Divabetic encourages you not to let diabetes dim your holiday spirit with musical inspiration from Mariah Carey.
Mariah Carey’s “Merry Christmas” album is the best-selling Christmas album of all time. Merry Christmas boasts a variety of musical arrangements, sounds, and genres. Mariah Carey’s goal during recording was to provide an album with a “Christmas feel,” providing a mixture of soulful tracks and fun and joyous holiday treats.
In the years since its original release, All I Want for Christmas Is You has become established as a Christmas standard; it was once called “one of the few worthy modern additions to the holiday canon.
All I Want for Christmas Is You logs its ninth total week atop the Hot 100 and becomes the first song to have led in four distinct runs on the ranking. As a result, the singer-songwriter has broken the record by hitting the number one spot in 2019 (for three weeks), 2020 (two), and 2021 (three). The 1994 track is the first song to have led at No. 1 at four different times.
Having diabetes shouldn’t stop you from enjoying holiday celebrations and travel. With some planning and a little preparation, you can stay healthy on the road and at holiday gatherings with friends and family.
Preparation is the essential step in managing diabetes during holiday travel and festivities. Know what you’ll be eating, how to enjoy a few traditional favorites while sticking with a healthy meal plan, and how to pack necessary supplies for a trip, and you’re ready to celebrate!
Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Unleash Your Inner Diabetes Dominator Author Daniele Hargenrader, CEO of Insulcloud Jose Luis, and Mama Rose Marie.
Throughout the podcast, we feature musical selections from Mariah Carey’sMerry Christmas album courtesy of SONY Music.
“Usually, my first thought in the morning is what’s my blood sugar?” says our friend Rachel Zinman, who has been living with type 1 diabetes for thirteen years. After that, the Yoga For Diabetes author tells herself, “I have to get up, get my meter and check my blood sugar levels.”
Before she adopted diabetes psychologist Mark HeymanCDCES’s “diabetes might be challenging, but I’ve got this” motto, Rachel viewed the numbers on her meter as judgments. Now, she sees her morning blood sugar levels more or less as just numbers. As a result, she doesn’t take them so personally.
“Working with my diabetes educator taught me to manage my diabetes in terms of a balance beam rather than a tightrope,” she admits.
Now, Rachel shifts her mindset when she experiences high or low blood sugars. “I don’t think I will fall off a tightrope. I’ve learned I’ve got room to change things and open up my range like I’m on a balance beam. That has really changed how I feel. I feel better. I feel like I have a lot more freedom with food and insulin.”
She confesses she’s blown away that she can enjoy her favorite breakfast food, avocado toast with normal blood sugars!
Rachel shares a guided meditation on January’s Divabetic podcast scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, 2022, with music by Teddy Pendergrass, as part of our New Year’s tradition to help center listeners’ minds, bodies, and souls.
Click HEREto read the three things that help Rachel Zinman start her day with a positive mind frame.
Can you complete our Divabetic Mystery Phrase below?
If you’re struggling to cope with the stress, and anxiety of daily diabetes self-care: try repeating positive affirmations to yourself each morning to steer your mood in the right direction. This way of thinking can be helpful when the mental and emotional burden of coping with daily diabetes self-care gets tough. We also encourage you to seek out a therapist to help you adjust to life with diabetes.
As you age and experience certain life changes, it’s important to be proactive about making adjustments to your diabetes self-care and lifestyle. The progression of type 2 diabetes will likely require adjusting your management plan with help with your doctor. And being diagnosed with another health condition or experiencing new physical limitations can affect your diabetes. too. Positive affirmations can help you to approach these changes with a positive outlook rather than a negative one. We believe in you!
How do you keep on track with your diabetes wellness without losing a beat?
Experts agree that the best strategy is to focus on small, achievable changes to improve quality of your diabetes life. Talk to your doctor about setting achievable goals that both of you can get behind.
Understanding the Mystery of Your A1C
Many people wonder how their hba1c number relates to their blood sugar levels. After all, daily diabetes self-care management can be a jumble of numbers: weight, blood sugar levels, carbohydrate counts, fat grams, serving sizes, etc. Hopefully, this handy chart will provide some clarification.
When it comes to the numbers, there’s no one-size-fits-all target. A1C target levels can vary by each person’s age and other factors, and your target may be different from someone else’s. If you feel your hbA1C number is on a higher side, say over 7 or 8%, do not worry! Knowledge is power. You can lower your hbA1C by creating your own personal self-care plan with your healthcare professional.
Women with diabetes have up to a 70% greater risk of developing urinary incontinence according to the Diabetes Self-Management website.
Women (and men) with mismanaged diabetes can experience bladder problems such as overactive bladder, poor control of sphincter muscles that surround the urethra, urine retention, and urinary tract infections.
But this diabetes health-related complication that affects everyday life barely gets mentioned in articles related to diabetes. That’s a shame! Incontinence can play havoc with someone’s quality of life, emotional well-being and ability to carry out ordinary, daily activities.
Are you avoiding activities such as working out, having sex or even going out to dinner because you’re worried about having to race to the toilet?
If you’re dealing with bladder issues, you’re not alone.
When you start avoiding things you enjoy, it’s time to take action. Knowing you’re not alone coping with this health issue might be the spark that helps you overcome any embarrassment in order to seek help.
Do you know exactly what diabetes does to your bladder, and how to deal with it?
In a nutshell, mismanaged type 1 and/or type 2 diabetes can lead to neuropathy, which refers to the general malfunctions or diseases of the nerves. Most of the time when people discuss neuropathy they’re referring to the numbness or tingling in their feet. However, neuropathy can also damage the bladder nerves’ ability to signal when the bladder is full.
Neurogenic bladder is the neuropathy of the bladder. When the cause of the neurogenic bladder is specifically diabetes, it can also be called diabetic bladder. A diabetic bladder can either fail to relax, causing urinary retention or fail to contract, causing the involuntary leakage of urine.
Thanks to Billie for sharing their work on Unsplash.
Don’t Let Your Bladder Block The Blessings!
Avoiding playing vigorous sports? Sex life gone from G-spot to pee spot? Don’t let your bladder stop you from enjoying the things you love.
What to do: Experts recommend keeping a diary that includes how often you urinate during the day, a record of the times and events surrounding leakage, and what you drink during the day. Your bladder diary just like your blood sugars diary is a wonderful tool to help you and your healthcare provider to recognize patterns and to develop a plan that works for you.
What to do: Managing diabetes is an important part of preventing problems that can lead to excess urination. Educate yourself about incontinence and bladder function, even before you see your healthcare provider. Once you start googling ‘diabetes and bladder’, you will quickly find that there’s a plethora of articles on the topic.
Divabetic’s Top 3 Adult Diapers
Divabeticis committed to glamorizing good health and helping people with compromised health issues to regain their dignity. We developed this list of our Top 3 Adult Diapers after searching the internet and reading countless customer reviews. (Share your recommendations with us. E-mail: mrdivabetic@gmail.com).
#3: Better Dry 60x Adult Diapers
LL Medicoawards their highest rating to The BetterDry 60x Adult diapers with plastic backing. These diapers are for heavy to very heavy incontinence and also provide someone with light incontinence the protection they are looking for. They have odor protection and are latex free to ensure they are a fit for many individuals. These high-quality adult briefs are discreet while providing you with protection in your everyday life.
This diaper had us at ‘hello’ with it’s colorful design. Once you get past the fun, delightful carousel print you quickly see that it offers heavy protection thanks to 4200ml+ absorbency, double tall standing leak guards, four wide adhesive tapes, and full plastic backing as well as super soft fluffy interior. Trendy Reviewed loves this dazzling diaper!
Idiaper.comand Caring Village both award their highest rating to the Tranquility Premium Overnight Pull-Ons. Their review states their top product offer you with best in class leak and odor protection allowing you to do what you love without the fear of awkwardness. Additionally, thanks to its optimal absorbency the wearer will also enjoy uninterrupted sleep. The best thing about this diaper is that it will offer up to 8 hours of protection. By eliminating agitation, irritation, and anxiety, the user will get better sleep. These diapers come with outer and inner leg cuffs to help prevent any leakage at the leg opening. They also come with elastic around the upper hip, legs and upper hip, and a well-raised waist panel that offers a more proportioned fit.
Can you complete ‘The Staple Singers’-themed Divabetic Mystery Phrase below? Diabetes self-care can be emotionally taxing, but reframing your mind-set can have powerful results.
Divabetic Mystery Phrase
Constant worrying or self-doubt about what you are or are not doing isn’t empowering. That inner dialogue isn’t true, or even real.
If you’re struggling to cope with your diabetes diagnosis: try repeating positive affirmations to yourself each morning to steer your mood in the right direction. This way of thinking can be helpful when the mental burden of diabetes management gets tough.
“People without diabetes can feel loneliness, anger, guilt, and shame or use denial, rebellion or secrecy. The addition of diabetes to your daily life increases the likelihood of complex emotions,” says Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport aka ‘The Diabetes Pysche’. She adds, “My goal is to help you recognize these normal and demanding feelings and then move past them to do better.
Divabetic Mystery Phrase
Self respect is a vital aspect of self love. The more you respect yourself, the more you are able to love yourself.
Making yourself feel good physically is one of the ultimate ways to respect yourself according to PositivelyPresent.com. Treat your body as you would the body of someone you love dearly. Healthy food, exercise, low stress. Respecting your body is an essential aspect of self-respect.
Start believing in yourself and believing deeply—on every level—that you are doing your best.
We think you’re fabulous! Taking care of yourself and your diabetes health.
Love a good mystery?
Listen to Divabetic’s Cozy Mystery Radio Drama, Swan Wake, available on demand with this player.
When the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic heads to the Gotham City Ballet Company’s box office to fix a mix up with his ‘Swan Lake’ tickets he’s faced with a even bigger problem – a murder. To make matters worse, one of his latest culinary creations, a gluten free cheesecake, seems to be covering the victim’s face. Even more shocking are the numerous scandals swirling around the Gotham City Ballet and it’s members that have everyone walking around on tip toes. Could our happy healthcare host’s questionable culinary skills make him an accessory to the crime or even a possible side dish? Now Mr. Divabetic with the help of his team of whip smart Diabetes Educators, a Best-Selling Mystery writer and his own nosy Italian Mom must whip up his own crime-solving recipe, and fast–before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends his diabetes advocacy and healthy catering career once and for all.
Our Swan Wake cast features Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, We Are Diabetes organization founder Asha Brown, Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Mary Ann Nicolay MEd, DTR , Mama Rose Marie and Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ and Poet Lorraine Brooks.
“Figure out who you are and do it on purpose” – Dolly Parton
This month’s Diabetes Late Nitepodcast talks about self-acceptance and diabetes. Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek focuses attention onJulie Murphy’s book Dumplin’and spotlighting the music of Dolly Parton who helped make the soundtrack for the Netflix movie. To summarize (and simplify) the story, it’s about a plus-size teenageddaughter of a former beauty queen, who learns how to accept her body and feel proud of who she is.
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy
Self-acceptance can be an emotional struggle for many people, especially for women who judge their appearance critically. You fill in the blank: “I am too ______” short, tall, fat, skinny, young or old, etc. Let’s remember not to judge a book by its cover! Plus-size people can be superficially judged by their body type instead of what’s on the inside. It’s unfair, but you can’t change what others think. Try to remember to be yourself. People don’t have to like you, but you don’t have to care.
Some people are judged critically for having diabetes. It is assumed, and they are unfairly blamed and shamed, that they lead an unhealthy lifestyle (i.e. eating too many sweets, and being lazy). It’s hurtful to be so harshly judged, especially with no evidence to support those accusations. You know in your heart of hearts what is true and what is untrue. Remember that the most important relationship in your life is the one you have with yourself.
Benefits of Self-Acceptance
Self-acceptance is necessary for good mental health. A person who scores high on self-acceptance has a positive, non-judging attitude. A person treats themselves kindly, rather than harshly. A person allows themselves to be human, to make mistakes and learn from them. Know that as humans we are not perfect, nor should we be expected to act flawlessly.
Psychological benefits of self-acceptance include a decrease in depressive symptoms and an increase in positive emotions. Positive benefits include an increase in feelings of self-worth and self-esteem, and more self-kindness when mistakes occur. Self-acceptance is associated with more optimism and better recovery from stress. Other psychological benefits are a decrease in fear of failure, less desire to win the approval of others, and less self-criticism. Physical benefits include lower levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (a marker for glucose levels/insulin resistance).
Tips for Self-Acceptance
Use self-talk to encourage yourself. Tell yourself to keep trying and focus on positive aspects of what you did.
Forgive yourself. You have to accept your humanness and the fact that you are not perfect. If you hurt yourself through addictive behavior, avoidance, or otherwise behaving unwisely, make a coping plan for the next time you are in a similar situation so that you can begin to act differently. Remember, there are no failures, if you have learned and grown from your mistakes; there are only lessons learned.
Become mindful. Know what you think, feel and want. When you are mindful you can act on this knowledge rather than on what others want for you.
Practice good self-care. You can accept yourself more, when you take better care of your basic needs. Nourish yourself daily through healthy activities, like choosing healthful food choices, physical activity, sleep, intimacy, and healthy social interactions.
Final Thoughts
Challenge your negative thoughts about yourself. The underlying message of Dumplin is to figure out who you are and do it on purpose. Treat yourself with self-compassion. Tolerate yourself to be imperfect in some parts. We are deserving of love and respect just the way we are. Value yourself and all the things that make you unique. We are all works in progress.
Dr. Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE
Dr. Beverly S. Adler, aka “Dr. Bev”, is a clinical psychologist and Certified Diabetes Educator with a private practice in Baldwin, NY. She was honored in 2016 with the “Certified Diabetes Educator Entrepreneur of the Year Award.”
She is the author/editor of two diabetes self-help books which include insightful lessons of empowerment written by successful men and women with diabetes. She has published articles in print and online about diabetes management – always with the focus on emotional adjustment. Dr. Bev has been quoted in numerous magazines and contributed to a monthly diabetes advice column online. She is a frequent contributor to the Divabetic Diabetes Daily Wire, where she blogs about diabetes topics from the psychological perspective.
Dr. Bev has lived successfully with type 1 diabetes for 42 years. You can connect with her on her website www.AskDrBev.com and on Twitter @AskDrBev.
Don’t miss February’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast in support of the ‘Spare A Rose, Save A Child’campaign on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST. We’re talking about ‘SELF ACCEPTANCE & DIABETES’with musical inspiration from Country Superstar, Dolly Parton. 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 more. Enjoy selected songs from Dolly Parton’s new album Dumplin’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack courtesy of SONY Music. TUNE IN
I love this quote from Nina Simone: “The distance between your dreams and reality is discipline.”
Many experts believe that effectively managing diabetes requires discipline in one’s diet, self-monitoring and lifestyle patterns. But the truth is that even under the best self-care circumstances things can still go wrong. ‘Being gentle with yourself’ might be the most ‘radical’ idea yet for managing your diabetes.
Let’s face it managing diabetes is like a three-way balancing act: The medications you take (insulin or pills), the food you eat, and the amount of exercise you get all need to be in sync. We’re all human so there’s always a chance that you may end up experiencing an unexpected high or low blood sugar.
It’s still not a bad idea to be disciplined about your diabetes. According to the Diabetic Discipline website, the source of natural health, there are several basic rules that disciplined people with diabetes follow to stay healthy:
Be aware of what you eat. Diabetics convert everything they eat, even fat and protein, into sugar. The more they eat, the more sugar they have in their systems. The answer is to curb eating indulgence.
Treat all infections promptly. Infections, dysentery, localized infections (tonsils, teeth, gallbladder) can worsen diabetes because of the increased burden they place on the body. Localized infections must be cleared and chronic constipation overcome by means of healthy nutrition. Teeth should be brushed after every meal. Gums require massage. Skin must be cared for, dry-brushed and washed with alternately hot and cold water. Extreme cleanliness and foot care are important. All wounds should be disinfected and bandaged immediately. Lungs, eyes and teeth should be examined yearly.
Get regular exercise but don’t overdo it. Exercise and breathing are important. They increase the “fire” of the metabolic process and lower the elimination of sugar in the urine. Sugar can then be better utilized. Insulin production increases because the circulation in the abdominal organs is activated. Daily outdoor activity is essential, including exercises, walking and deep breathing. Diabetics should go to bed early and get up early. Avoid fatigue!
Nina Simone’s words, music and authenticity inspired our Diabetes Late Nite podcast a few years back. During the podcast we talked about what it means to be ‘RADICAL’ about your diabetes self-care.
Since the term ‘radical’ means very new and different from what is traditional or ordinary we talked about taking charge of your diabetes! Statistics state that there are 8.1 million people undiagnosed with diabetes (27.8% of total US population with diabetes). Why not be radical? Open up about your experience about living with diabetes to friends, co-workers and family members. Your words might just help stop a diabetes health-related complication from occurring.
Tune in to March’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Gladys Knight & the Pipson Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 6-7:30 PM, EST. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Stacey ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ Harris, SleepyHeads Central and Mama Rose Marie. Our unique mix of music, games, prizes and expert advice hopes to encourage people who are afraid, angry, ashamed and/or in denial about diabetes to take the first step towards managing their diabetes health. GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS!
