Living with diabetes can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. At Divabetic we offer podcasts featuring experts on mind, body and soul to help you manage your emotions, fears and spirit.
When you have panicky thoughts, try to reframe them. Focus on what you can manage: Try to simplify self-management and focus on what you can manage rather than what you can’t manage. Connect with others and find a support group.
Barry Manilow’s classic hit, “I Made It Through The Rain” sparks real-life confessions about overcoming challanges related to diabetes health.
Babyface’s iconic hits help us celebrate Divabetic’s 12th Year Podcast Anniversary.
We’re talking about Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a chronic mood disorder that causes severe emotional, cognitive and physical symptoms in the week or two before menstruation.
We’re talking how our choice of words can make a difference in our attitude about living with diabetes.
Check out this delightful scene from Divabetic’s Gypsies, Tramps, and Peas murder mystery podcast, available on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and BlogTalkRadio!
This isn’t just for the mystery enthusiasts; it’s a fun and engaging way to learn about diabetes and self-care. Between the vibrant characters, wild adventures, and intriguing settings, we sneak in health and wellness tips to help you take charge of your diabetes.
Next time you find yourself facing unexpected blood sugar changes, think like a detective! Look for clues, jot down your observations, chat with your support system, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare team for solutions.
A collaborative approach to managing diabetes can work wonders!
Synopsis: Meet Mr. Divabetic, a diabetes advocate turned amateur sleuth, as he takes a leap into his new role as a healthy caterer. With the help of his quirky co-workers and his nosy Italian mother, he heads to Coney Island to cater a party on a yacht for his old swim coach, Ted Rockow.
But things take a dark turn when the guest of honor turns up dead! Was it just an unfortunate accident, or is something more sinister at play?
Now, Mr. Divabetic is grilling a colorful cast of characters—a lively group of Burlesque dancers, a charming lifeguard, a mystical gypsy fortune teller, and even a few sparkling mermaids—each trying to keep their secrets hidden beneath the waves.
Can Mr. Divabetic conquer his fear of green peas and uncover the truth about his coach’s death: murder or mishap? Will he float to safety or sink into despair?
Tune in to see if he can crack the case with a bit of help from his loving Italian mother and his friends. Along the journey to unveil the murderer, he’ll share valuable diabetes self-care tips perfect for those sunny summer days!
Starring Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, best-selling authorTonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Asha Brown of We Are Diabetes, Chef Robert Lewis aka The Happy Diabetic, Mama Rose Marie, and Seveda Williams.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo misrepresent the environmental impact of their plastic bottles.
I used art, creating my Halloween displays with single-use plastic, to draw attention to the alarming prevalence of single-use plastics in our lives.
The two companies are among the world’s top plastic polluters. Currently, just 9% of the world’s plastics are recycled. The rest are incinerated and set to landfills or in rivers and oceans. Experts say that almost 3.5 billion bottles are left unaccounted for and can only be recycled once or twice.
One of the other major concerns related to the abundance of single-use plastics is our health. The tiny particles in plastics known as microplastics have been detected in every ecosystem on the planet. Microplastics have been found in the brain, heart, lungs, blood, and semen. Microplastics have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes because they contain additives that act as endocrine disruptors (EDCs), which can alter the body’s hormone system and impair glucose homeostasis.
Collecting my single-use plastics, including water bottles, take-out food containers, cups, straws, and food packages over two months, really opened my eyes to the staggering amount of trash I contribute to the environmental crisis.
My single-use plastic swamp comprises plastic bottles and cardboard packaging that I painted to resemble foliage.
Everything used to make my displays, except the wigs and crowns, is made from recycled materials – water bottles, pizza boxes, FedEx boxes, damaged comic books, broken lamp shades, paper towels, toilet paper rolls, New York Times newspapers, bubble wrap, coffee cans, lids, and packing foam.
If you’re concerned about the abundance of single-use plastics and their harmful effects, focus on reducing or replacing one plastic item at a time, like your daily iced coffee container. You can also bring your reusable water bottle, coffee mug, and utensils when you go out.
Avoid buying new clothing, especially polyester, which is spun from plastic. Instead, look for secondhand options or natural fibers like cotton, wool, rayon, or silk.
Plastic containers can be reused for years, but don’t use them for hot foods or liquids, and don’t microwave them.
Please do some research to learn more about the harmful effects of single-use plastics.
The night started with a ‘cello-ween’ performance by a scary skeleton musician. The haunting melodies filled the cathedral’s amber-hued walls, creating an eerie atmosphere. Next, we enjoyed a screening of the silent film The Phantom of the Opera,from 1925, starring the incomparable Lon Chaney. I always thought Lon Chaney was a one-note performer best known for scary roles, but his performance as the Phantom was masterful.
The film remains most famous for Lon Chaney’s ghastly, self-devised make-up, which was kept a studio secret until the film’s premiere. The lighting design filled with shadows, the mythic Grand Opera House stage, cellar and river, the enormous cast, and the superb editing of this film make it a must-see movie.
TV guide said, “One of the most famous horror movies of all time, The Phantom of the Opera, still manages to frighten after more than 60 years.”
Our screening featured a live organ accompaniment that heightened the horror and drama. After the film finished, we were treated to a parade of ghouls and goblins from the Mettawee River Theater Company. Performers emerged from the smile of a gigantic, grotesque clown to scare and delight us.
The Mettawee River Theatre Company dramatizes myths, folk tales, and legends from diverse cultures. Their original theatre productions incorporate masks, puppets, and giant figures with music, movement, and text.
Under the Artistic Direction of mask maker, designer, and director Ralph Lee, the Mettawee River Company experimented with means of presenting masks, puppetry, mythology, and theater in ways that led an audience to experience the powerful relationship between human beings, their ancestry, and the natural environment.
Janet and Rosetta Van der Voort, born in the 1800s, were two wealthy sisters whose father rarely let them leave the house unaccompanied. The one place they were allowed to visit was Central Park’s Wollman Rink, where they went ice skating in the winter. The two sisters never married, were lifelong best friends, and died a few months apart. Since their death, their ghostly spirits have been seen periodically skating together on the Central Park Pond, wearing the same red and purple outfits they wore over 100 years ago.
Divabetic pays tribute to the sisters’ spirits, hoping to encourage you to indulge in the creativity associated with Halloween instead of candy. Halloween’s record-breaking sugar consumption and its detrimental effects on overall health are scarier than any ghost story.
It’s been reported that consumers gobbled up a record $36.9 billion in candy, gum, mints, chocolate, and other confections in 2021. High dietary sugar intakes in the context of a worldwide pandemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease have heightened concerns about the adverse effects of excessive sugar consumption.
The American Heart Association suggests limiting added sugars to less than 100 calories per day (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams) for most adult women and no more than 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of sugar) for most men.
Throughout the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to visit several stunning historic theaters across the country. Some of my favorite theaters include the Carpenter Theater in Richmond, the Temple Theatre in Saginaw, the Granada Theater in Santa Barbara, and the Palace Theater in Waterbury. While many may not consider touring theaters when visiting cities, these venues offer a remarkable insight into entertainment history. Most of these theaters were constructed in the 1920s, initially serving as vaudeville houses before transitioning into movie theaters with Wurlitzer organs accompanying silent films and eventually returning to hosting live performances.
The Palace Theater, with its luxurious tomato-red velvet curtain, has hosted a myriad of iconic performers over the years, from Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Jackie Gleason to Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, and the Grateful Dead.
In 1924, during a performance by magician Harry Houdini, a crew had to cut an 8-foot-wide hole in the stage floor for a trap door. The hole was later patched up. Unfortunately, when Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus visited, an elephant named Shirley fell through the patched hole from Houdini’s act several years earlier. Sadly, the management had to put the animal down as they could not rescue it. Shirley, the elephant, is now part of Palace Theater lore as one of the four friendly spirits that supposedly haunt the theater.
In contrast to today’s black box-style theaters designed to accommodate various stage productions, these historic theaters, with their gleaming neon marquees, elegant lobbies, gold detailing, crystal chandeliers, and Art Deco carvings, were solely intended to transport their audiences from the mundane of everyday life to a magical world. The sumptuous plushness of the velvet seats instantly makes you feel like you’re about to experience something extraordinary.
During the pandemic, people stopped attending live shows for health and financial reasons. Still, they continued to stream music, films, and TV in record numbers, proving that entertainment is a necessary commodity. Divabetic’s podcasts, virtual workshops, and YouTube videos also experienced an uptick. There was a prevailing notion that live theater was a luxury. If that notion still holds, creating elaborate, glamorous theater spaces that encourage people to dress up, celebrate, and experience the joys of life is truly invaluable.
Watching performances by Itzhak Perlman and Rohan De Silva in these beautiful settings is a treasure.
We’re talking about movie characters with diabetes, including Steel Magnolias, Soul Food, Mad Money, The Baby-Sitter Club, and Nothing In Common. How realistic are these portrayals? How accurate is information about diabetes and diabetes self-care? And how do we feel after viewing them? With all the emotional and physical complications comes drama, making characters with the condition a good plot point on the silver screen.
Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, Kent Gash, Jessica Clark, and Muniq Gut Health Shakes Founder Marc Washington.
Throughout this podcast, we will feature music from the album Score by 2Cellos,courtesy of SONY Music.
Divabetic’s 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 healthcare 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 diabetes and its related complications.
Last year’s Halloween sensation, Kitty Litter‘s new bustier, was my creative twist on French designer Thierry Mugler‘s futuristic designs, using a $0.99 roasting pan from my local Dollar Store.
Thierry Mugler not only created fashion and couture, but he also invented perfumes, photographed his creations, and worked as a director, costume, and spectacle designer.
According to Madame Faction, Thierry Mugler’s fashion is – first and foremost – intrinsically linked to the aesthetic of the 1980s and 90s: The hyper-feminine, body-hugging silhouettes, narrow waists, extremely broad shoulders, bold colors, and the vital power dressing aspect breathe the Zeitgeist of 80s and 90s fashion
Unfortunately, last year’s candy-encrusted bustier didn’t survive the intense summer heat and the rat infestation of ’23 (I still have nightmares about it).
Kitty Litter was my response to people’s upsetting claims on social media that only certain types of people can be mermaids following the release of the live-action Little Mermaid movie. I believe anyone can be a mermaid, so I made a sculpture depicting a cat as a mermaid to prove my point.
Personally, I loved watching singer and actress Halle Bailey in the title role in Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid.
I also wanted to raise awareness for single-use plastic consumption. Over two months, I collected my single-use plastics, including water bottles, take-out food containers, cups, straws, and food packages, which really opened my eyes to the staggering amount of trash I contribute to the environmental crisis.
Single-use plastic is as prevalent as added sugar in our food and drinks. It’s easy to consume too much without realizing it. Most people know that added sugar is in soda, sweetened tea and coffee, energy drinks, fruit drinks, candy, ice cream, sweetened yogurts, flavored and/or sweetened milk, breakfast cereals, and bars. But added sugar is found in bread, condiments, dairy-based foods, nut butter, salad dressings, sauces, and even some “healthy” cereal.
The average American consumes more than 17 teaspoons of added sugar daily, more than the recommended amount. Consuming too much-added sugar can lead to health problems such as tooth decay, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
I took a break from writing Divabetic’s Annual Mystery podcasts to focus on my Halloween displays and the related book, Once Upon A Slime.
This year, Kitty Litter’s final appearance will be on Halloween Street at West 69th Street in New York City.
Half of the human population goes through a significant hormonal shift, yet few people are willing to talk about it, and many suffer alone.
I was walking through the airport when I spotted O Magazine’s Straight Talk About Menopause magazine. Instantly, I was reminded of Divabetic’s Menopause and Diabetes workshops, podcasts, and YouTube videos.
Both O Magazine and Divabetic offer expert advice on recognizing and treating symptoms and weathering mental and emotional storms.
Oprah has spoken about her own experiences with menopause, including having trouble concentrating, heart palpitations, and feeling muted. She also shared that she started taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and said, “I got my first click of estrogen, and I was like, the sky is bluer!”.
Oprah Daily launched a menopause guide with discussions, classes, tools, and expert advice on navigating menopause.
Menopausal symptoms include heavy bleeding, weight gain, joint pain, and mental health symptoms. But only 17% of OB-GYNs are trained to treat menopause.
However, Divabetic tackles the topic of menopause from a diabetes perspective. Our panel featured Dr. Julianne Arena and Donna Rice and was moderated by Catherine Schuller. According to research, hormone levels (most notably estrogen and progesterone) fall dramatically during menopause. Changes to our hormones can affect our blood sugar levels and make managing diabetes more difficult.
Dr Julianne Arena is a double board-certified physician, a board-certified OBGYN who applies traditional, integrative methods and a multi-layered approach to helping women with sexual health and intimacy issues. She’s also a practitioner of Cliovana, the only treatment available that improves long-term clitoral stimulation with proven sound wave technology. Her goal is to help women create optimal and vibrant lives.
Donna Rice is a registered nurse and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She is a national and international thought leader and author of four books, including Divabetic’s ebook Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide To Love And Intimacy With Diabetes. She is a Past President of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists and the Past President of the Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute for Baylor Health Care Systems in Dallas, Texas. Donna is the Chief Operating Officer for DiabetesSisters and The Chief Evangelist for Call-ai, working on voice-driven AI for diabetes care and education.
Luther Vandross’s Never Too Much documentary opens in theaters starting November 1st!
I’ve seen it thrice and walked away with a different insight each time. One of the things I enjoy most is seeing Luther’s discipline, drive, and determination to succeed. It’s easy to think Luther had no trouble getting signed to a record deal, but the opposite is true. He spent his own money, earned from singing jiggles, to finance his demo and was rejected by several labels.
I never met anyone with his convictions. He taught me to believe in myself and my ideas and to invest in them.
The documentary relives the many stunning moments of Luther’s musical career while exploring his personal life, health struggles related to mismanaged type 2 diabetes, and a lifelong battle to earn the respect his music deserved.
Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Luther tells his story with assistance from his closest friends, ME (!), and musical collaborators, including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson, and Roberta Flack.
It’s strange to see yourself on screen and share such a traumatic experience. I am grateful to everyone who has supported, participated, and partnered with me with my diabetes nonprofit organization, Divabetic.
After Luther’s stroke, I could have left his side and found work supporting another musical artist. Instead, I chose a different path. I educated myself about diabetes (I have a family history of type 1 and type 2 diabetes) and helped educate and empower others so that we could all keep our house a home.
I still believe that’s the best way to honor Luther’s legacy.
The life-sized sculptures made by Indigenous artisans using an invasive weed called lantana camera are incredible!
Sometimes, the elephant in the room is the sudden change in your life due to the symptoms of diabetes. Keeping the symptoms a secret or ignoring the symptoms can be problematic, including increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
Our bodies start to struggle with insulin efficiency, leading to a state known as insulin resistance. Without proper treatment and management, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes, underscoring the importance of early detection and intervention.
According to the CDC, 97.6 million people in the United States aged 18 and older have prediabetes, which is 38% of the adult population. Almost 90% of the people living with diabetes don’t know they have it or ignore the symptoms.
The risk factors for developing prediabetes are varied. Being overweight or obese, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, leading a sedentary lifestyle, having high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, or a history of gestational diabetes are all significant contributors. Age also plays a role, as the likelihood of developing prediabetes increases after the age of 45.
Our friend, Jill Weisenberger RD, CDCES, offers advice on what to eat for those feeling confused or overwhelmed with living with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in this video series.
Prediabetes is a pivotal health condition that acts as a precursor to type 2 diabetes. It is defined by blood sugar levels that are higher than average yet not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.
This subtle difference is crucial, as prediabetes often goes unnoticed due to its mild nature, unlike type 2 diabetes, which presents more evident and urgent symptoms.
The elephant project directly fights the threat of an invasive species while raising money and awareness for environmental issues.
The collective isn’t just using lantana as a sculpting material; it converts tons of agricultural waste products rich in nutrients into biochar and black carbon. The biochar is then buried to improve the soil in India.
Could You Have Prediabetes? Don’t be part of the herd unsure or unaware of their health condition. Take this free, simple RISK TEST Now.
Enjoy this scene from Divabetic’s 10th Annual Original Mystery podcast, Murder Plain As Vanilla, streaming on Spotify, iTunes, and BlogTalkRadio.
As I strolled down the street in September, I was taken aback by a brownstone adorned with holiday decorations, two months ahead of schedule!
Seeing the lavish garlands adorning the exterior stair railing piqued my curiosity, prompting me to dash up the stairs to unravel the mystery behind Christmas’s early arrival in the Upper West Side of New York City.
Upon stepping through the magnificent oak doors, I found myself in the Anthropologie Holiday House in collaboration with Terrain. This free four-story holiday extravaganza was a dream come true for holiday enthusiasts.
The immersive experience offered a plethora of festive decor available for purchase. It was truly a sight to behold, a treat for the eyes!
For individuals managing diabetes who often perceive the holidays as a time of deprivation, this experience was a game-changer.
The guilt-free enjoyment of holiday decor and decorations was a delightful revelation. It offered a way to savor the holiday spirit without the concerns of excess fat, alcohol, calories, and salt. After all, it’s not the plate but what you serve on it that causes unexpected highs and lows in blood pressure and blood sugar.
One of the most striking sights was the floating holiday tree on one of the upper floors, a truly unique and captivating display.
The checkerboard cabinet in the kitchen caught my eye with its playful design and practicality. It provided a clever solution for concealing a second set of plates and dishware.
The luxurious sheets, lush throws, and comfy duvet covers were irresistible to the touch.
They boasted exquisite designs and unparalleled softness that would complement any bedroom in the house.
The whimsical Christmas tree decorations were equally enchanting.
They featured vibrant colored glass ornaments that breathed life into any home during the holiday season.
Dr. Janis Roszler PhD, LMFT, RDN, LD/N, CDCES, FAND, and Donna Rice, MBA, BSN, RN, CDCES, FADCES, the co-authors of Divabetic’s new e-book, Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide to Love and Intimacy with Diabetes, offer advice on managing diabetes sexual-health related issues in the bedroom.
The dining room tablescape was a masterpiece for those with a more refined taste.
Anthropologie had collaborated with the MET Museum to create a one-of-a-kind Gilded Age-inspired collection of dishware and crystal.
The design team meticulously studied historical flatware and dishware at the MET, infusing the museum’s cherished pieces with a distinctive Anthropologie sensibility.
The result was a tablescape that set the stage for the entire Holiday House experience.
Set your table in truly artistic fashion with timeless tableware from Apthropologie’s conversation pieces in a variety of modern and classic styles.
Pattern Management is a skill that can help you manage your diabetes like a diva! The happy healthcare host is Mr. Divabetic, and Neva White, PhD, RN, CCRN, CNE, the leader of the Divabetic Club—Philadelphia. These two advocates discuss the basics and benefits of Pattern Management.
Dviabetic Club was a free monthly diabetes wellness program presented in New York, NY, Cleveland, OH, and Philadelphia, PA, that boasted 75-100 participants monthly. Our unique mixture of traditional diabetes education, motivation support, beauty and style tips, and hobby demonstrations offered something for everyone.
