Tag: Pat Lacy

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Max Szadek Guests on Toni B’s Radio Show on UG-ONE

I’m excited to be Toni B’s Special Guest on her upcoming show this Wednesday, December 11, on UG-ONE! I can’t wait to share stories from my incredible experience working with Luther Vandross.

I started working with Luther in 1993 on the Never Let Me Go project in the wardrobe department and eventually became his assistant until he sadly passed away in 2005.

In the Luther: Never Too Much documentary, I discuss my traumatic moment of finding Luther after he had a devastating stroke due to complications from mismanaged type 2 diabetes. It was a wake-up call for me that inspired the creation of Divabetic, a national nonprofit aimed at diabetes outreach.

I truly believe in empowering Luther’s fans and their families to keep their homes healthy and happy by learning to prevent complications like strokes, kidney disease, blindness, and more.

At Diabetic (Divabetic.org), we take a unique approach to traditional diabetes education, offering fun, upbeat, engaging makeovers, music, and games. I’m thrilled that our resources—like podcasts, videos, and online support—are free!

Plus, check out our Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide to Love and Intimacy With Diabetes ebook by Janis Roszler and Donna Rice, available on Amazon!

I’ve also enjoyed collaborating with my talented musical family from Luther’s world. With Ivan Hampden Jr. and Paulette McWilliams, I’ve written songs like Mama’s Kitchen Table and Pink Champagne.

I’ve worked with incredible artists like Cindy Mizelle and Brenda White-King on That Man Of Mine and Pat Lacy with Lisa Fischer on I Wish At Christmas I Could Bring You Home.

A couple of my singles, Mama’s Kitchen Table and Standards by Crystal Penny, even charted on the UK Soul and BCFM Soul Charts! That Man of Mine was a big hit on the Billboard Dance Charts in the 90s and was especially popular in Provincetown.

I can’t wait to share more on the show! I hope you all tune in!

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Don’t Miss Max Szadek On Solar Radio

Wow, Wow, Wow! I’m excited to be a guest on Richard Marzetti‘s upcoming Soul Life program on Solar Radio! I can’t wait to share my memories of working for Luther Vandross.

Growing up, I listened nonstop to Rochester, New York’s WDKX. Sometimes, I pinch myself when I realize I worked for one of R&B’s biggest stars. I owned every Luther album! To this day, it still seems unreal that a kid from Rochester would one day get the opportunity to work for Luther Vandross.

Amazingly, I started working on the Never Let Me Go tour thirty years ago.

Just so you know, I was a big Luther fan, just like the listeners of Solar Radio, before I began working for him. I’m really thankful to his fans for keeping Luther’s music legacy alive and for those new and old fans who strive to prevent mismanaged diabetes complications such as stroke from occurring by managing their diabetes daily to ‘keep their house a home.’

Being featured in the Luther: Never Too Much documentary is an honor, and I feel privileged to represent the hardworking, talented, caring, and supportive people who worked behind the scenes for Luther. Working on a tour in the wardrobe department for Luther was indeed the gold standard.

I’ve been hooked since my friend Mark Love introduced me to the UK’s Solar Radio a few years ago. Their fantastic mix of new and classic R&B, gospel, and dance music is incredible!

It’s been a joy to hear Richard Marzetti feature my music, Mama’s Kitchen Table by Ivan Hampden Jr. and Paulette McWilliams, and Standards by Crystal Penny on previous programs.

Sharing a new unreleased, hidden gem by Luther on this program (thanks to SONY Legacy) and a song by a good friend is just the cherry on top! I hope you can tune in on Friday!! I’ll post a link in the comments section.

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New York City’s Great Elephants Migration Exhibit

The life-sized sculptures made by Indigenous artisans using an invasive weed called lantana camera are incredible! 

Sometimes, the elephant in the room is the sudden change in your life due to the symptoms of diabetes. Keeping the symptoms a secret or ignoring the symptoms can be problematic, including increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. 

Our bodies start to struggle with insulin efficiency, leading to a state known as insulin resistance. Without proper treatment and management, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes, underscoring the importance of early detection and intervention.

According to the CDC, 97.6 million people in the United States aged 18 and older have prediabetes, which is 38% of the adult population. Almost 90% of the people living with diabetes don’t know they have it or ignore the symptoms.  

The risk factors for developing prediabetes are varied. Being overweight or obese, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, leading a sedentary lifestyle, having high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, or a history of gestational diabetes are all significant contributors. Age also plays a role, as the likelihood of developing prediabetes increases after the age of 45.

Our friend, Jill Weisenberger RD, CDCES, offers advice on what to eat for those feeling confused or overwhelmed with living with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in this video series.

Prediabetes is a pivotal health condition that acts as a precursor to type 2 diabetes. It is defined by blood sugar levels that are higher than average yet not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.

This subtle difference is crucial, as prediabetes often goes unnoticed due to its mild nature, unlike type 2 diabetes, which presents more evident and urgent symptoms.

The elephant project directly fights the threat of an invasive species while raising money and awareness for environmental issues.

The collective isn’t just using lantana as a sculpting material; it converts tons of agricultural waste products rich in nutrients into biochar and black carbon. The biochar is then buried to improve the soil in India.

Could You Have Prediabetes? Don’t be part of the herd unsure or unaware of their health condition. Take this free, simple RISK TEST Now.

Enjoy this scene from Divabetic’s 10th Annual Original Mystery podcast, Murder Plain As Vanilla, streaming on Spotify, iTunes, and BlogTalkRadio.

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Diabetes Outreach At the New York Auto Show

We’re bringing our dazzling approach to diabetes outreach to the New York International Auto Show in New York City. The New York International Auto Show is North America’s first and largest attended auto show, featuring 1,000 vehicles plus the latest in tech, safety, and innovation.

Play along with Mr. Divabetic and participants in Divabetic’s ‘Serve, Taste or Trash!’ Game. In the game, you’re given three choices of popular foods. You must decide which one you’d serve, which one you’d taste, and which one you’d trash. The game’s goal is to encourage people to become more open-minded eaters:

Mr. Divabetic wants to raise awareness of the precautions people living with diabetes should take before getting behind the wheel. Did you know that sudden bouts of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can lead to confusion, delayed reaction, visual disturbances, or loss of consciousness when driving? Even in the absence of low blood sugar, people with diabetes may have impaired vision or nerve function in the feet, which can affect driving. While most accidents related to diabetes complications happen to a small group of people with Type 1 diabetes who need to take insulin, people with Type 2 diabetes are also at risk.

Tune in to Divabetic’s free monthly podcasts hosted by Mr. Divabetic on blog talk radio. Divabetic’s dynamic free online and mobile podcast channel features live and archived programs and specials. Guests include healthcare collaborators, beauty, image/style, fitness experts, entertainment industry leaders, and VIPs: women and men living with, at risk of, and being affected by diabetes.

Join Divabetic’s Facebook page, follow Mr. Divabetic on Twitter, and learn more about sponsorship opportunities and event details.

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Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story at Central Park Film Festival

Last night, I saw the National Geographic and Disney+ nature documentary Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story at the Central Park Film Festival. Directed by Charlie Hamilton Jones, it explores a love story between a lonely man and a lonely river otter—an unexpected duo that forms a bond.

As the man, Billy, and the otter, Molly’s bond develops, his wife, Susan, and their dog, Jade, are pushed to the side. Billy neglects his promises to Susan and ignores Jade. Susan narrates the film. Her narration details Billy’s mental state, which he might not have shared, and expresses how she feels like the ‘other woman’ in Billy’s life. The story is told with heart and humor and with a musical score by composer Erland Cooper.

 The story is filmed in the remote Shetland Islands, just above the mainland of Scotland. The scenery is breathtaking. Shetland Islands is known as the last barrier of the UK before the Arctic Circle. During a dramatic winter storm scene, with crashing waves and torrid winds, a large branch fell off a tree next to the outdoor screen. Everyone in the audience gasped.  The film leaves your heart feeling all warm and fuzzy.

After you see this film, you’ll have many questions about how they did it. I found this interview very insightful. 

The Annual Central Park Conservancy Film Festival, presented by National Geographic Documentary Films, in August is truly a treat! For five nights, award-winning films are shown for free in the middle of Central Park. 

The film revolves around the importance of family in our lives. In many ways, Billy serves as Molly, the otter’s surrogate mother/father figure. As strange and unusual as their relationship is, it brings Billy joy and fulfillment.  

Many people with type 2 diabetes admit their children, and their grandchildren motivate them to stay on top of their self-care. However, changing one’s lifestyle can be a constant, difficult struggle after diagnosis. Experts agree the keys to success include social support and relatedness, achievement of results, support from healthcare collaborators, and acceptance of your diagnosis. 

At Divabetic, we believe confidence in managing lifestyle adjustments and handling the challenges of living with diabetes is crucial. Our ongoing efforts in diabetes education and empowerment testify to our belief that if you believe it, you can achieve it. 

Please take a minute to support our efforts and purchase Divabetic’s new lip balm (watermelon flavor). For $10, you’ll receive three of our Divabetic branded lip balms. Shipping and handling fees are not included. For more information, contact: mrdivabetic@gmail.com

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Dangers of Weight Cycling On Your Heart

The Luther Vandross: Never Too Much documentary spotlights many of his incredible performances, which will thrill fans.

However, the documentary also includes a cautionary message about the dangerous effects of weight cycling, known as ‘yo you dieting’ on your heart, that should not be ignored.

Regaining weight stresses your heart and blood vessels. A study showed that the more your weight goes up and down, the more you’re likely to have problems like angina, heart attack, and stroke. And the bigger the swings, the bigger the risk.

Dieting isn’t easy. Every ounce of weight gain and loss can toy with your mind, body and spirit. Seek professional help if you’re struggling with these issues.

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Ledisi’s “I Blame You” Inspires Diabetes Discussion

Music can inspire conversations about different life topics, even ones that are different from the song lyrics. For example, Ledisi’s hit song, “I Blame You,” is an upbeat track about loving someone so good that you have no choice but to keep loving them. With song lyrics, “I blame you each and every day, It’s your fault that I’m completely blown away, You’ve been building castles in the sky, A place for only you and I, I, I, I”, who wouldn’t want to be told that you make someone you love to feel loved, and feel joy, how beautiful is that? 

Words have power, especially when put to music. You can find yourself singing along to a chorus without even knowing what you’re saying. Repeated listening to a song can trigger random associations that slip into your subconscious and support or hinder your actions. This is why self-reflection is crucial. It allows us to understand how our words and thoughts impact our actions and, ultimately, our diabetes management.

Imagine if we ‘reframed’ Ledisi’s song title, which means changing the perspective or context to refer to the words you might find yourself saying about your diabetes daily. For example, instead of ‘I Blame You ‘, we could think of it as ‘It’s All My Fault’ or ‘I Gave Myself Diabetes ‘. 

Blame and shame are the two biggest culprits that often sabotage your ability to manage your self-care. It’s not hard to imagine that these negative thoughts can slip into their minds without much effort. The light might be green, but we can still see red if we’re in the midst of despair. It’s a struggle to keep the negative self-talk at bay when you find yourself in the valley rather than at the peak of the mountain top.

How can you succeed at making lifestyle changes if your starting point begins with a negative mindset? 

Regret, despair, anger, and frustration are the common emotions people experience when they’re initially diagnosed with diabetes. But here’s the thing: some people can overcome these emotional obstacles and improve their quality of life, while others cannot. 

Many people who make and sustain changes to improve their care cite their children and grandchildren for giving them a reason. Others feel they have no choice but to change and return to the quality of life they once enjoyed. 

What is your experience? We encourage you to share your thoughts and feelings about the impact of negative self-talk on your diabetes management. Your insights could be valuable to others in our community. 

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Divabetic Salutes Oleta Adams

“I loved being a part of bringing joy and solace to people when I sang,” said  Oleta Adams,  platinum-selling recording artist and four-time Grammy nominee. “It made me feel that I had something significant to contribute to the world, and that became the main reason for making it my career.”

In 1985, while performing at the Peppercorn Duck Club in the Hyatt Hotel in Kansas City, Oleta Adams’s powerful vocals caught the attention of Ian Stanley, the keyboardist for Tears for Fears. The band asked her to record and tour with them – launching her global career.


“Roy Orzibal, Tears For Fears cofounder, had written a song entitled, “Woman In Chains” and he asked me to bring that same emotion to his song,” she said. 

Oleta Adams’s work on their record led to her signing to the band’s same recording company, Polygram-Fontana. “It gave me integrity and a real boost to my own career,” she added.

This jumpstart to her career led to her performing with legends like Phil Collins, Michael Bolton, and Luther Vandross.

I remember when she opened for Luther Vandross. She was down-to-earth, very approachable and kind. Sitting behind a grand piano, she memorized audiences with warm, rich vocals. Her debut album, “Circle of Love,” was like nothing else at the time, and it took the musical world by storm.  Oleta Adams’ deep, clear voice in her breathy rendition of Brenda Russell’s “Get Here” is a torchy masterpiece. It became one of the 90’s great love ballads.  The song became an unofficial anthem of the 1991 Gulf War.

Celebrating 45 years in the music industry and having released nine albums, including secular, gospel, and Christmas, Oleta’s musical odyssey continues to garner her legions of fans worldwide.

Variety wrote, ” Oleta Adams is a singer of immense talent. She infuses the songs with a drama and sensitivity that leaves you limp, and hungering for more.”

Join us for our Luther Vandross: Never Too Much birthday celebration featuring a Music Panel, Fashion Show, Luther Trivia Games, Live Performances, Style Vendors and Live DJ on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Come dressed in your Big 80s Bling!

Luther Vandross was known for wearing rhinestones, silk tuxedos, and tailcoats on stage and Versace, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Tom Ford off-stage! He wasn’t afraid of bright colors, animal prints, geometric patterns, and fringe. His style and incredible showmanship brought him legions of fans worldwide.

We’re celebrating the Glitz, Glamour, and Romantic Elegance that made his concerts memorable and set him apart from other entertainers.

MUSIC PANEL: Luther’s Vocalist, Cindy Mizelle, Luther’s Choreographer, James Ervin, and Graffiti Glamour Makeup Artistry Founder Alicia Mitchell give us a closer look into the Shine of the Rhinestones, Big Luscious Hairstyles, Bold Makeup, Graceful Moves, and Tight Harmonies comprising Luther’s iconic stage shows. Hosted by Max Szadek.

FASHION SHOW: Designers showcase their gorgeous creations inspired by Luther Vandross’s romantic elegance. See the latest styles from Harlem’s Heaven and Modafleur, among others! Hosted by Catherine Schuller.

LIVE PERFORMANCE: Luther’s most iconic songs performed by Luther’s most iconic songs by vocalist Keith Anthony Fluitt.

STYLISH VENDORS: Shop for apparel, jewelry, and teas from a dazzling array of small entrepreneurs.

COCKTAILS & LITE BITES: Enjoy signature cocktails and delicious appetizers.

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Kevin James Jokes About Prediabetes

Kevin James talks about the confusion and prevalence of a PreDiabetes diagnosis in this comedy routine.

Approximately 98 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 80% don’t know they have it.

While his routine is funny, it’s also misleading. His approach to brushing it off is problematic because prediabetes is a chance to reset and take action. 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.

Letting it slide, a Prediabetes diagnosis will eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. With equal amounts of regret and self-judgment on top of this new diagnosis, no one is setting themselves up for a ‘win.’

Join a National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change program for more guidance and support. This program teaches you how to make gradual lifestyle changes that increase your chances of reversing prediabetes. You’ll have access to professional advice and a community of others on a similar journey to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. You can joke all you want as you work to achieve optimum health!

Gospel Singer Pat Lacy, who has worked with The Sounds of Blackness and Luther Vandross, shares her experience living with type 2 diabetes and how she modified her lifestyle to take charge of her health.

One positive side effect of Kevin’s comedy routine is that Kelly Clarkson revealed her Prediabetes diagnosis sparked her weight loss journey. The TV show host turned her health around by walking, eating a healthy mix of foods, and not depriving herself of an occasional treat.

Not everyone can indulge in a treat. My friend, health guru Kathie Dolgin, known as ‘High Voltage,’ can’t stop eating sugar once she has it. High Voltage chooses not to eat added sugar. She doesn’t believe in deprivation, so she’s found ways to satisfy her sweet tooth with natural sugars and alternatives. High Voltage joins me on this podcast!

Dr. Stephen Bracci & special guest Kath Dolgin discuss the standard American diet.

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Black History Month & Diabetes

Black History Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges facing Black people in managing diabetes so we can work towards creating a healthcare system that is fair, equitable, and inclusive. 

In 2019, non-Hispanic blacks were twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes, reports the Office of Monthly Health.

In 2018, African American adults were 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician, reports the Office of Monthly Health.

NIH Research reports a study stating that biological risk factors—including weight and fat around the abdomen—are primarily responsible for higher rates of diabetes for black Americans compared with white Americans. Sadly, the impacts of biased healthcare providers and lack of access to diabetes technology only add to the burden of staying on track with self-care.

It’s essential to recognize the contributions made by Black people to medicine, science, and research. Black History Month reminds us to celebrate and acknowledge their achievements. We can learn from their experiences and work towards a brighter future where everyone has equal opportunities and access to healthcare. 

Let’s come together and challenge our systems to make changes that benefit everyone. Diabetes doesn’t discriminate, and neither should our healthcare system. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to create a world where everyone can access the care they need to manage and prevent diabetes.

Excerpts from Beyond Type 1’s Why Is Black History Month Important In The Diabetes Community? Written by Lala Jackson.

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