Edith Piaf – Divabetic

09/22/2023

No Regrets Poem By Lorraine Brooks

I asked Poet Lorraine Brooks to write a poem about living with diabetes with no regrets for our podcast featuring music by Edith Piaf.

Born in Paris in 1915, Edith Piaf became a national treasure. She was the voice of France. She began her singing career on the streets, and her only musical apprenticeship came from listening to singers on the capital’s popular radio stations. Her iconic hit, “Non, je ne regrette rien” spent seven weeks atop the French Singles & Airplay Reviews chart. I was inspired to email Lorraine with a laundry list of ideas. My list included having no regrets when checking blood sugars in public, no regrets for standing in front of the exercise class to be closer to the instructor, no regrets for asking for substitutions at the restaurants, no regrets for having dietary restrictions or bringing your meal to a party, and no regrets about firing your doctor.

No Regrets by Lorraine Brooks

Je ne regrette rien.
The where and the why and the when.
If I have a need that is pressing
I never find that it’s distressing.
Like pricking my finger for testing
Or foods that I may be ingesting.
I do not regret when they stare…
Or that I receive Medicare.
I take stock of all of my needs
And all that I need to proceed.
Why regret what makes me feel better?
Maybe it’s ME that’s the trend-setter!
I spend no time feeling regret.
Or that some might think me “heavy set.”
Life is too short for that worry.
So I’ll order that Indian curry.
As long as I’m smart and stay mindful
There’s no reason not to be prideful.
Pack up your cares and remorse.
And stay on your self-caring course.
Kick that regret to the curb.
And start living the life you deserve.

Listen to Lorraine Brooks perform her poem, No Regrets, on Divabetic’s podcast.

Edith Piaf inspires us to discuss living with ‘NO REGRETS’ on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast.

We all have regrets. It is part of human nature. However, hanging onto regrets takes up space and keeps us from enjoying the present moment. The stress factor wreaks havoc on the cells of the body. It affects our blood pressure, energy levels, hormones, and immune response. It also affects the mind. Our thinking process becomes clouded, mistakes are made, and poor choices lead to increased stress. All of these things can affect our diabetes wellness.

If we look carefully enough, we will see that they hold a lesson for the things we regret doing, and if we learn from our regrets, then the regret has served us well.

Edith Piaf’s unique ability to sing from the heart enchanted audiences beyond Paris. Her songs touch one’s heart and spirit, even if one cannot understand the words themselves.

Edith Piaf is helping us sing your praises! We applaud your determination, persistence, and efforts to stay healthy and upbeat about your daily self-care. Together, we are changing the way people learn to live with diabetes.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie.

This podcast features music from the ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

Divabetic podcasts are fast-paced, full-filled hours of diabetes education and wellness advice encouraging listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.”

Help Us Light the Way During National Diabetes Awareness Month (November)

Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Did you know that over 80% don’t know they have it? Prediabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

This November, join Divabetic’s Blue Candle initiative and encourage your friends, co-workers, and family members to be screened for pre-diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers a quick, easy online Pre-Diabetes risk test.

Prediabetes Risk Test

Be by their side when they check, and share your experience of living well with diabetes so they can see that living well with diabetes is possible. Together, we can help others come out of the dark, address their diabetes health status, and start living their lives to the fullest.

Clarence Waldron talks about his stroke, recovery, working as Senior Editor and Writer of Jet Magazine, and his memories of Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin.

Twenty years ago, Clarence interviewed Luther’s mother, Mrs. Mary Ida Vandross, for Jet Magazine after Luther suffered a stroke due to mismanaged type 2 diabetes.

Clarence’s story is an excellent reminder of why it’s essential to ACT F.A.S.T. if you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke. The acronym FAST (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time) has been used by the National Stroke Association, American Heart Association, and others to educate the public on detecting stroke symptoms. Earlier treatment results in a greater chance of recovery, a reduced likelihood of permanent disability, and a lesser need for extensive rehabilitation.

You’ll quickly hear Clarence’s upbeat attitude and ferocious appetite for music and divas have served him well during his recovery. Throughout this podcast, we feature music from Aretha Franklin’s Get It Right album and Luther Vandross’s Live At Radio City Music Hall 2003 20th Anniversary Edition album courtesy of SONY Music.

06/14/201806/14/2018

‘Je ne regrette rien’ by Poet Lorraine Brooks

Je ne regrette rien by Lorraine Brooks
The where and the why and the when.

If I have a need that is pressing
I never find that it’s distressing.
Like pricking my finger for testing
Or foods that I may be ingesting.

I do not regret when they stare…
Or that I receive Medicare.
I take stock of all of my needs
And all that I need to proceed.

Why regret what makes me feel better?
Maybe its ME that’s the trend-setter!
I spend no time feeling regret.
Or that some might think me “heavy set”.

Life is too short for that worry.
So I’ll order that Indian curry.
As long as I’m smart and stay mindful
There’s no reason not to be prideful.

Pack up your cares and remorse.
And stay on your self-caring course.
Kick that regret to the curb.
And start living the life you deserve.

LISTEN NOW: Poet Lorraine Brooks reads her poem, ‘Je ne regrette rien’ on June’s Diabetes Late Nite. We’re talking about having ‘NO REGRETS’ with musical inspiration from Edith Piaf.

We all have regrets. It is part of human nature. However, hanging onto regrets takes up space and keeps us from enjoying the present moment. The stress factor plays havoc on the cells of the body. It affects our blood pressure, energy levels, hormones and immune response. It also affects the mind. Our thinking process becomes clouded, mistakes are made and poor choices lead to increased stress. All of these things can affect our diabetes wellness. For the things we regret doing, if we look carefully enough, we will see that they hold a lesson and if we learn from our regrets then the regret has served us well.

Born in Paris in 1915, Edith Piaf become the voice of France. She began her singing career on the streets, and her only musical apprenticeship came from listening to singers on the capital’s popular radio stations. But Piaf’s ability to sing from the heart, as very few can, soon enchanted audiences beyond Paris. Her songs touch one’s heart and spirit, even if one cannot understand the words themselves.

Edith Piaf is helping us sing your praises! We applaud the determination, persistence and efforts to stay healthy and upbeat about your daily self-care. Together, we are changing the way people learn to live with diabetes.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Best-Selling Author and Weight Loss Expert, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music

06/12/201801/05/2021

Parsley Deviled Eggs by Verna ‘Lady V’ Henry

Deviled eggs are one of the trendiest appetizers at Backyard Cookouts this Summer. The good news is that Deviled eggs are packed with protein and can be a healthier choice than some other party foods. But, the traditional recipe is pretty high in fat and calories. By reducing the amount of egg yolks used and swapping the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt, you can make skinny deviled eggs. They’re the perfect low calorie, high protein snack.

This recipe was inspired by a recent trip to the Hamptons with my friend, Lady V. She loves to shop for fresh produce at the area’s Farmers’ Markets. From Montauk to Westhampton Beach, Farmers’ Markets located throughout the Hamptons are an easy way to shop local and enjoy fresh produce and other delectable finds.

We bought fresh tomatoes and parsley at Babinski’s Farm Stand located at 160 Newlight Ln, Water Mill, NY 11976. They also carry local fish, fruit and vegetables, Debragga Beef, as well as a variety of homemade pies and grocery items such as raspberry jam.

“What makes this Deviled Egg so delicious is the fresh parsley!” says Lady V. “It is also rich in a variety of different vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.”

Parsely Deviled Eggs by Verna Henry

Ingredients:

8 eggs

1/4 cup of Best Foods/Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Dressing With Extra Virgin Olive Oil (tastes more like regular mayonnaise to me than some of the other light mayos)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon of ground mustard

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of pepper

4 cherry tomatoes (for garnish)

Directions:

Boil eggs in water (about 10 minutes).

After eggs cool, slice the hard-boiled eggs in half.

Scoop out the yolks and place them in a medium bowl.

Combine yolks with mayonnaise or yorgurt, parsley, ground mustard.

Continue stirring until the mixture is creamy with no lumps. Season it to taste with salt and pepper.

Fill a pastry bag with the mixture.

Lay the egg white halves on a platter with the yolk hole facing up. Hold the twisted part of the bag containing the mixture with one hand, and use the other hand to hold the bag near the bottom.

Apply even pressure on the top of the bag to force the mixture out through the tip or hole into the yolk hole in the egg. Continue until you fill all of the egg halves.

Garnish the eggs with parsley and cherry tomatoes

Easy to Make Pastry Bag:

If you do not have a pastry bag, fill a medium-size plastic bag (Ziploc Freezer Quart-size) with the yolk mixture and twist the top of the bag to force the mixture toward one of the corners. Use scissors to cut a small hole in the corner of the bag.

Lady V’s Cooking Tip: Overcooked hard-boiled eggs develop a deep green ring on the outside of the yolk that can darken the color of your yolk mixture. To keep your yolks yellow, place the eggs in a pot filled with cold water. Set it over the stove on high heat. When the water begins to boil, immediately remove the pot from heat, cover and let it sit for 15 minutes for large eggs.

The American Diabetes Association considers eggs an excellent choice for people with diabetes. That’s primarily because one large egg contains about half a gram of carbohydrates, so it’s thought that they aren’t going to raise your blood sugar.

Be mindful that eggs are high in cholesterol. One large egg contains nearly 200 mg of cholesterol, but whether or not this negatively affects the body is debatable.

Monitoring your cholesterol is important if you have diabetes because diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. High levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream also raise the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. But dietary intake of cholesterol doesn’t have as profound an effect on blood levels as was once thought. So, it’s important for anyone with diabetes to be aware of and minimize other heart disease risks.

Tune in to Divabetic’s June Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Edith Piaf on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST. We’re talking about living well with diabetes by having ‘NO REGRETS’. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

06/07/2018

Father’s Day Vegetarian Recipe by Holly Clegg

Father’s Day will be quickly upon us, why not surprise Dad with a tasty meatless dish at your celebration? After all, June is Men’s Health Month.

I reached out to my good friend, Best-Selling Cookbook Author Holly Clegg for a vegetarian recipe that will satisfy the meat lovers in your family and help keep Dad healthy and happy.

“This fabulous vegetarian southwestern quinoa recipe will be a game changer for them,” says Best-Selling Cookbook Author, Holly Clegg. “It’s Diabetic Friendly and Gluten Free. You just put quinoa on to cook, sauté vegetables and combine together to pop in the oven for hearty, healthy and absolutely wonderful one-dish quick meal!”

Southwestern Veggie Quinoa Bowl from Holly Clegg’s ‘Guy’s Guide To Eating Well: A Man’s Cookbook For Health and Wellness’

Ingredients:

3/4 cup quinoa

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup chopped onion

1 red bell pepper, cored and chopped

1 cup chopped peeled sweet potato

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon ground chili powder

1 teaspoon ground oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 1/2 cups salsa

1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro

1 cup reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350°F. Coat 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In medium nonstick pot, combine quinoa and water. Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook, covered about 17-20 minutes or until water absorbed and quinoa cooked. Remove from heat and fluff with fork. Set aside.

3. Meanwhile, in large nonstick pan coated with nonstick cooking spray, sauté onion, bell pepper, sweet potato, and garlic until tender, about 5-7 minute or until tender. Add chili powder, oregano, and cumin.

4. To vegetables, add cooked quinoa, black beans, salsa, and cilantro.

5. Transfer quinoa mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with cheese. Bake 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Makes 6 (1-cup) servings

Holly Clegg’s Terrific Tip: “Chicken may be added if you want a heartier meal. Garnish with diced avocado, tomatoes, and cilantro.”

Nutrients: Calories:250 kcal, Calories from Fat: 21%, Fat: 6 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 12 mg, Sodium: 600 mg, Carbohydrates: 36 g, Dietary Fiber: 7 g, Total Sugars: 6 g, Protein:12g, Dietary Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 2 starch, 1 lean meat

Eating Less Meat Doesn’t Make You Less Manly

Although a vegetarian or vegan diet won’t “cure” type 1 or type 2 diabetes — despite some erroneous claims — scientists have found that a meatless diet can do quite a bit of good for people with diabetes. A study in Diabetes Care showed that people with type 2 diabetes on a vegan diet lowered their cholesterol and improved their kidney function. And eating more vegetables and carbohydrates that are low on the glycemic index can help make it easier to manage your blood sugars.

If you’re considering a vegetarian diet, please consult with your doctor. Additionally, it may be helpful to speak with a registered dietitian (RD) who can help you create an eating plan that provides all the necessary nutrients and the right number of calories to maintain a healthy weight.

Why not give Dad a cookbook for Father’s Day?

Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Guy’s Guide to Eating Well: A Man’s Cookbook for Health and Wellness address common male needs with coordinating ingredients that help alleviate men-specific symptoms and help prevent men’s diseases- all with an emphasis on hearty, king-of-the-grill simple and super-satisfying recipes.

There’s over 150 simple, satisfying and nutritious recipes. Yes, burgers and pizza!! In this healthy men’s cookbook, each recipe includes terrific tips (shortcuts), menu suggestions and nutrition nuggets, which answers the “Why is this good for me question!” Start eating healthy with this preventive health cookbook with recipes for men to cook to help manage testosterone, diabetes, cancer, weight-gain, joint pain and heart disease – plus recipes for quick meals, slow cookers and outdoor cooking.

Best-selling cookbook author, Holly Clegg, and men’s health specialist, Dr. Curtis Chastain partnered together to create the perfect man’s cookbook for you to look good and feel good. Everything a man could want in a cookbook, plus more! That means it is your turn to take on the kitchen!

06/05/201806/07/2018

Many Women with Early Breast Cancer may not need Chemo, Study finds

Most women with early-stage breast cancer may be able to avoid chemotherapy, a new study finds.

Researchers found that patients with smaller-sized tumors that had not spread to the lymph nodes did just as well without chemo as those who got the treatment, according to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Experts added that the findings may not apply to those who have larger tumors or those with cancer that has started to spread, or metastasize. More studies are needed to look at those groups of women, they said.

“This is a really big deal,” said Dr. Adam Brufsky, a coauthor on the new study and a professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. The bottom line, Brufsky said, is that doctors now have a test to determine which early-stage patients — and that’s most of them — can skip chemotherapy.

Of the more than 250,000 women in the U.S. expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, the new findings could benefit more than 63,000 with non-invasive, or early stage, disease.

Mr. Divabetic Show podcast on Breast Cancer with guests Dr. April Speed, Award-winning Songwriter and Author Mary Sue Englund, Actress and Writer, E.P. McKnight, TeamWILD Founder, Mari Michelle Ruddy and Poet Lorraine Brooks CLICK HERE

Is There a Connection Between Diabetes and Breast Cancer?

The connection between having a high body mass index (a height-to-weight ratio that’s used as the standard measure to assess weight-associated health risks that you can calculate for yourself on the National Institutes of Health website) and breast cancer is well established and thought to be related to metabolism, inflammation and hormones.

A meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2012 that found “the risk of breast cancer in women with Type 2 diabetes is increased by 27 percent, a figure that decreased to 16 percent after adjustment for BMI,” meaning the researchers had controlled for overweight and obesity. This elevated risk was seen in Type 2 diabetes and among post-menopausal women.

Additionally, breast cancer survivors, who are post-menopausal, have a higher chance of developing diabetes. Scientists are becoming increasingly aware of an association between diabetes and cancer.

Mr. Divabetic Show podcast on ‘Diabetes, Breast Cancer & You’ featuring guests Dr. April Speed MD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Amy, who is a four time cancer survivor living with type 1 diabetes and Jana, who is a breast cancer survivor living with type 2 diabetes CLICK TO LISTEN

Tune in to Divabetic’s 8th Year Anniversary podcast, Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Edith Piaf on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

06/04/201806/04/2018

Divabetic’s Diabetes Awareness Day Postponed

Divabetic’s Diabetes Awareness Dayoutreach program at Mosaic Central Farm Market on Sunday, June 3, 2018 has been postponed due to weather.

Our biggest diabetes outreach event of the year, Diabetes Awareness Day features a colorful Dog Fashion Show, Health Screenings, Healthy Food Tours, Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstrations & Discussion, Plate Poetry Project Art Displays, and Live Folk Music with Rick Franklin at Mosaic Central Farm Market in Fairfax, VA.

Here’s a complete listing of Diabetes Awareness Day Events & Activities at Mosaic Central Farm Market which we will be rescheduling:

9:30 AM Lions Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children (until 12 PM): Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.

10 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

10:30 AM Dog Fashion Show Registration & Rehearsal: Dogs of all breeds and sizes are welcome to compete on the red carpet for fabulous prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors. REGISTER NOW: https://goo.gl/forms/WWxkBrs7ugpfK38P2

10:45 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Dietitian Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

11:30 AM Dog Fashion Show: See the best dressed dogs pose on the Red Carpet at our 2^ndAnnual Dog Fashion Show. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic:

12 PM Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstration & Talk: Find out how dogs help people manage their blood sugar high’s and low’s, answer your questions and share resources for purchasing a diabetes alert dog and/or training your own pet. Presented by internationally known Scent Detection Dog Expert, Debby Kay and Health Educator, Kathy Gold RN, CDE

1 PM Plate Poetry Project & Workshop: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCalsin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conversations that people have with themselves while eating. Divabetic volunteers help adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems.

Acoustic Blues Musician and songwriter, Rick Franklin will be performing throughout at Diabetes Awareness Day. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.