxiety, and what you hope to get out of therapy. They may want you to elaborate on them during your initial session. Any of the papers the therapist asked you to fill out so that you begin to think about how you feel as well besides letting your therapist know what’s going on for youAnd if you are not comfortable filling out papers your therapist will understand that as well but remember everything is confidential.

The beauty of a therapist in your life is a chance for it to be all about you in the most loving way. It is like a friendship in part with the promise of complete confidentiality. You do not have to please your therapist. What freedom.

Friendship Matters: memoir, life lessons, laughter by Sandra Neshin Bernstein Psy.D. and Wendy Satin Rapaport Psy.D. LCSW

Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport Psy.D. LCSW has worked as a social worker and psychologist specializing in diabetes for twenty-eight years.

Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport Psy.D. LCSW, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Alexis Gray, Author of the Noodle Shop Mysteries: Vivien Chien, Lorraine and Brooks, Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE guest on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music from Maren Morris.

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LISTENER SURVEY

05/24/202005/29/2020

Divabetic Mystery Phrase #3

Can you complete the Mystery Phrase below? Diabetes self-care can be emotionally taxing, but reframing your mind-set can have powerful results. Upbeat, kind, encouraging and gentle words that you say to yourself can help!

Self-help books often promote the power of positive affirmations. If you’ve never tried them before, the idea can seem incredibly awkward to tell yourself how awesome you are.

Positive affirmations help to re-program your thought patterns and change the way you think and feel about things. They are short positive statements that can help you focus on goals, get rid of negative, self-defeating beliefs and program your subconscious mind.

And yes, there is genuine theory and a fair amount of neuroscience behind this practice.

We’re talking about how to minimize the drama in our diabetes lives with music from the ultimate diva, Maria Callas on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late NIte podcast.

Are you a drama queen?

Every time we find ourselves immersed in something that seems overwhelming, we have an opportunity to learn how to deal with challenges better.

Guests include Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport PhD, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Lorraine Brooks, American Heart and American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador Rob Taub, Yoga for Diabetes Author and Director Rachel Zinman and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN,CDE.

04/08/202004/08/2020

What Do All Types of Diabetes Have in Common?

We’re testing one lucky diva’s Diabetes IQ about what people with diabetes has in ‘common’ on April’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Maren Morris.

Maren Morris and fellow Country music singer and songwriter, Brandi Carlile‘s new duet “Common“ inspires our monthly quiz. The song appears on Maren Morris‘ album Girl which will be featured throughout the podcast.

Here’s a sneak peek at Divabetic’s Common Quiz:

What Do All Types of Diabetes Have In Common?

A. your body doesn’t make enough insulin

B. you body can’t use the insulin it does produce

B a combination of both A and B

ANSWER: C). A combination of both A and B. According to WebMD, all types of diabetes have this in common: either your body doesn’t make enough insulin, it can’t use the insulin it does produce, or a combination of both. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use glucose (blood sugar) for energy.

Don’t miss April’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2020, 6 PM, EST

Country music’s brightest star, Maren Morris inspires us to stay strong as we face the challenges of living with diabetes during the coronavirus pandemic. Guests include Author of the Noodle Shop Mysteries: Vivien Chien, Lorraine Brooks, Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport PhD, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and Alexis Gray.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Maren Morris’s Girl album courtesy of SONY Music

TUNE IN