Tune In to December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring Holiday Music from Harry Connick, Jr.

We’re talking about ’Eating Right, Being Bright’ during the holidays with musical inspiration from Harry Connick, Jr. and his 16 piece big band on December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST.

Harry Connick, Jr. is among today’s most successful and multi-talented artists, who has garnered acclaim in both  music and acting. His won both Grammy and Emmy awards as well as received Tony nominations.

Harry Connick, Jr.’s wife, Jill Connick is a breast cancer survivor.  The couple credit timely screening and early detection for her good health and well-being. Together they have teamed up to encourage people 50 years and older to talk with healthcare providers about colon cancer screening, including the modern, noninvasive options.

Podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Lorraine Brooks, Dan Houdeshel, Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ and Pendulum Glucose Control‘s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Orville Kolterman and Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy Author Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Harry For The Holidays album courtesy of SONY Music. Harry Connick, Jr.’s second Christmas album, Harry for The Holidays is as much a salute to his New Orleans musical roots as it is to the season.

TUNE IN 

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 10, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

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4 Ways to Thrive during the Holidays When You Are a Caregiver

1. Identify specific stressors

While it’s easy to lump stress altogether, identifying where your stress is coming from is necessary. Here are a few factors family caregivers often say are causing them anxiety and stress:

Worrying that the senior’s needs aren’t being met

Feeling concerned about neglecting a spouse, partner, or children

Lacking enough time to get things done

Missing work due to caregiving duties

Needing more time for self-care

Once you’ve identified where you are struggling, it’s easier to find solutions. For example, call your church or synagogue to see if they have a volunteer visitor program for homebound seniors. This assistance would allow your loved one to have a regular visitor, and you to take a break.

2. Accept that no one can do it all

One mistake caregivers routinely make is thinking they can and must do everything alone. In most situations, that just isn’t realistic. Before the holidays are in full swing this year, set a goal to be more pragmatic. Here are a few ideas to consider for your holiday goal setting:

Simplify holiday celebrations: It really is okay to simplify holiday traditions while you are busy caregiving. Instead of cooking a formal, sit-down dinner for family and friends, ask everyone to bring a dish or find a restaurant you can all meet at for a meal. Remind yourself that it doesn’t have to be forever, just until life is a little calmer.

Responding to invitations: Most people have a difficult time saying no. Set your feelings of guilt aside and don’t feel obligated to attend every holiday event you are invited to. On the flip side, don’t feel guilty if you want to go to a party and have someone else stay with your loved one. A night out to laugh and enjoy yourself will likely make you a better caregiver.

3. Your health matters, too

The hectic pace of the holidays combined with the demands of caregiving, can lead many to take shortcuts with their diet and to skip exercising. Neither is a good idea.

If you need to rely on fast food or take out during the holiday rush, review the menus (and nutritional content!) at your favorite restaurants and opt for those that are the healthiest. This information on healthy foods at big chain restaurants will help.

4. Explore senior care options

Caregiving is a lot of work any time of year. Before the height of the holiday season, explore your local senior care options. Adult day centers and home care are two possibilities. Respite care and assisted living are others. You can take advantage of these services on a short-term or permanent basis.

Sometimes, during the holiday season, caregivers begin to realize that a senior loved one needs more assistance than can be provided at home. If this situation sounds familiar, we’d like to help.

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Elvis Presley

We’re talking about how to not let diabetes dim your dazzle during the holiday season with our panel of experts on Divabetic’s popular Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Elvis Presley.

Guests include Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, Mandy Reece PHARMD, CDE, BC-ADM, FAADE, Rachel Zinman,  the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage. 

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” album courtesy of SONY Music.

The album brings together Elvis Presley’s best-loved yuletide performances from “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (1957) and “Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas” (1971) re-imagined with sublime and exquisite new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

‘No Sex’ is All I Want For Christmas

Mariah Carey’s iconic holiday song, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ might be at the top of the music charts but ‘SEX’ is at the bottom of Santa’s list for women with diabetes this season.

https://youtu.be/qLyQdJQNhSQ

Vaginal dryness is the most common sexual issue for women who have diabetes and one of the reasons they choose not to have sex during the holidays. High blood sugar levels can harden the blood vessels in the vaginal wall. That can affect lubrication and make sex uncomfortable.

High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage throughout the body can affect a woman’s ability to experience sexual stimulation and arousal.

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Yolanda Adams

Janis Roszler RD, CDE, LDN, the author of ‘SEX and Diabetes’ answers your most asked questions about intimacy and diabetes including ‘Can I Lose Sensation in My Clitoris’ and ‘Why Viagra and Cigarettes Don’t Mix’ on December’s Diabetes Late Nite with music from Yolanda Adams.

LISTEN NOW

SEX & Diabetes

Having diabetes and being in a relationship can prove to be a very complicated and delicate situation. Even if your relationship is strong, it can be stressful to deal with the complication. Janis Roszler and Donna Rice’s team up together to guide you on having an active, healthy sex life while having diabetes in ‘SEX and Diabetes’.

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How I Lost 100 Pounds – Amazing Weight Loss Stories

November’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Autumn Reed, who is living with type 2 diabetes, has successfully lost and maintained an amazing 100+ pounds. Autumn, the self-confessed “The Queen of Meal Prep” shares her journey and advice for others interested in transforming their diabetes health exclusively with Divabetic:


Q: Describe your lifestyle before you began your weight loss journey? (Habits, work schedule, priorities, activity level, meals, etc.)

Autumn’s response: My lifestyle before I began my weight loss journey is best described as lazy. I could always come up with an excuse not to eat healthier or exercise. I worked 40+ hours a week, I had my family to feed, this or that body part hurt and my favorite… I’m too tired. My activity level was beyond sedentary. On weekends I would take a nap between breakfast and lunch. I thought exercise was a punishment and why on earth would I want to eat something green.

Q: Have you tried to lose weight in the past? If so, please describe what stopped you. 

Autumn’s response: I tried and succeeded in losing weight in the past, only to gain it all and then some back. Ten years before my diagnosis I lost 125 lbs doing the low carb diet, like the Keto, under a doctor’s supervision. It’s certainly not a diet you can live on forever. 

Q: What triggered this weigh loss? Did any celebrities inspire you? Books?

Autumn’s response: This time my weight loss was triggered by my need to live. My diagnosis of diabetes was my wake-up call to better health. Finding an online support group that promoted “the plate method” was a huge factor in my success.

Q: When were you diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? What were your initial thoughts? 

Autumn’s response: I was diagnosed with type 2 on 12/4/2016 (for the second time).  Approximately 10 years prior my doctor did blood work, gave me Byetta for 3 months, redid my blood work and then said, “go about life as usual”. I was never told how serious it is. I was never told that once you’re diabetic, you’re always diabetic. I wasn’t smart enough back then to stop and realize that I needed to find out about diabetes and change my life. I’m guessing that was probably my lazy, sedentary lifestyle talking.

Q: How did or does your type 2 diabetes factor into your decision to lose weight? How has your self-care routine changed? 

Autumn’s response: My first thought this time around was I would spend the rest of my life never eating what I wanted, ever again.  How could I never eat a cookie or pizza?  My type 2 diabetes factored into my weight loss when I reached 281 lbs. I experienced high glucose crankiness, had no energy and was out of breath tying my shoes or walking from the car to the store.  I knew it was time to change. My self-care has changed tremendously… meal prep is my new middle name.  I also started exercising at least once a day and sometimes twice. Injuries have gotten in the way and caused me to slow down but not stopped me.

Q: Name 1-2 obstacles in your weight loss journey and describe how you managed to overcome them.

Autumn’s response: The 2 major obstacles in my weight loss journey have been a broken ankle and a torn meniscus, which caused my activity level to decrease immensely. It’s very frustrating not being able to enjoy my exercise routines. 

Autumn Reed profiled in Diabetes Forecast Magazine

Q: List 1-3 tips that have worked for you to lose weight and maintain your weight loss. 

Autumn’s response: My tips for weight loss:

1.        Plan meals or plan ahead.I use MyFitnessPal to calorie and carb count my meals, I bought a Fitbit fitness tracker and if I go out to eat, I look at the menu ahead of time.

2.       Hold yourself accountable. Nobody is perfect. If you eat something or do something that makes you feel guilty, own up to it with yourself instead of being hard on yourself. It’s easier to screw up once and move on then to keep repeating it.

3.       Find a support system. Enlist family, friends, a local group or online support – it’s the only way. 

To maintain my weight loss:

1.        Plan meals.

2.       Celebrate every goal met.

3.       See a dietitian. 

Q: Who’s on your team?  Name 1-2 people (friends/family and/or health professionals) and describe the role they have played in helping you manage your health.

Autumn’s response: My husband has been so supportive throughout my journey. He helps with meal prepping and his lunches are the bomb – no more drive-throughs, lol. The online support group Type 2 Diabetes Plate Method Support has been my biggest support of all. Cindy Lou, Ansley Dalbo and Rick Storm just to name a few have been key players in my success. They’ve taught me so much about diabetes, food, my body and exercise. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone who living with type 2 diabetes seeking to lose weight?

Autumn’s response: My advice to any type 2 seeking to lose weight would be talk to your doctor, see a dietitian and do as much reading and research as you can because this is YOUR body. Holidays at first were the worst! Now I just factor in what I WANT to eat and roll with it. If I eat a little extra, I don’t punish myself –  I just know it’s only one meal or snack and move on. No more dwelling on enjoying things I like to eat. 

Q: The holiday season is just around the corner, what tools do you use to navigate the holidays and stay on track with your health?

Autumn’s response: I have been involved in a few online support groups. Diabetes-What to know, Type 2 support and Type 2 Diabetes-Plate Method Support. My goal is to help educate other type 2 diabetics on this disease and let them know that diabetes is a word… NOT a sentence.  My October went very well despite its challenges of health and family issues. This month I plan to research and find more recipes that are health and holiday friendly. I’ll be honest, the online support that I’ve found has really changed my health and my entire life. I help admin in a group and find that I learn just as much from them as they do from me.  I’m not sure about someone I’ve helped directly but it sure does feel amazing to see others posting their weight loss or A1C on the group page. I know to a lot of those people we are their only support. They look forward to the informative and educational posts. We can even lighten the mood with some diabetes “funnies” occasionally. 

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Jennifer Hudson

We’re sharing amazing weight loss journeys & ways to help overcome fears related to Hypoglycemia with guests: Vanessa Hunter, Dr. Wendy Rapaport PsyD, Dr. Stewart Harris, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and Autumn Reed on Novembers’ Diabetes Late Nite inspired by Jennifer Hudson

LISTEN NOW

Autumn Reed shares how small changes added up to big results in weight loss in Diabetes Forecast Magazine.

Her A1C went from 7.3 to 5 percent, and she was able to come off her diabetes medications completely. Best of all, she’s less interested in sitting around the house. “I feel like a different person—like the person who was inside all this time but couldn’t get out.”

READ NOW

Don’t Let Diabetes Dim Your Dazzle this Holiday Season!

The holidays are depressing times for some people. We think everyone else is partying with a loving family, while we don’t have family, or don’t like them, or they are far away. Diabetes doesn’t help.

You might feel the weight of diabetes more at this time, because you can’t let go and celebrate like everyone else. Or maybe you do let go and then beat yourself up over it.

Need some inspiration and advice to stay on track with your diabetes wellness goals this holiday season?

Tune in to Divabetic’s free Diabetes Late Nite podcast available on demand featuring holiday music by the sensational singer, Leona Lewis. Our podcast guests include Diabetes Alert Dog Trainer & Scent Detection Expert Debby Kay, Mindful Eating Expert Megrette Fletcher RD CDE, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, and ‘The Secrets to Living & Loving With Diabetes’ Author Janis Roszler RD, CDE, LDN.

Additionally, Emmy Award winning Producer Linda Bracero Morel, who is living with type 2 diabetes,  shares her remarkable weight loss journey, Poet Lorraine Brooks provides wordy wisdom and Mama Rose Marie offers some motherly adivce.

One of Mama Rose Marie’s helpful tips is to start visiting neighbors, former co-workers, and older family members who are shut in during the holiday season. Help someone shop, escort them to doctors appointments (and take notes) and/or drive them to social activies like bridge.  Please open your heart and share love and companionship to a population that is in need.

Enjoy Diabetes Late Nite featuring holiday music from Leona Lewis courtesy of SONY MUSIC. LISTEN NOW

‘Blue Christmas’ Sugarfree Lemon and Blueberry Tartlet Recipe from the Diabetic Pastry Chef

Over the past year we have shared healthy recipes, style and entertaining suggestions and diabetes care tips to help you embrace holiday celebrations without compromising your diabetes self-care.

We know many people in our Divabetic community don’t like to celebrate the holidays including Christmas Eve and Christmas because they feel they may disrupt their diabetes care. But with a little pre-planning and guidance from your healthcare entourage you can still enjoy the festivities without failing your diabetes.

Our good friend, Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ offers this Sugar-Free Lemon and Blueberry Tartlet recipe to add to your menu for ‘Blue Christmas’ Day celebration.

Long after singer Fats Domino found his thrill on Blueberry Hill, researchers have found some thrilling news about blueberries. These tiny berries may play a big role in helping manage diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), berries are a diabetes superfood because they’re packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber — plus, they’re low-GI. Three quarters of a cup of fresh blueberries has 62 calories and 16 grams (g) of carbohydrates. When you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar within a healthy range, thereby lowering your risk of certain diabetes complications, including diabetic retinopathy, or nerve damage; kidney disease; eyesight issues like glaucoma or cataracts; and serious life-threatening illnesses like heart disease and stroke.

Here’s Stacey Harris’ fabulous Sugar-free Lemon Blueberry Tartlets Recipe for you and your family to enjoy!

Curd Ingredients:
3 large eggs
½ to 3/4 cup Whey Low® Type D Granular
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tbsp. grated lemon zest
1 pint blueberries, washed
 
Directions:
Whisk the eggs and Whey Low® Type D Granular until smooth in the top of a double boiler filled with water.  Add the remaining ingredients except for the blueberries and cook over medium heat while whisking continuously.  When the mixture resembles slightly whipped cream, remove from heat. Cover and stir frequently while it cools.  Once cool, stir in the blueberries and refrigerate.
Note:  Alternatively, after cooling, the curd can be mixed with an equal part of whipped cream before adding blueberries and refrigerating.
Pastry Ingredients:
3 tbsp raw sugar or Whey Low® Type D Granular, sifted
1 1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour
¼ tsp salt
2/3 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
3 tbsp. ice water
 
Directions:
Combine dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture is crumbly like coarse meal.  Add lemon juice and water and mix until a small ball can be formed.  Gather mixture into a ball and flatten into a disk.  Cover and refrigerate for an hour.
Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out on floured board.  Cut into 12 5-inch rounds.  Line 12 large muffin cups with the dough, prick the bottoms and sides of the dough with the tines of a fork.  Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes or until golden. Cool in pan and carefully remove.  Fill each cup with the lemon-blueberry mixture and garnish each with a blueberry.  Yield:  12 servings
Confused about Carbs?  Our friend, registered dietitian, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND shares her ‘Tips to Tricks to Carb Count Like a Pro’ on her blog. One of the tips we learned was that the total amount of carbohydrate matters so much more than the source of carbohydrate or the type of carbohydrate. READ MORE
When Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef was studying to become a pastry chef, she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Rather than give up her chosen profession, she began creating more diabetic-friendly desserts. By using blended flours and a combination of sugar and sugar substitutes, reducing milk carbohydrates, and eliminating trans fats,  Stacey Harris has transformed more than 200 desserts into diabetic-friendly delights

The Diabetic Pastry Chef’s cookbooks are filled with information on the definition, treatment, and prevention of diabetes and include complete nutritional information (calories, fat, cholesterol, sugars, and protein) for each recipe. She uses Splendar and presents other sugar-free alternatives for pancakes, muffins, cakes, cookies, and pies. Stacey Harris shares the sweet secrets of her simple-to-use formula that will convert most any recipe into a lower-carb alternative without compromising taste or quality. Now ‘divabetics’ can enjoy Chocolate Truffle Cookies, Blueberry Tartlets, Cream Cheese Cupcakes, Coffee Bread Pudding, and hundreds of others. BUY NOW

“In The Diabetic Pastry Chef, Stacey Harris proves you can prepare and eat wonderful food and still stay well within the guidelines of food for a person with diabetes.”Alan L. Rubin, M.D., author of Diabetes for Dummies and Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies

On December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast we’re celebrating a Blue Christmas. I chose this theme in December because ‘Blue’ is the color that I feel is most closely associated with diabetes and more importantly, it gives us an opportunity to raise awareness for the mental health issues related to diabetes. Guests include Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Rachel ZinmanDr. Mandy Reece PharmD, CDE, BC-ADM, and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

https://youtu.be/Uwfz5mMLSDM

Gluten Free – Are You Kidding Me?

Scan the grocery aisles, neighborhood bakery or office cupboard and it’s impossible to miss the multitude of products proclaiming that they are “gluten-free.”  Or go on Instagram and be barraged by yet another celebrity who has banished gluten from their diet. And as you can see by the photo below, it looks like even savvy NYC Christmas tree vendors are jumping on the bandwagon. 

All kidding aside, I can’t help but wonder if there’s any truth to the gluten free food trend? Is it real or hype? And should you really be concerned about all or any of the gluten lurking around in your diet? 

I reached out to Virginia-based Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, author of ‘The Overworked Person’s Guide to Better Nutrition’ to help make sense of the chaos surrounding the gluten free food trend. Here’s our interview:

Q: Is Gluten Free real or hype?

Jill Weisenberger, (JW): It’s both. It’s for real and it’s hype. 

Completely avoiding gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley, is critical for anyone with celiac disease and anyone with a diagnosed gluten sensitivity. It’s a problem when people self-diagnose and stop consuming gluten. You really need to nail down the diagnosis before starting a gluten-free diet, which is the only treatment for celiac disease. The only way to diagnose celiac disease is to have an intestinal biopsy after regularly consuming gluten. So if people have the biopsy after avoiding gluten, they might be told that they don’t have celiac disease when they really do. 

Celiac disease, by the way, is an autoimmune disease, and gluten damages the small intestine.

It’s hype when it comes to weight loss and general health for anyone who is not intolerant to gluten. Only those people with celiac disease or another gluten intolerance should be on a gluten-free diet. If others feel more energetic or sleep better or have other benefits, it’s probably from an improved diet and not from the avoidance of gluten. Since gluten is in wheat, a gluten-free diet usually means fewer baked goods and less highly processed snacks and other foods. I think people feel better because they replaced packaged snacks with wholesome, health-boosting foods like fruit and nuts and yogurt – not because they gave up gluten.

Q: What does ‘gluten free’ really mean?

JW: Someone with celiac or other gluten intolerance must avoid gluten from all sources. This is not easy! Gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye, contaminated oats and all products made with them. You’ll find gluten in baked goods, candy, bread, soups, soy sauce, beer, even lots of lunch meats and cottage cheese. And even lipsticks and medications can contain gluten.

Q: What can I eat on a gluten free diet?

JW: Certainly someone with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity has lots of restrictions, but there are lots of good options too. It’s important to consume the least restricted diet possible. This is true for everyone. By eating a large variety of foods, you will get the most possible nutrients. Focus on fruits, vegetables, milk, lean protein sources like fish and poultry, legumes like lentils and black beans. There are lots of grains that are gluten free. A few to try out are buckwheat, millet, quinoa, rice and sorghum. 

Q: How difficult is it to be gluten free?

JW: Fortunately, there are lots of gluten-free products identified in supermarkets, but people have shared with me that avoiding all gluten is difficult. This is especially true in restaurants, other people’s homes and at parties. Even well-meaning waitstaff and friends get confused and foods that may contain hidden gluten. Condiments can be a problem. Another big problem is cross contamination. Say you have celiac disease, but live with people who don’t. If someone spreads mustard on bread and puts the knife back into the mustard, it may now be contaminated with gluten.

Q: Who should be gluten free?

All people with celiac disease and those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity must follow a gluten-free diet. Both type 1 diabetes and celiac disease are autoimmune diseases. Research shows that they have a similar genetic basis. Often people with type 1 diabetes will also have celiac disease. Everyone with type 1 diabetes should discuss getting tested for celiac with their doctor. People with diabetes but without celiac disease or documented gluten sensitivity do not need to eat a gluten-free diet.

Q: How about people with type 2 diabetes? Should they be on a gluten free diet?

JW: Celiac disease is not more common among people with type 2 diabetes than it is among the general public.  I don’t recommend a gluten-free diet for people who don’t need it because the more restricted a diet is, the fewer health-boosting nutrients it’s likely to provide. 

Q: Why would I choose to eat gluten free foods if I’m not gluten intolerant?

JW: There’s no need to eat foods made specifically for a gluten-free population unless you have celiac disease or a diagnosed gluten sensitivity.

Q: Does ‘gluten free’ mean healthier? or What’s the biggest misconception about gluten free?

JW: Definitely not. In fact, gluten-free breads and other products often lack the iron and vitamins found in traditional products. This is why it’s so important to work with a registered dietitian nutritionist skilled in gluten-free diets. Some people think that foods marked gluten-free or free of another nutrient must be more healthful. This is false.

Q: Is a gluten free donut better for me than a regular donut?

JW: Sorry no. A donut is a donut is a donut. It’s a now and then food – gluten or no gluten.

Q: Can I be gluten free without eating gluten free packaged foods?

JW: Yes. Just like someone can eat a wholesome gluten-containing diet without relying on packaged foods, it’s possible to eat a variety of foods without gluten without buying a single special product. But it’s okay to buy them. Just be intentional about it. Gluten-free doesn’t mean wholesome. Again, this is why working with a skilled registered dietitian nutritionist is so important. 

Q: Jill, any final thoughts on gluten free diets?

JW: This is potentially a difficult diet to follow, and it leaves you vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies. You can find a RDN to help you at eatright.org.

Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, author of The Overworked Person’s Guide to Better Nutrition, is your resource for all things nutrition, food and diabetes.

The Overworked Person’s Guide to Better Nutrition offers bite-sized nutrition tips for busy people looking for solutions to their everyday food and nutrition problems. This book is filled with diet strategies for weight loss and overall better health that can help anyone, on any schedule, eat and feel better. Meant to be picked up and read piecemeal, every page is packed with interesting tips designed to improve nutrition and relieve stress and guilt. Healthier habits can fit with any schedule!

Whether she’s speaking, writing, chatting on social media, appearing on TV or working with individuals, Jill’s candid and energetic approach appeals to busy people, and her sound nutrition and fitness advice gets results. In fact, her appreciation for science and ability to translate science into actionable information earned her a place in US News & World Report’s 10 Dietitian’s You Need to Follow on Social Media.

Jill Weisenberger‘s specialties include weight control, heart health, diabetes, pre-diabetes, wellness and nutrition for people with hectic lives. She’ll make nutrition science understandable, realistic and oh so delicious.

On December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast we’re celebrating a Blue Christmas. I chose this theme in December because ‘Blue’ is the color that I feel is most closely associated with diabetes and more importantly, it gives us an opportunity to raise awareness for the mental health issues related to diabetes. Guests include Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Rachel ZinmanDr. Mandy Reece PharmD, CDE, BC-ADM, and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

 

https://youtu.be/Uwfz5mMLSDM

Blue Christmas by Poet Lorraine Brooks

Enjoy this original poem, ‘Blue Christmas’ by Lorraine  Brooks written for December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Blue Christmas by Lorraine Brooks 

Thinking about the holidays and all the endless cheer
Carols, lights and Christmas trees, and ringing in the year…
Friends and folks and families all gather in the home
We look around at all the hope, but sometimes feel alone.

While others eat and drink and dine enjoying foods we make
I’m calculating insulin, and how much I should take.
If I want pie or something sweet, I have to stop and think.
But other people can just eat, and never have to blink.

If I am honest and up front, I have to just admit
That all the food around me sometimes makes me want to quit.
The holidays can make me sad with all thats going on
I wish that I could just be glad, and sing a happy song.

Its better to be pleasant though, and think of all I’ve got
And if I can remember it, I know I’ve got a lot.
This time of year can be so blue, we have to just remember
It’s only one month of the year…only the month of December.

There’s lots of colors that I want to be, and I choose not to be blue.
I’d rather be gold or purple or pink, and maybe lavender too.
i’m not gonna stress about all,the treats, I’ll try to be sensible though.
And after I eat maybe I’ll go outside for a walk in the snow.

So,I will have a holiday that’s full of fun and cheer
And I’ll be happy and give thanks that I made another year…
and I’ll enjoy my Christmas day, and I will make it right.
And I will have a Christmas that’s the way it should be – white.

On December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast we’re celebrating a Blue Christmas. I chose this theme in December because ‘Blue’ is the color that I feel is most closely associated with diabetes and more importantly, it gives us an opportunity to raise awareness for the mental health issues related to diabetes. Guests include Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Rachel ZinmanDr. Mandy Reece PharmD, CDE, BC-ADM, and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” album courtesy of SONY Music. The album brings together Elvis Presley’s best-loved yuletide performances from “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (1957) and “Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas” (1971) re-imagined with sublime and exquisite new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Are you feeling ‘blue’ this holiday season?

If so, you’re not alone. While it’s true that sadness and/or depression at holiday time can be a reaction to the stresses and demands of the season, people with diabetes are more likely to be depressed than others states David Spero BSN, RN for Diabetes Self-Management.

Diabetes can cause complications and health problems that may worsen symptoms of depression. Depression can lead to poor lifestyle decisions, such as unhealthy eating, less exercise, smoking and weight gain — all of which are risk factors for diabetes.

The good news is that diabetes and depression can be treated together. And effectively managing one can have a positive effect on the other.

If you think you might be depressed, seek help right away. Your doctor or diabetes educator can refer you to a mental health professional.

Pink Champagne Cake Truffles Recipe by Diabetic Pastry Chef

This year Divabetic is working with teams of experts to show you how to embrace the holidays without compromising your diabetes self-care.

If you find it difficult to celebrate the holidays because you’re constantly feeling deprived of the foods you love then check out the Diabetic Pastry Chef”, Stacey Harris’s wonderful recipes.

Stacey, who is living with type 2 diabetes, wants to help everyone living with diabetes to have their cake and eat it, too, without feeling guilt or unhealthy.

Stacey has created recipes for making breads, cakes and other desserts diabetic-friendly by swapping out the sugar, blending the flour and cutting the milk carbohydrates. Here’s one of our favorite Diabetic Pastry Chef recipes:

Pink Champagne Cake Truffles Recipe by Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients:

3 cups cake flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons King Arthur cake enhancer, optional

5 large egg whites, room temp

1 cup pink champagne, room temp

2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups Whey Low D Granular, or equivalent dry sugar substitute

1 cup unsalted butter, room temp

a few drops of pink or red food coloring

1 15-oz tub sugar-free vanilla frosting or handmade frosting

bag of dessicated unsweetened coconut

Directions: Sift together the first 4 dry ingredients and set aside. In mixer bowl,  beat the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. In separate bowl combine the wet ingredients with the Whey Low or other sugar substitute, and food coloring. Mix well by hand until sugar substitute is dissolved. Alternately add the flour mixture and wet ingredients to the mixing bowl beating just until well combined, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Add to greased and floured 11 x 17″ baking pan and bake until cake pulls from the side of the pan, and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool to room temperature.

By hand, break the cake into pieces and add to clean mixing bowl. Turn mixer to medium speed and beat until cake is crumbled about 1 or 2 minutes. Add about 2 large Tbsps of sugar-free vanilla frosting to the bowl and beat until combined. Turn off mixer and gather the dough pressing it together with your hands until a dough forms. You may need to add a little more frosting. With a small cookie scoop, scoop the dough and roll into balls with your hands. Cover and refrigerate the balls for several hours.

Heat the remaining frosting in the microwave just until melted and add a small amount of champagne a teaspoon at a time just to flavor the frosting. Do not let the frosting become too liquid. Remove the cake balls from the refrigerator, roll the balls in the melted frosting and then in the coconut. The truffles are best kept refrigerated. Yield: Approximately 50 cake truffles.

Stacey Harris has been baking and collecting recipes since she was a teenager. Her cookbook “The Diabetic Pastry Chef” offers a healthier approach to baking for diVabetic.

Don’t miss the “The Diabetic Pastry Chef” on March’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music by Gladys Knight & The Pips on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 6-7 PM, EST. Click on this link to TUNE IN

LISTEN: Diabetes Late Nite inspired by George Michael featuring our first-ever Valentine’s Day Party with Chef Ward Alper aka ‘The Decadent Diabetic’, ‘Rich In Love’ fashion blogger Doris Hobbs, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Laura Laria.

Learning to accept yourself for who you are is the most important step to self-love. Stop comparing yourself to others and learn to embrace the person you are.

Are You Too Ashamed to Eat What You Love During the Holidays?

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December’s Diabetes Late Nite guest, Megrette Fletcher. MEd, RD, CDE, author of Discover Mindful Eating and Discover Mindful Eating for Kids, and the co-author of Mindful Eating and Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes , talks about the shame that people with diabetes may experience during the holidays.

Megrette is a mindful eating expert and registered dietitian and diabetes educator in practice. She is the president and co-founder of the Center for Mindful Eating.

What do I eat?” As a diabetes educator and dietitian, Megrette Fletcher, MEd, RD, CDE, admits that she’s asked this question every day – and even more so during the holidays! Mindful eating isn’t about eating a specific food or limiting yourself to a set number of calories or nutrients. It is about becoming curious and aware so you can make conscious decisions.
Many people react mindlessly to their thoughts. In other words, they re-act—repeating past actions again and again—feeling powerless to change says Megrette’s co-author, Michelle May MD. “For many people, eating is a mindless reaction to their unrecognized or unexamined thoughts. However, your thoughts are just thoughts. Thinking a thought doesn’t make it true or important, or require you to act on it. In fact, a thought doesn’t even need to provoke a specific feeling,” says Dr. May.

Mindfulness is awareness of what is happening in the present moment—including awareness of thoughts—without any attachment to whatever you notice. Mindfulness is helpful because it creates space between thoughts and actions. By increasing your awareness of your thoughts, you can begin to break old automatic or habitual chain reactions between your triggers, thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Each time you choose not to activate your old trigger-thought-feeling-action-result sequences, you weaken the connections. It’s as if the wires rust and eventually break. Further, each time you choose a different action, you create a new connection. With repetition, you’ll hardwire these new pathways—like insulating the wiring. Your new thoughts and responses become your new habits.

Shame is a harmful emotion that is often felt by the young and old, especially when you are trying to manage your diabetes during the holidays. By undertstanding the ingredients that set you up for overeating, you can create the perfect recipe for success and healthy, happy holidays!

Recipe for Overeating by Michelle May M.D.
Ingredients:
1 batch, bag, box, or large plate of food
2 tablespoons of deprivation
1 heaping teaspoon of guilt
Sprinkle of shame
Optional: fatigue, stress, resentment, loneliness, boredom

Studies confirm that some people do gain significant weight during the holidays. Who are those people? They’re the ones who worry about their weight, who try to restrict their intake of holiday goodies only to overeat them out of feelings of deprivation and then guilt. The same studies show that people who don’t worry about their weight don’t put on significant pounds during the holidays.

Learn how to create a self-care buffer zone by regularly nurturing your body, mind, heart, and spirit. from the book: Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes: A Mindful Eating Program for Thriving with Pre-diabetes or Diabetes.

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LISTEN: December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with guest, Megrette Fletcher scheduled for Tuesday, December 13, 2016, 6 PM, EST. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic. Enjoy music from Leona Lewis’ “Christmas, with Love” album courtesy of SONY Music.