What are your ‘standards’ for managing your diabetes health?
For at least half the population, it may come as no surprise that women often have negative experiences in the U.S. healthcare system. A new study reports that 50% of young women report negative experiences, according to Forbes.
29% of those who had seen a healthcare provider in the prior two years said their doctor had dismissed their concerns. One in five (19%) said their doctor assumed something about them without asking, and 15% said their provider did not believe them. Perhaps even worse, 13% said that a healthcare provider had suggested they were personally to blame for a health problem they were experiencing. Nearly one in 10 (9%) reported experiencing discrimination based on their age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or another personal characteristic.
Additionally, a new study from the University of Florida and Stanford University researchers finds the most commonly cited reason patients with Type 1 diabetes don’t receive optimal care is negative interactions with endocrinologists, cites UF Health. Shame and negative feelings related to stigma and judgment are commonly reported in clinical encounters.
Get drenched in a hefty dose of R&B and Soul with Crystal Penny, as this musical duo offers another musical gem.
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, stops by the Pride March in New York City to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way.
Enjoy another excerpt from Divabetic’s 10th Annual Mystery podcast, Murder Plain As Vanilla, streaming on Spotify, iTunes, and BlogTalkRadio.
This scene spotlights the misleading information provided on food labels. Specifically, we discuss the difference between ‘natural’ and ‘organic.’ Recent surveys indicate that consumers are willing to pay more for “natural” and “organic” labeled products with vaguely defined words.
The FDA has considered the term ‘natural’ to mean that nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food. However, the FDA does not consider whether the term ‘natural’ should describe any nutritional or other health benefit.
Sadly, natural products aren’t the only labels to go virtually unregulated. Terms like “lightly sweetened,” “made with real…,” and “multigrain” are also more a branding strategy than a substantive label, forcing shoppers to stay vigilant if they’re buying healthy foods.
Our mystery podcast isn’t only for mystery lovers. It’s a fun way to learn about diabetes and self-care. In between colorful characters, crazy adventures, and mysterious surroundings, we pack health and wellness tips that can help you take charge of your diabetes. We also encourage you to think like a detective the next time you experience unexpected blood sugar fluctuations. Search for clues, collect data, talk to witnesses, and bring your ideas to the authorities (healthcare collaborators) for solutions. A team approach to managing your diabetes isn’t a bad idea either. Here’s a short synopsis: When Mr. Divabetic’s arch-nemesis baking sensation Renata Whisk calls, offering a chance to participate in the Visions of Vanilla baking competition, he can’t refuse. It’s an invitation to compete against culinary giants Best-Selling Cookbook Author Lily Frost, Green Thumb Gourment, Hazel Honeywell, and the Cannoli Countess and, most importantly, a chance to pay back his debt owed to his mother.
But before Max’s hands touch flour, he discovers the dead body of the Vanilla King of Madagascar. As luck has it, Max is the last person to see the Vanilla King alive. To prove his innocence, he enlists his team, USA Today’s best-selling author Tonya Kappes, health educator MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR, and his mother, Mama Rose Marie. But when another baker’s dead body is found near Max’s station, even his mother tastes a recipe for disaster.
Now, armed with only Renata Whisk’s Puffed Pastry recipe, a rolling pin, and his team’s expertise in solving murders and dispersing diabetes health information, Max has no choice but to solve the mystery or at least die trying.
Co-Starring Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Dave Jones, Seveda Williams, and Amparo Peterkin. Script Editor Wendy Radford. Producer, Leisa Chester Weir. Music from the Broadway Cast albums of Anything Goes courtesy of SONY Music.
Enjoy highlights from Divabetic’s World Menopause Day program that was held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
Our panel was moderated by Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller and featured Dr. Julianne Arena, Donna Rice, and Amparo.
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.
Catherine Schuller is the go-to person in the image industry for all things style and fashion for the plus-size woman. She began as a former Ford Model and became a spokesperson for the industry, a retail editor for Mode magazine, and wrote the highly acclaimed how-to guide The Ultimate Plus Size Modeling Guide, which has helped thousands of young women who want to enter the plus size modeling field. She is a frequently quoted media expert on the puls-size market and has appeared five times on The View, The Today Show, The Early Show, and eight times on Neal Cavuto’s Your World.
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.
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.
November is National Diabetes Awareness month. It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone to gain a greater understanding of an invisible yet pervasive disease. For the diagnosed, diabetes can affect every decision – what to eat, do, and other decisions about how they’ll take care of themselves. Yet the 24/7 burden of diabetes management is often misunderstood. If the physical, emotional, and financial burden aren’t taxing enough, the unwarranted social stigma is.
Recently Healthline Media released the findings from a “State of Type 2 Diabetes” research report that examines the day-to-day experiences and feelings of people living with type 2 diabetes. The report included findings from a July 2018 survey of more than 1500 people with type 2 diabetes across generations.
Here are some of the findings from the report:
At Divabetic we know that diabetes affects women and men in almost equal numbers. However, we have found through our vaious outreach programs, that the way diabetes affects women is different than men. One key finding is that depression, which affects twice as many women as men, also raises the risk for diabetes in women. Here are some interesting findings related to the difference between men and women with diabetes.
It’s also interesting to note that compared with men with diabetes, women with diabetes have:
A higher risk for heart disease. Heart disease is the most common complication of diabetes.
Lower survival rates and a poorer quality of life after heart attack
A higher risk for blindness
A higher risk for depression. Depression, which affects twice as many women as men, also raises the risk for diabetes in women.
In a society largely based on helping yourself — just click on Amazon and browse the voluminous self-help section — it may seem odd to promote the idea that we need to learn better ways to ask for and receive assistance but these statistics may change your mind about asking for help!
Divabetic is equally proud to present outreach programming directed at men with diabetes. One of our most popular programs, ‘Love On A Two Way Street’ explores sexual health issues related to diabetes.
Did you know that men with diabetes tend to develop erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years earlier thanmen without diabetes?
As men with diabetes age, erectile dysfunction becomes even more common. Above the age of 50, the likelihood of having difficulty with an erection occurs in approximately 50% to 60% of men with diabetes.
Men with diabetes may also face other unique challenges such as low testosterone. Having type 2 diabetes doubles your risk for having low testosterone, according to the ADA. A drop in the hormone can cause symptoms such as low energy, muscle loss, depression, and sexual problems, including low libido and erectile dysfunction (ED). Your doctor can check your testosterone level and treat you if you have a problem.
This next infograph sheds light on the fact that men appear to have the upper hand in dealing with the emotional side of diabetes compared to women.
About Healthline
As the fastest growing health information brand, Healthline engages 67 million unique visitors per month (comScore, August 2018). We provide real and relatable health content rooted in both information and inspiration.
About State of Type 2 Diabetes
“State of Type 2 Diabetes” is the fifth release as part of the ongoing “State of…” series that explores key disease states affecting the modern health consumer, and uncovers differences across generations in how they use resources and approach their care.
Get Straight Talk About Diabetes
Tune in to Divabetic’s free monthly podcast, Diabetes Late Nite for a full-filled hour and half of diabetes education, empowerment, music, games and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.”
We’re celebrating World Diabetes Day with musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin on November’s Diabetes Late Nitescheduled for World Diabetes Day, Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 – 8 PM, EST. 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. CLICK HERE
