Wellness with a Wow
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ls it just for the moment we live?
Or shall we plan for what’s ahead?
Shall we look to stay empowered
Choosing hope instead of dread?
Diabetes notwithstanding,
We can choose the healthy way.
And we can say a little prayer
To get us going every day.
l’ll turn my house into a home
And look my illness in the eye
I want to make my choices count
To walk and hold my head up high.
For me it’s almost 40 years
l’ve dealt with diabetes now,
So far l’m doing very well
In keeping numbers nice and low.
Anyone who had a heart
Would understand the struggles faced
And anyone who wants to help
Is welcomed in my private space.
l never want to walk on by
And miss the pleasures to enjoy
I want to reach a ripe old age
So, healthy measures l employ.
Exercise is fun and good,
Vegetables and fruits and meat
Taking all my insulin
Covers all the foods l eat.
I thrive with my community
l’ve lived to 68 and more.
I couldn’t do it by myself,
l’m grateful, that’s what friends are for!
Living longer and increasing your life expectancy with diabetes doesn’t have to be a chore. From flossing your teeth daily to getting a good night’s sleep, there are simple things you can do to help you live long, happy and healthy life.
Dionne Warwick has enjoyed a tremendously long career as a singer. She ranks second to Aretha Franklin as the most charted female vocalist with 69 singles making the Billboard Hot 100 during the rock era (1955–1999).
Dionne Warwick once explained her longevity to Jet magazine, saying, “I really attribute it to remaining who I am and not jumping ship, being completely cognizant of what the people … are accustomed to hearing from me.”
Guests include The Lager Queen of Minnesota and Kitchens of the Great Midwest Author J. Ryan Stradal, Deborah Greenwood PhD, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, Fonzi Thornton, Rachel Stahl MS, RD, CDN, CDE, and Lorraine Brooks.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Dionne Warwick’s ‘Dionne’ album featuring I’ll Never Love This Way Again and Deja Vu courtesy of SONY Music.
With an amputee action hero as the main character, the film, ‘Skyscraper’ is a surprising source of inspiration to a growing sector of members in the Divabetic community.
Let’s be clear, Dwayne Johnson’s character’s amputation is not related to diabetes. The character, Will, was actually inspired by the thousands of disabled US veterans and war heroes. To prepare for this role, Johnson spent a considerable amount of time not only with the world’s top skyscraper architects, but also with US war veterans who have experienced an amputation.
That said, the film’s trailer makes it clear that Will was able to get through the challenges of “amputee life” by turning to his family for support which is a powerful message.
Lower limb amputation related to diabetes poses challenges on many levels: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, financial and may temporarily one’s ability to think clearly and maintain their diabetes self-care management.
Over half of limb amputations (about 67 percent) in the United States are attributable to diabetes and related complications. The majority of limb amputations are performed on the lower extremities.
People with diabetes can have 4 different kinds of amputations of the lower limbs, or legs. Per 1,000 people, 2.6 have an amputation of the toe, and 0.8 have an amputation of the foot. 1.6 will have a below the knee amputation, and 0.8 will have an above the knee amputation.
How people respond to their amputation depends upon their previous life experiences, their support systems, and the meaning they give to their amputation which is why seeing Dwayne Johnson’s character on the big screen use it to his advantage is so inspiring. The movie strives to show everyone that what seems like a physical setback is not enough reason to sit back and watch the bad guys win.
Many people with diabetes have coped with amputation, finding ways to be active and to participate in life the way they wish to. You can too!
LISTEN NOW: Hear what happens when Mr. Divabetic puts all of his guests inlcuding The Betes Bros, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle and Mama Rose Marie in the HOT SEAT for Divabetic’s 8th Year Anniversary Podcast Special
On the seventh day of Blue Christmas my true friend, Asha Brown sent to me a copy of ‘Unleash Your Inner Diabetes Dominator: How to Use Your Powers of Choice, Self-Love, and Community to Completely Change Your Relationship with Diabetes for the Better’ by Daniele Hargenrader to inspire me.
Divabetic is celebrating a Blue Christmas to bring attention to the mental health issues related to living with diabetes.
You probably know better than we do how diabetes affects your holiday experience. 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.
That’s why we asked our panel of experts, friends and past Diabetes Late Nite podcast guests to spread some holiday cheer by sharing their favorite products to help keep you ‘happy and healthy’ all year long.
Asha’s pick: “Unleash Your Inner Diabetes Dominator” is a guidebook filled with inspiring stories showing you how to claim your personal power written for people with diabetes and our loved ones. Learn how to use your powers of choice, self-love, and community to completely change your relationship with diabetes for the better, and how to turn a perceived adversity into advantage.
After reading this book, you can expect to feel a paradigm shift in the way you look at diabetes, an increased confidence in yourself and your capacity to handle any challenges you are faced with, as well as a feeling of pride and accomplishment as you take the actions you need to take and see positive results.
3 BONUSES: Get an online health and wellness training program for FREE (over $100 Value) when you take action now. See diabetesbook.com for details.
Readers have also reported feeling a sense of freedom from the physical and emotional stress and anxiety of the day to day management of diabetes including type 1, type 2, pre-diabetes, LADA, gestatational, and MODY.
“This book is perfect for ANY person living with diabetes. It will help you learn how to live your life with joy and empowerment!,” says Asha Brown.
What is a Diabetes Dominator?
“Diabetes Dominator is a state of mind: Instead of diabetes being perceived as a weakness or a curse, diabetes can actually be a great source of strength if we choose to let it,” says Danielle. “We all have the power to turn adversity into advantage. Diabetes can be a catalyst for improving our lives, paying closer attention to what matters most in life, and for being of service to others. I didn’t always feel this way, and that’s why I wrote this book,” adds Danielle.
ABOUT DANIELLE: After Danielle Hargenrader’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 9 and the unexpected and sudden death of her father a few years later, she ballooned up to 200 pounds, and battled clinical depression and a binge eating addiction for over 8 years. Through these adversities, she eventually took herself from obese to athlete. Her book ‘Unleash Your Inner Diabetes Dominator’ provides you witha shortcut (system) to the she took, and continues to travel to this day.
Asha Brown is the Founder and Executive Director of the amazing We Are Diabetes (WAD) organization. WAD is primarily devoted to promoting support, education and awareness for type 1 diabetics who suffer from eating disorders. WAD is dedicated to providing guidance, hope and resources to those who may be struggling, as well as to their families and loved ones.
Asha Brown was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 5 years old. As a dancer, actress and a fitness instructor by the time she was 17, the obsession with maintaining a healthy size and weight while coping with multiple autoimmune disorders (hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as type 1 diabetes) became a full-time job. Asha’s experience with symptoms of diabulimia led her to start the We Are Diabetes organization.
Today, Asha works with families, patients, and health professionals across the USA. She uses her personal experiences with ED-DMT1 to offer hope and support to those still struggling. She also establishes relationships with eating disorder facilities and diabetes organizations across the county to help connect people to appropriate care. Asha has presented at NEDA, AADE, and JDRF, among others. She writes for numerous websites including Diabetes Health, Diabetes Daily, and Beyond Type 1. She is a member of Diabetes Advocates and BEDA.
If you or someone you know is a type 1 diabetic who is struggling with an eating disorder and are seeking support, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to WAD
For the past three years, Asha Brown has made our Diabetes Mystery podcasts truly sparkle! She’s played the organic farmer, ‘Christine’ in ‘Phantom of the Okra’, the uptight, overworked personal assistant, ’Primrose Crump’ in ‘Suspect Boulevard’ and most recently the glitzy burlesque dancer, Coco Mimosa in this year’s Diabetes Mystery: ‘Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’. She truly brings out the best of each performance. I’m so grateful to Asha for sharing her wonderful acting talents with our listeners and helping us raise awareness for diabetes and educate people about diabetes self-care in a fun, new way.
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 most closely associate with diabetes and I feel that the mental health issues related to diabetes are often overlooked and ignored. Some listeners may feel that talking about depression is depressing which is understandable. However, I feel it is far more important to reach out to those coping with diabetes distress and burnout and let them know they are not alone. Please join us!
TUNE IN! Don’t miss December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music by Elvis Presley on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 6 PM, EST. We will be discussing ways to not let diabetes make you feel ‘blue’ during the holiday season with our panel of experts. Guests include ‘Walking With Peety’ Author Eric O’Grey, 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 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.
NEED MORE INSPIRATION? Our panel of experts, Divabetic community members and past Diabetes Late Nite guests will be sharing more Blue Christmas Gift suggestions on this blog for the next twelve days to help you enjoy the festive spirit of the season without compromising your diabetes health!
Are you feeling ‘blue’ this holiday season?
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.
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I woke up this morning, as always,
And while walking through my hallway,
I looked in the mirror, reflecting,
And thought, why am I so rejecting?
There’s food in my pantry and clothes on my back
And 2 cars in my garage.
I’ve plenty of colleagues and friends, I don’t lack,
I’m blessed with a fine entourage.
There’s heat in the winter and cool when its hot,
There’s no way I’m doubting the blessings I’ve got.
So what if I need to count calories now,
I still can consume that dessert anyhow.
My kidneys are fine and my eyesight’s okay,
And I can still sleep at the end of the day.
I have a few dollars and I can have fun
And not have to justify to anyone.
I make my decisions and live with my fears
And thankful for 65 wonderful years.
This life here on earth can be tragic enough
Without adding to it irrelevant stuff.
The gift is in living, and doing our best.
And then letting go of all of the rest.
So have a good time and be of good cheer.
And you will enjoy the time you have here.
Positive vibes and a will to stand tall
And living won’t be any trouble at all.
LISTEN NOW: Lorraine Brooks reads ‘I Woke Up This Morning’ on June’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast. Guests include singer Alfa Anderson, Diabetic Macular Edema patient Maryanne Kass, Artist Bryce Chisholm, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring selected songs from several of Maxwell’s albums courtesy of SONY Music.
Enjoy Best-Selling Cookbook Author Holly Clegg‘s healthy delicious recipes for our Divabetic ‘Spaghetti Western’ Father’s Day Celebration. Holly’s menu includes Southwestern Roasted Vegetables, Asparagus with Zucchini Rings., Vodka Pasta, Beer Bread , Butternut Squash, Black Bean and Feta Enchiladas with Salsa Verde, Southwestern Pasta. READ
Find out how our Divabetic ‘Spaghetti Western’ themed Father’s Day Celebration is shedding new light on ‘Great Silence’ aka Erectile Dysfunction (ED) in this guest blog by Janis Roszler MSFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND READ
We live in a world where appearances rule.
And its what we look like that matters.
People make comments that sometimes are cruel
And can leave our emotions in tatters.
We live in a world where performances reign
And if we are lacking or tired…
Or even if we are in physical pain,
We still want to do whats required.
We’re told there’s a pill for whatever we lack,
Read “There’s A Pill For That” in its entirety HERE
On December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast we focus on people with diabetes’s interest in ‘getting off their meds’.
Today, a full 61 percent of adults use at least one drug to treat a chronic health problem, a nearly 15 percent rise since 2001. More than 1 in 4 seniors gulp down at least five medications daily as reported by Healthination in US News & Reports. The trend has multiple causes: a spike in diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis related to obesity; revised medical guidelines that treat high blood sugar, hypertension, and high cholesterol sooner; and a multibillion-dollar push by pharmaceutical companies to speak directly to consumers about the payoff in trusting our hearts to Lipitor, say, or taking Boniva to help stop bone loss. But many experts worry that one unintended effect of all the pharmacological success is that many people may be blithely taking drugs they don’t need, potentially setting themselves up for severe consequences.
Poet Lorraine Brooks shares her insight on this topic with her poem, ‘There’s A Pill For That’ on December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast:
There’s A Pill for That by Lorraine Brooks
We live in a world where appearances rule.
And its what we look like that matters.
People make comments that sometimes are cruel
And can leave our emotions in tatters.
We live in a world where performances reign
And if we are lacking or tired…
Or even if we are in physical pain,
We still want to do whats required.
We’re told there’s a pill for whatever we lack,
From energy, to building breasts.
there’s something that soothes your aching back,
There’s something helps you to rest.
There’s something to aid with your bloating and gas,
There’s pills that will keep you from eating.
There’s medicine that makes erections to last,
And stuff that will aid with excreting.
So off to the pharmacy, scrips to be filled,
And looking for fixes and cures.
Just one more tonic, or two of these pills,
And perfection of health can be yours!
But all of these things, while they may work for some,
They also may lead to frustration.
There’s some things you cant easily overcome
By relying on quick medication.
But also there’s people who may need these aids
For reasons that suit their conditions.
And those are the people we shouldn’t dissuade
From listening to their clinicians.
For me, I am different, as 1 is my “type”
And I get confused and defeated.
because if I listen to all of the hype,
I sometimes feel like I’ve been cheated.
Pills and elixirs, and lifestyle adjusting
Are not part of my repartee.
What I need is the knowledge that people are trusting
That I’m making choices best for ME.
So here’s my 2 cents, and its just my own take.
Everyone’s life is unique.
Do what works for YOU, the decisions you make,
Will put you on your own winning
LISTEN NOW: December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with guests include Diabetes Alert Dog expert, Debby Kay CDT, CDTA, PDTI, Megrette Fletcher, MEd, RD, CDE, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Janis Roszler RD, CDE, LDN, Emmy winning Producer, Linda Bracero Morel, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie. Plus, we’re giving away 6 months access to mySugr Pro in our INSTANT WINNER challenge. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Leona Lewis’ “Christmas, with Love” album courtesy of SONY Music.