Let Christina Aguilera Inspire You To Feel LIBERATED

We’re talking about feeling LIBERATED from the initial struggles, setbacks, and obstacles in diabetes self-care with musical inspiration from Christina Aguilera on this Divabetic podcast.

Do you treat setbacks as failures? Too many of us seem to forget this and try to assign blame when things go wrong.  A better approach is to look at setbacks as challenges and learning opportunities in your self-care routine.

August’s musical inspiration, Christina Aguilera finds her way back to herself and her passion on her first album, “Liberation” in six years.

https://youtu.be/0Zb4P3WWKs0

“Liberation” showcases a creatively renewed Aguilera, but don’t call it a comeback: “I feel like a brand new artist,” she says.

Leaning mostly toward R&B and hip-hop, genres that have always informed her style, Aguilera’s new album isn’t about being progressive or chasing a trend — she’s not interested in any of that, she says — but instead it’s about showcasing an artist reborn after losing her footing.

Guests include Former Soloist Ballerina with the New York City Ballet  & Author (‘Sugarless Plum’) Zippora KarzWe Are Diabetes founder Asha Brown, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and Mama Rose Marie.

Throughout this podcast, we will be featuring music from Christina Aguilera’s ‘Liberation’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

Divabetic’s podcast is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a  lot.”

 

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Valentines-themed Baking Party on Zoom with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, February 9, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST.

During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a Valentine’s Day Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in your favorite recipes.

Over 150 people registered for our recent Divabetic Baking Parties on Zoom so don’t miss out!

REGISTER NOW 

Do You Feel Lucky Or Fortunate?

We prefer the word fortunate rather than lucky. Lucky sounds like you have no part in it. It’s the luck of the draw or the random stop of the wheel on a slot machine. Fortunate seems more appreciative as well as more participatory.

Think about it. If you blame yourself for all the negative things that happen in your diabetes life, then should you take responsibility for the good things that happen too?

Recently, I was speaking with one of my favorite diabetes educators, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDCES, FAND PhD. She mentioned that humans are much more conditioned to recall negative experiences than positive ones in life. This has something to do with our body’s need to keep us safe from harm.

Janis told me that we have to practice emphasizing compliments, positive things, and the good moments that happen in our lives.

So if you’re beating yourself up about unexpected high and low blood sugars, weight gains, and/or experiencing a diabetes health-related complication – stop! Instead, take a minute a remind yourself about something positive that happened in your day. Take a deep breath, reset yourself, so you’re setting yourself up for a more nurturing outcome.

There’s a chance in everything we do—and don’t do. But we also believe that good fortune favors an open mind. At some level, we create our lives and what we bring into it—at least most of it. So we’d like to encourage you to practice gratefulness. And we wish you good fortune. Happy Thanksgiving!

We’re talking about diabetic macular edema with musical inspiration from Maxwell.

Along with fellow musicians D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, Maxwell has been credited with helping to shape what has been termed the “neo-soul” movement that rose to prominence during the late 1990s

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is an accumulation of fluid in the macula-part of the retina that controls our most detailed vision abilities due to leaking blood vessels. In order to develop DME, you must first have diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye (retina). Poorly controlled blood sugar is a risk factor. Early symptoms include floaters, blurriness, dark areas of vision, and difficulty perceiving colors. Blindness can occur.

Guests include singer Alfa Anderson, Diabetic Macular Edema patient Maryanne Kass, Artist Bryce Chisholm, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout the podcast, we will be featuring selected songs from several of Maxwell’s albums courtesy of SONY Music.

A Christmas Peril Debuts on Thursday, September 30, 2021

Join us for Divabetic’s Annual Mystery podcast, A Christmas Peril, scheduled for this Thursday, September 30, 2021, at 6 PM, EST.  This year’s live mystery drama stars Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, USA Best Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie Gentle, Terri Seidman, MaryAnn Nicolay, Trisha Artman, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, and Wendy Radford.

Here’s a Short Synopsis:

The Holidays are full of surprises— especially after Mr. Divabetic gets a new job as the pastry chef at the St. Nicholas Nursing Home nestled in a cozy Christmas Village. But adjusting to life in a Christmas Village is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous resident, a real-life Ebenezer Scrooge,  named Mr. Pincher almost dies——shortly after eating one of Max’s peanut butter swirl brownies. Despite all of the ingredients for danger, Mr. Divabetic along with our team of amateur sleuths and his overly protective mother — set out to find the real culprit in the hopes that his name isn’t on a lethal naughty list.

Our story was inspired by Kevin Houdeshell’s tragic true-life story. Thanks to the Houdeshell family for their advocacy efforts on behalf of the Emergency Insulin Act of 2019 and the emergency prescription refill legislation. Known as Kevin’s or Howdy’s Law, it allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance medication if the doctor cannot be reached – a common-sense act that could save a life.

In the spirit of Scrooge’s awakening at the end of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we encourage you to honor Christmas in your heart by living in the Past, The Present, and the Future. Try to embrace the Spirits of all Three and the lessons that they teach.

Special thanks to the Houdeshell family, and Pharmacist Mandy Reece. Original music by Ivan Hampden Jr., Celine Dion’s vocals courtesy of SONY Music. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir

Divabetic’s Biggest Virtual Program Ever!

Thank you to our special guest Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ for joining us for last night’s Divabetic Zoom program. It was our largest virtual program to date! Over 50 people enjoyed watching Stacey demonstrate her popular Sugar-Free Pumpkin Muffin Recipe, share expert baking tips, and answer questions about making over traditional dessert recipes with less sugar and carbohydrate but still packed with great flavor!

One lucky guest, Fran C. from New York City, won a fantastic Splenda Gift Basket.

Register now for Divabetic’s Holiday Baking Party with the Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 7 PM, EST.

REGISTER NOW

Don’t miss Divabetic’s Annual Mystery Podcast, ‘A Christmas Peril’, on Thursday, September 30, 2021, 6 PM, EST.

The Holidays are full of surprises— especially after Mr. Divabetic gets a new job as the pastry chef at the St. Nicholas Nursing Home nestled in a cozy Christmas Village. But adjusting to life in a Christmas Village is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous resident, a real-life Ebenezer Scrooge,  named Mr. Pincher almost dies——shortly after eating one of Max’s peanut butter swirl brownies. Despite all of the ingredients for danger, Mr. Divabetic along with our team of amateur sleuths and his overly protective mother — set out to find the real culprit in the hopes that his name isn’t on a lethal naughty list.

Our story was inspired by Kevin Houdeshell’s tragic true-life story. Thanks to the Houdeshell family for their advocacy efforts on behalf of the Emergency Insulin Act of 2019 and the emergency prescription refill legislation. Known as Kevin’s or Howdy’s Law, it allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance medication if the doctor cannot be reached – a common-sense act that could save a life.

Starring Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, USA Best Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie Gentle, Terri Seidman, MaryAnn Nicolay, Trisha Artman, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, and Wendy Radford. Special thanks to the Houdeshell family, and Pharmacist Mandy Reece. Original music by Ivan Hampden Jr., Celine Dion’s vocals courtesy of SONY Music. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir.

In the spirit of Scrooge’s awakening at the end of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we encourage you to honor Christmas in your heart by living in the Past, The Present, and the Future. Try to embrace the Spirits of all Three and the lessons that they teach.

LISTEN NOW

God, Faith And Diabetes

When you’re dealing with diabetes health challenges, do you seek out your doctor or do you say, “it’s in God’s hands” and do nothing?

Many people turn to faith-based ways to manage health and life challenges. Saying “I’m leaving it to God’ is a common way to normalize and cope with challenging situations. It’s been reported that over 300 published scientific studies have demonstrated the medical value of religious commitment (including worship attendance, prayer, scripture study, and active participation in a spiritual community). These benefits include enhanced ability to cope and manage mental illness, chronic illness, pain, and addictions.

Recent research has shown that a large number of women are incorporating spirituality as part of their breast cancer treatment. Spirituality has been defined as a felt connection with a non-mental, non-emotional, and non-physical aspect of being commonly referred to as a ‘Higher Power’ or something greater than the self.

A recent study examined the benefits of prayer in racially diverse breast cancer patients. They found that women who prayed found positive aspects in their experience with breast cancer.

‘Recently, I had the opportunity to visit St. Francis Xavier Church on a trip to Missoula, Montana.

When this beautiful church was built in 1892, it became the largest church in Montana. It is a cruciform church in the Romanesque Revival style. The church also has stained glass windows, a pipe organ, and a massive church bell, Painters of the Italian Renaissance greatly influenced the Turin, Italy, native, who employed many of the same devices used by early Renaissance artists: feathery trees, oval female faces, classical costumes, and painted pilasters.

How Does Faith Help Life With Diabetes?

Mr. Divabetic hosts this episode of Divabetic’s popular Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Country Music Superstar Carrie Underwood.

Carrie Underwood is inspiring us to talk about “keeping the faith and diabetes.” The country superstar and her husband are very outspoken about how important Jesus is in their lives. ‘How do your spiritual values impact your diabetes health? Are your spiritual and religious beliefs and practices harming or helping your daily diabetes routines?  The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic talks to the experts on ways you can keep your faith in your self-care management during your darkest hours and gets a ‘real-life’ perspective on how faith has transformed health outcomes.

In less than 10 years, Carrie Underwood has sold 64 million records worldwide, scored 18 #1 singles, and earned nearly 100 major accolades, including six GRAMMY® Awards.

Carrie Underwood is celebrating the first amazing chapter in her career with the 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville release of Greatest Hits: Decade #1, a 25-song collection that includes such radio staples as “Before He Cheats,” “All-American Girl,” “Cowboy Casanova,” “Blown Away,” “See You Again,” and her six-week #1 breakthrough hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” We will be playing selected songs throughout the podcast courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDCES, Neva White DNP, CDCES, Mama Rose Marie, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and special guest Carrie from New York.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Salad Making Party with special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FAND on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

FREE PROGRAM – REGISTER NOW

 

Divabetic’s Swan Wake Mystery Podcast Ratings Spike

Divabetic fans have turned Divabetic’s 5th Annual Mystery podcast, Swan Wake, a bonafide hit during the pandemic with high than average ratings over the past month.

“I’m overjoyed by the news that people are rediscovering our cozy mystery twist on presenting diabetes information,” says Max’ Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “Zippora Karz’s real-life story as a ballerina living with type 1 diabetes inspired our story. I talked to Zippora several times to ensure the ballet details are correct.”

Currently, Max is in the midst of rehearsals and script rewrites for this year’s mystery podcast, A Christmas Peril.

Max adds, “this rating boost makes all the time, effort, and talent that our cast members devote to this podcast so worthwhile.”

When the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, heads to the box office to fix a mix-up with his Swan Lake tickets, he’s faced with an even bigger problem – a murder. To make matters worse, one of his latest culinary creations, a gluten-free cheesecake, is covering the victim’s face. Even more shocking are the numerous scandals swirling around the Gotham City Ballet and its members that have everyone walking around on tiptoes. So could our happy healthcare host’s questionable culinary skills make him an accessory to a crime?
So now, Mr. Divabetic, with the help of his team of whip-smart Diabetes Educators, a Best-Selling Mystery writer, Tonya Kappes, and his own nosy Italian Mother, Mama Rose Marie must whip up his own crime-solving recipe. Fast–before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends his diabetes advocacy and healthy catering career once and for all.


Best-Selling Author Tonya KappesWe Are Diabetes organization founder Asha Brown, Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Mary Ann Nicolay MEd, DTR, Mama Rose Marie and Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ and Lorraine Brooks star in Divabetic’s 5th Annual Mystery podcast, Swan Wake.

Throughout Divabetic’s fifth annual Diabetes Mystery podcast we will be featuring music from Leonard Berstein‘s recording of Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 in celebration of the centennial of America’s greatest classical composer and conductor courtesy of SONY Music.

Faith & Diabetes

Carrie Underwood is inspiring us to talk about “keeping the faith when living with diabetes on this episode of Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
The country superstar and her husband are very outspoken about how important Jesus is in their lives.
‘How do your spiritual values impact your diabetes health?
Are your spiritual and religious beliefs and practices harming or helping your daily diabetes routines?
Mr. Divabetic talks to the experts on ways you can keep your faith in your self-care management during your darkest hours and gets a ‘real-life’ perspective on how faith has transformed their health of a Divabetic FB community member. In less than 10 years.
US research indicates religious beliefs can have a positive impact on how people living with diabetes and their spouses cope with the stress related to diabetes.
Carrie Underwood has sold 64 million records worldwide, scored 18 #1 singles, and earned nearly 100 major accolades, including six GRAMMY® Awards with hit songs including “Before He Cheats”, “All-American Girl”, “Cowboy Casanova”, “Blown Away,? ?See You Again,? and her six-week #1 breakthrough hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel”.
“I got to go into the studio to sing these songs that are so hopeful and so peaceful,” says Carrie Underwood. “I hope people find some peace and comfort in these songs.”
We will be playing selected songs from her Greatest Hits album throughout the podcast courtesy of SONY MUSIC. Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDCES, Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDCES,  Mama Rose Marie, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and  Carrie from New York.

Patti LaBelle Says ‘We Can Do It!’

“Before I was diagnosed with diabetes, I never saw a doctor for anything. And when I passed out on stage that night and went to the hospital, the doctor said “You’re a type 2 diabetic.” I said, “Oh, really?” admits Patti LaBelle in an interview for Essence magazine.

Our favorite celebrity ‘Divabetic’ adds, “I knew it existed in the family. But I said, “not me.” I tell all of my friends, please check yourself before you wreck yourself – go to a doctor.”

It’s been widely reported that people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing complications due to COVID-19. We’re learning that people with diabetes tend to live in a chronic inflammatory state which is why they may experience a more severe inflammatory response to COVID-19 that can culminate in a life-threatening cytokine storm. Of course, reports like this seem to only add more stress and concern to people’s lives.  Even a world-famous Divabetic isn’t immune to the burden that the pandemic has put on her diabetes and mental health.

“It’s been almost impossible to stay healthy, unless your mind is on the bigger prize and you’re saying, “I can do this. Even in COVID, I can cook the right things and I can feed my kids the right things.” You have to be mindful of whatever you buy from the grocery stores and whatever you put in on your table. So you have to try to make a healthy choice in these bad times. It’s so hard, but I believe we can do the best we can.”

We’re celebrating Divabetic’s 10th Year Podcast Anniversary with music from the world’s most famous “Divabetic”– Ms. Patti LaBelle. She’s encouraging a ‘NEW ATTITUDE’ about living with diabetes! Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle, RN, CDE, 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,  and Terri Seidman.

Divabetic was inspired by the late music legend, Luther Vandross and created in 2005 by Max Szadek, who, as Vandross’ assistant of 14 years Visit Divabetic 

Divabetic Celebrates Earth Day!

Today is World Earth Day!

Divabetic is happy to support awareness about pollution and to celebrate the environment of the blue planet. Our two previous Diabetes Mystery podcasts, Kill Me Madam and Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes pack strong Earth Day’s messages between all of the action, diabetes information, intrigue, laughs, and suspense!

We’re According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. consumes around 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually, and globally, around 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used every year. In fact, four out of five grocery bags in the U.S. are plastic, but a person only uses a plastic bag for around 12 minutes before being discarded or stored.

The environmental costs of plastic remain at an all-time high. Since only five percent of plastics are effectively recycled, that means the remaining 95 percent are left all over the planet.

Plastic pollution is poisoning our oceans and land, injuring marine life, and affecting our health.

Plastic has been collecting in the marine environment since plastic production began in the 1950s — in fact, each square mile of the ocean contains more than 46,000 pieces of floating plastic. Eight million metric tons of plastics make their way into the ocean each year.

You can do your bit to help end plastic pollution by finding out how many plastic items you consume every year and make a pledge to reduce the amount.

How You Can Reduce Plastic In Your Daily Life

Avoid using straws. Do you really need a straw? When at a restaurant, ask that no straw be brought out with your drink.

Stop using disposable silverware.

Use reusable produce bags

Buy in bulk

Stop buying bottled water

Buy cardboard over plastic

Avoid fabrics with plastic microfibers, such as nylon and polyester.

Since you can buy your own water filtration system, there is no need to buy bottled water. It’s just a waste of plastic. Plus, this is one of the easiest targets for reducing waste. And, for water on the go, keep a refillable bottle around.

Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes 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?

The cast of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks, and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten-time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’. But resentment, greed, and Britannia’s own bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off.

Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police, after meeting her just once!

As if his life wasn’t crazy enough before, escaping a murderous mishap in New York and attempting a fresh start in Nantucket has turned into a complete and utter baking disaster, now Max, along with his friends and nosy mother, have to add tracking down a murderer to his To-Do list, as well.

Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake a cake that’s actually edible?

Kill Me Madam podcast cast includes USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

Divabetic’s Suspect Boulevard Mystery Podcast

How did the lady in red wind up dead at the bottom of the pool on the lush estate of one of the world’s most famous writers?

To solve this mystery we have to step back in time. Back to a quiet morning during the Santa Ana winds when our happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic arrives at the resplendent estate of NYT Best-Selling Author and Socialite Marjorie Melbourne
Blaze. He’s here to deliver the keynote address at the Annual Heart of the Diva Gala on diabetes and women with the help of the Charlie’s Angels Of outreach, Susan Weiner and Patricia Addie-Gentle.

 

Divabetic’s story of diabetes mystery and intrigue stresses why it can be deadly
to blame others for your heart’s misfortunes.

Lorraine Brooks, Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, Chef Robert Lewis, USA Today Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES and Mama Rose Marie star in Divabetic’s “Suspect Boulevard Mystery” podcast.

Throughout the podcast enjoy the wonderful music by the National Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Charles Gerhardt courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hopes to inspire you to become a Diabetes Detective will this third installment of Diabetes Mystery Theater podcast.

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.