Dining Out With A Dietitian

Some people looking at this photo may see a cozy place to sit and eat, while others see a minefield.

Chances are, if you’re newly diagnosed with diabetes, the concept of food and eating may be overwhelming. If you’ve never paid attention before to what you’re eating, you may find there’s a steep learning curve to learning to count carbohydrates and monitor saturated fats, added sugar, and calories. Plus, the chaos and contradictory messages surrounding what to eat and what not to eat can make you want to give up before you pick up a fork or order.

Navigating your favorite restaurant’s menu can prove difficult for anyone with dietary issues and living with diabetes. 

Our Dining Out With A Dietitian segment is among our most popular on Divabetic’s monthly podcast. During the segment, a registered dietitian, like our friend Constance Brown-Riggs,  reviews the menu and advises us on what to order without letting us feel deprived.

First and foremost, we’re told to watch our portions. Restaurants tend to serve large portions, possibly double what you normally eat or more. Eating half and getting a container to take the other half home is better.

Frequently, we’ve been advised to avoid fried and battered options and instead choose grilled or poached entrees. And if we’re going to have a burger,  order it without cheese but with tomato and lettuce; also, look for turkey or veggie burger options.

Don’t search for the parking spot closest to the restaurant. Get a little extra activity by parking farther away, leaving the car at home, and walking. A brisk walk can help you avoid after-meal blood sugar spikes.

Sally Field inspires this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with all the glamour and style of the red carpet hosted by the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic.

Sally Field’s films, interests, and relationships infuse our Hot Topics discussion, Dining Out with A Dietitian, Sexy Little Numbers, and Diabetes Numerology Game segments with Oscar-worthy advice. Go ahead, “Drink your juice, Shelby!”

Did you know the film, Steel Magnolias’ was based on a true story?

Actor and writer Robert Harling wrote the play based on the true story of his sister, Susan Harling Robinson, who died from complications related to mismanaged diabetes.

Podcast guests include diabetes advocate, author, and coach Riva Greenberg, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, Connie Elder, Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDCES, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDCES, Mama Rose Marie and Marilyn from Pasadena, CA, who is living with diabetes.

Divabetic Celebrates World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on November 14 to mark the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting. He discovered the insulin hormone along with Charles Herbert Best in 1922. According to experts, an estimated 463 million people worldwide are living with diabetes.

The theme for World Diabetes Day 2021-23 is “Access to Diabetes Care – If Not Now, When?”, putting across the timely message for diabetes care.

The World Diabetes Day organization highlights a greater need for education on disease and treatment, dietary changes, and exercise to keep blood sugar levels within tighter management.

We’re advocating for insulin for all. A hundred years ago, Frederick Banting and Charles Best sold the patent for $1 each to be accessible for all. Today the cost of insulin has increased by over 1,200%. Why the cost of insulin has skyrocketed is more complicated than a hashtag or meme to explain. You can point the finger at manufacturers, insurance companies, middlemen, politicians but still, miss a few others. Regardless of who is to blame, the hard truth is that this crisis forces people to resort to drastic measures to stay alive. Many, many, many people are rationing their insulin with tragic consequences. This has to stop. Maybe it’s time on World Diabetes Day to advocate for #insulin4all?

Artwork courtesy of Miss Diabetes. Visit: https://missdiabetes.com

Over the years, Divabetic has presented many free outreach programs and podcasts supporting World Diabetes Day.

Earlier this week, we hosted both a podcast and virtual program in support of World Diabetes Day.

On this podcast, we’re celebrating people’s ability to thrive living with diabetes with inspiration from the great Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, who lived with diabetes before the discovery of insulin. Guests include Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.  Throughout this podcast, we feature music from Puccini: Great Opera Arias courtesy of SONY Music.

This past Thursday, we hosted a free program, ‘Once In A Blue Moon’ featuring Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD, MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR and Catherine Schuller on Zoom

We have proudly partnered with the American Diabetes Association, Mount Sinai and Beth Israel Hospitals in New York, NY, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. We’ve also taken to the streets and hosted free health fairs at Union Square Park and the Apollo Theater in New York, NY.

However, one of our fondest World Diabetes Day memories dates back to a decade ago. Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller persuaded Wendy Williams to “GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS” on national TV! As a result, Wendy wore a blue dress on her daytime TV show supporting World Diabetes Day. It was a fantastic moment!!

https://youtu.be/6b0a7Ic0YEs

In early September, Wendy Williams was allegedly rushed to the hospital for psychiatric services. One source said,” Wendy was drinking every day, even while filming the show,” leading to her hospitalization.

Thankfully, the TV star recently posted this message on Instagram: “HOW YOU DOIN’? I MISS YOU ALL! As everyone knows, my health has been a hot topic.” She added, “I’m a woman of a certain age, and I know enough to listen to my doctors and will return to my purple chair as soon as we all agree I’m ready. I’m doing everything I can to get back to work, but right now, Wendy has to focus on Wendy.”

Divabetic Explores Diabulimia on Diabetes Late Nite Podcast

Tune into Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast when we raise the curtain on awareness for diabulimia with musical inspiration from Barbra Streisand on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 6 – 7:30 PM. 

June’s podcast guests are: We Are Diabetes founder Asha Brown, Maximize Your Metabolism Co-Authors Dr. Noel Maclaren and Sunita Singh Maclaren,  Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Dana B. Roseman, MPH, CDCES, RDN, Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador Karen Dawson and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE.

In 1985, Barbra Streisand returned to her roots with her twenty-fourth album, The Broadway Album that resulted in massive success, both critically and commercially. 

Barbra’s inspiring us to spotlight the issues and symptoms of diabulimia by staging a scene between two friends followed by a group discussion. Afterward, we will talk to one of our favorite NYC-based endocrinologists, Dr. Noel Maclaren, and his wife, Sunita Singh Maclaren, about their new book. Then actress and Know Diabetes By Heart ambassador and advocate Karen Dawson shares her experience suffering an eye stroke.

The happy healthcare host, Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek paraphrasing Ed Sullivan would like to say that, “We have a really big show tonight!”

We will be featuring music from Barbra Streisand’s The Broadway Album courtesy of SONY Music throughout the podcast.

Tune in over 140 Diva TalkRadio podcasts available for free on i-tunes (‘Divabetic’). Get the latest in diva news, diabetes headlines, and inspiration by joining our Divabetic facebook page.

Click on LINK to listen live or on-demand at any time 

31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts, Day Eighteen

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 18, we’re spotlighting Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Fantasia Barrino Taylor  from February 2014.

We’re talking about “LABELS.” From Designer and Nutritional labels to the labels we assign to ourselves as well as others. Labels are a part of life. We use them to tell stories so we can better understand ourselves and others but often times labels can lead to branding and shame. Are the ‘labels’ in your life helping or hindering you to lead a healthy, happy life with diabetes?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCEsn7onc7l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Fantasia Barrino Taylors music inspires this episode of ‘Diabetes Late Nite’ podcast courtesy of SONY MUSIC. Fantasia has overcome many labels in her life in order to live out her dreams. She was a high school dropout, teenage mother and illiterate before being labeled as an “American Idol.”  We think Fantasia Barrino is a great DIVA example of why we should all think about “the person” or “the contents” behind the label.

Lorraine Brooks read her poem, ‘Plus or Minus’ on this podcast

Plus or Minus? by Lorraine Brooks

Don’t call me plus size. Why should I be?

I’m bigger than some, some are bigger than me.

A number is given to keep track of our size,

And what is the difference which one I must buy?

 

I’m not plus or minus, don’t label me so,

And don’t tell me into which stores I can go.

If I need an 18, and you need a 3,

You shouldn’t be thinking you’re better than me.

 

If you need a 20 and I need a 2,

I shouldn’t be thinking I’m better than you.

Why don’t we instead, embrace everyone’s curves

With all the respect and support one deserves.

 

Don’t label me by the disease I possess

Or anything else that might cause me distress.

I’ve spent most of my life with the label of “plus”,

The truth is that labels aren’t good for any of us.

 

Let’s labels shelves, and file cabinet drawers,

And signs on the ladies and mens bathroom doors.

A label is good if I need to explore

Where your office is located on the 5th floor.

 

And I need a label when I’m shopping for food

To know if tomatoes are pureed or stewed.

But don’t label me and my body, I ask,

And don’t make me wear this invisible mask…

 

Put labels on envelopes with return address,

Or telling me which one is lettuce, and which watercress.

Because in the end, I’m the same as you are,

And labels work better on bottles and jars.

 

But even if I am not your cup of tea

Don’t put labels on people…and please, not on me.

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Fantasia podcast guests: Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Neva White MSN, CRNP, CDE and Susan Weiner RD, MS, CDE, CDN),Poet Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Mama Rose Marie and Cindy from New York, NY.

 

Divabetic’s Late Nite podcast’s format is similar to popular late night talk shows and features topical monologues, celebrity interviews, games, prizes and music. Every month the show’s theme is inspired by a different celebrity to help listeners to stay happy and healthy. Popular show segments include: Hot Topics, Diagnosis To Diva!, Diabetes Numerology Game, Diabetes Time Machine Game and Mother Your Diabetes.

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

 

Undetected Diabetes May Double Risk of Heart Attack

New research finds an intriguing link between undetected blood sugar disorders and the development of heart attacks and severe gum disease.

For decades, researchers have probed the link between gum disease and cardiovascular health. Gum disease begins when plaque builds up around teeth. A completely different type of plaque — made of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in blood — can build up inside arteries. Known as atherosclerosis, this fatty plaque is the hallmark of coronary artery disease.

Photo by Hush Naidoo on Unsplash

The risk of mortality from ischemic heart disease combined with diabetes-related kidney complications is three times higher in people who have both diabetes and severe periodontitis, compared with people who only have diabetes.

“Periodontal disease increases the body’s burden of inflammation,” says periodontist Dr. Hatice Hasturk of the Harvard-affiliated Forsyth Institute, a not-for-profit research organization focused on oral health. Acute inflammation — which involves an outpouring of immune cells that attack irritants and microbial invaders — fosters healing over the short term.

Gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease if left untreated. The gums become loose around the root of the tooth, creating a gum pocket that gradually deepens. Eventually, the infection and inflammation can cause the tooth to loosen and possibly fall out.

Daily toothbrushing and flossing can prevent and even reverse an early stage of gum disease, known as gingivitis.

Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast

We’re talking about ‘Diabetes & Pride’ on June’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Ricky Martin.

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