Watermelon Mojito Mocktail Recipe by Splenda

Our friends at Splenda have done it again! They’ve made it possible to indulge in a taste of Summer without guilt. Enjoy this Watermelon Mojito Mocktail recipe by Splenda

Ingredients

4 cubes of fresh watermelon

4 mint leaves

1/2 teaspoon of  Splenda Liquid Sweetener

1 ounce lime juice

5 ounces of lime seltzer water

Instructions

Add watermelon, mint leaves, and Splenda Liquid Sweetener to a cocktail shaker and muddle to release the juices.

Add lime juice and ice and shake until chilled.

Strain over ice-filled glass. Top with lime seltzer water.

Garnish with a watermelon slice and fresh mint.

Get nutritional information and more great recipes at Splenda!

What is A Mocktail?

A mocktail is a cocktail-style beverage made without alcoholic ingredients. It’s an elevated version of the standard non-alcoholic drink. It’s also crafted with sodas, juices, herbs, syrups, and the same mixology methods and tools used for regular mixed drinks. The final product is a non-alcoholic beverage that should be enjoyed and savored, just like a well-mixed cocktail.

Alcohol and Diabetes

Many people with diabetes enjoy an alcoholic beverage.  But when drinking alcohol is combined with the medications most often used to treat diabetes—particularly insulin and sulfonylureas, low blood sugar  (hypoglycemia) can result. While a glass of wine with dinner probably isn’t a big deal, two mojitos on an empty stomach at happy hour is.

Ironically, several symptoms of hypoglycemia—such as slurred speech, drowsiness, confusion, or difficulty walking—are also symptoms of being drunk; it can be difficult to tell the two apart. And if you often have hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition you don’t recognize you’re going low, drinking becomes especially dicey. Timing may also be an issue, as hypoglycemia can strike hours after your last drink, especially if you’ve been exercising.

What Exactly is Moderate Drinking?

It’s one drink daily for women and up to two per day for men. However, that “drink” is much smaller than some think, just five ounces of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or one and a half ounces of 80-proof spirits.

The information above is not a strict and steadfast rule. There are no universal guidelines for drinking alcohol for people with diabetes. Talk to your doctor about your drinking habits and seek their help developing your guidelines.

Alcohol and Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is linked to diabetes. Over time, mismanaged diabetes damages the small blood vessels, causing the walls of the blood vessels to stiffen and malfunction. These changes contribute to high blood pressure.

Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily raises blood pressure. Repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases in blood pressure.

What is Splenda ZERO Liquid Sweetener?

Splenda ZERO Liquid Sweetener has zero calories and dissolves easily in hot and cold beverages, sauces, glazes, and more. Its convenient size makes it easy to take with you anywhere, and its leak-free flip-top lid means no mess when you toss it in your purse, backpack, or briefcase Splenda delivers a variety of great-tasting solutions to help you achieve a healthy, balanced lifestyle without sacrificing taste.

We’re discussing healthy lifestyle swaps for people with diabetes on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast.

With a few simple swaps, you can help live your best life while managing your diabetes. Our experts offer straightforward, simple, and fun swap ideas for drinks, medications, self-care, and fashion. Plus, we share style tips and words of inspiration to help you maintain a healthy habit.

Developing these habits isn’t always easy. Adapting to a new routine can be tricky, and it’s often tempting to want to return to old ways if we don’t see immediate results. One of the biggest mistakes people make when forming a new habit is taking on too much too quickly.  Focus on what’s working in your diabetes self-care plan before overhauling diabetes management. Instead of decluttering the entire house, why not focus on one room or closet? Why not focus on the calories you drink rather than everything you eat?  If you want to eat healthier, try replacing one dessert daily with a piece of fruit rather than cutting out sugar completely. If you’re going to get into hiking, start with a walk at lunchtime. Setting small goals you can achieve will help keep you motivated along the way.

Guests include Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine BrooksPatricia Addie-Gentle RD, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, MEd, NDTR, and Mama Rose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

Need a Summer tune?

Kylie Minogue has taken over the airwaves in my home with this catchy song!! Add it to your workout tape.

New Product: Smirnoff Zero Sugar Infusions

Happy Hour?

If you have diabetes but want to relax with an cocktail, most experts agree that you should avoid sugary concoctions that are loaded with carbohydrates.

Up until now, that might have been a challenge but more and more alcohol companies are adding low carb and low sugar spirits to their offerings.

Smirnoff Zero Sugar Infusions feature zero sugar, and 100% flavor. Each of these new Zero Sugar Infusions clocks in at just 72 calories per 1.5 oz serving—with zero grams of carbohydrates, zero grams of fat, and zero grams of sugar

Smirnoff Zero Sugar Infusions Available In 3 Flavors

Cucumber & Lime is infused with the crisp, cool flavor of a fresh cucumber paired with the bright citrus notes of lime. Simply serve in a stemless wine glass with ice, splash in some soda, garnish with cucumber slices and a lime wedge, and you’re done!

Strawberry & Rose is infused with the delicate & slightly sweet strawberry flavor with a light rose petal finish. Simply serve in a stemless wine glass with ice, splash in some soda, garnish with rose petals and a strawberry, and you’re done!

Watermelon & Mint is infused with juicy watermelon flavor balanced with the taste of fresh mint for a refreshing finish. Simply serve in a stemless wine glass with ice, splash in some soda, garnish with watermelon slices and a mint sprig, and you’re done!

Moderation is key in drinking alcohol whether you have diabetes or not. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends women should have no more than one alcoholic beverage per day, and men should consume no more than two. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 1/2 ounces spirits.

Consuming alcohol can cause your blood sugars to drop (hypoglycemia) as well as liver damage, particularly if you drink in excess, and/or you drink on an empty stomach. Speak to your doctor for guidance on what is best for you.

We’re talking about depictions of diabetes on the silver screen including Steel MagnoliasSoul Food and The Baby-Sitter Club on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music from 2Cellos. How realistic are these portrayals? How do we feel after viewing them?   Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, Kent Gash, Jessica Clark and Muniq Gut Health Shakes Founder, Marc Washington.

Throughout this podcast we will be featured music from the album ‘Score’ by 2Cellos courtesy of SONY Music.

 

 

Christie Brinkley Launches Skinny Champagne

Model and Actress Christie Brinkley has just launched her own wine label featuring Skinny Champagne – – Bellisima Zero Sugar ( a sugar-free organic Brut) along with Bellissima Sparkling Rosé (a sparkling pink wine with hints of strawberry and grapefruit) and Bellissima Brut (a dry Prosecco).  All come from the Treviso-Veneto wine region in Italy. The label art is a colorful play on Botticelli’s classic painting, The Birth of Venus.

The 62-year old entrepreneur has long had a fondness for sparkling wine. She claims she drinks the stuff like it’s vitamin water: “Doctor’s orders: three glasses of Champagne a day! So I’m on it!” she said to The Coveteur. No surprise, then to find that her prosecco, called Bellissima (which means “most beautiful”), is organic.

“To be able to have a prosecco that doesn’t have the villain sugar in it is really exciting,”  Brinkley to Hamptons maagazine. “If you’re dieting and you still want to have that little glass to celebrate with friends, then you have my Zero, and you’ll love the flavor and you’ll love the little giggly thing that you get.”

How did Christie Brinkley make a Zero Sugar prosecco?

By leaving our organic Glera grapes in autoclave for seven months, Christie Brinkley’s wine makers achieve a fresh sparkling wine with zero sugars or artificial flavors. Her website states that the taste is perfectly balanced and pleasantly acidic, it is velvety and dry, with hints of white flowers and grapefruit.

Brut champagnes can contain up to 12 grams of sugar per glass according to an article published in the Telegraph.  The article continues to state that drier styles have become fashionable lately, partly due to hype over their low calorie content. A small 100-125ml glass of brut champagne typically contains around 100 calories, but a properly dry version has nearer 60 calories, hence its nickname ‘diet champagne’.

Christie Brinkley’s one simple food philosophy is to eat as many colorful foods in a day as possible. If it’s vibrant and colorful, it should be on your plate. She eats plenty of vegetables and sticks to bright greens, oranges, purples, and reds, and has been eating this way since she was 12.

“I believe that celebrating what we are grateful for with family, friends and Prosecco contributes to a healthy, happy and sweetly beautiful life,” Christie Brinkley told  PEOPLE of the sparkling new venture.

Drinking & Diabetes: Do They Mix?

While moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels. If you are in doubt about whether drinking alcohol is safe for you, check with your doctor.

TUNE IN to our Diabetes Roundtable podcast inspired by Hoda and Kathie Lee to learn about how alcohol impacts your diabetes.

Here’s Christie’s Bellissima Bellini Recipe

4 oz. organic Bellissima Prosecco DOC Brut or Zero Sugar Sparkling Wine

2 oz. pureed peaches

White peach slice

Step 1: Pour the peach puree into a Prosecco flute. Step 2: Fill said flute with Bellissima. Step 3: Experience Bellissima bliss.

As she says, “Dream big Bellissima dreams, and may they all come true!”

Divabetic (divabetic.org) 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.

Divabetic St. Patrick’s Day: Go Green with Envy!

 

Whether you’re hosting a St. Paddy’s party or simply want to green-ify your day, check out our Divabetic St. Patrick’s Day suggestions! From head-to-toe fashions to the tastiest low carb beers, we’ve put together our picks to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without compromising your diabetes wellness.

“Green is the color of hopefulness, and of our connection to nature. It speaks to what we call the ‘re’ words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew. Every spring we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life affirming to look forward to,” says Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

Though many women may recoil when they are told green is the Color of the Year — some think it is hard to wear — Julianne Moore wore leaf green Givenchy to the 2016 Screen Actors Guild awards, and Hillary Clinton wore it on the campaign trail. And let’s not forget that green is Viola Davis‘ color! She wowed on the 2012 Oscars red carpet in a green Vera Wang gown and a year later the star stepped out yet again in the vibrant hue — by way of an emerald green duchess satin creation by Escada.

“Glamour is the feeling of beauty, with an undertone of femininity, while looking like a lady, for all occasions,” Spokesmodel, Diabetes Advocate, Contributing Editor & Published Writer, Doris Hobbs explains. “Glamour is an illusion, a form of mystery revealing a fragile state that changes with time. Glamour, from my perspective, is defined as recreation from all facets of our lives. Perhaps the best way to describe it is with a ravishing red lipstick, a sensual hourglass silhouette, and style inspiration from such mavens as Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, and Jayne Mansfield.”

Doris doesn’t let diabetes dim her dazzle! Her glucose monitor of choice is the One Touch.  One Touch meters have sufficient memory to store up to 500 tests. This meter results include dates and times, and 7-, 14- and 30-day averages. You can even use your meter to monitors before and after meals.with large display screens, bright backlit displays, and quick screen navigation. When you insert a test strip, the results appear in five seconds; fewer glucose test strips are wasted, as well. Plus, these devices, like the Mini, are small and lightweight.

Speaking of fashion, dozens of women with diabetes say they’d rather risk injury (and potential amputation) than hoof it in traditional diabetes-friendly shoes, which are, by design, wider, more cushioned, and more supportive than your average Manolo.

When you have diabetes, you need to take special care of your feet. That’s why it’s important to check your feet daily and choose your shoes wisely.

Wear well-fitting, comfortable shoes to help keep small foot problems — like a corn, blister, or a callus — from turning into severe ones.

What makes a shoe friendly for people who have lost sensation or have other complications due to diabetes-related nerve damage? It’s all in the construction and fit. People with neuropathy (nerve damage) might not be able to tell when a shoe fits poorly. A podiatrist or a certified shoe fitter can help. Visit the Pedorthic Footcare Association (pedorthics.org) to find a professional nearby.

Once you know your correct size:

Look for shoes that don’t have pointed toes. Instead, choose ones with a spacious “toe box,” so your toes have plenty of wiggle room. That way they won’t be crushed together. You’ll have less chance of corns, calluses, and blisters that can turn into ulcers.

Avoid high-heeled shoes, because they put pressure on the ball of your foot. If you have nerve damage, you might not realize that area is sore or getting calluses. High heels can also cause balance issues, especially if you have nerve damage.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Spotlight on Dr. Maasi J. Smith, from Philadelphia (PA).  Dr. Maasi J. Smith, founder and director of Rittenhouse Foot and Ankle Associates and manufacturer of Dr. Smith’s Foot Care, a complete line of natural foot care products.  Dr. Smith trained in podiatric medicine and surgery with further emphasis on diabetic wound care. His products reflect an interest in providing natural remedies instead of prescriptions which usually include harsh chemical ingredients. This diabetes community trailblazer has also made a mark in the literary world with his self-published work of fiction, Mischiefmakers, which is available on Amazon.com.

From the three main meals of the day to every snack and treat in between, there are endless ways to get your green fix this St. Patrick’s day.

Why not treat yourself to broccoli?  It is very high in fiber and delivers a potent package of Vitamin C — 135 percent of what you need in a day — plus potassium and iron, Postman says. White adds Vitamin K and folate to that list. Like other green cruciferous vegetables (such as Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage and bok choy), it contains nitrogen compounds known as indoles, which, Postman says, have been shown to prevent stomach tumors. In fact, eating broccoli may help reduce the risk of other cancers, too, by virtue of its being rich in carotenoids, antioxidants that are thought to “sponge up free radicals that promote cancer,” Postman explains. Broccoli is also“very high in calcium for a vegetable,” she adds, “though some will quibble” that not all the calcium it contains is easily absorbed by the body.

Tip: For broccoli and other green vegetables, steaming is the best way to retain nutrients; boiling, microwaving or stir-frying may leach some away.

Each year, more than 33 million Irish-Americans and fellow partiers worldwide raise pints of Guinness and forkfuls of cabbage in the name of the Ireland’s primary patron saint. But the good times are too often ruined

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that there’s an increase in binge drinking around holidays such as St.Patrick’s Day, and with binge drinking comes drinking violations, accidents, and even death

Find out how alcohol can effect your diabetes this St. Patrick’s  Day.  While moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels. If you are in doubt about whether drinking alcohol is safe for you, check with your doctor.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable inspired by Hoda & Kathie Lee. The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic takes on the hot topic of  ‘Drinking Divas & Diabetes’ with inspiration from Kathie Lee and Hoda.  Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb always seem to have a drink in hand for the fourth hour of The Today Show.  If you’re around a TV at 10 AM with nothing to do, you should be watching the fourth hour of Today filled with Hoda and Kathie Lee’s theater reviews, occasional dancing, wine reviews and women issues.

“There’s a Japanese concept called ‘forest bathing,’ which says that when you are feeling stressed, one of the best things to do is go walk in the forest,” Ms. Eiseman said. “But if you can’t do that, what can you do? Bring green into your environment. Put in on your body, or in your house or near your desk. That symbolic message is very important.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!