Lorraine Brooks – Page 5

06/25/202306/26/2023

Out Gay And Here by Lorraine Brooks

Over 37 million Americans have diabetes, and 96 million have prediabetes. This includes people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQAI+). About 25% of gay or bisexual men and 14% of lesbian or bisexual women have been diagnosed with diabetes, compared to about 10% of the general population.

If you’re a member of the LGBTQAI+ community, learn about factors that may put you at a higher risk of developing diabetes. Divabetic can help you take charge of your health. You are not alone; we see and hear you.

Mr. Divabetic is an openly cisgender gay man who advocates for diabetes. He sees similarities between accepting your sexual identity and accepting a diabetes diagnosis. Both identities seem steeped in shame and blame by the general public. Coming to terms with who you are and/or your health status is a powerful journey in self-love and self-acceptance.

“My coming out journey transformed my life,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “It was a powerful act of courage, self-love, and acceptance. Not everyone chooses to do it, and that’s okay. I traveled across the country to California to seek my truth. I needed that much distance from friends and relatives to feel safe. At the time, I felt I could resume my life on the East Coast if no one knew what happened on the West Coast. However, I realized once I kissed another man that I was gay and began the lifelong process of coming out to my friends, my family, my co-workers, and acquaintances. There were many difficult and awkward conversations. I have been shamed and have lost work because of it, but I don’t regret it. Coming out is a lifelong process because every time I meet and become friends with someone new, there’s a feeling inside me urging me to speak my truth. Keeping my sexuality a secret feels toxic.”

Poet Lorraine Brooks shares this beautiful poem, Out Gay & Here, to celebrate Pride Month.

Out Gay And Here by Lorraine Brooks

so tell me what it meant to you

in all your human glory

the fears, the chance, the honesty,

the day you told your story.

was shame the thing that kept you from

revealing your true wants?

were you afraid of hearing

all the ridicule and taunts?

or did you hold your head up, high

defying any doubt…

and did you shout with confidence

I’m here, I’m gay, I’m OUT?!?

did parents, friends, and foes alike

recoil in true disgust,

or did your people smile and say

we thank you for, your trust?

did you feel better having said

what some already knew,

and were you now beginning to

explore a better “you”?

is being out the best thing

that you’ve ever done so far?

or were you left with wondering

why you are who you are?

is life a bit more happy now

that you have said the word?

has anybody turned away

and left your voice unheard?

have you been embraced by

a community of peers?

and have you now acknowledged

that you’re one of all the queers?

you’re here, you’re out, you’re satisfied.

you’re lesbian, you’re gay.

you’re trans, you’re bi, you’re curious…

but mostly, YOU’RE OK!!

you’ve partnered with,

you’ve broken up,

you’ve shut your mouth,

you’ve spoken up.

you’ve bagged it up,

you’ve not complained,

you’ve used a whip,

you’ve been restrained.

you’ve doggy-styled,

you’ve been on top,

you’ve started it,

you’ve made it stop.

you’ve been alone,

you’ve been in pairs,

you’ve shaved it or,

you’ve cut its hairs.

you’ve used your tongue,

you’ve used your hands,

you’ve tied it up

with rubber bands.

you’ve worked it in,

you’ve done without,

you’ve muzzled it,

you’ve made it shout.

but in the end

you’ve all declared…

in voices loud and clear…

this is who,you are and now…

YOU’RE OUT AND GAY AND HERE!!!

The newly redesigned rainbow flag ensures inclusivity is at the heart of the LGBTQ+ movement. The new design incorporated intersex people into the movement and was led by Valentino Vecchietti.

On this episode of Divabetic’s popular podcast, Mr. Divabetic spotlights LGBTQAI+ people living with, affected by, and at risk of diabetes with music from Indigo Girls.

Research shows that LGBTQAI+ people have unique health disparities and worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts regarding diabetes care and education.

Guests include The Flood Girls & The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton, Author Richard Fifield, and Heart Health advocate and fabulous drag queen, Mutha Chucka, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES.

Mr. Divabetic stops by the Gay Pride March in New York to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way. The first March was held in 1970 and has since become an annual civil rights demonstration. Over the years its purpose has broadened to include recognition of the fight against AIDS and to remember those we have lost to illness, violence, and neglect.

Mr. Divabetic plays his food game, Serve, Taste or Trash! with participants and crowd goers to help encourage people to read nutritional labels. You might be surprised by the facts. In the game, you are given three choices of popular snack foods: a Kit Kat White Chocolate bar, a Balance Bar (Yogurt Honey Peanut), and a Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water with Orange, 11. 1 fl oz. To play, you must decide which item you’d serve, which you’d taste, and which you’d trash. Can you tell which one contains the most sugar? Kit Kat White Chocolate bar contains and the Balance Bar (Yogurt Honey Peanut) both contain 18 grams of sugar and a Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water with Orange, 11. 1 fl oz. Contains 20 grams of sugar.

We’re talking about ‘Diabetes & Pride’ on this episode of Divabetic’s popular podcast with musical and identity inspiration from Ricky Martin.

Since Ricky Martin came out in 2010, he’s been a prominent voice for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. and his native Puerto Rico. Ricky Martin said, “I just wanna be free,” upon receiving GLAAD’s Vito Russo Award, which honors gay entertainers who promote equal rights. Martin opened up his life to Vanity Fair in its April 2012 issue and spoke candidly about his twins, Matteo and Valentino, and his longtime partner, Carlos Gonzalez.

As an openly gay man, Mr. Divabetic is honored to shine the spotlight on members of the LGBTQ+ community living with diabetes. Guests include Stephen Bernstein, Greg Rubin, Maria Salazar, Maya James, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

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.”

06/17/202306/17/2023

Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade 2023

Mermaids of nearly every imaginable description (Swedish Fish singing ABBA and Mime-Maids) lined Surf Avenue in Coney Island for the 41st Mermaid Parade.

It was an incredible display of art, body positivity, cleverness, and creativity.

This year’s parade is billed as the nation’s largest arts parade. Hip-hop legend Kool Keith was its king, and city Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo was its queen.

The main goal of the parade is to spread positivity and fun, and it continues to do so year after year.

The Mermaid Parade is all about body positivity. Body positivity is a movement that promotes acceptance of all bodies, regardless of size, shape, skin tone, gender, and physical abilities.

According to the Office on Women’s Health, a healthy body image means feeling good about looking and feeling comfortable in one’s body. Conversely, they report that having a negative body image can put one at a higher risk for mental health conditions, including eating disorders.

The true meaning of being positive about your body is self-acceptance and learning what is healthy specifically for you.

It’s a gathering of scantily clad folks who aren’t afraid to wear sequins, bare midriffs, fins, and sea-inspired costumes in broad daylight, with thousands of people watching.

The Mermaid Parade allows women to dress up as Drag Queens.

“Just like the Halloween parade — it’s all authentic New Yorkers. And this is an authentic New York event, she said.

The parade has been held nearly every year since 1983 but went virtual in 2020 and was canceled in 2021 because of the COVID pandemic.

The Mermaid Parade is a chance to get made up, express yourself, hear live music, see classic cars, and enjoy the creative spirit of New Yorkers.

Organizers estimate hundreds of thousands of people come out each year.

A ceremony on the beach also marks the start of the official summer swimming season on Coney Island.

Check out Divabetic’s Mystery podcast, Gypsies, Tramps & Peas.

Diabetes advocate turned reluctant amateur sleuth, Mr. Divabetic finally takes the plunge and ventures into a new career as a healthy caterer in Coney Island. With the help of his co-workers and nosy Italian mother, he heads for Coney Island to cater his first party aboard a yacht for his former swim coach, Ted Rockow. But his nautical soiree quickly capsizes when the guest of honor is found swimming with the fish. Was it an accident or foul play? Now Mr. Divabetic’s grilling Burlesque dancers, a lifeguard lothario, and some sequined mermaids, all intent on keeping their secrets buried deep within the sand.

Can Mr. Divabetic prove Coach’s death was a murder, not an accident? Or will he end up floating out to sea?

Will he sink or swim? Tune in to find out if he can solve the murder of his former swim coach with the help of his friends, some sassy mermaids, and a cooky fortune teller. Along the way to revealing the identity of the murderer, he uncovers expert tips for diabetes self-care during the Summer months.

USA Today Best-Selling Author, Tonya Kappes, Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic,’ Seveda Williams, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay MEd, NDTR, Mama Rose Marie, and Lorraine Brooks help the fruit suit-clad sleuth in this seaside adventure.

Divabetic Mysteries podcast features music from the original cast recording of ‘Gypsy’ courtesy of SONY Music.

06/16/202306/16/2023

Habits by Lorraine Brooks

Poet Lorraine Brooks shares her poem about habits on Divabetic‘s Healthy Swaps podcast. We’re offering simple ideas to help you live your best diabetes life on our podcast.

We understand many people deal with diabetes distress and feel overwhelmed by the rentlessness of diabetes.

Feeling this way about your diabetes is understandable and it’s a natural reaction for anyone that’s been diagnosed with a long-term health condition.

Lots of people feel like this sometimes but it’s important you get help. If you don’t get support to help you cope, you’re more likely to reach burnout and that can be really serious. Please let us join you on the journey.

Habits by Lorraine Brooks

To do somethig once

Doesn’t make a habit yet

You have to repeat

Some habits are good

Like eating our vegetables

And counting our carbs

Bad habits die hard.

Our chooices become lifestyles.

And sometimes are poor

What is a habit

A behavior that binds us

But you can break free

To age with kindness

Cmes from having good habits

From when we are young.

I dont mind aging

Because I have formed habits\

That serve e well now

I’m aging like wine

Rich and mellow and sparkling

My habits paid off

I know I’m OK

I have worked hard to get here

And I will not quit

Be Kind To Yourself

Try to manage your expectations about your blood sugar levels and A1c test results and set smaller, more realistic goals.

It also helps to stop using phrases like ‘good’ or ‘bad’ blood sugar – as this can constantly feel like you’ve done something wrong. Talk about high or low blood sugar instead.

Taking time for yourself, like booking a massage or setting an evening aside for a long bath can help you relax.

We’re sharing healthy swap ideas on this episode of Divabetic‘s podcast. 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.

Guests include Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RD, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, MEd, NDTR, and Mama Rose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

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 in this YouTube video. 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.

06/14/2023

Easy, Grilled Asparagus Recipe

This is what happens when you serve Grilled Asparagus prepared on an Outdoor Grill – they’re gone within minutes!

I have an intense dislike of peas, but I love asparagus. It’s a good thing, too, because asparagus is rich in minerals and vitamins A, C, and folic acid. It’s a fibrous vegetable that may support a healthy gut, as well as help lower blood pressure.

So easy to make too. Clean, cut, and trim asparagus spears. I like to cut off the white ends – they’re dense and hard to chew. On some pencil-thine spears (harder to manage on the grill), the white woody ends may not tenderize once cooked. On larger stalks, those same ends never soften. However, it’s not necessary to trim asparagus.

The night before, tossed them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Then grill the asparagus for 8-10 minutes over medium flame until soft, and add lemon zest before serving. Delicious!

We’re sharing a few simple swaps to help you live your best life while managing your diabetes on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast. Guests include Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RD, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, MEd, NDTR, and Mama Rose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

This podcast features music from Aretha Franklin’s Get It Right and Who’s Zooming Who albums courtesy of SONY Music

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic stops by the 10th annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party at Madison Square Park in New York City. Hear how everyday people stay on track with their health goals while indulging in summertime fun.

05/28/202305/28/2023

Tina Turner, Mismanaged High Blood Pressure & Chronic Kidney Failure

Tina Turner is ‘simply the best’ for raising awareness for the link between untreated high blood pressure and kidney failure during her lifetime.

“I can’t remember ever getting an explanation about what high blood pressure means or how it affects the body,” Tina Turner said in an article for Show Your Kidneys Love, an international campaign for kidney health.

“My kidneys are victims of my elevated blood pressure” -Tina Turner

She was on dialysis after having a kidney transplant years ago due to untreated hypertension. Untreated hypertension can cause blood vessels to narrow, decreasing blood flow to the kidneys. Without proper blood flow, the kidneys cannot remove excess fluid and waste from the body — and as that fluid builds up, blood pressure will only increase further. Chronic kidney disease may cause arms, legs, and face swelling. It’s a dangerous cycle that can lead to kidney failure, but intervening early is possible.

“I considered high blood pressure my normal,” Tina Turner is quoted on Show Your Kidneys Love’s website. “Hence, I didn’t really try to control it. In 1985 a doctor gave me a prescription for pills of which I was supposed to take one a day, and that was it. I didn’t give it any more thought. After suffering a stroke in 2009 because of my poorly controlled hypertension I struggled to get back up on my feet. This is when I first learned that my kidneys didn’t work that well anymore. They had already lost thirty-five percent of their function. I tried to learn more about these organs’ function and meaning. Most people probably don’t even know where their kidneys are located and what they are for until their health is at stake.”

Mismanaged high blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure in the US.

Memorial Day Weekend is an excellent time to inform people of the link between alcohol and high blood pressure. Drinks with friends can be the best part of a three-day weekend, but when, what, and how much you drink matters.

Research shows drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily raises blood pressure. Repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases in blood pressure.

What is Moderate Drinking?

Moderate drinking means having no more than one drink daily for women and no more than two drinks for men.

One can argue that Tina Turner frequently admitted she didn’t smoke or drink alcohol. But she admitted that after being diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1978, she thought of it as her “normal” and didn’t attempt to control it.

“I put myself at great danger by refusing to accept the reality that I required daily medication for the rest of my life,” she wrote on Instagram on March 9.

“Show your kidneys love. They deserve it.”

We’re discussing kidney disease and diabetes on this Divabetic podcast with musical inspiration from P.M. Dawn.

Prince Be, the psychedelic pop-rap group P.M. Dawn’s frontman, suffered various health problems from mismanaged type 2 diabetes. He had several strokes, including one in 2005 that left him partly paralyzed, and gangrene, which led to the partial amputation of one leg. He died of renal failure resulting from complications of diabetes at age 46.

Renal failure (often called kidney failure) is when the kidneys stop working and cannot remove waste and extra water from the blood or keep body chemicals in balance. Acute or severe renal failure happens suddenly (for example, after an injury) and may be treated and cured. Chronic renal failure develops over many years, may be caused by conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, and cannot be cured. Chronic renal failure may lead to dialysis (cleaning the blood by passing it through a membrane or filter) or a kidney transplant.

Podcast Guests: Poet Lorraine Brooks, Mama Rose Marie, Lynette Luckers from the Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation, Chef Robert Lewis aka The Happy Diabetic, Janis Roszler, RD, CDCES, FAND and Luther Vandross Superfan, and Historian Leon Petrossian.

Tina Turner believed most people don’t know their kidneys are located; this video proves they don’t know where their pancreas is either! Your pancreas produces insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar levels in your body.

05/24/202305/24/2023

Divabetic Podcast Inspired by Etta James

Etta James inspires this episode of Divabetic’s podcast.

After the six-time Grammy award winner conquered her drug addiction in 1988, she struggled with her weight. At the peak of her obesity, she reportedly weighed as much as 400 pounds. At just five foot three, this weight gain often left her bedbound, and when she did appear publicly, she was seen in a wheelchair. She was unable to perform during this period.

However, after successful gastric bypass surgery, she lost over 200 pounds and began to perform again.

She told Ebony Magazine in 2006 she could sing “lower, louder and longer” than before.

However, she still had enormous difficulty adjusting to her smaller stomach. “I had trouble keeping food down,” she said. Her mental health also suffered. “I went through a depression. You’re doing well, and then all of a sudden you’re not. I thought I was going to fail.”

Etta James’s openness about her frustrations in managing her weight after the surgery has helped other people cope with the same issues. It’s important to remember you’re not alone if you struggle with weight loss issues, depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem. You owe it to yourself to get comprehensive treatment for all your symptoms—including your mental health symptoms. Seek a referral to a mental health professional to get the treatment you need for any mental health issues you are dealing with.

As she entered her 70s, Etta James began struggling with health issues. She was hospitalized in 2010 for a blood infection and other ailments. It was later revealed that the legendary singer suffered from dementia and was receiving treatment for leukemia.

Podcast guests include Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Monique Renee Rolle, Catherine Schuller, Susan Greenberg Weiner, and Mama Rose Marie.

Throughout the podcast, we will spotlight Etta James’ iconic recordings from the All The Way and The Essential Etta James albums courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Etta James, is free on iTunes, BlogTalkRadio, and Spotify.

05/22/202305/22/2023

Opera, Puccini & Diabetes

Yesterday, my mother and I went to the Palmetto Opera‘s performance of Great Voices from Broadway to Opera for a belated Mother’s Day celebration. The program featured some of opera’s greatest arias, duets, and memorable songs from the Golden Age of Broadway. My mom loves Phantom of the Opera, and I love Turandot‘s Nessun Dorma and La Traviata‘s Sempre Libera, so it was a win-win for both of us.

The concert also featured two songs from Italian composer Giacomo Puccini‘s masterpiece, La Boheme (O Mimi, tu piu non torni, O soave fancuilla).

Giacomo Puccini was born in 1858 and later diagnosed with diabetes in 1908. Numerous reports mention that he struggled to manage his diagnosis for much of his life. Understandably, managing diabetes was difficult before the discovery of insulin wasn’t until 1921.

Before insulin was discovered in 1921, people with diabetes were put on very strict diets with minimal carbohydrate intake. Some doctors prescribed as little as 450 calories a day! Sadly, some people with diabetes died of starvation.

On this Divabetic podcast, we intersperse highlights of the history of diabetes, self-care treatments, and innovations for the past hundred years as we discuss Puccini’s artistry and life.

Divabetic podcast guests include Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

Throughout this podcast, we will feature music from Puccini: Great Opera Arias courtesy of SONY Music.

Giacomo Puccini’s artistic triumphs include La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly. Unfortunately, his last opera, based on the fable of Turandot, would remain unfinished due to his death from throat cancer in Brussels in 1924.

Plus, we had the added treat of hearing the Theme from The Godfather and The Impossible Dream from Man Of La Mancha.

People with diabetes and their loved ones probably considered the discovery of insulin the impossible dream.

A young surgeon named Frederick Banting and his assistant Charles Best figured out how to remove insulin from a dog’s pancreas in 1921. They continued to experiment with dogs until January 1922. Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old boy dying from diabetes in a Toronto hospital, was the first to receive an insulin injection. Within 24 hours, Leonard’s dangerously high blood glucose dropped to near-normal levels.

The news about insulin spread around the world like wildfire. In 1923, Banting and Macleod received the Nobel Prize in Medicine, which they shared with Best and Collip. Thank you, diabetes researchers!

My boss, Luther Vandross, who had type 2 diabetes, recorded The Impossible Dream for his Songs album. He performed it many times in concert to the thrill of audiences. Recently PBS aired his performance at Royal Albert Hall in London.

Interesting Fact: The University of South Carolina boasts a top-rated music school with an Opera department.

We’re discussing minimizing the drama in our diabetes lives with music from the ultimate diva, Maria Callas.

Maria Callas changed how 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 could 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 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 a ‘drama queen’?

Whenever we are immersed in something overwhelming, we can learn how to deal with challenges better.

Divabetic podcast guests include Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, 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, CDCES.

Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from the Grandiose Stimmen: Maria Callas album courtesy of SONY Music.

05/19/202305/19/2023

Does The 12-3-30 TikTok Challenge Really Work?

The 12-3-30 challenge on TikTok consists of setting a treadmill to a 12% incline and walking at 3 miles per hour for 30 minutes.

Last year, the challenge went viral after many TikTokers lost a sustainable weight. The people who created the challenge believe it can help anyone burn more calories, maintain strength and build muscle while alleviating joint problems.

A new twist to my existing workout sounds like fun!

Actually, the 12-3-30 workout sounds like fun on paper. As someone who warms up on a treadmill before group exercises (it’s the only way I will do over 100 situps), I frequently walk on the gym treadmill at the Level 3 (3 mph) setting. It is a moderate-paced walk. However, when you’re on a substantial incline Level 3 setting is vigorous.

The press release for the 12-3-30 challenge states walking uphill during a treadmill workout at the same pace as regular walking may increase endurance, improve performance, and increase lean muscle mass.

It all sounds good, but I’m over 50. At my age, sustaining that pace on a steep incline for thirty minutes might require a defibrillator. For me, the angle or the speed would have to be lowered. I would reduce the incline even though the experts behind this challenge say inclines strengthen joints. Too many of my friends from my adult volleyball league have suffered joint issues. Many under 60 have opted for joint replacement surgery.

As I mentioned, I love adding a new twist to my workout. I think it’s important to vary your workouts to keep yourself motivated. One of the big reasons why people struggle to work out regularly is due to repetitive exercise burn-out. Many people perform workouts they don’t actually enjoy just because they consider the workout “good for them.” Or they work out because they overate or overindulge. They treat it as a form of punishment.

I’m doing everything I can to avoid Prediabetes. Regular exercise is a big part of my overall health plan.

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. Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 80% don’t know they have it.

Keeping your workouts fresh is not only fun but is vital to help you commit to lifelong fitness. So if this challenge appeals to you and keeps you motivated, go for it!

If you discover prediabetes, remember that it doesn’t mean you’ll develop type 2. Working with a team of healthcare collaborators, you can create a personalized treatment plan and alter your lifestyle through food choices and physical activity. Even small changes can have a huge impact on delaying or preventing diabetes.

Need some inspiration? Tune in to Divabetic’s Healthy Swaps podcast on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST.

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.

Guests include Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RD, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, MEd, NDTR, and Mama Rose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

Please feel free to call-in comments at 1-347-215-8551. Diva TalkRadio’s signature show is one you want to hear live every month.

05/18/202305/18/2023

Today in Music History, Jeffrey Osborne Goes Solo

Today in Music History (May 18, 1982): Jeffrey Osborne releases his solo debut album. Before that, Jeffrey Osborne was the lead singer of Love Togetherness and Devotion (later shortened to L.T.D.), one the best and most popular self-contained Soul groups of the 70s.

He credits his long career to staying healthy. He admits he has run every day since he was 18 years old. “I work out five days each week. “I’m up at 6:30 in the morning every day, and I’m in the gym for an hour and a half to two hours,” Jeffrey Osborne says. “I’ve always stayed in shape.”

Other members OF L.T.D. include Carle Vickers (trumpet/sax/flute), Toby Wynn (sax), Abraham “Onion” Miller (sax), Arthur Lorenzo Carnegie (sax, flute, guitar), Jeffrey (drums and vocals), and brother Billy Osborne (keyboards), Henry Davis (bass, flute, keyboards), Jimmy Davis (keyboards and musical director), guitarist Johnny McGhee and horn player Jake Riley.

“In all the time I was with L.T.D., I was never allowed to do an interview by myself. I wasn’t even allowed to talk on stage between songs,” says Jeffrey Osborne. “I couldn’t get a publishing agreement or a production deal because everyone had their own little role to play in the group… and the money, well, anything split 10 ways can’t be much.”

L.T.D. landed a #1 Soul hit in 1976 with the now-classic love song “Love Ballad” and the album “Love to the World.” They topped the charts again the following year with the funky dance cut “Back In Love Again” and the #1 album Something To Love.

How does Jeffrey Osborne still sound the same?He says the secret is to stay active and eat healthy. He’s been a vegan for about a year. “I thank the Lord to still have the voice that I’ve always had,” he said.

The group continued to score over the next three years with a series of wonderful Osborne ballads, including “Stranger,” “Where Did We Go Wrong,” and “We Both Deserve Each Other’s Love.”

Throughout the L.T.D. albums, Jeffrey Osborne became a larger and larger presence. His debut album would begin a career as a solo artist that surpassed even his work with L.T.D.

“Everyone in the group sang when I joined them. That was one of the problems with L.T.D.: there was no focal point,” says Jeffrey Osborne. “It took until 1976, or about six or seven years, before I was put into the spotlight as a vocalist. That’s when I recorded ‘Love Ballad,’ and it became a hit for the group.”

https://youtu.be/h58KRbfBluY

The album features radio-friendly ballads like “On The Wings of Love” and “Congratulations,” an emotional song of loss that remains one of his most requested tracks.

We’re celebrating Divabetic’s 12th Year Anniversary of Podcasting with musical inspiration from Babyface and music from his A Closer Look album courtesy of SONY Music. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES, Ivan Hampden Jr., and Collage Artist Tom Cocotos. Hosted by Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek.

Our musical inspiration, Kenneth Edmonds, known professionally as Babyface, has written over 250 top-10 R&B and pop hits, working with Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston.

“The blessing of being able to write music and let the music speak for itself is you let the melodies and let the lyrics and the groove talk to people instead of me talking to people,” says Babyface.

What makes Babyface so great? His ability to craft a song that touches our emotions captivates our ears and perfectly harmonizes every word. It’s a rare gift that not many people have in music.

“I would say that I’ve been lucky. Being blessed and not really ever giving up,” says Babyface.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your diabetes wellness journey! We’re looking forward to sharing more insight and advice on diabetes self-care from experts and peers, along with more great music in the next year!

05/14/202305/14/2023

Divabetic Healthy Swaps Podcast Coming In June

Our friend and podcast guest, Dr. Lisa Young, shares some great suggestions for smart swaps for a healthy heart in this Video. Dr. Young, PhD, RDN, CDN is an internationally recognized nutritionist in private practice and offers counseling to adults and children.

Guests include Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RD, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, MEd, NDTR, and Mama Rose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

Please feel free to call-in comments at 1-347-215-8551. Diva TalkRadio’s signature show is one you want to hear live every month.