My Sweet Life: Successful Men with Diabetes

A unicorn has come to mean a very rare find or somebody who is unique, according to online dictionaries. The term unicorn was used by Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek to describe me! Why? Because I am the rare combination of clinical psychologist AND certified diabetes care and education specialist specializing in the emotional treatment of people with diabetes for more than 20 years in private practice AND living successfully with type 1 diabetes for 46 years!

Consider the person who is feeling burned out during the winter season with the snow storms and cold temps. What if they decide to ignore the facts of winter’s wrath and abandon their heavy coats, scarves, hats, and gloves to wear tank tops and shorts? Foolish, right? Yes! Just because you are weary of winter weather, you can’t live in denial very long without freezing to death if you go outdoors.

Consider the person who is feeling burned out during the COVID-19 pandemic with the restrictions to wear a mask, keep social distance, and follow rules for hand hygiene. What if they decide to ignore the facts of Coronavirus transmission and abandon common sense precautions? Foolish, right? Yes! Just because you experience “pandemic fatigue,” you can’t live in denial very long without putting yourself and others (family and friends) in jeopardy for contracting the virus.

Now, consider the person who is diagnosed with diabetes. You can easily feel burned out trying to manage your blood sugar with all it’s protocols: check your blood sugar (multiple times per day), take your medication (insulin and/or pills, multiple times per day), eating healthy, being active, keeping up with medical appointments to monitor your diabetes. What if they decide to ignore the facts of keeping blood sugars within their target range and abandon a healthy lifestyle? Foolish, right? Yes! Just because you might experience anxiety and depression trying to manage diabetes self-care, you can’t live in denial without risking serious complications.

Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDCES has published two books which include insightful lessons of empowerment written by successful men and women with diabetes. Available for purchase.

MY SWEET LIFE: Successful Men with Diabetes – Beverly S. Adler, PHD, CDCES, Editor

Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDCES guests on Divabetic’s 10th Year Podcast Anniversary with music from the world’s most famous “Divabetic”– Ms. Patti LaBelle.

Our favorite divas from the world of entertainment, beauty/fashion, poetry and diabetes education, Whitney Houston, Constance Brown-Riggs, Karline Ricketts, Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle, Mama Rose Marie and ‘Dr. Bev’, join us to celebrate World Diabetes Day on Diabetes Late Nite scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 6 -7:30 PM.

First up, we have an exclusive first listen of “Whitney Houston – I Wish You Love: More From ‘The Bodyguard’” ahead of the album’s release date courtesy of SONY Music.

The Bodyguard Original Soundtrack Album set a record for the most albums sold in a single week since the Nielsen SoundScan introduced a computerized sales monitoring system in May 1991, with sales of 1,061,000 copies during Christmas week of 1992, becoming the first album sold over 1 million in one week.

In November 1999, Houston and The Bodyguard Soundtrack, were named the “Top-selling R&B Female Artist of the Century ” by the RIAA, respectively.

Whitney’s iconic songs are inspiring us to discuss how to become your own ‘Diabetes Bodyguard’.

Safeguarding yourself and your diabetes health requires a healthy dose of Self-Compassion.

Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE discusses how the ‘negative talk’ inside our heads affects our diabetes.

How do you talk to yourself? Do you talk to yourself with kindness? Or do you beat yourself up for being diagnosed with diabetes, unexpected high’s and low’s, your weight and/or unhealthy habits?

There is a vast difference between feeling sorry for yourself and feeling kindness toward yourself. When you see yourself as a victim, you indulge in self–pity. You are a bottomless pit of misery, and you may find yourself crying endless victim tears.

Dr. Beverly Adler (aka “Dr. Bev”, right) is an award-winning certified diabetes educator and diabetes psychologist. She has combined her first-hand knowledge of living with Type 1 diabetes with a PhD in clinical psychology to serve the mental health needs of those within the diabetes community. She’s also written two self-help books ( “My Sweet Life: Successful Men with Diabetes” and “My Sweet Life: Successful Women with Diabetes”) and many articles, and does speaking engagements.

Constance Brown-Riggs discusses her personal fitness journey as well as her new book, “Diabetes Guide to Enjoying Foods of the World”.

Constance Brown- Riggs is an award winning Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, and the co-author of the new book, “Diabetes Guide to Enjoying Foods of the World”. This guide provides information on native foods and flavors, strategies for healthy eating, recommended healthful pleasures, dishes for special occasions (or smaller portions), and carbohydrate counts for popular dishes for 11 popular ethnic cuisines. Help your clients learn to quickly identify the best choices for their meal plan, whether preparing ethnic foods at home, eating in restaurants, or traveling abroad.

Karline Ricketts believes“Beauty starts from the inside.” In 1997, Karline opened her first salon in West Palm Beach, FL, to provide an upscale client environment for a growing ethnic consumer market. This former NYC accounting professional, who spent many evening hours working for the legendary Studio 54, retrained and retooled under the tutelage of Paul Mitchell Systems.

You can be an INSTANT WINNER! Enjoy a Divabetic Prize package featuring a Nu Naturals gift basket filled with diabetic safe, low glycemic tooth friendly sweeteners, a Cabot Cheese gift basket filled with an assortment of delicious low-fat cheeses, Dr. Greenfield’s Diabetic Foot, Hand & Body Lotions which specifically designed for people with diabetes with sensitive and delicate skin, and a TRU Chocolate gift box. TRU Chocolate is the only 72% dark chocolate snack that’s sugar free, gluten free, ethically sourced and incredibly delicious. It’s TRU, you can finally eat chocolate and be healthy with their chocolate covered flame raisins, almonds, wafers and gluten free pretzels!

November’s Diabetes Late Nite guests include Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE and Constance Brown Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN along with Poet Lorraine Brooks, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE, Karline Ricketts and Mama Rose Marie.

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.”

CLICK HERE to Listen to November’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 6 -7:30 PM, EST.

Tag: My Sweet Life: Successful Men with Diabetes

Reflections of a Unicorn with Type 1 Diabetes by Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDCES Clinical Psychologist and Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist, Part 1

Divabetic Delivers Big Divas on World Diabetes Day!