The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

12/17/201912/17/2019

How to Stay Merry During the Holidays with Diabetes

Keep ‘your house a home’ during the holidays by learning how to prevent a diabetes health-related complication such as stroke from occurring. Tune in Divabetic’s seasonal Diabetes Late Nite podcasts featuring expert advice, powerful testimonials and your favorite holidays songs. Enjoy every episode on demand for free!

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey’s 1994 carol ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ officially hits the top of the Hot 100 charts for the first time! We’ve got all of her holiday hits on Diabetes Late Nite along with expert advice on how to stay MERRY while managing diabetes this season.

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 most important 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, 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.

LISTEN

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Elvis Presley

We’re taking about ways to celebrate a Diabetes ‘BLUE’ Christmas with musical inspiration from Elvis Presley.

Feeling blue?

The holiday season triggers mood swings for many of us. We may stress about finances, fight with family members, feel overwhelmed with commitments, slip into bad eating habits, ignore blood sugars and/or gain weight.

We will be discussing ways to not let diabetes dim your dazzle during the holiday season with our panel of experts. Guests include Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, Mandy Reece PHARMD, CDE, BC-ADM, FAADE, Rachel Zinman, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” album courtesy of SONY Music.

LISTEN

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Kelly Clarkson

We’re talking about celebrating the holidays without compromising our diabetes wellness with holiday music from Kelly Clarkson.

“Wrapped in Red” quickly becomes a welcome gift to fans of the powerful pop star as Kelly Clarkson mixes classic carols and hymns with several originals co-written by the singer.

Kelly Clarkson’s inspiring us to lend our ‘voice’ to topics such as the link between HIV medications and type 2 diabetes, how the homeless manage diabetes, great gift ideas for loved ones with diabetes, and how you can lose weight during holidays (!) on this podcast.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Revival’s Kris Maynard, Dr. Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE, BC=ADM, BCACP, FAADE, Maria Sakowitz, MS, RDN, LDN, CLT, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

LISTEN

12/15/2017

Is Chocolate Throwing A Wrench Into Your Healthy Diet?

“Deck the halls with bars of chocolate!!! Fa la la la la la la la!”

Chocolate seems to be everywhere this holiday season and it even shows up in the strangest formations!

Recently, I stumbled upon a chocolate store that sells chocolate in the shape of wrenches when I was wandering around the Holiday Market at the Oculus in New York.

I took one look at the chocolate wrenches imagined how one bite of chocolate has the power to derail a healthy diet faster and leave your good intentions spinning out of control!

Every day in the news there seems to be another conflicting health study about chocolate. One day, the media is exclaiming that a bar of chocolate is healthier than workout and then the next day they’re telling you to avoid it at all costs. I’m sure I’m not the only one confused about this topic.

Thankfully, these chocolate wrenches inspired me to reach out to Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND via Twitter for her advice about chocolate. Below are Jill’s answers to my questions:

Q: Can chocolate can be a part of a healthy diet?’

JW: You bet it can be! Unless you have an allergy or other intolerance, any food can be part of a healthy eating pattern. I always tell my clients that you can eat anything you want. You just can’t eat everything you want and in any quantity that you might want.

Q: Do you actually eat chocolate?

JW: Chocolate is one of my favorite foods, so I am queen of making of it fit. In fact, I eat a small amount of chocolate nearly every day. Since I look forward to it daily, it helps me stick to a good diet all day long. I build my chocolate in as a treat. And I never think of it as a cheat.”

Q: Should I believe any of those health studies they love to show on TV?

JW: A few pieces of good news about chocolate. Research has found that dark chocolate might help lower insulin resistance, which is especially important to people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Other studies suggest that chocolate can help with certain types of cognition among adults, lower blood pressure and reduce chronic inflammation. The compounds in chocolate that probably help confer health benefits are naturally-occurring flavanols, a group of phytonutrients also found in tea, fruits and vegetables.

Q: Can you share some tips for eating chocolate?

JW: 1. You cannot eat chocolate with abandon. It still has calories, added sugars and saturated fats. Fortunately, about half of the saturated fat in chocolate is stearic acid, which does not raise cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, the other half is palmitic acid, which does raise cholesterol levels.

2. When buying cocoa powder, read labels. Avoid the types that say Dutched cocoa or processed with alkali. This type of processing destroys the flavanols.

3. Choose the darkest chocolate you can. There is no guarantee that any particular chocolate is rich in flavanols because some types of processing destroy them. But chocolate with a greater amount of cocoa solids is likely to have more flavanols than chocolate with a smaller percentage of cocoa solids.

4. Choose chocolate candy over chocolate baked goods. And skip the caramels and cream fillings. The research suggests that chocolate has benefits, not other types of chocolate desserts.

5. Sit down, slow down and love the heck out of it. No guilt allowed. When you eat mindfully – whether it’s chocolate or your dinner – you have another opportunity to experience happiness.

Q: Any final thoughts you’d like to share for chocolate lovers?

JW: I’d rather satisfy a chocolate craving with chocolate than try to satisfy it with something else. Pick your favorite treat and treat yourself. I really enjoy dark chocolate-covered almonds. I feel good about both the chocolate and the nut. Sometimes I want plain chocolate. Or maybe chocolate that I melt with peanut butter and use as a dip for apple slices or a graham cracker. Another treat is melted chocolate with strawberries. Still another is a bowl of fresh raspberries with chocolate shavings. These are all healthful ways to enjoy a sweet, delicious treat.

Jill Weisenberger is your resource for all things nutrition, food and diabetes. Whether she’s speaking, writing, chatting on social media, appearing on TV or working with individuals, her candid and energetic approach appeals to busy people, and her sound nutrition and fitness advice gets results. In fact, her appreciation for science and ability to translate science into actionable information earned her a place in US News & World Report’s 10 Dietitian’s You Need to Follow on Social Media.

Food & Nutrition Solutions by Jill offers healthy and delicious recipe ideas and nutrition strategies that are based in sound nutrition science. Whether you’re looking for disease prevention or management, nutritious meals that people actually want to eat, or truths (and myths!) about the latest food trends, get reasonable and realistic tips from expert Jill Weisenberger.

Her specialties include weight control, heart health, diabetes, prediabetes, wellness and nutrition for people with hectic lives. She’ll make nutrition science understandable, realistic and oh so delicious.

On December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast we’re celebrating a Blue Christmas. I chose this theme in December because ‘Blue’ is the color that I feel is most closely associated with diabetes and more importantly, it gives us an opportunity to raise awareness for the mental health issues related to diabetes. Guests include Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Rachel Zinman, Dr. Mandy Reece PharmD, CDE, BC-ADM, and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” album courtesy of SONY Music. The album brings together Elvis Presley’s best-loved yuletide performances from “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (1957) and “Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas” (1971) re-imagined with sublime and exquisite new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Are you feeling ‘blue’ this holiday season?

If so, you’re not alone. While it’s true that sadness and/or depression at holiday time can be a reaction to the stresses and demands of the season, people with diabetes are more likely to be depressed than others states David Spero BSN, RN for Diabetes Self-Management.

Diabetes can cause complications and health problems that may worsen symptoms of depression. Depression can lead to poor lifestyle decisions, such as unhealthy eating, less exercise, smoking and weight gain — all of which are risk factors for diabetes.

The good news is that diabetes and depression can be treated together. And effectively managing one can have a positive effect on the other.

If you think you might be depressed, seek help right away. Your doctor or diabetes educator can refer you to a mental health professional.

12/09/201712/09/2017

Eighth Day of Blue Christmas Gift Ideas from Divabetic

On the eighth day of Blue Christmas my true love sent to me a Sunrise Alarm Clock to help me get a good night’s sleep.

Divabetic is celebrating a Blue Christmas to bring attention to the mental health issues related to living with diabetes.

You probably know better than we do how diabetes affects your holiday experience. You might feel the weight of diabetes more at this time, because you can’t let go and celebrate like everyone else. Or maybe you do let go and then beat yourself up over it.

That’s why we asked our panel of experts, friends and past Diabetes Late Nite podcast guests to spread some holiday cheer by sharing their favorite products to help keep you ‘happy and healthy’ all year long.

Sunrise alarm clocks gradually brightens from 1% to 100% in 30 minutes before the alarm time. And the light gradually dims and turns off finally when you set the sunset model. The gradual sunrise will naturally ease you awake, the alarm clock will ring at the time you set. Additionally, the adjustable sunset light helps guide you toward restful sleep.

Sunrise alarm clocks have 6 natural sounds (water, frogs, birds, sea waves and so on). FM radio can scan and save up to 40 radio channels automatically. Snooze function is available and the alarm rings every 5 minutes and gradually louder to gently bring you out of deep sleep. You can select one of seven colors(warm white-green-red-blue-purple-orange-indigo), or just let them cycle.

If you’ve ever slept in a room with east-facing windows, you know a sunrise has the power to wake you from even the deepest slumber, without being overly jarring. A sunrise alarm clock (which simulates a real sunrise by emitting red hues that turn bright yellow by your set wake-up time) can give you that same sensation anytime, any place. By mirroring the way you’d naturally wake up over a 30-minute period, it’s unlikely to awaken you during the middle of a REM cycle—which means you’ll feel more rested throughout the day. That said, this gadget is definitely one that we can see sticking around for the long haul.

Can lack of sleep affect your diabetes?

Sleep can affect your blood sugar levels, and your blood glucose control can also affect your sleep. It’s a vicious cycle. As the amount of sleep decreases, blood sugar increases, escalating the issue. Lack of sleep has been shown to increase blood sugar levels and the risk of diabetic issue.

Sleepless and restless nights hurt more than your mood and energy; it is a form of chronic stress on the body. When there is added stress on your body this results in having higher blood sugar levels. When researchers restricted people with type-1 diabetes to just 4 hours of sleep, their sensitivity to insulin was reduced by 20% compared to that after a full night of sleep.

When your blood sugar is really high, your kidneys will try to get rid of it by removing it from the body via urination. This most likely causes you to get out of bed and go to the bathroom all night, resulting in inconsistent sleep patterns. It can also wake you up by feelings of thirstiness.

High blood sugar levels also make it less comfortable for you to sleep by feelings of warmness, irritability and unsettledness.

Getting into a consistent sleep routine will improve your overall health and you may start to see subtle improvements in blood sugar as well. The following tips sleep tips may help to promote better sleep:

Check and monitor your blood glucose to keep it under control
Establish a regular bedtime routine
Ensure your bed is large and comfortable enough
Ensure your room is cool and well ventilated
Ensure your room is dark and free from noise
Incorporating a period of exercise into each day

To stay informed on more information regarding diabetes and sleep issues subscribe to our blog. And remember, you can always contact us here at The Alaska Sleep Clinic for any questions regarding how diabetes can affect your sleep at 855-AKSLEEP (855-257-5337).

On December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast we’re celebrating a Blue Christmas. I chose this theme in December because ‘Blue’ is the color that I most closely associate with diabetes and I feel that the mental health issues related to diabetes are often overlooked and ignored. Some listeners may feel that talking about depression is depressing which is understandable. However, I feel it is far more important to reach out to those coping with diabetes distress and burnout and let them know they are not alone. Please join us!

TUNE IN! Don’t miss December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music by Elvis Presley on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 6 PM, EST. We will be discussing ways to not let diabetes make you feel ‘blue’ during the holiday season with our panel of experts. Guests include ‘Walking With Peety’ Author Eric O’Grey, Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” album courtesy of SONY Music. The album brings together Elvis Presley’s best-loved yuletide performances from “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (1957) and “Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas” (1971) re-imagined with sublime and exquisite new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

NEED MORE INSPIRATION? Our panel of experts, Divabetic community members and past Diabetes Late Nite guests will be sharing more Blue Christmas Gift suggestions on this blog for the next twelve days to help you enjoy the festive spirit of the season without compromising your diabetes health!

Are you feeling ‘blue’ this holiday season?

You’re not alone.

While it’s true that sadness and/or depression at holiday time can be a reaction to the stresses and demands of the season, people with diabetes are more likely to be depressed than others states David Spero BSN, RN for Diabetes Self-Management.

The good news is that diabetes and depression can be treated together. And effectively managing one can have a positive effect on the other.

If you think you might be depressed, seek help right away. Your doctor or diabetes educator can refer you to a mental health professional.

https://youtu.be/Uwfz5mMLSDM

12/05/201712/09/2017

Our Fourth Day of Blue Christmas Gift Ideas from Asha Brown

On the fourth day of Blue Christmas my true friend, Asha Brown sent to me a copy of ‘Yoga For Diabetes: How to Manage your Health with Yoga and Ayurveda by Rachel Zinman’ to keep me happy and healthy!

“This book will help ANY person living with diabetes discover healthy ways to manage the stress and anxiety that is often present when living with a demanding chronic illness,” says Asha Brown, the founder and executive director of the We Are Diabetes (WAD) organization.

Rachel Zinman, an internationally renowned yoga teacher and writer, was floored when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 42, despite her lifelong dedication to a healthy lifestyle which included a decades-long practice of yoga. In ‘Yoga for Diabetes’, Rachel shares her personal journey and her hard-won wisdom gained from her own experience of yoga and diabetes.

Studies suggest that yoga can increase insulin sensitivity as reported by Susan Weiner’s column in Endocrine Today. “The practice engages the musculoskeletal system, hugging muscles to bones, and moving isometrically improves insulin resistance, which in turn, enables those of us with either type of diabetes to take up insulin more efficiently,” states Rachel Zinman.

Rachel goes on to say, “Yoga reduces stress by reducing the cortisol levels associated with the stress from the day-to-day management of the disease. Through guided breath and movement coordination, the mind is brought to the breath and away from the need to identify with stressful thoughts about the disease.”

Read the full article on ‘Yoga Offers Benefits for People with Diabetes’ CLICK HERE

I think Asha Brown is simply, FABULOUS!!! She’s the Founder and Executive Director of the amazing We Are Diabetes (WAD) organization. WAD is primarily devoted to promoting support, education and awareness for type 1 diabetics who suffer from eating disorders. WAD is dedicated to providing guidance, hope and resources to those who may be struggling, as well as to their families and loved ones.

Asha Brown was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 5 years old. As a dancer, actress and a fitness instructor by the time she was 17, the obsession with maintaining a healthy size and weight while coping with multiple autoimmune disorders (hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as type 1 diabetes) became a full-time job. Asha’s experience with symptoms of diabulimia led her to start the We Are Diabetes organization.

Today, Asha works with families, patients, and health professionals across the USA. She uses her personal experiences with ED-DMT1 to offer hope and support to those still struggling. She also establishes relationships with eating disorder facilities and diabetes organizations across the county to help connect people to appropriate care. Asha has presented at NEDA, AADE, and JDRF, among others. She writes for numerous websites including Diabetes Health, Diabetes Daily, and Beyond Type 1. She is a member of Diabetes Advocates and BEDA.

If you or someone you know is a type 1 diabetic who is struggling with an eating disorder and are seeking support, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to WAD

For the past three years, Asha Brown has made our Diabetes Mystery podcasts truly sparkle! She’s played the organic farmer, ‘Christine’ in ‘Phantom of the Okra’, the uptight, overworked personal assistant, ’Primrose Crump’ in ‘Suspect Boulevard’ and most recently the glitzy burlesque dancer, Coco Mimosa in this year’s Diabetes Mystery: ‘Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’. She truly brings out the best of each performance. I’m so grateful to Asha for sharing her wonderful acting talents with our listeners and helping us raise awareness for diabetes and educate people about diabetes self-care in a fun, new way.

TUNE IN: Don’t miss December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music by Elvis Presley on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 6 PM, EST. We will be discussing ways to not let diabetes make you feel ‘blue’ during the holiday season with our panel of experts. Guests include ‘Walking With Peety’ Author Eric O’Grey, Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” album courtesy of SONY Music. The album brings together Elvis Presley’s best-loved yuletide performances from “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (1957) and “Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas” (1971) re-imagined with sublime and exquisite new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Are you feeling ‘blue’ this holiday season?

You’re not alone. Diabetes can cause complications and health problems that may worsen symptoms of depression. Depression can lead to poor lifestyle decisions, such as unhealthy eating, less exercise, smoking and weight gain — all of which are risk factors for diabetes.

The good news is that diabetes and depression can be treated together. And effectively managing one can have a positive effect on the other.

If you think you might be depressed, seek help right away. Your doctor or diabetes educator can refer you to a mental health professional.

https://youtu.be/LWWPRGS1N60