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, and Collage Artist Tom Cocotos. Hosted by Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek.
Our musical inspiration, Kenneth Edmonds who is known professionally as Babyface, has written over 250 top-10 R&B and pop hits, working with the likes of Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston.
“The blessing of being able to write music and let music speak for itself is you let the melodies and let the lyrics and the groove talk to people instead of me talking to people,” says Babyface.
What makes Babyface so great? His ability to craft a song that touches our emotions captivates our ears and aligns every word in perfect harmony. It’s a rare gift that not many people have in music.
“I would say that I’ve been lucky. Being blessed and not really ever giving up,” says Babyface.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your diabetes wellness journey! We’re looking forward to sharing more insight and advice on diabetes self-care from experts and peers, along with more great music in the next year!
On Divabetic’s March podcast, Poet Lorraine Brooks reads her latest poem, Judging and Grudging.
Judging and Grudging is about Lorraine’s recent real-life encounter with a podiatrist. “I felt she was quite offensive in her lack of knowledge and her lack of using the appropriate language,” says Lorraine. “She was making judgments about me and how I handled my diabetes.”
Judging and Grudging by Lorraine Brooks
My new podiatrist, who has never met me,
Feels it is her duty to address my diabetes,
Which does not offend me, although her comments make it clear
That she doesn’t “get” me.
She asks for my latest a1c, and the date,
And l dutifully tell her it was just last month,
that l stay on top of my bloodwork every 90 days,
And it’s been hovering around 8.
She doesn’t even look up from my feet
She shakes her head and makes that disapproving face,
While telling me l could “do better”, and l should lose weight
But in that moment, l refused to feel defeat.
I politely said, with all due respect, that statement is offensive
You have not done a history or proper exam,
You are making assumptions about who and what l am,
And your assessment of me is anything but comprehensive.
First of all, l am type 1, not 2,
I’ve had this disease for over 40 years, and yes, it is a struggle.
But l have no complications, and that includes my feet,
And now l feel l must educate you.
Everything in my life is not a result of what you see.
Every medical concern needs to be addressed objectively.
Whatever you would tell someone of average size
Is exactly what you should be telling me.
Pinched nerve? Tell me what to take, what to avoid, help me to cope.
Gastric reflux? Give me some practical advice l can use.
Don’t assume everything is about my size
Meet me where l am. Offer me hope.
Acknowledge that weight is just another statistic
That health, and well-being, are what you prescribe.
Tell me I’m ok without reservation
And examine yourselves to be more realistic.
Mr. Divabetic discusses language’s power to help or harm someone’s ability to manage their diabetes self-care with guests, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES, and Lorraine Brooks. March’s musical inspiration is Prince and the New Power Generation. We feature songs from their Love Symbol album to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its release, courtesy of SONY Music.
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts Divabetic’s upcoming free, fun Virtual Mother’s Day-themed Baking Party with special guests, Stacey Harris, aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef and Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, on Thursday, April 28, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST on Zoom.
Win gifts courtesy of Arthel Neville Design FABULOUS East/West Tote, Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Care gift set, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes‘s Camper Cozy Mystery, Walden Farms Zero Calories, Zero Net Carbs Salad Dressings, and Peak 10Skin’s Save My Sole Foot Rescue Cream during Mr. Divabetic’s random drawings. You must be present at our Baking Party to be entered in our gift drawings.
Over 150 people registered for our last Divabetic Baking Party on Zoom, so don’t miss out!
Join us for Divabetic’s Annual Mystery podcast: A Christmas Peril scheduled for Thursday, September 30, 2021, 6 PM, EST.
The holidays are full of surprises after Mr. Divabetic becomes the new pastry chef at the St. Nicholas Nursing Home. But adjusting to life in a Christmas Village is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous resident, a real-life Ebenezer Scrooge, named Mr. Pincher almost dies——shortly after eating one of Max’s peanut butter swirl brownies. So despite all of the ingredients for danger, Mr. Divabetic, our team of amateur sleuths, and his overly protective mother must set out to find the real culprit. Or will his name end up on a lethally naughty list?
This year’s Divabetic Mysteries: A Christmas Peril is based on the real-life story of 36-year-old Kevin Houdeshell who ran out of insulin over the New Year’s holiday in January 2014. He ended up with dangerously high blood sugars that spiraled into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), leading to him die alone in his apartment.
Thanks to the Houdeshell family for their advocacy with the Emergency Insulin Act of 2019 and the emergency prescription refill legislation, what happened to Kevin doesn’t have to happen to anyone else in several states. Known as Kevin’s or Howdy’s Law, it allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance medication if the doctor cannot be reached. States that have passed Kevin’s Law include Ohio and Florida in 2016; Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, and Wisconsin in 2017; Idaho, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee in 2018; and Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia in 2019. In many states, votes in favor of the legislation were unanimous.
Starring Mr. Divabetic. Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Nicolay BA, DTR, Catherine Schuller, Terri Seidman, Wendy Radford, Seveda Williams, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, and Trisha Artman.
We’re talking about ’Eating Right, Being Bright’ during the holidays with musical inspiration fromHarry Connick, Jr. and his 16 piece big band on December’s Diabetes Late Nitepodcast scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST.
Harry Connick, Jr. is among today’s most successful and multi-talented artists, who has garnered acclaim in both music and acting. His won both Grammy and Emmy awards as well as received Tony nominations.
Harry Connick, Jr.’s wife, Jill Connick is a breast cancer survivor. The couple credit timely screening and early detection for her good health and well-being. Together they have teamed up to encourage people 50 years and older to talk with healthcare providers about colon cancer screening, including the modern, noninvasive options.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Harry For The Holidays album courtesy of SONY Music. Harry Connick, Jr.’s second Christmas album, Harry for The Holidays is as much a salute to his New Orleans musical roots as it is to the season.
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 10, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
If you’re not yet convinced about the deliciousness of parsnips, the orange, thyme and other flavors in this roasted carrots and parsnips combo will turn you into a fan. Plus, Jill Weisenberger‘s recipe is easy to pull together and loaded with health-boosting nutrition.
Orange-Scented Roasted Carrots and Parsnips Recipe by Jill Weisenberger
Ingredients
2tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil
1teaspoonfreshly grated orange peel
2tablespoonsorange juice
1/2teaspoondried thyme leaves
1/2teaspoonkosher salt
1/2teaspooncoarse black pepper
1poundcarrots,trimmed and cut on the diagonal in 2 – 3-inch pieces
1poundparsnips,trimmed and cut on the diagonal in 2 – 3-inch pieces
Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC believes simple changes in your mindset and health habits can bring life-changing rewards. As a food-loving registered dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist and certified health and wellness coach, she has helped thousands of people solve their food and nutrition problems.
How much do you know about Seeds and Spices? Both are used to flavor food, but research shows they’re chock-full of healthy compounds and have many health benefits. Try your luck at our fun quiz!
We’re celebrating National Diabetes Awareness Month with musical inspiration from Angela Bofill. With her strong, distinctive alto, Angela Bofill carved a niche as an outstanding interpreter of soul ballads and became a mainstay on the Quiet Storm radio format. Angela Bofill suffered two strokes but neither stroke could take away her positive, humorous personality and her fighter spirit.Podcast guests: Angela Bofill, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, San Francisco & Palm Springs drag performer Mutha Chucka, and Evetta Petty from Harlem’s Heaven Hats. Throughout the podcast we will feature music from The Essential Angela Bofill album courtesy of SONY Music.
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Tea Party with special guests, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, Tessie’s Teas’ owner Rose Hall and Harlem Heaven’s Hats owner Evetta Petty on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
Tessie’s Teas are all natural caffeine-free, chemical-free instant crystallized teas that meet all of your healthy-living needs.
Harlem’s Heaven Hat shop specializes in providing the right head wear and face mask for the right occasions.
Catherine Schuller is a fashion curator, former plus model, coach, speaker, writer, producer, and image consultant.
How it works: Register prior to this event and we will send you the unique code to sign in to our Zoom Video feed. You will need a camera. We’ll all get acquainted and share niceties before the demonstration begins. At the end of our zoom event we’ll sit back, laugh, make smoothies and enjoy a toast together!
Did you know that restorative sleep is imperative to living healthier, happier and longer?
Certified Sleep Science Coach andowner of Back-To-SleepSusan D’Addario‘s advice to help you enjoy consistent, improved sleep:
3 Sure Fire Ways to Increase Your Sleep Tips
Morning and Lunchtime
1). Get strong light exposure for 1 hour daily. Try to get 30 min in by 8:30am (or as close to that as possible), and repeat at lunchtime, (between noon-2:30pm). You can either go outside without sunglasses or use a light box and/or Re-Timer Light Therapy Glasses. If using a light box, make sure it is close to your face – approximately 12-16” away – and do not look directly into the light.
8PM
2). Dim all lighting. Dim all your devices sufficiently by making sure the backlight display is turned down as far as possible while still allowing you to see what’s on the monitor. Also, don’t forget to dim the ambient room lighting. Purchasing extension cords with built-in dimmers for lamps is a great way to go dim!
3). Block all blue light. While in your devices’ settings, also make a point to activate blue-light blocking filters. Moreover, consider wearing blue light blocking glasses with AMBER/ORANGE lenses until you get into bed and the lights are out. Should you awaken during the night to use the restroom, put these glasses back on and avoid looking directly into any light source.
Susan D’Addario shares sleep tips on Gotham Volleyball’s Home Life virtual outreach event on Facebook Live.
Susan D’Addario, CSSC, (Certified Sleep Science Coach), loves to help people to heal and feel better about themselves! For the past 24 years, she has worked as a licensed psychotherapist helping adults with life struggles getting in their way of growth, self-esteem and inner happiness.
Approximately 8 years ago, she opened her mental/emotional healing work to include the body. Susan is fascinated by the interactions amongst body, mind, spirit and well-being. This broader perspective came out of her own life experiences, explorations and passions into the worlds of wellness, nutrition and other holistic arenas. As part of this expansion, 2 years ago, Susan became a CSSC and created Back-To-Sleep!
For more great sleep information, and/or a 30-minute Breakthrough to a Great Night Sleep complimentary session, feel free to contact Certified Sleep Science Coach, Susan D’Addario, at susan@back-to-sleep.com.
Our phrase is one of the primary functions of your kidneys.
Kidneys have many jobs besides filtering blood. They also make urine to keep bones healthy and make a hormone that controls the production of red blood cells. The kidneys also help regulate blood pressure, the level of salts in the blood, and the acid-base balance (the pH) of the blood.
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% percent of new cases according to the National Kidney Foundation. Current research suggests that control of high blood pressure is a key factor in slowing this disease.
How Diabetes Is Linked To Kidney Failure
Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Over time, poorly managed blood sugars can cause damage to blood vessel clusters in your kidneys that filter waste from your blood. This can lead to kidney damage and cause high blood pressure. If they are damaged, waste and fluids build up in your blood instead of leaving your body.
When your kidneys fail, dialysis keeps your body in balance by: removing waste, salt and extra water to prevent them from building up in the body. keeping a safe level of certain chemicals in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate. helping to control blood pressure.
Check your blood pressure regularly and keep it below 140/90 mm/Hg, but check with your health care provider for your appropriate target. Talk to your doctor about medicines and other ways to lower your blood pressure.
Stay in your target cholesterol range.
Eat foods lower in sodium.
Eat more fruits and vegetables.
Stay physically active.
Take your medications as directed.
If you have diabetes:
Meet blood sugar targets as often as you can.
Have an A1c test at least twice a year, but ideally up to four times a year. An A1c test measures the average level of blood sugar over the past three months.
We’re talking about the link between hypertension and kidney function on this episode of Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Angela Bofill.
Podcast guests include Angela Bofill, Catherine Schuller, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Neva White DNP, CRNP- BC, CDE, and Rose Hall from Tessie’s Teas.
Throughout the podcast we will feature music from Angela Bofill’s albums Angie and Angel of the Night courtesy of SONY Music.
Can you solve Divabetic’s Mystery Phrase #33? Our phrase is measured by the force that pushes on the walls of your blood vessels as they carry blood and oxygen to your organs (systolic pressure) and the force that’s created when your heart rests between beats (diastolic pressure).
Do you know what Divabetic’s Mystery Phrase #33 is?
Diabetes damages arteries and makes them targets for hardening, called atherosclerosis. That can cause high blood pressure, which if not treated, can lead to trouble including blood vessel damage, heart attack, and kidney failure.
There are several ways in which high blood sugar levels in the blood can increase blood pressure:
The blood vessels lose their ability to stretch.
The fluid in the body increases, especially if diabetes is already affecting the kidneys.
Insulin resistance may involve processes that increase the risk of hypertension.
In 2012, researchers quoted figures suggesting that 30% of people with type 1 diabetes and 50–80% of those with type 2 diabetes have high blood pressure in the United States.
The combination of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes can greatly increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
If your blood sugar level is too high, you may experience: increased thirst, frequent urination an fatigue. However, the American Heart Association (AHA) stresses that most of the time there are no symptoms for high blood pressure (also known as hypertension).
People usually find out they have high blood pressure when a doctor takes a blood pressure reading, or they take one themselves at home.
The reading will give two numbers:
The systolic is the top number
The diastolic is the bottom number
According to the AHA, the results will be one of the following:
Normal: Systolic below 120 and diastolic below 80
Elevated: Systolic 120–129 and diastolic under 80
Hypertension stage 1: Systolic 130–139 and diastolic 80–89
Hypertension stage 2: Systolic 140-plus and diastolic 90 or more
Hypertensive crisis: Systolic higher than 180 and diastolic above 120.
What is considered normal blood pressure for people with diabetes?
On the basis of recent studies, most people with diabetes should have a blood pressure that’s more than 130/80 mm.
People with diabetes can help decrease the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease by managing their blood sugar levels.
Here area few effective ways to lower your blood pressure levels:
Stop smoking
Increase activity and exercise more
Lose weight if you’re overweight
Cut back on sugar, refined carbohydrates and processed foods
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Cooking Party with special guest, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
Starbucks announced that the popular Pumpkin Spice Latte is officially coming back today, August 25, for its earliest recorded release day ever!
The drink is back for its 17th year (!!!) and as always you can get it hot, iced, or blended.
Starbuck’s Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte with 2 percent milk and whipped cream is 380 calories, according to Starbucks’ website. This includes 14 grams of fat, 52 grams of carbs and 50 grams of sugar.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends eating no more than 12.5 teaspoons of sugar each day, or about 50 grams (the same amount found in a Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte and a 16 oz. bottle of Coke!). You are having a day’s worth of sugar in one drink!
The idea is to limit sugar consumption to 10 percent of a person’s daily total calories. Currently, Americans get about 16 percent of their calories from added sugars on average.
Over time, consistently taking in more sugar will lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t easily take up glucose from your blood, leading to prediabetes.
Prediabetes means your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
A new report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that among Americans age 20 and older, as many as 73 million Americans have prediabetes, which is about 1 in 3 Americans! That’s a lot of missed opportunities to prevent diabetes by cutting down on sugar intake.
Help Us Light the Way During National Diabetes Awareness Month (November)
Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Did you know that over 80% don’t know they have it? Prediabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
This November, join Divabetic’s Blue Candle initiative and encourage your friends, co-workers, and family members to be screened for pre-diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers a quick, easy online Pre-Diabetes risk test.
Be by their side when they check, and share your experience of living well with diabetes so they can see that living well with diabetes is possible. Together, we can help others come out of the dark, address their diabetes health status, and start living their lives to the fullest.
There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten-time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’ in Divabetic’s Mystery Podcast, Kill Me Madam
But resentment, greed, and Britannia’s bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off.
Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police after meeting her just once!
As if his life wasn’t crazy enough before, escaping a murderous mishap in New York and attempting a fresh start in Nantucket has turned into a complete and utter baking disaster. Now Max, along with his friends and nosy mother, have to add tracking down a murderer to his To-Do list, too.
Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake a cake that’s actually edible?
Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.
Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.
Can you solve Divabetic’s Mystery Phrase #27? Our phrase is a great way to save time and money, as well as stay on track with your diabetes self-care goals.
Are you struggling with achieving your diabetes wellness goals?
Maybe you should consider planning your meals ahead of time. Experts agree that’s one of the key strategies for successful weight loss and/or tighter management of blood sugar levels is meal planning.
If planning a whole week of meals ahead of time seems overwhelming to you then keep in mind that a few things prepared ahead of time will make it easier to eat healthy too.
Set yourself up for a week of delicious lunches without feeling guilty using meal-prep plans.By prepping a week’s worth of lunches in advance (on Sunday, for example), you’ll avoid foods high in saturated fats, carbohydrates, sugar and calories and set yourself up for a week of diabetes wellness. Assembling meals ahead of time allows you toportion sizes and ingredients, which can be beneficial if you’re managing a health condition—like type 2 diabetes—or trying to lose weight.
What should you eat? If you have diabetes, you should choose lean proteins, high-fiber, less processed carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables, and low-fat dairy.
Remember, if you weren’t packing any meals, one or two a week is a great start!
Setting small, realistic nutrition goals can also set you up for success. For example, try limiting sugar-filled drinks or setting a max number of days to eat out per week.
A registered dietitian can help you put together a diet based on your health goals, tastes and lifestyle. He or she can also talk with you about how to improve your eating habits, such as choosing portion sizes that suit the needs for your size and activity level.
Solving 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.
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Cooking Party on Zoom where everything you need to win is within your own home.
Whether you have had diabetes for a long time or have only recently been diagnosed, having a diabetes management plan and supplies in place are essential for living life to the fullest.
Having diabetes doesn’t mean you need to deny yourself all the foods you love, but you do want to make healthier food choices. One good choice is to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, which are heavy in nutrition but light in calories.
During this virtual Cooking Party on Zoom,Chef Robert Lewiswill prepare a recipe that won’t compromise your diabetes wellness. Register Now
