Tag: music

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Divabetic Celebrates Altoween on Halloween!!!

Thanks to my talented friends, Paulette McWilliams, Pat Lacy, and Brenda White-King for showing us how deep, rich, and soulful a woman’s voice could be. Because of you, we’re celebrating amazing vocalists just like you this Halloween!

Sade remains one of the most successful, lucrative artists of the past four decades. She’s sold over 50 million records worldwide. She achieved her success by ignoring fads, fashion, and anything trend that might steer her and her band off course.

“She was one of those rare artists I fell completely in love with because she came just the way she is now,” Susan Blond, a former vice president at Epic Records.

Some people may think Millie Jackson’s onstage antics and song lyrics are too crude but we like the way she broke the rules. In a musical landscape where misogynistic lyrics dominated the airwaves, she turned the tables and objectified men.

Sarah Vaughan’s dynamic vocal range, iconic vibrato, and innovative phrasing helped to transform jazz and popular music.

With voices this sweet, we don’t need to Trick or Treat!

We’re talking about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘SUGAR’ with musical inspiration from Sade.

Sugar is everywhere. But do we really understand the impact it has on our diabetes health?

If asked to name sugary foods, you may think of sweets, chocolate, sodas, table sugar, and perhaps even fruit. But sugar also appears in savoury foods such as ready meals, soups, salads and sauces; as well as ‘healthy’ foods such as breakfast cereals and yogurt. Furthermore, starches such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes also convert to sugar in our bloodstream, having the same impact on our bodies. These ‘hidden sugars’ can add a surprising amount to our daily intake.

Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Tameka Milline, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP. Kathy Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, and Stephanie MacKendree. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from ‘The Essential Sade’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

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Tell me I can’t so I can show you I CAN!

Need a dose of diva inspiration to help you gain some confidence to overcome an obstacle in your diabetes self-care rountine?
Let singer, songwriter Ledisi’s journey to success inspire you to stay strong and go on!
Just before Ledisi recorded her ‘Lost & Found” album, which has earned her a nomination for Best New Artist as well as Best R&B album, she felt she was floundering.
“When you don’t know how beautiful you are, you will always be in search of happiness.” – Ledisi

Although Ledisi had released two critically acclaimed albums independently and worked on Broadway, she still was unable to garner much mainstream attention.
She recalls being told consistently that she didn’t have the “look” necessary to be a star. In addition, while her music could be classified as R&B, she also sang with jazz inflections that left some industry people confused about how to categorize her, or to market her.
“Be careful of who and what you let into your space.Not everyone is worthy of your presence.” – Ledisi
Fed up, Ledisi was about to quit the business until she met a friend and producer who encouraged her to give her recording career one more try. So she took a leap of faith and was rewarded.
“Tell me I can’t so I can show you I CAN!” – Ledisi 

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Can Musician Austin James’s Solution To Help Manage His Diabetes Work For You!

We’re posting this video not because we are endorsing FreeStyle Libre but because its star, Austin James is a musician living with type 1 diabetes. Often people wonder why we feature music on our Divabetic monthly diabetes podcasts. It’s not simply because I worked for Luther Vandross or that many people with diabetes make music; music brings all types of people together. It feels good to help unite people so that no one with diabetes feels alone.

In April 2003, I felt alone in my shame of not helping Luther avoid experiencing a severe stroke from mismanagement of type 2 diabetes. Looking back, if I had listened to that shame’s negative talk, I would have never shared my story or started Divabetic. I would have put my head down and just gone on with my life. I am accountable for not being more involved in Luther’s self-care aside from picking up prescription refills. But I didn’t have a clue that diabetes mismanagement could lead to a stroke. Back then, people commonly referred to diabetes as a ‘touch of sugar,’ and that didn’t seem scary.

My desire for people to heed my warning is why I refuse to let shame or blame stop me from sharing my story. If a stroke happened to someone as invincible as Luther Vandross, it could happen to anyone.

Pain from neuropathy or the daily stress it puts on your life can stop anyone from managing their condition. Even the pain you experience from the actual diagnosis can hit you like a ton of bricks. You may feel like you have no quality of life, and without a quality of life, what’s the point of living anymore? Or even to bother trying? You may just want to enjoy the time you have left.

When a diagnosis affects someone like that or a diabetes health-related complication such as stroke, it can be hard to fight back the depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety make it more challenging to take care of yourself. It helps to have a community of like-minded people to lean on.

Musician Austin James found ‘community’ in his bandmate, who is also living with type 1 diabetes.

The pain Austin James felt on his fingertips’ pads from checking blood sugars was compromising his musicianship. Thankfully his bandmate shared his solution for easing the pain from frequent blood sugar checks with him. Together they have managed to keep the music playing without compromising their diabetes wellness. Rock on!

 

We’re keeping the music and a message of diabetes wellness alive on Divabetic’s upcoming Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast. Guests include Lisa Fischer, Jason Miles, Jeff James, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Chuck Flowers, and Kitt Vordeaux.

By the time Luther Vandross headed to the studio to record his fifth album Give Me the Reason in 1986, he’d become one of the most successful soul singers of the first half of the eighties. His four previous albums have been either certified platinum or double-platinum in America.

For Luther Vandross’s fifth album Give Me the Reason, the album comprised nine tracks including the hits: So Amazing, There’s Nothing Better Than Love, Stop To Love, and Give Me The Reason.

Throughout the podcast, we will be featuring music from Luther Vandross’s Give Me The Reason album courtesy of SONY Music.

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The Truth About Fat

Earlier this week PBS re-aired the documentary, NOVA: The Truth About Fat
that debunks the myths and the general public’s opinion about fat and people who are overweight.
It’s must-see TV for anyone who blames themself and/or their lack of willpower for their body size.
Obesity is not a character flaw; it’s a medical issue. That’s why we need to stop blaming weight gain on willpower.
Learn more about the mysteries of fat and its role in hormone production, hunger, and even pregnancy.
  • Why don’t sumo wrestlers suffer from the health problems that other obese people do?
  • Why has evolution hardwired us to hang onto fat even when it’s unhealthy?
  • And what would happen if you had no fat at all?

Through real-life stories of hunter-gatherers, supermodels, and a BIGGEST LOSER contestant, NOVA explores the complex functions of fat and the role it plays in controlling hunger, hormones, and even reproduction on “The Truth About Fat.”

The Truth About Fat Prologue

Scientists are coming to understand fat as a dynamic organ — one whose size may have more to do with biological processes than personal choices. Explore the mysteries of fat and its role in hormone production, hunger, and even pregnancy.

We’re talking about diabetes wellness with music from Jessye Norman on March’s Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.  Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Mandy Reece PharmD CDCES, BC-ADM, BCACP, FADCES, Maximize Your Metabolism Authors Dr. Noel Maclaren and Sunita Singh Maclaren, and Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador, Sarah.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Jessye Norman’s Roots: My Life, My Song (Live at The Philharmonie Berlin) album courtesy of SONY Music.

In an interview with Anna Deavere Smith for The Aspen Institute, March’s Diva Inspiration, Jessye Noman said, “singing is a very physical responsibility. It requires being as healthy as possible so that we can keep this instrument that we carry around in our throats rather than a nice box that we put away at night so it can do what it needs to do. It’s important to take care of our bodies where our voice lives. During an opera performance one can use as many calories as a marathon runner.”

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Divabetic’s Spice And Seeds Quiz

How much do you know about Seeds and Spices? Both are used to flavor food, but research shows they’re chock-full of healthy compounds and have many health benefits. Try your luck at our fun quiz!

PLAY QUIZ NOW

 

 

We’re celebrating National Diabetes Awareness Month with musical inspiration from Angela Bofill. With her strong, distinctive alto, Angela Bofill carved a niche as an outstanding interpreter of soul ballads and became a mainstay on the Quiet Storm radio format. Angela Bofill suffered two strokes but neither stroke could take away her positive, humorous personality and her fighter spirit.Podcast guests: Angela Bofill, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, San Francisco & Palm Springs drag performer Mutha Chucka, and Evetta Petty from Harlem’s Heaven Hats. Throughout the podcast we will feature music from The Essential Angela Bofill album courtesy of SONY Music.

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 Tea Party with special guests, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, Tessie’s Teas’ owner Rose Hall and Harlem Heaven’s Hats owner Evetta Petty on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

Tessie’s Teas are all natural caffeine-free, chemical-free instant crystallized teas that meet all of your healthy-living needs.

Harlem’s Heaven Hat shop specializes in providing the right head wear and face mask for the right occasions.

Catherine Schuller is a fashion curator, former plus model, coach, speaker, writer, producer, and image consultant.

How it works: Register prior to this event and we will send you the unique code to sign in to our Zoom Video feed. You will need a camera. We’ll all get acquainted and share niceties before the demonstration begins. At the end of our zoom event we’ll sit back, laugh, make smoothies and enjoy a toast together!

Cost: Free.

REGISTER NOW

 

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what’s it all about? by Lorraine Brooks

what’s it all about? by Lorraine Brooks

ls it just for the moment we live?

Or shall we plan for what’s ahead?

Shall we look to stay empowered

Choosing hope instead of dread?

Diabetes notwithstanding,

We can choose the healthy way.

And we can say a little prayer

To get us going every day.

l’ll turn my house into a home

And look my illness in the eye

I want to make my choices count

To walk and hold my head up high.

For me it’s almost 40 years

l’ve dealt with diabetes now,

So far l’m doing very well

In keeping numbers nice and low.

Anyone who had a heart

Would understand the struggles faced

And anyone who wants to help

Is welcomed in my private space.

l never want to walk on by

And miss the pleasures to enjoy

I want to reach a ripe old age

So, healthy measures l employ.

Exercise is fun and good,

Vegetables and fruits and meat

Taking all my insulin

Covers all the foods l eat.

I thrive with my community

l’ve lived to 68 and more.

I couldn’t do it by myself,

l’m grateful, that’s what friends are for!

Listen to Lorraine Brooks read her poem, ‘what’s it all about?’ on May’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast CLICK HERE. 

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Dionne Warwick

We’re talking about Secrets to Longevity & Diabetes with musical inspiration from Dionne Warwick on May’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Living longer and increasing your life expectancy with diabetes doesn’t have to be a chore. From flossing your teeth daily to getting a good night’s sleep, there are simple things you can do to help you live long, happy and healthy life.

Dionne Warwick has enjoyed a tremendously long career as a singer.  She ranks second to Aretha Franklin as the most charted female vocalist with 69 singles making the Billboard Hot 100 during the rock era (1955–1999).

Dionne Warwick once explained her longevity to Jet magazine, saying, “I really attribute it to remaining who I am and not jumping ship, being completely cognizant of what the people … are accustomed to hearing from me.”

Guests include The Lager Queen of Minnesota and Kitchens of the Great Midwest Author J. Ryan Stradal, Deborah Greenwood PhD, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, Fonzi Thornton, Rachel Stahl MS, RD, CDN, CDE, and Lorraine Brooks.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Dionne Warwick’s ‘Dionne’ album featuring I’ll Never Love This Way Again and Deja Vu courtesy of SONY Music.

LISTEN NOW

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Diabetes Late Inspired by Phyllis Hyman

We’re talking about ‘Diabetes, Sleep & Mental Health Issues’ on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from Phyllis Hyman scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, 2019, 6 PM, EST. TUNE IN

Phyllis Hyman was a sensational singer-songwriter and actress. Deep-voiced and statuesque, Phyllis Hyman sang with a life-affirming energy and emotional intensity found in few other female vocalists.

Though her uncompromising principles put her at odds with the mainstream music business, she worked consistently for 20 years—from the moment that jazz drummer Norman Connors discovered her in a New York club in 1975 to when she took her life in June 1995

Phyllis Hyman committed suicide, leaving a note behind in 1995. Part of the note read “I’m tired. I’m tired. Those of you that I love know who you are. May God bless you.”  It has been reported that she suffered from bi-polar disorder and depression and had a history of substance abuse which involved alcohol and cocaine. Who knows what accomplishments she would have achieved if she had lived longer?

If you’re struggling with some tough emotions or feeling lonely, don’t hesitate to call the Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Podcast guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, ‘Sleep, Insomnia, Stress: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You’ Author Patricia Farrell PhD, Elizabeth Gallagher, Kristina Wolfe, ‘Tabouli: The Story of a Heart-Driven Diabetes Alert Dog‘ Author Matt Pelicano, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach with Patricia Addie-Gentle.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from ‘The Essential Phyllis Hyman’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

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