Tag: Patti LaBelle

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31 Days Of Divabetic Podcasts, Day Fourteen

 

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!

On Day 14, we’re spotlighting tonight’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Patti LaBellle. Back in 2003, Patti LaBelle inspired me to coin the phrase ‘Divabetic’ when she said “I have diabetes, diabetes doesn’t have me.” Her outspoken attitude about living with diabetes pierced my heart as I sat in the audience. I wished that Luther had spoken to me about his diabetes and how to help him in case there was an emergency. Of course, you can’t turn back the clock. All I can do is share my experience with you in the hope you will be motivated to involve your family, friends and co-workers in your daily diabetes self-care.

Tonight’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast also signifies a new milestone in diabetes outreach for Divabetic. For the past decade we have produced at least one podcast each month of every year.

“All great achievements require time,” said Dr. Maya Angelou. She added, “Nothing will work unless you do.”

I staged a ‘comeback’ and so can you!

Back in July 2010, I was brokenhearted and discouraged. A full year had passed since Divabetic lost it’s major funding for it’s national outreach program, Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes and there was no light in sight. I felt like a failure. I was staring at a pile of rejection letters from numerous foundations and pharmaceutical companies requesting funding and another pile of requests from women with diabetes and/or certified diabetes educators begging us to bring Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes to their city. So it’s probably not a shock to learn that I said, “no” when it was suggested that I host a podcast.

Why would I want to do something new when I had just failed so miserably and let so many people down?
Starting over is not easy. However, I’ve had to do it several times in my life. In 2003, when I found my boss, Luther Vandross after he suffered a devastating stroke related to mismanagement of type 2 diabetes. In 2005, when Luther Vandross died and I lost my job (as well as my identity). In 2009, when Divabetic lost it’s major source of funding. Somehow after suffering every one of these ‘soul punches’ I persisted and so can you! That’s the message of this milestone.

Thank you to my team, our guests, SONY Music and you, our listeners for an amazing decade of diabetes podcasting. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for your help in helping me get back my groove. GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS!


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 Podcast Anniversary 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.

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

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Almond, Wild Blueberry, and Flax Smoothie Recipe By Janis Roszler and Donna Rice

Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDCES, FAND, Co-Author of the best-selling e-book, Intimacy & Diabetes, shares this Healthy Smoothie Recipe for you to enjoy!

Almond, Wild Blueberry, and Flax Smoothie Recipe

From Intimacy & Diabetes, By Janis Roszler and Donna Rice

Photo by Tara Evans on Unsplash

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen wild blueberries
1 1/2 cups organic, unsweetened almond milk
2 tablespoons almond flour
3 tablespoons ground flax meal
1 tablespoon packed fresh mint leaves
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
2 teaspoons raw honey
1 cup ice

Directions
1. In a blender, combine all ingredients and purée until smooth.
2. Divide smoothie between three glasses and enjoy immediately.

Choices/Exchanges: 1/2 Fruit, 1 Carbohydrate, 11/2 Fat

Basic Nutritional Values: Calories 160, Calories from Fat 70, Total Fat 8.0 g, Saturated Fat 0.7 g, Trans Fat 0.0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 15 mg, Potassium 210 mg, Total Carbohydrate 21 g, Dietary Fiber 6 g, Sugars 12 g, Protein 5 g, Phosphorus 110 mg

Can Flax Seeds Help You Manage Your Diabetes?

Flax seeds — and flaxseed oil — boast many health-promoting compounds with the potential to lower blood sugar levels and delay the development of type 2 diabetes reports Healthline. Flax seeds and flaxseed oil are an excellent plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, principally ALA. Flax seeds are especially nutritious, as they also provide a good amount of protein and fiber. Read More

There’s no one-size-fits-all diabetes diet per se, but understanding how to make smart food choices is essential for keeping blood sugars in a healthy range.

One good choice is to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, which are heavy in nutrition but light in calories. You can pack a lot of nutrition into one smoothie and get a delicious treat. As long as you stick with healthy ingredients and don’t add extra sweeteners, you can enjoy these treats on a regular basis.

Just remember when you do blend fruit into your smoothies to count them as part of your daily fruit allowance so you don’t overdo it on carbohydrates. Even natural sugar can drive up your blood sugar if you eat too much of it according to Everyday Health.

Janis Roszler is the 2008-2009 Diabetes Educator of the Year (AADE).  She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, board certified sex therapist, registered dietitian, and award-winning medical media producer. Her books include  Intimacy & Diabetes (ADA, 2020); Approaches to Behavior (ADA,2015); Diabetes On Your OWN Terms (Marlowe & Company, 2007); Sex and Diabetes (ADA, 2007); The Secrets Of Living And Loving WITH Diabetes (Surrey Books, 2004).

Janis is our special guest at Divabetic’ upcoming Indoor Scavenger Hunt & Smoothie Party on Zoom on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:35 PM, EST. Throughout our virutal Scavenger Hunt will be talking about relationships and diabetes. When diabetes enters the picture, it can complicate even our most casual relationships. Janis  Roszler will answer your questions about how diabetes affects the 8 types of Intimacy: Aesthetic, Spiritual, Intellectual, Social, Emotional, Affection, Physical, and Sexual.

Register Now

Divabetic’s free Scavenger Hunt & Smoothie Party is part of Divabetic’s 10th Year Podcast Anniversary Celebration. Join us for our 10th Year Anniversary Podcast on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST. 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 listener in our random drawing will win a Dario Blood Glucose Meter starter 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. Enjoy this special Dario discount for the Divabetic community!

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.

 

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Divabetic Mystery Phrase #24

Can you complete our Divabetic Mystery Phrase below?

Every time we try to get fit and fail, we learn a little bit more about how our mind, body and soul work. Maybe we lost a few pounds with strategy A, but failed with strategy B. If we start home workouts for a few weeks and give up, when we come back next time we are familiar with the inner workings, and don’t need to get over the fear of exercising like the first time.

Each time you start over, you’re getting closer to that point of making things stick.

It turns out that this strategy might actually be crucial in giving us the motivation to push forward.

Why Start Again?

When we decide to start anew, something amazing can happen. We can look at today as the first day of the rest of our diabetes life – everything else that has happened up to that point is in the past, and was indicative of our old selves.

Today you are somebody different. Change can happen in an instant. Don’t think “I’m going to fail again,” you can think that today there’s nothing keeping you from achieving the health and fitness goals you’re chasing. Why not today?

Join us for Divabetic’s Free Virtual Outreach Event

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 Scavenger Hunt & Smoothie Party on Zoom with best-selling Intimacy & Diabetes co-author, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:35 PM, EST.

One lucky participant in our random drawing will win a Dario Blood Glucose Meter starter 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. Enjoy this special Dario discount for the Divabetic community!

REGISTER NOW

Don’t Miss Divabetic’s 10th Year Podcasting Anniversary on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, 6 PM, EST. 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.

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Patti LaBelle Inspired The Phrase: ‘Divabetic’

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 a Dario Blood Glucose Meter starter 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.

 

 

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Patti LaBelle’s Freeform Apple Tart Recipe

Patti LaBelle was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes over 25 years ago and it took awhile for her to get in tune with her condition. She admits she was angry at first but now this self-proclaimed “Divabetic” says she’s not just living with diabetes, she’s living well with diabetes.

She’s  incorporated small changes into her recipes to make them healthier. Enjoy her Free-Form Apple Tart recipe from Eating Well, which uses light sour cream and just a little butter to keep calories in check.

Patti LaBelle’s Freeform Apple Tart 

Ingredients (Partial List) 

  • 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons ice water
  • 2 tablespoons light sour cream

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:190 calories; 11 g total fat; 6 g saturated fat; 25 mg cholesterol; 80 mg sodium. 21 g carbohydrates; 1 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 3 g protein. Serving Size: 1 Slice

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE 

Patti LaBelle tells Rachael Ray she calls herself a ‘Divabetic’
Don’t Get Down, Get Diva!

Patti LaBelle loves being in the kitchen even after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This might sound strange for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to hear since many of them have knee jerk reactions to modifying their diets. But Patti LaBelle told People magazine that cooking for herself is why she’s still alive because she controls what she puts in my food and avoids all the things that aren’t good for diabetes. In her latest cookbook, Desserts LaBelle: Soulful Sweets to Sing About, she’s modified some of her signature recipes for fellow “divabetics” using sugar substitutes and cutting down on butter.

Poet Lorraine Brooks shares her thoughts about modifying recipes while sheltering in during the pandemic in her poem, Alone In The Kitchen.

Free Virtual Diva-Style Diabetes Outreach on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:30 PM, EST

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?

We are having a ball at our free virtual events. Stay safe, stay in and join us for some good times connecting with other people living with diabetes.

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Indoor Scavenger Hunt on Zoom with best-selling Intimacy & Diabetes co-author, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:30 PM, EST.

Relationships play an important role in our everyday lives. But when diabetes enters the picture, it can complicate even our casual relationships. Janis will answer your questions about how diabetes affects the 8 types of Intimacy: Aesthetic, Spiritual, Intellectual, Social, Emotional, Affection, Physical, and Sexual.

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Diabetes Instagram Post Roundup #3

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYq7J7BaBe/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CAX7ZnfgSCo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAaH9ayBYkF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYhJg2hfJh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Plant-Based Diets Tied to 23% Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Healthful, plant-based foods can demonstrably improve both insulin sensitivity and blood pressure, according to new research from comprehensive review and meta-analysis of nine studies. Moreover, plant-based diets can prevent or reduce weight gain, as well as reduce low grade inflammation, two other factors that contribute to a person’s risk of diabetes.

A “predominantly plant-based” diet centers on both healthful plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, and less healthful ones, such as potatoes and sugars. These types of diets could also include some products of animal origin.

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Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Dolly Parton

We’re talking about Self-Acceptance & Diabetes with musical inspiration from Dolly Parton on Diabetes Late Nite.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr.Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP,  Lisa R Young, PhD, RDN, and Type 2 Diabetes – What To Know Community member, Crystal. Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Dolly Parton’s Dumplin’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack courtesy of SONY Music.

LISTEN NOW

Divabetic® (divabetic.org) is a national nonprofit diabetes outreach organization committed to changing attitudes in people at risk, affected by and living with diabetes. We strive to encourage prevention, early action and above all, education. 

Divabetic® was inspired by the late R & B legend, Luther Vandross, and created and founded by his long-time assistant, Max Szadek. Divabetic®, a combination of the word ‘diabetic’ with the letter ‘V’ inserted for Vandross, evokes feelings of power and the positive attitude associated with the great DIVAS Luther loved like Patti LaBelle.

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It’s the Year of ‘THE DIVA’ on Diabetes Late Nite

Heading into our tenth year of podcasting, Divabetic declares this to be the year of ‘the Diva’! We’ll be featuring music from only DIVAS on our free monthly Diabetes Late Nite podcasts for the next 12 months courtesy of SONY Music.

Enjoy music from LaBelle, Celine Dion, Ann Margaret, Phyllis Hyman and more to lift your spirits and motivate you to live well with diabetes. Between your favorite diva musical selections, the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic will interview Certified Diabetes Educators CDE’s), Best-Selling Authors, Beauty & Fashion experts, Chefs, Celebrities and passionate people living with diabetes. 

Why Divas?
“Divas have always been the bedrock of Divabetic’s glamorous approach to educating people about diabetes,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “My former boss, Luther Vandross loved the divas too.”

Divabetic’s podcast library contains 150 podcasts averaging over 1,000 listeners per podcast.  All podcasts are available on demand for free at i-Tunes, and Blog Talk radio. Divabetic’s podcasts were mentioned in Diabetes Forecast Magazine’s Recommended Diabetes Podcasts List in January 2019. 

Divabetic® (divabetic.org) is a national nonprofit diabetes outreach organization committed to changing attitudes in people at risk, affected by and living with diabetes. We strive to encourage prevention, early action and above all, education. 

Luther Vandross

Divabetic® was inspired by the late R & B legend, Luther Vandross, and created and founded by his long-time assistant, Max Szadek. Divabetic®, a combination of the word ‘diabetic’ with the letter ‘V’ inserted for Vandross, evokes feelings of power and the positive attitude associated with the great DIVAS Luther loved like Patti LaBelle.

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Divabetic Patti LaBelle Gets Jazzy on Her New Album ‘Bel Hommage’

Our favorite “Divabetic” Patti LaBelle is living proof that diabetes doesn’t have to dim your dazzle!

Her diagnosis of type 2 diabetes hasn’t stop two-time Grammy-winning legend Patti from taking on new challenges in her career. She just released a new album,  “Bel Hommage,” a jazz covers album executive produced by her ex-husband Armstead Edwards (“he’s known me and my voice for over 30 years, so why not?” she says of the musical marriage) on a new label (GPE Records) she co-owns with their son and her manager, Zuri Edwards of Edwards Entertainment.

“Now you know that’s just how I roll,” Patti told Variety in a recent interview.

It’s been 55 years since her debut single and she’s still going strong even though she admits it took awhile for her to get in tune with her diabetes self-care.  Patti now eats right, exercises daily, and takes her medicine regularly  and is riding high on the success of her Good Life foods imprint with Walmart, starting with the famed “Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pie,”and her show for the Cooking Channel’s “Patti LaBelle’s Place”.

However, we happy to hear that music, jazz in particular, remains the godmother of the ‘Divabetic’ movement’s first and truest love. When her ex-husband, Armstead Edwards, suggested that she record her jazz favorites, she jumped at the process, even though — at the time — she wasn’t completely confident in her vocal abilities. “I just didn’t like how I sounded. My voice wasn’t being kind to me. I knew I could be better. I didn’t think I could do it, but Armstead said ‘Blanche’ — that’s his nick name for me and my drama — ‘I know you have it in you.’ So I did it, and was in it to win it. Now, it sounds more beautiful than I ever imagined.”

LaBelle told Variety she fought with Edwards throughout the entire “Bel Hommage” recording process, “even when I knew he was right, just to stir thing up. There’s a lot of laughs, joy, and pain in that album.”

Several years ago, the rhythm-and-blues diva passed out on stage during a singing performance. That night, the doctor asked if she knew she had diabetes. “I didn’t have a clue,” Patti told Diabetic Living magazine.  “I hadn’t gone to the doctor because nothing was hurting me.”

Our May Divabetic inspiration,  Della Reese also experienced a situation similar to Patti Labelle’s  when she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. She passed out on the set of her hit TV show,  ‘Touched by An Angel”.  Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE shares ways to help you overcome the initial shock related to a diabetes diagnosis on May’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast s with musical inspiration from Della Reese.

Patti’s diagnosis made her angry, even though she knew diabetes ran in her family.

Anger frequently contributes to diabetes burnout, a person’s anger may encourage them to seek ‘freedom’ from the condition and neglect their self-management.

According to Diabetes UK  ‘mindfulness based approaches’ are recognized as an effective and lasting means of aiding the management of anger. Research has shown that by becoming aware of the triggers as well as the emotional, mental and physical impact of anger, an individual is able to recognize and respond rather than react to triggers which may have initiated an automatic reaction.

Eventually, Patti, like Della, decided she needed a ‘new attitude’, just like the title of her 1985 chart-topper. “I realized my blood glucose levels weren’t getting any better,” she says. “So I knew I had to stop playing around and get serious about this disease.”

https://youtu.be/vnDuExwDaxU

That’s good news because we just learned that Patti LaBelle has several albums ‘in the works’ including a gospel album, a dance-music album, and an album featuring the new first songs penned by fellow Philadelphians Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff .

“This is like a new beginning for me,” says LaBelle of “Bel Hommage,” “new, but still an old friend.”

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Patti Labelle’s New Desserts Cookbook

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Our favorite “DIVAbetic” Patti LaBelle is taking her dessert expertise to the next level with a new cookbook. Her fourth cookbook, entitled Desserts LaBelle: Soulful Sweets to Sing About, will be released April 25 and is available for preorder on Amazon now.

The singer, author, and actress, who is living with type 2 diabetes, is known for her  sweet potato pie that became popular after  a review on youtube went viral.

For years Patti LaBelle has been very outspoken about managing diabetes after experiencing a  health scare during an open-air performance in New York City. Toward the end of the show, just after singing “Over the Rainbow,” she collapsed onstage, in front of thousands of fans. She was rushed to the hospital and was revived. An hour later, she was informed she had diabetes—her blood glucose was 600 mg/dL.

“I had no clue that I had diabetes,” LaBelle explained. “I’m one of those black women who just doesn’t go to see doctors. Had I not passed out, I would have never suspected that I had diabetes.”

But, in truth, LaBelle was no stranger to diabetes. She had watched her mother die from diabetes-related complications at the age of 58. So, LaBelle knew that she had to stop everything and take an active role in managing her condition.

While Patti still enjoys feeding friends and family her famous fried chicken and potato salad made with 12 eggs, she’s also learned to adapt her style to suit her needs.

“I’ll make an apple pie the regular way for everyone else, but I’ll also bake one with a sugar substitute for me.”

 

Her book written with Laura Randolph Lancaster is filled with her favorite recipes for pies, cakes, cookies, and puddings, as well as a chapter on diabetic-friendly recipes, moving personal stories from her career and life.

Patti is also an award-winning author of five books, three of which were New York Times bestsellers. She is the host of Patti LaBelle’s Place on the Cooking Channel, and the creator of Patti’s Sweet Potato Pie. She lives in Philadelphia.

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Don’t miss March’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Gladys Knight & the Pips on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 6-7:30 PM, EST.

Gladys Knight doesn’t have diabetes, but the disease is as close to her heart as the memories of her mother, Elizabeth Knight, who died of complications from the disease in 1997. A five-time Grammy award winner, Knight is as busy as ever gracing the entertainment world with her exceptional voice. Yet she never misses an opportunity to voice the message of early detection and treatment of diabetes.

Gladys shares her final words of wisdom: ” Do something about diabetes … Know more, do more!” Knight feels nearly as passionate about spreading that message as she does about the incredible singing career her mom helped her launch some 54 years ago.

Guests include Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’, Mary Ann Hodorowicz, RD, LDN, MBA, CDE, CEC,  the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Diabetic Divas Unite, SleepyHead Central, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie.

 

 

 

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