Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald, on her 106th birthday!
Ella Fitzgerald was living with type 2 diabetes. Sadly, she had both of her legs amputated. But losing her limbs didn’t stop her from performing on stage. I think that’s a great testament to her strong will and determination.
There are still so many obstacles blocking people with disabilities from living their best life. I’m sure Ella Fitzgerald encountered many of them, from the smallest stair to the pity and scorn in people’s eyes. Week after week, traveling on the road from city to city to perform at night makes it difficult to maintain and sustain a health regimen, especially diabetes self-care. As someone who has traveled on the road supporting musician, I can easily understand how the rigors of touring can take a toll on your physical and mental health.
It’s easy for someone to write her off for not taking care of herself because it’s harder to admit how easy it is to ignore your diabetes. The number of people who don’t manage their diabetes dramatically outnumbers those who do.
Sadly, ignoring your diabetes leads to disastrous consequences. Mismanaged diabetes can lead to amputations, usually of the toes, feet, or legs. Causes include reduced blood flow or peripheral neuropathy. Managing your blood sugar is one way to help prevent it.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)Trusted Source, about 130,000 people in the United States who have diabetes have amputations yearly.
Better diabetes management and foot care have caused lower limb amputations over the past 20 years. However, 2018 research suggests that young and middle-aged adults in the United States are experiencing an uptick in diabetes-related amputations.
With ongoing diabetes management, foot care, and wound care, many people with diabetes can limit their risk of amputation or prevent it entirely. Education is crucial.
We proudly celebrate the First Lady of Song and raise awareness for the greater need for diabetes education on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, CDN, Lorraine Brooks, Ansley Dalbo, Anna J. Stewart, and Leola and Cornelia.
In a 2020 episode of the TV Show, Biggest Loser, former American Idol winner RubenStuddard, 35, received some startling news about his health. Dr. Robert Huizenga diagnosed the singer with type 2 diabetes.
According to the show’s medical expert, Studdard’s insulin level, average blood sugar and instantaneous blood sugar levels were high across the board.
“I AM AFRAID,” the Velvet Teddy Bear replied. “I have seen a lot of lives cut short because of health issues.
It’s easy to assume he could be referring to Luther Vandross, who suffered a stroke at age 52 and died at age 54 due to the mismanagement of type 2 diabetes.
Luther had over fifty people supporting him with his music, but he chose to go it alone when managing his diabetes. One thing I have learned over the past twenty years is that for people with diabetes, a team approach to managing their health is ideal. From supportive healthcare collaborators to nonjudgmental co-workers, a team approach offers you the support you need when the daily grind of self-care burns you out.
Many people ignore or don’t treat their with type 2 diabetes, choosing to believe their diagnosis isn’t that serious. Too many doctors suggest losing weight is the easiest way to solve their problems. But what if it isn’t?
I watched my boss, Luther Vandross, struggle with his weight for over a decade. He lost and gained a hundred pounds multiple times while I worked for him. Whenever we thought he had found a way to maintain his weight loss, something would trigger weight gain.
Unfortunately, mismanaged type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating health consequences such as stroke, kidney failure, amputation, and blindness.
Research has shown that people who lack proper diabetes self-care education are more likely to be affected by complications of mismanaged diabetes. Diabetes is a complex and challenging disease that requires daily self-management decisions made by the person with diabetes. The emotional toll of living with diabetes can also take its toll on someone’s ability to manage their care.
Anxiety—feelings of worry, fear, or being on edge—is how your mind and body react to stress. People with diabetes are 20% more likely than those without diabetes to have anxiety at some point. Managing a long-term condition like diabetes is a source of anxiety for some. If you suffer from anxiety, please seek professional help. Talking to others about how you feel helps relieve some of the stress and overcome feeling overwhelmed.
Most of us take our health for granted. We leave our houses without eating. We sit for hours in a chair without getting up. We think we’re hungry when we’re thirsty. We don’t listen to our bodies. Sadly, most people don’t adopt health habits until diagnosed with a chronic condition.
Awareness of your blood sugar levels, what you eat, and when you eat can be exhausting. Many people push back on being aware of everything in their bodies.
“I’ve worked since I was 11-years-old to be a professional singer,” says Ruben Studdard. “That’s all I ever wanted to do.” He confessed to being on the show because he knows it’s time to focus on his health.
“I most definitely want to be around for a long time,” said Ruben Studdard. “This has really, like, given me a second chance.”
Divabetic remembers Luther Vandross (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) with this special podcast, Tribute to Luther Vandross, celebrating his career during the 1990’s. Luther Vandross was a musical master whose style influenced a generation of today’s vocalists. His distinctive brand of satin-smooth vocal magic moved international audiences and continues to touch people today.
The happy healthcare host, Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek, who worked with Vandross for more than 14 years, hosts this tribute podcast featuring Luther’s former vocalists Paulette McWilliams, Pat Lacy, Tawatha Agee, Cindy Mizelle, and Kevin Owens, band member Bryon Miller, Vandross family member, Seveda Williams, friends Darren Margo and David Jones, the Luther Vandross historian, Leon Petrossian and Luther super fan, Jane Goodman from Great Britain.
Throughout the podcast, we will play selected Luther Vandross songs that he recorded during the 1990’s courtesy of SONY Music.
Divabetic, the organization inspired by Luther’s diabetes journey, revisits the singer’s career in the decade of hair scrunchies, boy bands, grunge, and rave parties. This Luther tribute remembers the moments, the music and the man, and the motivation to ensure that no one struggles with diabetes alone or in silence. Keep ‘your house a home’ and learn how to prevent diabetes health-related complications from occurring. Visit: www.divabetic.org
“80% of people with Alzheimer’s disease have either full-blown diabetes or insulin resistance. The link between insulin resistance and AD is so obvious to some researchers they’ve began calling it diabetes type 3!,” reports registered nutritionist Tim Reed BSc mBANT rCNHC for Medium.
Research has revealed a strong link between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and high blood sugar levels. People with type 2 diabetes who mismanage their blood sugar levels—are two to three times more likely to suffer from the most common form of dementia.
Barry Manilow’s classic hit, I Made It Through The Rain sparks real-life confessions about overcoming challenges related to diabetes self-care on this episode of Divabetic’s monthly podcast.
Hear how Alyson Williams, who is living with type 2 diabetes, made a triumphant return to the stage after her near-death experience from COVID and “The Rollercoaster Ride Of Diabetes” blogger, FatCatAnna, who is living with type 1 diabetes, opens up about her attempted suicide and managing diabetes in a mental hospital.
Additionally, we’re sharing an honest, no-filter look at the daily grind of living with diabetes and practical ways to help you pivot and stay positive. We encourage others with diabetes to live life to the fullest and apply Barry Manilow’s attitude to their daily lives.
“I believe that we are who we choose to be. Nobody is going to come and save you. You’ve got to save yourself. Nobody is going to give you anything. You’ve got to go and fight for it,” says the Grammy, Tony, and Emmy award-winning music icon with 50 Top 40 hits, 12 #1 singles, and more than 85 million albums.
Guests include The First Lady of Def Jam Alyson Williams, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, diabetes advocate, blogger, and mentor FatCatAnna. Music from The Essential Barry Manilow courtesy of SONY Music. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.
Whitney Houston smoked Newport menthol cigarettes. She admitted many times she could not quit even though she was aware of the damage to her voice caused by smoking. By the end of her life, her voice was shot.
Clive Davis recalls her admitting, “I understand I can’t just cut back. I’ve got to stop. I promise I will.”
Unfortunately, Whitney’s failure to quit smoking menthol cigarettes is not uncommon.
Menthol flavoring masks the harsh taste of cigarette smoke, and menthol smokers engage in more intense smoking behaviors than regular cigarettes.
Basically, menthol cigarettes numb your lungs. It has a cooling and painkilling effect, so people who smoke menthol tend to inhale more deeply and have a harder time quitting smoking. As a result, they suffer greater damage to their health.
About 18.5 million people in the United States are regular menthol smokers. That’s 37% of the cigarette market. Here’s a breakdown of their use by race in the United States:
85% of Black smokers smoke menthols
46% of Hispanic smokers smoke menthols
39% of Asian American smokers smoke menthols
The health effects of smoking disproportionately impact black and brown communities with a higher rate of menthol use.
One can speculate that a superstar like Whitney Houston had the means to seek professional support to help her overcome her menthol addiction. She even had an excellent reason to quit.
Clive Davisfeels that menthol cigarettes destroyed Whitney Houston’s voice. If they can damage a powerful voice like hers, imagine what they can do to your lungs.
“We were trying to get her to stop smoking,” Clive Davis told Playboy, WENN.com reports. “It was a serious problem because it affected her singing.”
Menthols and mint are also extremely popular among teenage smokers. More than half of cigarette smokers ages 12 to 17 use menthol cigarettes.
The more cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk for type 2 diabetes. People who smoke cigarettes are 30%–40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people who don’t smoke. Smoking also makes it harder to manage your diabetes.
New York State Governor Hochul hopes to ban menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco while raising the tax on smokes by $1 — claiming it’ll fuel the black market, be hard to enforce and worsen police-community relations.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in New York and the US. In 2020, 22.5% of youths used an e-cigarette. Every year, approximately 4,300 New Yorkers under 18 become daily smokers, statistics show.
About 280,000 New Yorkers under 18 are projected to die prematurely from smoking, while 28,200 New York adults die annually.
To get help to quit using tobacco products, can text VAPEFREETX to 88709. Parents can text QUIT to 202-899-7550 for tips and advice for helping teens and young adults quit using tobacco or vape products.
Learn how to become your own ‘Diabetes Bodyguard’ on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with musical inspiration from one our all-time favorite divas, Whitney Houston.
Guests include Dr. Beverly S. AdlerPhD, CDCES, Constance Brown Riggs MSEd, RD, CDCES, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDCES, Mindy Bartleson, T1D, blogger at “There’s More to the Story,” and author, Hairstylist & Salon Owner, Karline Ricketts, and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, Kathie Dolginaka ‘High Voltage’.
“Sharon (Paige) possessed one of the most unique female vocals that blended perfectly with the smooth singing and vocal prowess of Harold Melvin and Teddy Pendergrass,” said Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, founders of Philadelphia International Records, in a statement.
Singer Sharon Paige, who performed with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, died from cardiovascular disease and mismanaged diabetes in 2020 at 67.
“Cardiovascular disease” has three types and covers a broad term that covers a long list of conditions:
Atherosclerosis: This condition causes fatty plaque to build up in your blood vessels, which can lead to events like a heart attack or stroke.
Arrhythmia is also known as an “irregular heartbeat. This condition is caused by structural changes or damage to your heart.
Heart failure occurs when your heart muscles weaken and lack blood supply.
You and your family should be aware of the common signs and symptoms. However, many symptoms can be more or less severe than others, and some people may experience no symptoms.
Having type 2 diabetes means thinking about your heart because you’re twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke than someone who doesn’t have diabetes—and at a younger age.
Over time, high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart.
From daily blood sugar monitoring for managing your A1C to adding exercise and making smart food choices, these changes are important for helping you stay heart-healthy.
According to her son, Jean-Baptiste, Sharon Paige stopped performing in the last decade of her life due to diabetes.
I speculate that the grueling touring schedule prohibited her from performing, especially if she was coping with diabetes health-related complications such as nerve damage (neuropathy,) loss of vision, or ambulatory issues.
It could have been challenging to stay on stage for long periods if Sharon Paige suffered from the most common diabetes complication, nerve damage. Nerve damage causes numbness and pain, often affecting the feet and legs, but it can also affect your digestion, blood vessels, and heart.
Sadly, there’s a lack of information regarding her diabetes mismanagement, similar to many celebrity health articles, to provide readers with a greater understanding.
We’re celebrating Divabetic’s 12th Year Anniversary of Podcasting with musical inspiration from Babyface and music from his A Closer Look album courtesy of SONY Music. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks,Susan WeinerMS, RDN, CDCES,FADCES, Ivan Hampden Jr., and Collage Artist Tom Cocotos. Hosted by Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek.
Tune in to Divabetic’s Bride’s Guide to Diabetes podcast.
If you’re living with, at risk of, or affected by diabetes, planning or attending a wedding, this inside guide to one of life’s most significant celebrations is for you!
Mr. Divabetic officiates a full hour of diabetes information and inspiration featuring a guest list of wedding, food and fashion experts offering tips and suggestions for brides, grooms, attendants, and attendees. Brides living with type 1 diabetes share how they juggled blood sugars and last-minute nerves.
Guests include Jessica Issler RD, CDCES, Judi Wilcox RD, CDCES, Wedding Cake Designer Christine Campanelli, Celebrity Cookbook Author Holly Clegg, Divabetic Style Expert Catherine Schuller, and Former Brides.
Photo by Gift Habeshaw
Divabetic inspiration, Luther Vandross has been a choice of music for many brides and grooms. Many of his songs are still being played today. His emotion and topic of love are perfect for wedding music.
Released in 1989 on the album The Best of Luther Vandross: The Best of Love, “Here and Now” was a wedding super hit in the 1990s and was played at thousands of weddings as the first dance song for wedding couples. Here and Now peaked and number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
I was there when Luther Vandross recorded his first and only live album at Radio City Music Hall in 2003. It’s a bittersweet memory because it was also Luther’s last live performance. Unfortunately, in April 2003, Luther suffered a stroke due to mismanaged type 2 diabetes. His Radio City concerts would be his last, and he was at the peak of his powers during these shows. Thankfully, the newly-restored concert recording captures Luther’s masterful showmanship, soulful singing, and deep connection to his audience. Luther’s live concerts were indeed a spectacle. Great music, vocals, lavish costumes, and staging ensured concertgoers got their money’s worth.
J Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, are pleased to announce the deluxe digital release of Luther Vandross – Live Radio City Music Hall 2003 – Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition – The Last Concert on Friday, February 10.
A romantic prelude to Valentine’s Day 2023, Luther’s Radio City rendition of “I’d Rather” [the second #1 Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart-topper from 2001’s Top 10 platinum-selling eponymous album] is being released as a single accompanied by an elegant new lyric video [the first-ever created for the song] premiering online today.
Luther Vandross–the award-winning American singer, songwriter, producer, and performer whose exquisite tenor vocals combined elements of R&B, pop, soul, and indefinable magic while selling millions of records–performed two sold-out shows at New York’s fabled Radio City Music Hall on February 11 and 12, 2003. These shows were part of an annual tradition of performing at Radio City Music Hall on Valentine’s Day.
At these shows, superstar stylist June Ambrose helped me to borrow Harry Winston jewels for Luther and his backing vocalists to wear on stage. The sparkle of real diamonds added to the elegance and excitement of the evening.
J Records released Luther Vandross – Live Radio City Music Hall 2003, an eleven-song edited version of the concert, on October 14, 2003. On the 20th anniversary of Luther’s final shows, J/Legacy are releasing an expanded edition featuring the full concert, with the setlist restored to original concert order and Luther’s on-stage banter providing insight into his personality, sense of humor and commitment to his audience and his songs.
The expanded 20th-anniversary edition of Luther Vandross – Live Radio City 2003 includes the eleven songs from the original release as well as four new tracks–“Power of Love/Love Power,” “Going Out of My Head,” “Any Day Now,” and “Say It Now”–and more.
Luther Vandross – Live Radio City Music Hall 2003 – Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition – The Last Concert
1. Power of Love / Love Power [new track]
2. Happy Valentine’s Day [spoken word]
3. Never Too Much
4. Work It/ Here and Now [spoken word]
5. Here And Now
6. Going Out Of My Head [new track]
7. Stop To Love
8. Love Won’t Let Me Wait
9. Any Day Now [new track]
10. A House Is Not A Home
11. I’d Rather
12. Take You Out
13. Say It Now [new track]
14. Superstar
15. Band Introduction [spoken word and music including :30 seconds of “I Believe”]
16. Intro to “Glow Of Love” [spoken word]
17. Glow Of Love
18. Encore [spoken word]
19. If Only For One Night
20. Creepin’
Luther Vandross ‘Live at Radio City Music Hall 2003’ 20th Anniversary Editionalbum is available now for preorder on iTunes. Release date February 10, 2023.
Mr. Divabetic talks with international yoga teacher and author Rachel Zinman, living with LADA diabetes, on Divabetic’s popular podcast on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at 6 PM, EST.
Rachel shares how she overcame the years of frustration and confusion associated with a misdiagnosis.
There have been many bumps in the road on Rachel’s journey with LADA diabetes (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults) related to her initial misdiagnosis. She was initially misdiagnosis with type 2 diabetes. Although many of her symptoms were similar to type 2 diabetes, she has another condition that may be more closely related to type 1 diabetes called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).
It’s not uncommon for someone with LADA to be initially misdiagnosed. Unfortunately, the years spent treating the wrong condition without success can take a toll on your mind, body, and spirit. She shares how yoga and meditation helped her to overcome years of frustration and confusion.
Rachel shares a guided meditation, “Compassion Meditation,” focusing on self-love and compassion to help you live well with diabetes. Rachel’s meditation references Tara, a female deity in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Tara personifies compassion and offers salvation from suffering. She is thought to have been born of empathy for the suffering world and is regularly invoked for protection, guidance, and deliverance from difficult situations.
In Hinduism, she is the second of the ten Mahavidyas, avatars of the great Mother Goddess Mahadevi.
In Buddhism, Tara is a savior deity who liberates souls from suffering. According to origin tales, she emerged from the tear of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara who cried when looking upon the suffering world. She is therefore associated primarily with compassion but can take on many forms to help and protect her devotees.
“If you are at all open or curious to learn about an ancient holistic way of healing and supporting the body, this book is for you. Zinman is clearly an expert and looks so glowingly healthy at 50 years old, one may wonder just how much benefit we too can get from incorporating some yoga into our lives.”—Diabetes Daily
With over 60 million albums sold worldwide, 4 Grammys, and holding a CBE, Sade is one of the most successful British female artists in history,
She’s inspiring us to talk about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘SUGAR’ on Divabetic’s free monthly podcast.
Sugar is everywhere. But do we understand the impact it has on our diabetes health?
You may think of sweets, chocolate, sodas, table sugar, and fruit if asked to name sugary foods. But sugar also appears in savory foods such as ready meals, soups, salads, and sauces, and ‘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.
Problems occur when you consume too much added sugar — that is, sugar that food manufacturers add to products to increase flavor or extend shelf life.
These ‘hidden sugars’ can add a surprising amount to our daily intake.
According to the National Cancer Institute, adult men take in an average of 24 teaspoons of added sugar per day. That’s equal to 384 calories.
“Excess sugar’s impact on obesity and diabetes is well documented, but one area that may surprise many men is how their taste for sugar can have a serious impact on their heart health,” says Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as reported in the Havard Health publishing.
“The effects of added sugar intake — higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease — are all linked to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke,” says Dr. Hu. “Basically, the higher the intake of added sugar, the higher the risk for heart disease.”
How much is okay?
The American Heart Association suggests that women consume no more than 100 calories (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams) and men no more than 150 calories (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams) of added sugar per day. Your daily allowance of added sugar daily is about the same as a 12-ounce can of sweetened soda.
Unfortunately, the more sugar you eat, the more you crave! Experts say it can take a few days to weeks to get over an addiction to refined sugar once you start. But you can do it!
Set yourself up for success by telling yourself that you got this.
“Words are powerful,” says our friend, Kathie Dolgin, author of Sugar Savvy Solution: Kick Your Sugar Addiction for Life and Get Healthy. “If you think resisting sugar is going to be hard, it will be hard,” she told Women’s Running. “Change that negative self-talk if you are going to take control of your diet and your health. Believe you can do this!”
Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from The Essential Sade album courtesy of SONY Music. The ESSENTIAL series features the biggest hits and best-loved songs from Sade! Plus full-liner notes and photos for the complete experience. Includes ‘Smooth Operator,’ ‘Your Love is King,’ ‘Hang on to Your Love,’ ‘The Sweetest Taboo’ and more.
Divabetic’s podcast focuses on ACCEPTANCE with musical inspiration from the iconic musical group, TheIsley Brothers.
The youngest member and bass guitarist of the Isley Brothers, Marvin Isley, was living with type 2 diabetes. He remained a group member until complications from his longtime battle with mismanaged diabetes forced him into retirement in 1997. Before his death, he had to amputate both legs.
In a 2001 interview, Marvin Isley told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he regretted the decades he spent ignoring his diabetes. “If I would have listened, if I would have understood diabetes like I understood music, maybe these things wouldn’t have happened.”
A diabetes diagnosis can be scary, but ignoring it won’t prevent it. Learning to accept your diabetes takes time, energy, and attitude. The transition from denial to acceptance and all the stages vary for everyone. Seeking a support group, online community, or a trained professional therapist can help you navigate your emotions. Once you learn how to accept your diabetes, you make unlock the key to a healthier and happier way of life.
Mr. Divabetic explores the process of ‘ACCEPTANCE’ with Dr. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDCES, in the final installment of our series on the emotional side of living with diabetes.
Additionally, ‘New York Times bestselling co-author and former Senior Writer for People Magazine Mark Dagostino. His book Ellie & Coachtells the endearing true story of a type-A mom caring for a daughter with type 1 diabetes – and the incredible service dog who changes their lives for the better.
Are you considering getting a diabetes-alert dog or training your own dog? Professional Animal Trainer, and Dog Detection Expert Debby Kay, who specializes in scent detection work with dogs, discusses the do’s and don’ts to diabetes-alert dogs. She also shares how the power of the human-animal connection changes hearts and lives with Terri Seidman and Mama Rose Marie.
Plus, Dr. Beverly Adler, PhD, CDCES and shares insightful advice about the learning curve of accepting a diabetes diagnosis.
Throughout the podcast, we feature elected songs from The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983), a monumental 23-disc box set collection chronicling the sonic evolution and abiding achievements of the unprecedented R&B ensemble courtesy of SONY MUSIC. This box set follows The Isley Brothers through their transformation from a 1950’s doo-wop/gospel vocal group into the world’s preeminent R&B rock ‘n’ soul powerhouse party band.
