Unfortunately Divabetic’s Baking Party with The Diabetic Pastry Chefhas been postponed. We apologize for the inconvenience. We were looking forward to spending time together virtually with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’in 2021.
Sure, it’s disappointing that tonight’s virtual event is postponed but ‘Don’t get Down, Get DIVA!’ and enjoy these holiday offerings to help keep you safe, well and happy throughout the season.
Enjoy this December’s Holiday edition of our popular Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Dan Houdeshel, Pendulum Glucose Control‘s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Orville Kolterman and Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy Author Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDCES, Mama Rose Marie and music from Harry Connick, Jr.’s Harry For The Holidays album.
Flashback to last year’s Holiday edition of Diabetes Late Nite with Dr. Bart Roep, Janis Roszler, LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDCES, Hint Water‘s Anthony Fiorello, Know Diabetes By HeartAmbassador Christina Herrera, Diabetes Alert Dog owner Elizabeth Gallagher, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES and festive music from Yolanda Adams’s What A Wonderful Time Of The Year album.
2 Great, Quick Reads To Keep You Healthy!
Navigating the Holidays With Diabetes from our friend, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES – READ
Watch highlights from Divabetic’s last virtual outreach event featuring a Hat & Mask Fashion Show presented by Harlem’s Heaven’s Hatsand poetry from Lorraine Brooks.
Tony winner actress, Ali Stroker stars in Lifetime’s Christmas Ever After, premiering December 6 at 8pm ET.
“I remember growing up and never seeing any women in wheelchairs portrayed on screen or stage,” she told Theatermania. “I knew I wanted to be a professional actress, so this has just become a part of my mission because there are so many different kinds of people represented. They’re the leads of these storylines, not just side characters; they’re the storyline, which is so refreshing and so exciting to me.
At the age of two, Ali Stroker was in a car accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the chest down. Unable to walk, she uses a wheelchair. She is the first actress who uses a wheelchair for mobility to appear on a Broadway stage
Ali Stroker stars as Izzi Simmons, a successful romance novelist who spends every Christmas at her favorite bed-and-breakfast. This year, she’s struggling with writer’s block and finds her groove with the help of the B&B owner. Like Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts before her, Stroker is more than ready to take on the rom-com genre and spread joy while doing it.
Many people living with diabetes may require a wheelchair for several different reasons. Diabetic sensory neuropathy often impairs lower limb position sensation. If vibration sensation is impaired, proprioception is usually impaired.
Severe painful neuropathy can also hamper walking.
Additionally people with diabetes are more likely to have muscle weakness or wasting (sarcopenia) than those without diabetes. Muscle infarction or infection occurs in diabetes, and surgical intervention saves limb or life, but may leave deformity or dysfunction.
We’re sharing our FAVORITE THINGS in diabetes wellness with musical inspiration from Gospel superstar, Yolanda Adams on this holiday edition of Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nitepodcast.
This Grammy-winning Gospel/Adult Contemporary artist has one of the most persuasive and popular voices in music and works closely with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources to ensure that kids in low- income areas receive immunizations. Along with that nationwide program, she lends her energy and commitment to Houston charities such as juvenile diabetes and The Escape Center. ”I’m very involved with kids because after being a teacher for seven years, I just can’t stop loving the kids. I am a teacher forever.”
When Yolanda Adams was asked what she loves about her music and ministry she said, “the music brings joy. I truly believe that my songs bring the answers and the solutions, as opposed to just talking about the problems. My music at its core is joyful.”
Does Yolanda like Christmas music?
“I like to listen to Christmas music year-round. It puts a smile on your face, and then it gets you in a spirit heart-wise to give and be gracious,” she admitted.
December’s podcast guests include Dr. Bart Roep of City of Hope, Janis Roszler, LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, Hint Water‘s Anthony Fiorello, FAND ‘Know Diabetes By Heart’ Ambassador Christina Herrera, Elizabeth Gallagher, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Yolanda Adams’ album,“What A Wonderful Time”courtesy of SONY Music.
Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.”
Beloved Drag Queen Mutha Chucka, who is known for splashy costumes, striking hair and makeup, and humorous, politically pointed performances, is using her flair to promote heart health.
Back in 2016, Mutha Chucka landed in the hospital with a heart problem. Doctors diagnosed cardiomyopathy and “basically told me I was on death’s door,” Mutha recalled.
Today, Mutha Chucka exercises and eats lots of vegetables and not much red meat. Mutha, 58, is mindful of his family history of cardiovascular diseases. His grandmother had a stroke; both of his parents have high blood pressure; and his father has had high cholesterol and a heart attack treated with a stent.
As he strives to live a healthy life, he urges others to, as well. Mutha makes a point to educate the community about LGBTQ health and heart disease risk through charities, drag shows and online events.
“I just encourage everyone to take the best care of themselves,” he said. “It’s part of the persona of Mutha. I’m always telling everyone what to do.”
We’re talking about ‘HEART HEALTH & DIABETES‘ with musical inspiration from the rock band “Heart” on this episode of Divabetic’s popular Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.
People with insulin resistance or diabetes in combination with one or more of these risk factors are at even greater risk of heart disease or stroke. However, by managing their risk factors, people with diabetes may avoid or delay the development of heart and blood vessel disease.
Guests include Author of ‘Nutrition & You’ Dr. Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.
Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Heart’s “The Essential Heart”album courtesy of SONY Music
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 31, we’re spotlighting Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Maria Callasfrom January 2020. We’re talking about ways to help minimize the drama in our daily diabetes lives.
Maria Callas changed the way we listen to opera—and charged the ambition of the singers who followed her. Her ability to interpret a wide variety of different roles truly set her apart, establishing her as a phenomenon, an operatic diva. She was able to fully exploit the dramatic strength of her low vocal range as much as the high and bright notes of her high range.
Opera takes any type of dramatic story and tries to make it more exciting and more believable with the help of music. Symptoms and situations related to diabetes are often dramatic and come on very suddenly. But how do you react to them? Are you ‘drama queen’?
If there’s drama in multiple areas of your diabetes life, be honest with yourself—you’re the constant. Are you creating it? We don’t do anything repeatedly unless there’s something in it for us, so, what’s the payoff?
Every time we find ourselves immersed in something that seems overwhelming, we have an opportunity to learn how to deal with challenges better.
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
Can you complete the Mystery Phrase below? Diabetes self-care can be emotionally taxing, but reframing your mind-set can have powerful results. Upbeat, kind, encouraging and gentle words that you say to yourself can help!
Self-help books often promote the power of positive affirmations. If you’ve never tried them before, the idea can seem incredibly awkward to tell yourself how awesome you are.
Positive affirmations help to re-program your thought patterns and change the way you think and feel about things. They are short positive statements that can help you focus on goals, get rid of negative, self-defeating beliefs and program your subconscious mind.
And yes, there is genuine theory and a fair amount of neuroscience behind this practice.
If you’re struggling to cope with your diabetes diagnosis: try repeating positive affirmations to yourself each morning to steer your mood in the right direction. This way of thinking can be helpful when the mental burden of diabetes management gets tough.
We’re talking about how to minimize the drama in our diabetes lives with music from the ultimate diva, Maria Callas on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late NIte podcast.
Are you a drama queen?
If there’s drama in multiple areas of your diabetes life, be honest with yourself—you’re the constant. Are you creating it? We don’t do anything repeatedly unless there’s something in it for us, so, what’s the payoff?
Every time we find ourselves immersed in something that seems overwhelming, we have an opportunity to learn how to deal with challenges better.
African American women are disproportionately affected by heart disease. Together, we can do something to change that.
Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador, Hyvelle Ferguson Davis shares her experience of living with type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease on February’s Diabetes Late Nite with music from Camila Cabello.
Growing up, diabetes was a silent, omnipresent resident in Hyvelle’s family’s home. Her mother had the disease but never acknowledged it.
“Black folks have illnesses nobody talks about but deal with,” said Ferguson Davis, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “Our mom would just say, ‘I’m tired.’ I watched her deteriorate over the years, but she didn’t make it known or relevant.”
She kept thinking diabetes was an old person’s disease. Then, in 2014, she had a stroke. Every two minutes, an adult with diabetes in the U.S. is hospitalized for a stroke.
“I was reading stuff backwards at work, talking weird,” Ferguson Davis said. “I came home and went to sleep. I woke up when my daughter Brittney, who was a teenager, came home from school. She said, ‘Mom, you don’t sound right.’
“She called my sister, who immediately called 911.”
We’re talking about ‘ROMANCE & DIABETES’ on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from Camila Cabello.
After releasing three studio albums from 2015 to 2017 as part of Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello made her solo album debut in 2018, then this second album, Romance released in 2019 — and even she can feel the difference in the song-making process.
“I feel like this time around, I really got to bond with the people that I was collaborating with because I wasn’t trying to impress anyone anymore.”
Having diabetes affects much more than a person’s diet. It can impact every aspect of their life, including their sexual health.
When a person has diabetes, their body cannot use insulin properly, and this can lead to high blood sugar levels. Over time, these can lead to complications such as nerve damage and cardiovascular problems. Both have implications for sexual health in men and women.
Guests include ‘Intimacy & Diabetes’ Author Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, American Heart & American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes by Heart Ambassador Hyvelle Ferguson Davis, ‘My Sweet Blessing: Adventures In Diabetes’ Author Trisha Porretti RN, BSN, CDE, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and Kathy Malleck.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Camila Cabello’s Romance album courtesy of SONY Music.
Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.
Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast Inspired by Camila Cabello focuses on ‘Romance & Diabetes’. Guests include ‘Intimacy & Diabetes’ Author Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, American Heart & American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes by Heart Ambassador Hyvelle Ferguson Davis, ‘My Sweet Blessing: Adventures In Diabetes’ Author Trisha Porretti RN, BSN, CDE, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and Kathy Malleck.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Camila Cabello’s Romance album courtesy of SONY Music.
Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.
Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador Hyvelle Ferguson Davis shares her 14-year diabetes health journey which includes stroke, heart attack, surgeries and setbacks on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Tuesday, February 11, 2020, 6 PM, EST on blogtalkradio. TUNE IN
Hyvelle was diagnosed with diabetes while pregnant with her son Ethan. The disease caught her totally off guard. “It was surreal to me,” she said. She wanted a healthy child, so diligently followed her doctor’s orders.
But not long after giving birth, she reverted to her old ways, “eating whatever I wanted to eat, thinking my meds would make up for what I ate,” she said. “I’d been checking my blood three times a day. But after having him, I didn’t. I ate anything and everything: chicken wings, red velvet cake. There was nothing I wasn’t eating.”
She kept thinking diabetes was an old person’s disease. Then, in 2014, she had a stroke. Every two minutes, an adult with diabetes in the U.S. is hospitalized for a stroke.
The American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, along with industry leaders, have proudly launched the groundbreaking collaborative initiative Know Diabetes by Heart™ to reduce cardiovascular deaths, heart attacks and strokes in people living with type 2 diabetes.
How To Minimize Your Heart Risk
Prepare for your visit.Ask questions. Write them down ahead of time if you need to.
Be honest. Have candid conversations about your daily habits and lifestyle. This will help you work with your healthcare team to implement changes that are realistic for you.
Take notes. Make note of consistent symptoms, questions about your medications, and any changes in your lifestyle. These can be helpful for your next check-up. Also, take notes during your clinic visits. This can help you remember things, particularly if there are changes in your care plan.
We’re talking about ‘ROMANCE & DIABETES’ on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from Camila Cabello on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, 6 PM, EST. TUNE IN
After releasing three studio albums from 2015 to 2017 as part of Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello made her solo album debut in 2018, then this second album, Romance released in 2019 — and even she can feel the difference in the song-making process.
“I feel like this time around, I really got to bond with the people that I was collaborating with because I wasn’t trying to impress anyone anymore.”
Having diabetes affects much more than a person’s diet. It can impact every aspect of their life, including their sexual health.
When a person has diabetes, their body cannot use insulin properly, and this can lead to high blood sugar levels. Over time, these can lead to complications such as nerve damage and cardiovascular problems. Both have implications for sexual health in men and women.
After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure himself, Rob Taub, 63, changed his lifestyle and lost more than 60 pounds with encouragement from his doctor. Rob shares how important the right doctor is in motivating you to face your diabetes challenges head on on January’s Diabetes Late Nite.
Rob Taub is a national volunteer ambassador for Know Diabetes by Heart, a collaboration with the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association to raise awareness between the link between type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke and empower people living with diabetes to reduce their risk. Rob has enjoyed an eclectic career television, radio, journalism and real estate. He has interviewed everyone from pop stars to presidents and has written for People Magazine, Newsmax, SI/Cauldron, The Huffington Post and Thrive Global. Rob’s work has encompassed everything from scripted comedies to World Wrestling Entertainment, and his distinctive voice can be heard in commercials and movies, including the Coen Brothers Miller’s Crossing and Barton Fink. He is known for playing the role of weatherman Russell Carlton on The Onion News Network and has made more than 300 appearances as a political and sports pundit on television. Follow him on Twitter @robmtaub or at www.RobTaub.com.
How will I know if the changes I’ve made are making a difference?
What resources can help me learn more?
We’re talking about how to minimize DRAMA in our DIABETES LIVES with music from the ultimate diva, Maria Callas on January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
If there’s drama in multiple areas of your diabetes life, be honest with yourself—you’re the constant. Are you creating it? We don’t do anything repeatedly unless there’s something in it for us, so, what’s the payoff?
Every time you find ourselves immersed in something that seems overwhelming, you have an opportunity to learn how to deal with challenges better.
According to the Oxford dictionary, pride is “a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” And they give the example, “he takes great pride in his appearance”
Let’s face it – being overweight is not a trait that is “widely admired” in our culture. Nor is it considered an “achievement”. Quite the contrary, we tend to believe that excess weight is often the result of a lack of pride in one’s appearance. How, then, can we also preach that you should be proud of yourself no matter what you weigh? How can someone find a sense of pride, if that pride, by definition, is attached to some (undefined) achievement, or the admiration of others? How many people can say that they are admired for being overweight? Or that gaining 50 pounds is seen as a wonderful achievement?
And what about the issue of “health”? Pride aside, we also firmly believe that excess weight puts us at higher risk of developing a number of preventable conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, some cancers, back and knee pain, etc etc. And of course there is ample evidence that this is true, and everyone knows or has heard it. We can’t escape the messages from magazine ads and articles, pamphlets in the doctor’s office, the parade of tv shows showing the various horrors (physical and otherwise) of being fat. So, it is assumed that if someone is overweight, on some level they are knowingly putting themselves at higher risk. And how can you be proud of yourself under those circumstances? l believe therein lies the problem. How can l have pride in myself, my looks, my body, my size…when l “know” how dangerous and risky it is to be carrying extra weight?
I am an older woman of color, who has struggled with weight since childhood. I have also had type 1 diabetes for almost 40 years. Type 1 is the type that most people get early in life (aka juvenile diabetes), but l was not diagnosed until l was almost 30. I admit l am a “micromanager” when it comes to diabetes, and l think it has paid off, because just yesterday my endocrinologist told me that l am doing very well, with no sign of any complications. l am still overweight, but she has also told me that weight loss is NOT part of my treatment plan. She is more concerned that we protect my kidneys and my heart, by keeping my A1c at a safe level, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol. I have to admit that l was surprised when she first told me that, because l, like everyone else, bought into the idea that if l wasn’t actively losing weight, or at least trying to, that l wasn’t “doing well”, or that l “wasn’t motivated”. I always thought that l should hang my head when the topic of weight was raised, and be prepared for “the lecture” about how l needed to do more or do better. Was l counting my carbs right? Was l measuring? Was l trying to use the stairs instead of the elevator? Was l prepared for the pejorative face that many health professionals make when they listen to your “excuses” about your size?
As l sat in the waiting room, every magazine on the table had some headline article on the cover declaring “Lose 10 Pounds in A Week”; “Miracle Diet Helps Curb Your Appetite”; “Slim Down the Easy Way”; “How l Lost 100 Pounds and Gained a Husband”. I went back to reading a novel on my Kindle as l waited to be seen. Looking around the waiting room, l began to start comparing myself to everyone else, even though l have no idea what issues they are dealing with, or where they are on their journey. And what’s worse, l’m sure they are also looking at and judging ME.
And then, l thought of the ultimate paradox…we are told that we should love and be proud of our bodies, no matter what size they are and what they look like. How is that even possible, given so much opinion to the contrary? Even as l wait to see my endocrinologist, my pride is challenged by the messages in her very office. Although she herself tells me not to concern myself with my weight! She says that l am doing well and my health is good.
Frankly, l’m tired of the whole conversation. l’m tired of being made to feel somehow inadequate. l’m tired of being seen as lazy, or unmotivated. l’m tired of comparing myself to others. l’m tired of the labels. l’m tired of trying to explain the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and how my pancreas simply does not work, and my having diabetes is not a result of my poor eating habits. l’m tired of women judging other women. l’m tired of men asking me what l think about women judging other women. And then here comes Jillian Michaels. Why should l care what she says about Lizzo? Why should Lizzo care? Who are these people, anyway? (l literally did not know who either of them was until l was asked to write this.)
Well, they’re the same people who are sitting in my doctor’s waiting room, and working in my doctor’s office, and standing in line next to me in the supermarket, looking in my cart to see if l’m buying “fattening” foods. These people are everywhere and guess what? They have a right to think whatever they choose to think. But can we please stop making it a big deal? Believe what you want. Do what you think is best for you. Make your decisions based on your trusted sources. As the Oxford dictionary says, take pride in your appearance. Your hair, your skin, your clothes. l think the only way to combat this sort of conversation is to stop having it.
Am l proud of myself? Yes. l have had diabetes for well over half of my life. And no complications. l worked over 40 years, until l reached retirement age, and never took a leave because of illness. I earned a master’s degree summa cum laude, while working full time and caring for 3 elderly relatives. l live in a beautiful new home, drive a sexy convertible, and maintain a comfortable lifestyle. Plus, l have a part-time counseling practice that provides extra income, and hopefully helps people improve their coping skills. Am l proud of me? Hell yes. And l have learned to live by an important concept: what you think of me is none of my business. You’re entitled to your opinion, but it does not concern me one bit. Nor does it require a response. Are you listening Jillian?
Lorraine Brooks wrote this blog post. She shares her poetry on Divabetic’s monthly podcast, Diabetes Late Nite. Lorraine Brooks takes an earthy, often wildly comic and unembarrassed look at life’s frailties; from natural disasters to lusty encounters in her book, Riding the Wave. Her words denote a simple bravery of style.
We’re talking about how to minimize the drama in our diabetes lives with music from the ultimate diva, Maria Callas on January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
Maria Callas changed the way we listen to opera—and charged the ambition of the singers who followed her. Her ability to interpret a wide variety of different roles truly set her apart, establishing her as a phenomenon, an operatic diva. She was able to fully exploit the dramatic strength of her low vocal range as much as the high and bright notes of her high range.
Opera takes any type of dramatic story and tries to make it more exciting and more believable with the help of music. Symptoms and situations related to diabetes are often dramatic and come on very suddenly. But how do you react to them? Are you ‘drama queen’?
If there’s drama in multiple areas of your diabetes life, be honest with yourself—you’re the constant. Are you creating it? We don’t do anything repeatedly unless there’s something in it for us, so, what’s the payoff?
Every time we find ourselves immersed in something that seems overwhelming, we have an opportunity to learn how to deal with challenges better.
Guests include Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport PhD, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Lorraine Brooks, American Heart and American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador Rob Taub, Yoga for Diabetes Author and Director Rachel Zinman and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN,CDE.