The life-sized sculptures made by Indigenous artisans using an invasive weed called lantana camera are incredible!
Sometimes, the elephant in the room is the sudden change in your life due to the symptoms of diabetes. Keeping the symptoms a secret or ignoring the symptoms can be problematic, including increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
Our bodies start to struggle with insulin efficiency, leading to a state known as insulin resistance. Without proper treatment and management, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes, underscoring the importance of early detection and intervention.
According to the CDC, 97.6 million people in the United States aged 18 and older have prediabetes, which is 38% of the adult population. Almost 90% of the people living with diabetes don’t know they have it or ignore the symptoms.
The risk factors for developing prediabetes are varied. Being overweight or obese, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, leading a sedentary lifestyle, having high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, or a history of gestational diabetes are all significant contributors. Age also plays a role, as the likelihood of developing prediabetes increases after the age of 45.
Our friend, Jill Weisenberger RD, CDCES, offers advice on what to eat for those feeling confused or overwhelmed with living with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in this video series.
Prediabetes is a pivotal health condition that acts as a precursor to type 2 diabetes. It is defined by blood sugar levels that are higher than average yet not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.
This subtle difference is crucial, as prediabetes often goes unnoticed due to its mild nature, unlike type 2 diabetes, which presents more evident and urgent symptoms.
The elephant project directly fights the threat of an invasive species while raising money and awareness for environmental issues.
The collective isn’t just using lantana as a sculpting material; it converts tons of agricultural waste products rich in nutrients into biochar and black carbon. The biochar is then buried to improve the soil in India.
Could You Have Prediabetes? Don’t be part of the herd unsure or unaware of their health condition. Take this free, simple RISK TEST Now.
Enjoy this scene from Divabetic’s 10th Annual Original Mystery podcast, Murder Plain As Vanilla, streaming on Spotify, iTunes, and BlogTalkRadio.
As I strolled down the street in September, I was taken aback by a brownstone adorned with holiday decorations, two months ahead of schedule!
Seeing the lavish garlands adorning the exterior stair railing piqued my curiosity, prompting me to dash up the stairs to unravel the mystery behind Christmas’s early arrival in the Upper West Side of New York City.
Upon stepping through the magnificent oak doors, I found myself in the Anthropologie Holiday House in collaboration with Terrain. This free four-story holiday extravaganza was a dream come true for holiday enthusiasts.
The immersive experience offered a plethora of festive decor available for purchase. It was truly a sight to behold, a treat for the eyes!
For individuals managing diabetes who often perceive the holidays as a time of deprivation, this experience was a game-changer.
The guilt-free enjoyment of holiday decor and decorations was a delightful revelation. It offered a way to savor the holiday spirit without the concerns of excess fat, alcohol, calories, and salt. After all, it’s not the plate but what you serve on it that causes unexpected highs and lows in blood pressure and blood sugar.
One of the most striking sights was the floating holiday tree on one of the upper floors, a truly unique and captivating display.
The checkerboard cabinet in the kitchen caught my eye with its playful design and practicality. It provided a clever solution for concealing a second set of plates and dishware.
The luxurious sheets, lush throws, and comfy duvet covers were irresistible to the touch.
They boasted exquisite designs and unparalleled softness that would complement any bedroom in the house.
The whimsical Christmas tree decorations were equally enchanting.
They featured vibrant colored glass ornaments that breathed life into any home during the holiday season.
Dr. Janis Roszler PhD, LMFT, RDN, LD/N, CDCES, FAND, and Donna Rice, MBA, BSN, RN, CDCES, FADCES, the co-authors of Divabetic’s new e-book, Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide to Love and Intimacy with Diabetes, offer advice on managing diabetes sexual-health related issues in the bedroom.
The dining room tablescape was a masterpiece for those with a more refined taste.
Anthropologie had collaborated with the MET Museum to create a one-of-a-kind Gilded Age-inspired collection of dishware and crystal.
The design team meticulously studied historical flatware and dishware at the MET, infusing the museum’s cherished pieces with a distinctive Anthropologie sensibility.
The result was a tablescape that set the stage for the entire Holiday House experience.
Set your table in truly artistic fashion with timeless tableware from Apthropologie’s conversation pieces in a variety of modern and classic styles.
Pattern Management is a skill that can help you manage your diabetes like a diva! The happy healthcare host is Mr. Divabetic, and Neva White, PhD, RN, CCRN, CNE, the leader of the Divabetic Club—Philadelphia. These two advocates discuss the basics and benefits of Pattern Management.
Dviabetic Club was a free monthly diabetes wellness program presented in New York, NY, Cleveland, OH, and Philadelphia, PA, that boasted 75-100 participants monthly. Our unique mixture of traditional diabetes education, motivation support, beauty and style tips, and hobby demonstrations offered something for everyone.
Have you tried Chobani’s Zero Sugar yogurts? If so, please share your comments to add to our upcoming blog post.
Small changes can help manage diabetes, but where do you start? Many zero-sugar, less-sugar, and reduced-sugar foods have a strange aftertaste or leave you unsatisfied and wanting to eat more. The more these products proliferate in grocery store aisles, the more hopeless our search becomes. We’d love to hear what works or doesn’t for achieving your diabetes health goals. Let’s help each other out with some valuable insights!
Mr. Divabetic talks to nationally-recognized Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND about The Beginner’s Guide To What To Eat With Type 2 Diabetes digital download.
Podcast guests include Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RD, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, MEd, NDTR, and MamaRose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.
With a few simple swaps, you can help live your best life while managing your diabetes. Our experts offer straightforward, simple, and fun swap ideas for drinks, medications, self-care, and fashion. Plus, we share style tips and words of inspiration to help you maintain a healthy habit.
Developing these habits isn’t always easy. Adapting to a new routine can be tricky, and it’s often tempting to want to return to old ways if we don’t see immediate results. One of the biggest mistakes people make when forming a new habit is taking on too much too quickly. Focus on what’s working in your diabetes self-care plan before overhauling diabetes management. Instead of decluttering the entire house, why not focus on one room or closet? Why not focus on the calories you drink rather than everything you eat? If you want to eat healthier, try replacing one dessert daily with a piece of fruit rather than cutting out sugar completely. If you’re going to get into hiking, start with a walk at lunchtime. Setting small goals you can achieve will help keep you motivated along the way.
Last night, I saw the National Geographic and Disney+ nature documentary Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story at the Central Park Film Festival. Directed by Charlie Hamilton Jones, it explores a love story between a lonely man and a lonely river otter—an unexpected duo that forms a bond.
As the man, Billy, and the otter, Molly’s bond develops, his wife, Susan, and their dog, Jade, are pushed to the side. Billy neglects his promises to Susan and ignores Jade. Susan narrates the film. Her narration details Billy’s mental state, which he might not have shared, and expresses how she feels like the ‘other woman’ in Billy’s life. The story is told with heart and humor and with a musical score by composer Erland Cooper.
The story is filmed in the remote Shetland Islands, just above the mainland of Scotland. The scenery is breathtaking. Shetland Islands is known as the last barrier of the UK before the Arctic Circle. During a dramatic winter storm scene, with crashing waves and torrid winds, a large branch fell off a tree next to the outdoor screen. Everyone in the audience gasped. The film leaves your heart feeling all warm and fuzzy.
After you see this film, you’ll have many questions about how they did it. I found this interview very insightful.
The Annual Central Park Conservancy Film Festival, presented by National Geographic Documentary Films, in August is truly a treat! For five nights, award-winning films are shown for free in the middle of Central Park.
The film revolves around the importance of family in our lives. In many ways, Billy serves as Molly, the otter’s surrogate mother/father figure. As strange and unusual as their relationship is, it brings Billy joy and fulfillment.
Many people with type 2 diabetes admit their children, and their grandchildren motivate them to stay on top of their self-care. However, changing one’s lifestyle can be a constant, difficult struggle after diagnosis. Experts agree the keys to success include social support and relatedness, achievement of results, support from healthcare collaborators, and acceptance of your diagnosis.
At Divabetic, we believe confidence in managing lifestyle adjustments and handling the challenges of living with diabetes is crucial. Our ongoing efforts in diabetes education and empowerment testify to our belief that if you believe it, you can achieve it.
Please take a minute to support our efforts and purchase Divabetic’s new lip balm (watermelon flavor). For $10, you’ll receive three of our Divabetic branded lip balms. Shipping and handling fees are not included. For more information, contact: mrdivabetic@gmail.com
Music can inspire conversations about different life topics, even ones that are different from the song lyrics. For example, Ledisi’s hit song, “I Blame You,” is an upbeat track about loving someone so good that you have no choice but to keep loving them. With song lyrics, “I blame you each and every day, It’s your fault that I’m completely blown away, You’ve been building castles in the sky, A place for only you and I, I, I, I”, who wouldn’t want to be told that you make someone you love to feel loved, and feel joy, how beautiful is that?
Words have power, especially when put to music. You can find yourself singing along to a chorus without even knowing what you’re saying. Repeated listening to a song can trigger random associations that slip into your subconscious and support or hinder your actions. This is why self-reflection is crucial. It allows us to understand how our words and thoughts impact our actions and, ultimately, our diabetes management.
Imagine if we ‘reframed’ Ledisi’s song title, which means changing the perspective or context to refer to the words you might find yourself saying about your diabetes daily. For example, instead of ‘I Blame You ‘, we could think of it as ‘It’s All My Fault’ or ‘I Gave Myself Diabetes ‘.
Blame and shame are the two biggest culprits that often sabotage your ability to manage your self-care. It’s not hard to imagine that these negative thoughts can slip into their minds without much effort. The light might be green, but we can still see red if we’re in the midst of despair. It’s a struggle to keep the negative self-talk at bay when you find yourself in the valley rather than at the peak of the mountain top.
How can you succeed at making lifestyle changes if your starting point begins with a negative mindset?
Regret, despair, anger, and frustration are the common emotions people experience when they’re initially diagnosed with diabetes. But here’s the thing: some people can overcome these emotional obstacles and improve their quality of life, while others cannot.
Many people who make and sustain changes to improve their care cite their children and grandchildren for giving them a reason. Others feel they have no choice but to change and return to the quality of life they once enjoyed.
What is your experience? We encourage you to share your thoughts and feelings about the impact of negative self-talk on your diabetes management. Your insights could be valuable to others in our community.
Kevin James talks about the confusion and prevalence of a PreDiabetes diagnosis in this comedy routine.
Approximately 98 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 80% don’t know they have it.
While his routine is funny, it’s also misleading. His approach to brushing it off is problematic because prediabetes is a chance to reset and take action. Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
Letting it slide, a Prediabetes diagnosis will eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. With equal amounts of regret and self-judgment on top of this new diagnosis, no one is setting themselves up for a ‘win.’
Join a National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change program for more guidance and support. This program teaches you how to make gradual lifestyle changes that increase your chances of reversing prediabetes. You’ll have access to professional advice and a community of others on a similar journey to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. You can joke all you want as you work to achieve optimum health!
Gospel Singer Pat Lacy, who has worked with The Sounds of Blackness and Luther Vandross, shares her experience living with type 2 diabetes and how she modified her lifestyle to take charge of her health.
One positive side effect of Kevin’s comedy routine is that Kelly Clarkson revealed her Prediabetes diagnosis sparked her weight loss journey. The TV show host turned her health around by walking, eating a healthy mix of foods, and not depriving herself of an occasional treat.
Not everyone can indulge in a treat. My friend, health guru Kathie Dolgin, known as ‘High Voltage,’ can’t stop eating sugar once she has it. High Voltage chooses not to eat added sugar. She doesn’t believe in deprivation, so she’s found ways to satisfy her sweet tooth with natural sugars and alternatives. High Voltage joins me on this podcast!
Dr. Stephen Bracci & special guest Kath Dolgin discuss the standard American diet.
Black History Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges facing Black people in managing diabetes so we can work towards creating a healthcare system that is fair, equitable, and inclusive.
In 2019, non-Hispanic blacks were twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes, reports the Office of Monthly Health.
In 2018, African American adults were 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician, reports the Office of Monthly Health.
NIH Research reports a study stating that biological risk factors—including weight and fat around the abdomen—are primarily responsible for higher rates of diabetes for black Americans compared with white Americans. Sadly, the impacts of biased healthcare providers and lack of access to diabetes technology only add to the burden of staying on track with self-care.
It’s essential to recognize the contributions made by Black people to medicine, science, and research. Black History Month reminds us to celebrate and acknowledge their achievements. We can learn from their experiences and work towards a brighter future where everyone has equal opportunities and access to healthcare.
Let’s come together and challenge our systems to make changes that benefit everyone. Diabetes doesn’t discriminate, and neither should our healthcare system. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to create a world where everyone can access the care they need to manage and prevent diabetes.
Excerpts from Beyond Type 1’s Why Is Black History Month Important In The Diabetes Community? Written by Lala Jackson.
We’re taking you inside some of the most beautiful homes to raise awareness for diabetes in a new way with our new podcast series, Divabetic Home Tours.
From the kitchen and bathroom to the family room and bedroom, diabetes affects all aspects of your home life.
We’re sprinkling between pictures of rooms with diabetes advice and videos from Homeworthy’s most gorgeous homes to spark your interest in self-care.
Welcome to the Divabetic House Tours: the Kips Bay Show House New York edition.
Celebrated interior designers transform a luxury Manhattan home into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art, and technology each year. This event began in 1973 when several dedicated Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club supporters launched the Decorator Show House to raise critical funds for after-school and enrichment programs for New York City children. Over the decades, the project has become a must-see event for thousands of design enthusiasts and is renowned for sparking worldwide interior design trends.
Throughout our tour, enjoy Divabetic’s exclusive audio of wall-to-wall diabetes advice and conversations room-by-room to help you keep your house a home.
Start in our state-of-the-art kitchen and meet Jill Weisenberger RD, CDCES, who chats about how to make your food environment less stressful.
Outside stress triggers our drive for comfort food, including excess sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets such as baked goods. At the same time, during stressful moments, we tend to lower our intake of whole foods, fruits, and vegetables. This, in turn, leads to a higher risk of insulin resistance, excess visceral fat, and type 2 diabetes.
MaryAnn Nicolay talks about reading nutrition labels. One tip for people with diabetes or prediabetes is to focus on the total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and calories to help reach your health goals.
Plus, before you, treat yourself to Paulette McWilliams’ soulful song, Mama’s Kitchen Table.
Gospel Singer Pat Lacy shares how she practices portion control. One option is to reduce your carbohydrate portion sizes and keep them to less than a quarter of your plate. Still hungry? Fill up on green vegetables and eat lean protein and healthy fats instead.
Foods high in good fats include vegetable oils (such as olive, canola, sunflower, soy, and corn), nuts, seeds, and fish.
Stroll through the spacious family room where Lorraine Brooks and RachelZinman get comfy on the sofa and talk about the feelings related to managing diabetes in today’s world.
Clarence Waldron tells how acting F.A.S.T. after experiencing a stroke was the key to his recovery.
Don’t leave before clicking on the LINK to share a free pre-diabetes test with our loved ones.
The Center for Disease Control offers a National Diabetes Prevention Program to help people with prediabetes make lasting lifestyle changes to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Relax in the luxurious spa-inspired bathroom, where you can pick up tips from beauty and style tips experts and find out how diabetes can affect your skin, hair, and teeth.
For instance, hair loss can be a symptom of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Experts believe it is caused by hormonal imbalances, poor circulation due to hyperglycemia, or an autoimmune disorder. Hair loss can often be reversed with medications and by tighter blood sugar management.
Falling can be a concern if you live with diabetes and have peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage (loss of sensation in the feet, legs, and hands), retinopathy (damaged blood vessels in the eyes), and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Mama Rose Marie offers an easy tip for anyone afraid of falling in the shower.
Crawl into bed for some pillow talk on addressing and overcoming intimacy and sexual health concerns.
Even though people with diabetes are at a higher risk for sexual problems, a study in Diabetes Care found that only about half of all men with diabetes and 19 percent of women with diabetes have broached the topic with a doctor.
Dr. Janis Roszler PhD opens our eyes to what intimacy can mean for people affected by sexual health issues related to diabetes.
Many men with erectile dysfunction, for instance, later learn that they have diabetes. For people with diabetes, sexual problems can indicate nerve damage, blocked arteries, and even out-of-whack hormones.
Ambrice Miller founded Relic Interiors, a dealing company that curates incredible art, antiques, and beautifully handcrafted furniture. She gives a tour of her English countryside home.
Men and women experience low libido as a result of poorly managed diabetes. If your sex drive is stalled, look at your diabetes management and take steps to lower your blood glucose levels. Then, consider your medications. Certain drugs, such as antidepressants, can reduce sexual desire, so be sure to talk to your doctor.
Divabetic’s Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide To Love And Intimacy With Diabetes is available on Amazon
Finally, if you don’t stumble on any surprises, crawl into bed for guidance on overcoming sexual health and intimacy concerns.
Plus, at the end of the tour, you can get a copy of Divabetic’s Top Questions to discuss at your next Doctor’s visit.
Divabetic: It’s All About Attitude!
This Homeworthy episode features the beautiful Connecticut home of renowned interior designer Bunny Williams. Bunny graciously invites us to tour her 1860s Falls Village home and discover her converted barn that was originally a garage, but is now filled with many of her and her husband John Rosselli’s extraordinary antiques.
We’re sharing excerpts of interviews from our favorite Divabetic podcasts over the years.
This excerpt is from our Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis Turnaround podcast with Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND, and gospel singer Pat Lacy.
Jill Weisenberger is recognized internationally for her expertise in nutrition, diabetes, and prediabetes. She worked as a nutrition counselor, diabetes educator, and health coach in hospitals, research, and private practice settings.
Jill helps leverage resources, recipes, and scientific insights to find better ways to improve eating and smart living, reduce the risk of mismanaged diabetes health-related complications, and support better health.
Jill Weisenberger is the author of Prediabetes: A Complete Guide, 2nd edition, Diabetes Weight Loss Week By Week, 21 Things You Need to Know About Diabetes and Your Heart, and The Overworked Person’s Guide To Better Nutrition. Additionally, she offers the Prediabetes Meal Planning Crash Course, Prediabetes Turnaround, Type 2 Eating Guide, and a Stick With It Video Course.
Gospel Singer Pat Lacy, who has worked with The Sounds of Blackness and Luther Vandross, shares her experience living with type 2 diabetes and how she modified her lifestyle to take charge of her health.
This podcast features music from Pat Lacy’s upcoming gospel album, I’m Taking You To Church.
Divabetic’s faith-based diabetes community outreach program, “Hat Boxing Competitions,” was presented in multiple tri-state area churches.
This program celebrates the glamour and style of church hats in a hat box decorating contest. Refereed by healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, this is one competition where everyone wins.
Our program consisted of a Hat Fashion Show celebrating Divas Of Distinction, a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist’s Presentation, a Speed Boxing competition, a Chair Workout, live entertainment, Hat Boxing Presentations and Speeches, and a Grand Prize presentation.
Several weeks before the program, contestants picked up hat-boxing packets containing plain hat boxes, diabetes information, stroke survivor testimonials, and healthy lifestyle messages at the church sanctuary. We also included tips from our favorite diabetes educators, nutritionists, and workout instructors.
Enjoy this nutrition tip from our interview with Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND from our Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis Turnaround podcast.
Over 30 contenders from Bethel Deliverance International Church (Wyncote, PA) showed off their creativity at one program.
Hat Boxing contestants brought their decorated hat boxes to the competition. Entries were decorated with messages of diabetes information, encouragement, and empowerment and presented to the judges.
New York Fashion hat designer Evetta Petty, the New York City Hat Boutique Harlem’s Heaven owner, shares how she stays on track with type 2 diabetes while running a successful small fashion business.
Carrie Underwood inspires us to discuss Faith and Diabetes on this episode of Divabetic’s popular podcast.
Podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Dr. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDE, Neva White DNP, CDCES, Mama Rose Marie, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and special guest Carrie from New York.
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.
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.
