Divabetic’s first Annual Luther Vandross Tribute from April 2011. Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, who worked for Luther Vandross for more than 14 years, hosts this special hour-long birthday tribute to the late Grammy Award-winning legend. Guests include friends, family and colleagues who remember the moments, the music, the man and the motivation to ensure that no one has to struggle with diabetes alone or in silence.
Luther suffered a stroke related to mismanagment of type 2 diabetes in 2003. He died in 2005.
What happened to Luther is not unique. In general, people with diabetes are 1.5 times more likely to have a stroke than people without diabetes.
Stroke is a condition in which blood vessels in the brain are damaged. Strokes are characterized by a number of factors, including the size of the damaged blood vessel, where in the brain blood vessels have been damaged, and what event actually caused the damage.
Let Luther’s voice inspire you to take a look at the medical and lifestyle risk factors and ask yourself what you can do to help reduce your risk of stroke.
“Our first podcast sounds like a crazy party line,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “Everyone’s talking over each other, sharing their favorite Luther memories and celebrating our collective history.”
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a stroke is a crucial first step to getting someone help before it’s too late reports Healthline. In an effort to help people remember how to recognize a stroke, the American Stroke Association endorses the mnemonic FAST, which stands for:
Other symptoms that can signal a stroke include sudden:
https://youtu.be/Gu2JBMNBbKo
Celebrate ELEGANCE in Music, Love & Health with our Spotify playlist featuring the greatest Quiet Storm songs. Be inspired to learn more about the health and wellness issues affecting many of these vocalists and musicians to keep the music alive for future generations. Quiet Storm Fans on FB.
July’s Divabetic Inspiration, Ms. Patti LaBelle performs tonight on A Capitol Fourth on PBS and NPR, July 4 at 8 PM. EST. TUNE IN
It seems only fitting on the 4th of July to reflect back to the time when Patti LaBelle’s electric persona sparked my desire to become a diabetes advocate.
Yes, it’s true the world’s most famous ‘Divabetic’, Patti LaBelle inspired me to coin the phrase ‘Divabetic’ in 2003. During a Luther Tribute concert at Madison Square Garden she stopped singing and admitted to the sold-out audience that she was living with type 2 diabetes.
Ms. Patti LaBelle said, “I have diabetes, it doesn’t have me.’ and I thought to myself as I looked up at her on stage, ‘she’s a DIVA, not a diabetic’.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It’s always been inside of you, you, you
And now it’s time to let it through
Seconds later, I realized that the ‘V’ in ‘Divabetic’ was a subtle reference to my boss, Luther Vandross’s last name. These initial thoughts are what pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and pursue diabetes advocacy. Shortly thereafter, I started making ‘Divabetic’ t-shirts as a one-time diabetes fundraising effort. My t-shirts had ‘Divabetic written on the front and ‘Sugar’s The Bitch. Not Me.’ written on the back.
I personally gave Patti LaBelle one of my first Divabetic t-shirts and told her that she inspired me to coin the phrase ‘Divabetic’. We were both visiting Luther’s mother, Mrs. Mary Ida Vandross at her home in Philadelphia, PA. I told her how much I appreciated what she said up on stage and mentioned that I wished Luther could have been as open and forthright about his diabetes as she is.
Of course, I’ll never really know what would have happened if Luther had adopted Patti LaBelle’s attitude. Could he have avoided a major health crisis? All I know is that I wouldn’t have felt as helpless as I did when I found him on the floor of his home after he suffered a debilitating stroke.
Since the day I presented Patti LaBelle with a Divabetic t-shirt, she has happily proclaimed herself a ‘Divabetic’ on TV and radio and in magazine interviews. She has helped me to show women living with, at risk, affected by diabetes that they are NOT alone.
https://youtu.be/kxCcTfAkaE0
Let Ms. Patti LaBelle inspire you to create your very own entourage of healthcare professionals to live with diabetes like a diva!
According to the American Diabetes Association, your diabetes wellness healthcare team should include: your primary doctor, endocrinologists, registered dietitian (RD), certified diabetes educators (CDE), eye doctor, podiatrist, dentist, therapist, and loving, caring friends, family and co-workers.
You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July
My journey may seem ‘glamorous’ but the truth is that diabetes devastated my life and my dream. It silenced Luther Vandross’ beautiful voice. I encourage you to make time and ‘keep your house a home’ by learning to prevent a diabetes health-related complication such as stroke from occurring.
We’re celebrating Divabetic’s 10th Year Podcast Anniversary with music from the world’s most famous “Divabetic”– Ms.Patti LaBelle. She has inspired us to adopt and promote a ‘NEW ATTITUDE’ about living with diabetes!
Thank you to our loyal listeners for sharing your stories, questions, concerns, and successes with us over the past decade. Our aim has been and continues to be to broaden the appeal of diabetes education with music, beauty/style, games, real-life stories, cozy mysteries radio dramas, and laughter.
10th Year Anniversary Podcast guests include: Patricia Addie-Gentle, RN, CDE, Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OB-GYN, Luther McRae, Mama Rose Marie, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller, Terri Seidman and special guests.
One lucky listner in our random drawing will win aDario Blood Glucose Meterstarter kit. This all-in-one pocket-sized device can track blood sugar fluctuations and trends and identify hyper/hypoglycemic episodes right from your smartphone, providing readings within as little as 6 seconds. It’s scientifically proven, HIPPA compliant, and includes Dario Coaches to offer support and motivation to help manage your diabetes.
We’d like to acknowledge everyone who has taken measures to protect our Divabetic community members living with diabetes and their loved ones by wearing cloth face coverings and social distancing.
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!
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
Divabetic’s Diabetes Roundtable podcast from August 2010 centers around our Diabetes Numerology game puzzle. Diabetes Numerology Game puzzles pair random blood glucose values with real-life situations to help you brush up on your problem-solving skills and test your Divabetic IQ. Always check with your doctor to find out what your specific game plan should be for any given diabetes self-care situation.
On this episode, three of the smartest and friendliest diabetes educators from around the world aka ‘Charlie’s Angels of Outreach’ make their debut. Our dynamic certified diabetes educators featured are: Jessica Issler RD, CDE from Norfolk, VA, Judi Wilcox RD, CDE from Hollywood, FL and Lori Bednarz RN, CDE from Pennsylvania, PA.
Help us to learn more about our community! It’ll only take a minute … and you could win the chance to make your acting debut in our Annual Mystery podcast in September 2020!
DJ Louie Vega is hosting a Special Luther Vandross Tribute on tomorrow’s Lockdown Session (virtual Dance party) featuring Luther’s friends, musicians and singers, and FANDROSS family sharing their favorite Luther memories on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.
This is a great opportunity to take a break, get on your feet and dance to some wonderful music.
For me, Max ‘Mr. Divabetic‘ Szadek, this virtual dance party will be an opportunity to reflect on the time I spent working for Luther as well as the past 15 years of I’ve spent working as a diabetes advocate. I will always regret that I didn’t know more about diabetes and diabetes self-care while I was working for him. My regret, anger, and sadness motivate me everyday to wake up and get to work to serve you as a member of your diabetes wellness entourage.
Luther Vandross was the ultimate entertainer, a generous boss and a kind-hearted friend who in life and death made me a better person. Since his passing in 2005, I have dedicated my life to raising awareness for diabetes and diabetes health-related complications such as stroke. I strive to create diabetes programs, podcasts and videos that inform, inspire and entertain. I seek out friendly diabetes educators, stylists, healthcare professionals, therapists, fitness experts, makeup artists, musicians, chefs, actors, authors, poets and more to lift your spirits and provide expert advice on the topics that matter the most to you, even the embarrassing ones,: like mental and sexual health.
https://youtu.be/Gu2JBMNBbKo
I’d like to encourage fellow listeners to ‘keep their house a home’ by asking their loved ones, friends, co-workers and bosses (!) to get checked for diabetes.
Share my story (I showed up to work to find my boss laying on the floor after suffering a debilitating stroke. “This could have been avoided” were the first words that the doctor in the emergency room told me after we arrived. Then, tell them that many of the symptoms of diabetes can be subtle. Maybe you’re thirstier or more hungry than usual. Perhaps you’ve noticed patches of darker skin in your armpits, elbows, knees, groin, or on your neck. Or you can’t figure out why you’re more tired than usual. All these symptoms can be caused by type 2 diabetes. If you are living with type 1, type 2, prediabetes and/or gestational diabetes, please take the necessary steps to prevent a diabetes health-related complication from occurring. After all, well managed diabetes is the leading cause of NOTHING but mismanaged diabetes can lead to stroke, blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage and heart disease. Trust me, I know. I also know it takes a team effort of friends, family members, co-workers and healthcare professionals to help you stay upbeat, proactive and motivated to cope with the day-to-day challenges of living well with diabetes. We’re here to help!
Diabetes is also an invisible disease that puts a lot of fabulous people at high risk for COVID-19. Wearing a mask helps to keep my house a home ( all of the members of the diabetes community (divabetic.org) that I serve) safe and well Join us for Louie Vega’s Luther Vandross Tribute on Lockdown Sessions click here
Enjoy this look back at my trip to New York City’s Pride March to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way!
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Outreach Party best-selling Intimacy & Diabetes co-author, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on Thursday, July 16, 7 – 7:35 PM, EST. REGISTER NOW
Join Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek when he guests on the upcoming “Lose Weight & Prevent Diabetes”Zoom Meeting with Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, Senior Health Educator for the Center for Urban Health at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 7PM – 7:30PM, EST.
During the meeting, Max will be spotlighting his experience of finding Luther Vandross unconscious in his home after he experienced a stroke related to his type 2 diabetes. Max’s feelings that the media neglected to call attention to the strong link between stroke and diabetes iis what inspired him to care the nonprofit organization, Divabetic (divabetic.org).
Divabetic’s mission is to encourage people to ‘keep their house a home’ by learning how to prevent a diabetes health-related complication from occurring.
Maren Morris inspires us to stay strong as we face the challenges of living with diabetes during the coronavirus pandemic on April’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast. LISTEN with LINK.
Our Diva Inspiration, Maren Morris has opted to do things her own way and obliterating expectation at every turn on her newest album entitled Girl.
Many music experts believe she’s making a bid for the sort of across-the-board pop stardom enjoyed by Pink, Katy Perry and Selena Gomez with this album. Maren’s singing about independence, self-love and the need to reach across the aisle to find common ground.
Podcast guests include Author of the Noodle Shop Mysteries: Vivien Chien, Lorraine Brooks, Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport PhD, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and Alexis Gray.
Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Maren Morris’s Girl album courtesy of SONY Music.
We’re celebrating R & B legend, Luther Vandross on his birthday weekend. Luther suffered a severe stroke linked to diabetes and hypertension on April 16, 2003. He was in a coma for nearly two months before relocating to a rehabilitation center at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey.
Divabetic shines the spotlight on Luther Vandross with its annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcasts to celebrate his musical accomplishments as well as raise awareness for the link between diabetes and stroke. Keep your ‘house a home’ and learn how to prevent a diabetes health-related complication from occurring.
We’re honored to celebrate our friend and mentor, Luther Vandross and his musical legacy as well as raise awareness for diabetes health-related complications (such as stroke) on Divabetic’s annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast.
In the years since Luther’s passing, one constant has remained to define his life and musical success: the voice. Like any great singer of the past 100 years, Luther Vandross’ voice and distinct singing style led to not only monumental success, but an instant recognition when you hear him singing–through your stereo, car radio, on TV or in a movie. Coupled with that voice was Luther’s unique ability to write and sing about love and the shared emotions we all feel in that search for and enjoyment of love. Through his songs, for the last two generations Luther Vandross became a staple in the most joyous moments of people’s lives.
Divabetic’s 2017 Luther Vandross Tribute podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Luther percussionist Steve Kroon, Luther vocalists Tawatha Agee and Pat Lacy, Luther historian Leon Petrossian, members of ‘The Luther Re-Lives Experience’, family members, friends and superfans.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring selected songs from the album entitled ‘Luther Vandross’ courtesy of SONY Music.
It’s been six years since 36-year old Kevin Houdeshelldied from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) after he wasn’t able to fill an expired insulin prescription and couldn’t reach his doctor over the New Year’s holiday.
Since then, Kevin’s parents – Dan and Judy – have been advocating for legislation that would allow pharmacists to give patients an emergency refill of life-saving insulin, even without an up-to-date prescription. Their proposal – dubbed “Kevin’s Law” – became law in Ohio, Florida, Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Idaho, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia in 2019. In many states, votes in favor of the legislation were unanimous.
Additional Tribute podcast guests include Fonzi Thornton, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Diabetes Advocate Dan Houdeshell, Luther Vandross Historian Leon Petrossian, Zhacary Smith, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.
Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Luther Vandross’s “Forever, For Always, For Love” album courtesy of SONY Music.
We’re hoping to call attention to the need for similar legislation in other states by featuring Kevin’s story in Divabetic’s upcoming Diabetes Mystery podcast scheduled 2021. In the meantime, we encourage you to act like a detective and troubleshoot diabetes self-care issues with your doctor. Tune in to Divabetic’s 2019 Mystery podcast, ‘Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes’now!
The mystery is set in the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s healthy culinary misadventures continue in this year’s escapade as he enters the competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape.
Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation. Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail? Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?
Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.
Diabetes Advocate, Andre “Doctor Dre” Brown,who came to prominence as co-host of Yo! MTV Raps, opens up about his experience living with type 2 diabetes on Divabetic’s upcoming Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 6:30 -8 PM, EST.
Doctor Dré (aka André Brown) has publicly battled type 2 diabetes and has been outspoken to his fans about his condition.
“I’m a type 2 diabetic who lost his vision.”
Diabetic eye disease, caused by diabetes, is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss. Because of the high risk for eye disease, all people with type 2 diabetes should receive an annual dilated eye exam.
A 2019 Vision Source study of 1,000 U.S. consumers found that more than 50% had issues with their vision in the past year, and 34% did not go for a professional eye exam. The major barriers to having an annual eye exam included not thinking they needed one (33%), unsure of where to go (25%), lack of insurance, (22%) and expense (22%).
Comprehensive eye exams are key to overall wellness and preserving a high quality of life. In addition to evaluating vision, annual eye exams can detect serious health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, and even cancer.
Regardless of his diabetes health-related challenges, his attitude remains upbeat and inspiring.
“I’ve been going through a whole different resurgence in my life,” Dre said. “I stopped at one point, and now I’m doing this. Through the blessings of the late great Dick Gregory, I’ve worked through holistic doctors to change what goes in my body.”
Brown clarified that he’s not completely blind, and has undergone retina reattachment surgery. The resulting scar tissue causes his vision to fluctuate. As a result, he’s currently more focused on higher factors.
We’re celebrating the musical legacy of Luther Vandross and raising awareness for diabetes health-related complications (such as vision loss) on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 6:30 -8 PM, ESt.
Guests include Andre “Doctor Dre” Brown, Nat Adderley Jr., Dr. Khoshnevis, Danny Clay, Michelle Cobbs, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Luther Vandross’s album, ‘The Night I Fell In Love’ courtesy of SONY Music.
Nat Adderley Jr., Luther Vandross’s music director, co-writer, producer and arranger joins us for Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Podcast on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 6:30 – 8 PM, EST.
Nat Adderley Jr. wrote (and arranged) Luther’s first top 20 pop hit, “Stop to Love”, as well as “Wait for Love” and the Grammy-nominated “Give me the Reason”.
He also arranged many of Luther’s most popular records, including “Superstar”, “Here and Now”, “If Only for One Night”, “Creepin”, “If This World Were Mine”, “So Amazing”, “There’s Nothing Better Than Love”, “Never Too Much” , and “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”. Additionally, Nat produced tracks on the last seven Vandross studio albums. These include “My Favorite Things”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Going Out of My Head”, “Knocks Me Off My Feet”, and “The Closer I Get To You”, a duet with Beyonce Knowles. That track is featured on Beyonce’s grammy-winning Dangerously in Love (best contemporary R&B album), on Luther’s grammy-winning Dance With My Father (best R&B album), and the track won the Grammy in 2004 for best R&B performance by a duo or group. In 2003, Nat produced Luther’s Live 2003 at Radio City Music Hall. Nat was Luther’s musical director from 1981 until his death.
We’re celebrating the musical legacy of Luther Vandross and raising awareness for diabetes health-related complications (such as vision loss) on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast on Tuesday, March 10, 6:30 – 8 PM, EST.
Diabetic eye disease, caused by diabetes, is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss. Because of the high risk for eye disease, all people with type 2 diabetes should receive an annual dilated eye exam.
A 2019 Vision Source study of 1,000 U.S. consumers found that more than 50% had issues with their vision in the past year, and 34% did not go for a professional eye exam. The major barriers to having an annual eye exam included not thinking they needed one (33%), unsure of where to go (25%), lack of insurance, (22%) and expense (22%).
Comprehensive eye exams are key to overall wellness and preserving a high quality of life. In addition to evaluating vision, annual eye exams can detect serious health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, and even cancer.
Guests include Andre “Doctor Dre” Brown, Nat Adderley Jr., Dr. Khoshnevis, Danny Clay, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Luther Vandross’s album, ‘The Night I Fell In Love’ courtesy of SONY Music.
Join fellow Luther Vandross fans, friends, musical peers for an evening of music, memories, and magic at the third annual FANDROSS concert on Sunday, April 19 at Joe’s Pub in New York, NY.
Hip hop legend Doctor Dre, known for being the co-host of “Yo! MTV Raps”, has lost his vision due to complications from type 2 diabetes. He’s helping us to honor Luther Vandross’s legacy by sharing his story on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 6 PM, EST. TUNE IN
Since his diagnosis in 2007, the famed DJ launched the Visually Impaired Can Foundation that aims to provide resources for those with vision obstacles. “Basically I’ve been going through a whole different resurgence of my life,” he said. “I stopped at one point, and now I’m doing this and through the blessings of the late great Dick Gregory and some people he’s known I’ve worked through different holistic doctors out there to change what goes in my body and actually work with trying to do the best. We can treat diabetes.”
Diabetic eye disease, caused by diabetes, is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss. Because of the high risk for eye disease, all people with type 2 diabetes should receive an annual dilated eye exam.
Guests include Andre “Doctor Dre” Brown, Michelle Cobbs-Hardy, Dr. Khoshnevis, Danny Clay, Luther Vandross Historian Leon Petrossian, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Luther Vandross’s album,‘The Night I Fell In Love’courtesy of SONY Music.
Discussing the eight tracks on The Night I Fell in Love, Luther Vandross says, “Yeah, that’s a good album. There was something magical about the way everyone responded to it, which to this day I can’t account for.”
FANDROSS: The Night I Fell In Love with Luther Live Concert
Join fellow Luther Vandross fans for an evening of music, memories, and magic at the third annual FANDROSS concert. Luther’s former bandmates, vocalists and special guests will to perform your favorite Luther songs under the musical direction of Nat Adderley, Jr. This incredible night will have audiences remembering the magic of his brilliant voice.