TODAY Show – Divabetic

11/20/202011/21/2020

Al Roker Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Al Roker told his Today show audience that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Roker, 66, mentioned that he will leave the show for a while to have surgery. “It’s a good news-bad news kind of thing,” he said. “Good news is we caught it early.”

He underwent a five-hour surgery by Dr. Vincent Laudone on November 9 at New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to remove his prostate and some surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.The surgery went well, and Al was already doing laps around the hospital hallways by that afternoon. He was home by the following day and bustling through his regular five-mile walk around the park just three days after the surgery.

“I feel good,” Al said. “The technology has gotten so good – they did it with a robot – that I felt much better after the surgery than I did with any of my joint replacements.

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The 5 Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer

A painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation.
Frequent urination, particularly at night.
Difficulty stopping or starting urination.
Sudden erectile dysfunction.
Blood in urine or semen.

In addition, you may have pain around the base of the penis and behind the scrotum, pain in the lower back, and the feeling of a full rectum. As the prostate becomes more swollen, you may find it more difficult to urinate, and the urine stream may become weak.

We’re celebrating World Diabetes Day with musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin.

There are many reasons that Aretha Franklin is the legend of legends, a groundbreaking singer with the fortitude to transcend race and genre, using that tremulous voice as the bulldozer to break down every barrier set up in her way.

Aretha’s own health journey is sparking a discussion about the uncertain connection between pancreatic cancer and diabetes. Long-standing diabetes can be considered a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. It causes a modest increase in risk of 1.5- to two-fold. Some of the other risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), family history of pancreatic cancer, obesity and certain genetic syndromes.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Strong’s owner Christel Oerum, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup”Author Suzanne Perez, Jessica Clark, Trisha Artman, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.”

01/15/202001/15/2020

Will Billionaire Harold Hamm’s Generic Insulin Be A Game Changer?

Insulin is a lifeline for many people living with diabetes, yet its cost has nearly doubled over the last five years.

Harry Smith introduces TODAY viewers to Trump’s friend, Fossil Fuel Billlionaire Harold Hamm, who’s out to change a situation he calls “unconscionable.

“I believe that breakthroughs in diabetes will occur in the lab and we want to foster an environment where the best and brightest are exploring all pathways to a cure at the HHDC,” said Harold Hamm.

Interesting Fact: On January 23rd, 1923, Federick Banting and Charles Best were awarded the American patents for insulin which they sold to the University of Toronto for $1.00 each.

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Harold Hamm Diabetes Center (HHDC) is committed to curing diabetes and ending the diabetes pandemic in the 21st century. It is among the world’s largest and most comprehensive institutions of its kind, integrating top-flight academic research with clinical care and disease prevention. The center oversees the world’s top research prize in the diabetes field. It has facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa as well as affiliated sites across the state, including partnerships with Native American communities. An innovative range of services includes support groups, cooking classes, lifestyle-intervention programs, and a summer camp for children and teens.

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What Can You Do To Help Fight Soaring Insulin Prices?

Join your local T1International Chapter. Never done advocacy before? Many of T1International Chapter members were in the same position before starting. Your T1International Chapter will provide the support you need to get going. They can help you with a group of like-minded people fighting for the same things, as well as resources, tips on reaching out to legislators, and more!

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https://www.today.com/video/meet-the-billionaire-who-s-out-to-make-insulin-more-affordable-76798021722

04/27/201904/27/2019

Viola Davis Talks About Living with Prediabetes

Oscar winning actress Viola Davis opened up about living with prediabetes and the toll that diabetes has had on her family on the TODAY Show.

“Type 2 diabetes has taken a toll on my family. My great-aunt suffered from complications of the disease, two of my sisters are currently living with it, and a few years ago, I was diagnosed with prediabetes,” Davis said. “I’m one of the 84 million American adults living with prediabetes and I’m sharing my story for the first time in an effort to inspire others to take action against the type 2 diabetes epidemic.”

Viola told Samantha Guthrie she was diagnosed with a high A1C. She admitted she didn’t know what that meant which is why she is championing support and education for people diagnosed with diabetes.

The A1C test measures your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. The results of your A1C test can help your doctor:

Identify prediabetes. If you have prediabetes, you have a higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. To confirm a diabetes diagnosis, your doctor will likely look at the results of two blood tests administered on different days — either two A1C tests or the A1C test plus another diabetes blood test.
Monitor your diabetes treatment plan. The results of your initial A1C test(s) also help establish your baseline A1C level. The A1C test is then repeated on a regular basis to monitor your diabetes treatment plan.It measures your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months and can show how well your diabetes treatment plan is working to lower your blood sugar over time.

“I want to arm people with information to help them manage their diabetes,” said Viola Davis. “When I was young everyone said “you got the sugar'” and then you sort of waited to possibily get an amputation. You don’t have to that anymore!”

“My favorite word is ‘SUPPORT’ – supporting people who already have the diagnosis instead of stigmatizing them,” she said.

Viola and her sisters appeared on the TODAY show in support of her New “A Touch of Sugar” documentary film which addresses the health epidemic surrounding Type 2 diabetes, particularly among African-Americans.