Divabetic Holiday Podcast Inspired by Kelly Clarkson

We’re discussing celebrating the holidays without compromising our diabetes wellness on Divabetic’s Holiday podcast with musical inspiration from Kelly Clarkson.

The holidays are a wonderful time of year when you spend time catching up with family and friends. It’s also a time when there is a lot of focus on food, which can be very stressful if you have diabetes. You want to enjoy the holidays and eat delicious food, but managing your diabetes can pose challenges. With advanced planning and preparation, you can still enjoy holiday favorites without compromising your diabetes wellness goals.

Plan how you will handle meals that don’t align with your regular meal schedule. If you take insulin injections or a pill that lowers blood sugar, you may need to have a snack at your regular meal time to prevent a low blood sugar reaction. Speak to your diabetes care provider before the holidays to best plan how to handle mealtime changes throughout the holiday season.

Find out what you should know about diabetes, including types, symptoms, and causes, and share this information with your friends and family. People are more willing to help when they understand what you’re dealing with and how to help you.

Everyone makes a mistake now and then. It’s important not to judge yourself too harshly and focus instead on getting back on track.

The most important thing is getting back on track with your diabetes self-care goals.

Wrapped in Red quickly becomes a welcome gift to fans of the upbeat pop star and talk show host 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. Plus, we challenge one lucky listener’s ‘Diabetes Health IQ’ during Mr. Divabetic’s Wrapped In Red Game segment.

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

Glucose Revival believes you should live your best life. They make products for people with diabetes who suffer from low blood sugars. Their Thrive Glucose Necklace provides 15 grams of glucose in an easy-to-carry, easy-to-find, and easy-to-use form.

Just imagine not worrying about running, biking, swimming, camping, dancing, hiking, skiing, and living without worrying about taking care of the next low blood sugar.

The podcast features music from Kelly Clarkson’s Wrapped In Red courtesy of SONY Music.

Interestingly, we promoted the first-ever Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease Escape Room Experience, Clued Inn, on this podcast. The program was held on National Diabetes Alert Day (March 26, 2019) in New York City and sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.


 

Divabetic ‘Wrapped In Red’ Gift Guide with Christel Oerum

Kelly Clarkson‘s fabulous holiday album, Wrapped In Red, is the inspiration behind this year’s annual Divabetic Gift Guide. We asked our contributors to share their favorite ‘red’ gift suggestions for people living with diabetes on the Divabetic blog and Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Our friend, Christel Oerum, is a certified personal trainer, diabetes advocate, and fitness personality and the co-founder of Diabetes Strong. She has been living with type 1 diabetes since 1997, and lives by the motto “there’s nothing you can’t do with diabetes.” 

With a wonderful life motto like that, we had to ask Chirstel to share her favortie ‘red’ activewear pieces and some advice and guidance on staying ‘diabetes strong’ during the holidays

“I’m obsessed with workout tights, capris to be specific,” says Christel. “Not sure you can ever have too many.  My favorite brands are Athleta and Senita.” 

Athleta Insulated Flurry PrimaLoft® Jacket is a great base layer for medium and high impact workouts in cold weather. It’s chafe-free seamless fabric and woven piecing with lightweight insulation provides additional coziness. 

“I have these Senita capris and I absolutely love them because the fit is great and they have pockets large enough to hold a cell phone, CGM receiver or insulin pump. Brilliant!”

“I wrote the Fit With Diabetes eBook to share my knowledge of how to exercise and eat healthily with insulin-dependent diabetes,” says Christel. “This is knowledge that I think is essential if you manage your diabetes with insulin – no matter if you use a pump, pen, needle or inhalable insulin.”

The Fit With Diabetes eBook is your chance to get your hands on over 80 pages of knowledge, techniques, and tools to set yourself up for success living with diabetes. After reading this book you’ll have the knowledge to: Set realistic diabetes, health, and fitness goals, Manage your food and insulin around workouts to limit high and low blood sugar, Successfully manage your weight with diabetes, Create healthy meal plans that won’t cause havoc on your blood sugar (or use the meal plan in the book), Create an exercise plan that is right for you (examples of beginner and advanced plans in the book) and More! 

Walking In A Winter Wonderland Advice from Christel Oerum

“ Remember everything counts when it comes to being active and walking is one of the most effective ways to reduce blood sugars,” add Christel Oerum. “Here are some tips to stay active over the holidays!”

Take the family for a stroll before and/or after dinner

Explore a museum (great way to get plenty of steps in without being in the cold)

Have a snowball fight or build a snowman

Diabetes Strong Co-Founder and Head Coach, Christel Oerum holds an MBA in Finance & Strategy and an ISSA Personal Trainer certification with specialization in Fitness and Diabetes (Level 3 certified from the Diabetes Motion Academy)

Diabetes Strong (originally TheFitBlog) was established in 2015 as a personal blog about Christel’s experiences as a fitness enthusiast living with type one diabetes.

Christel struggled to find easily accessible information about exercise and healthy nutrition with diabetes online, so she decided to create a website where she could share her own advice and invite experts from the diabetes community to contribute.

TheFitBlog quickly grew into one of the largest websites about health and diabetes and was re-launched in 2017 as Diabetes Strong, a diabetes portal with expert contributors from all over the world.

The goal of Diabetes Strong is to provide a platform where people living with (any type) of diabetes can find all the information they need to live healthy and active lives.

The information on Diabetes Strong always takes a positive approach to diabetes and follows Christel’s motto that “There is nothing you can’t do with diabetes.”

December’s Diabetes Late Nite Available on Demand for Free

Enjoy December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring holiday music from Kelly Clarkson’s iconic Wrapped In Red album courtesy of SONY Music. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold  RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Delivery Necklace Co-Creator 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 NOW

Divabetic’s ‘Wrapped In Red’ Holiday Gift Guide with Chef Jonathan Bardzik

Kelly Clarkson‘s fabulous holiday album, Wrapped In Red, is the inspiration behind this year’s annual Divabetic Gift Guide. We asked our contributors to share their favorite ‘red’ gift suggestions for people living with diabetes on the Divabetic blog and Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Our friend, Storyteller, Cook and  Author Jonathan Bardzik surely knows a thing or two about the importance of cooking with fresh ingredients! He’s one of the hottest chefs in the Washington D.C. area, as his ‘farm to table’  cuisine has lit up farmers markets, including Mosaic Central Farm Markets, and even on the shelves at local bookstore.  

Jonathan shares his favorite kitchen appliance and cold weather recipe that’s sure to warm the heart of that special someone on your list who is living with diabetes and enjoys cooking! 

https://www.zwilling.com/us/staub-cast-iron-5.5-qt-round-cocotte-grenadine/1102687.html?cgid=our-brands_staub_cast-iron_coccottes-dutch-ovens#prefn1=color&prefn2=size&prefv1=Red&prefv2=5+to+6-qt&start=1

“My favorite kitchen appliance that makes a great holiday gift is a cast iron Staub Cocotte Dutch oven. I couldn’t get through the winter without it,” says Jonathan.  “Whether you’re braising a whole chicken, making a pot roast or stock for a soup it’s versatile and goes easily from stove top, to oven to the table. Grenadine – a dark red – is my favorite color. Diabetic friendly pot roast tip – I use lots of mushrooms and turnips. Turnips are like potatoes with more flavor and the richness of the beef balances any bitterness.”

“Chili powder is a “go to” in my kitchen for flavor.,” says Jonathan. “There are so many to choose from spicy cayenne to raisiny Ancho, sweet Guajillo, the sun dried flavor of Aleppo or the smoky flavor of Urfa pepper. So often when changing our diets we miss flavor and replace rich or sugary ingredients with salt. Before you reach for extra salt, try a chile powder to beef up the flavor of your dish.” (Note: chili powder is a blend of chiles, cumin, garlic powder and often salt. You’re just looking for dried, ground chiles here.)

Panang Curry Coconut Cream Of Tomato Soup
Photo credit: Matt Hocking

Panang Curry Coconut Cream Of Tomato Soup

“This soup recipe is a little sweet, a little spicy and ready in 15-20 minutes, and serves 4-6 guests,” says Jonathan. “What more could you want for a quick, delicious, cold weather soup?”

Ingredients:

1 tbs peanut or vegetable oil

2 tbs Panang or red Thai curry paste*

1/2 can coconut milk (about 7oz)

2 28 oz cans of San Marzano tomatoes

4 whole sprigs plus 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Rice wine vinegar

*You can find Panang curry paste at Asian markets or order it online. Red curry paste is usually part of the Asian food section in the international aisle at your grocery store.

Directions:

Warm oil in 3-4 qt saucepan over med heat. Add curry paste and cook about 1 min until fragrant. Add coconut milk and cook 2-3 min. Add tomatoes and cilantro sprigs. Simmer and reduce to desired consistency.

Purée soup in a food mill or with a blender or immersion blender. Season soup to taste with a splash of vinegar, salt and pepper.

Serve with chopped cilantro.

http://jonathanbardzik.com/

Jonathan Bardzik is the author of three incredible cookbooks: ‘Simple Summer’, ‘Seasons to Taste’, and ‘Fresh and Magical Vinaigrettes‘, all of which are chock full of delicious recipes that you can make for your own friends, family or that special someone all year round.

Enjoy December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring holiday music from Kelly Clarkson’s iconic ‘Wrapped In Red’ album courtesy of SONY Music. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold  RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Delivery Necklace Co-Creator 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 NOW

Divabetic’s ‘Wrapped In Red’ Holiday Gift Guide with Sue Perez

Kelly Clarkson‘s fabulous holiday album, Wrapped In Red, is the inspiration behind this year’s annual Divabetic Gift Guide. We asked our contributors to share their favorite ‘red’ gift suggestions for people living with diabetes on the Divabetic blog and Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

What do you feel when you see the color red? For us, we feel excited because it means the holidays are coming! Red is the color of the biggest, most romantic holidays of the season; Christmas and Valentine’s Day. And no one wears red as splendidly as Grace Kelly does in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 American crime mystery film, Dial M for Murder.

Grace Kelly was an icon in American culture. Her timeless essence as an actress, her youthful beauty as a mother and wife and her elegant style as a princess continue to captivate us today.

Our friend, Sue Perez, CEO –Beautyphonics Inc. shares  her favorite red lipsticks and makeup looks inspired by Grace Kelly to help you ‘GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS’ this holiday season!

E.l.f. Cosmetics makes great makeup at affordable prices. When I want to achieve a long lasting, gorgeous matte finish I reach for their Liquid Matte Lipstick ($5.00- Walmart). Red Vixen is my go to shade when I want that perfect sexy pout. Coordinate with a full coverage foundation, a pair of natural looking strip eyelashes with a hint of black gel liner turned up in the outer corners for a cat eye effect. Strong and classic. 

Mac Cosmetics has always been known for having a diverse color range and their lip formulas of color plus texture always stands out on the runway. A favorite of mine is Ruby Woo it’s a retro Matte formula and looks impeccable with a full coverage finish. Wear this opaque matte lip with bronze sun-kissed tinted moisturizer, shimmery eyelids and extra mascara for an evening look. Stunning and unforgettable.

Chanel makeup is more expensive but worth considering for a splurge if you adore that gorgeous black and gold Chanel package as much as I do. And a translucent powder compact for touch ups is a wonderful treat for your makeup bag. Rouge Coco Glossimer in chili ($30.00- Bloomingdales) provides a flattering and very glossy sheer red when I prefer a lighter lip with a bold dramatic eye makeup look. Keep the rest of your skin matte with only a hint of blush. Captivating and hypnotic.

“These red lipstick suggestions look great on all skin tones!,” says Emmy Award nominated makeup artist and skincare expert,  Sue Perez. “Just experiment and complete the look with foundation, lashes and well-groomed eyebrows. It’s all about balance when I apply makeup, so make sure your look is clean, well-blended and of course, pretty.”

In Sue Perez’s book “Underneath the Makeup” she has makeup applications anyone can do using just a few products and makeup brushes in 15 minutes! Her fabulous book is for ALL women that truly want to understand and define their own unique beauty. You will learn the secrets that are easy and fun to understand so you can do your own makeup effortlessly.

‘DIVA’ FUN FACTS  Dial M for Murder (1954) was Grace Kelly’s first Hitchcock film. ‘She lights up the screen in every scene she’s in, in head-to-toe red, from lipstick to the lace dress (in the most pure ’50s style) and the satin pumps,” says ‘Style on Film’ classiq.me .

Grace Kelly’s costumes were designed by Moss Mabry. Grace Kelly and Alfred Hitchcock made two more films, Rear Window (1954) and To Catch a Thief (1955) before Miss Kelly became Princess Grace of Monaco and retired from the screen in 1956.

Enjoy December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring holiday music from Kelly Clarkson. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold  RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Delivery Necklace Co-Creator 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 NOW

Join us for December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast

We’re talking about celebrating the holidays without compromising our diabetes wellness with musical inspiration from Kelly Clarkson on December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Tuesday, December 4, 2018, 6 PM, EST. TUNE IN

Kelly’s fabulous Wrapped in Red album hasquickly become a gift to our holiday music playlist with an eclectic mix of classic carols and original songs co-written by the singer.

Kelly Clarkson also inspires us to give ‘voice’ to topics such as the HIV Medication link to Type 2 Diabetes, Homeless & Diabetes, Heart Healthy tips, and Holiday Weight Loss Secrets on this podcast.

We’re challenging one lucky listener’s ‘Diabetes Health IQ’ during Mr. Divabetic’s ‘Wrapped In Red’ Game segment.

 

Can’t wait until Tuesday to test your ‘Diabetes Health IQ’? Then, try your luck at this question before Tuesday’s podcast:

Additinally, Mr. Divabetic shares his top picks from Divabetic’s Wrapped In Red Gift Guide. Enjoy great gift suggestions from our team of contributors including Yoga for Diabetes founder Rachel Zinman , Diabetes Strong’s Christel Oerum, Mary Kay’s Taryn Mcquain Bentaous, Chef Jonathan Bardzik and more!

December’s Diabetes  Late Nite guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold  RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Delivery Necklace co-creator Kris Maynard, Dr. Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE, BC=ADM, BCACP, FAADE, Maria Sakowitz, MS, RDN, LDN, CLT, Type 2 Diabetes – What To Know FB Community moderator Nick Zevgolis and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. TUNE IN

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Kelly Clarkson’s “Wrapped In Red” 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.”

ANSWER: 4 chambers. The heart has four chambers: two atria and two ventricles. The right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood from the body and pumps it to the right ventricle.  The right ventricle pumps the oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle.

 

 

TUNE IN

Help Divabetic Bring ‘Sexy’ Back!

How’s your sex life?

If it’s not great – chances are you could be dealing with sexual health issues related to diabetes, especially if you’re a man.

Recent statistics estimate 1 in 5 men who are 20 years and older have severe Erectile Dysfuction (ED), and another 25 percent have moderate ED.

Erectile dysfunction— the inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sex — is common in men who have diabetes, especially those with type 2 diabetes. It can stem from damage to nerves and blood vessels caused by poor long-term blood sugar control.

Poorly managed diabetes can lead to erectile dysfunction due to its effects on the bloodstream which can damage the blood supply to the penis and the nerves that control an erection.

Erectile dysfunction can also be linked to other conditions common in men with diabetes, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Erectile dysfunction might occur earlier in men with diabetes than in men without the disease. Difficulty maintaining an erection might even precede the diabetes diagnosis.

Having erectile dysfunction can be a real challenge. It can leave you and your partner feeling frustrated and discouraged. Take steps to cope with erectile dysfunction — and get your sex life back on track.

In case you’re wondering … a large percentage of men with diabetes and erectile dysfunction who do not respond to Viagra.

Erectile Dysfunction doesn’t have to hamper your love life. With a little creativity and communication, couples can enjoy intimacy and sex even when dealing with erectile problems.

Divabetic (divabetic.org) is committed to raising awareness for the sexual health issues related to both men and women living with diabetes.  Our friends at 5=10 Underwear are donating a % of their sales to Divabetic. Your support will help fund ongoing diabetes outreach programming focused on the link between Erectile Dysfunction & Diabetes. BUY NOW

 

Don’t miss Diabetes Late Nite on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold  RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Delivery Necklace co-creator Kris Maynard, Dr. Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE, BC=ADM, BCACP, FAADE, Maria Sakowitz, MS, RDN, LDN, CLT, Type 2 Diabetes What To Know FB Community moderator Nick Zevgolis, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Kelly Clarkson’s “Wrapped In Red” courtesy of SONY Music. TUNE IN

‘HIV and Diabetes’ on December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast

We’re excited to announce our December edition of Diabetes Late Nite. Sara (Dr. Mandy) Wilson Reece, PharmD, CDE, BC-ADM is Vice-Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and will stop by the studio to talk about HIV and Diabetes while Kelly Clarkson provides musical inspiration.  Join us here on Tuesday, December 4, 2018  from 6 – 7:30 PM.

Wrapped In RedKelly Clarkson’s holiday album, inspires us to talk about all things ‘red’ such as the iconic red ribbon worn as a symbol for the solidarity of people living with HIV/AIDS. People with HIV are more likely to have type 2 diabetes than people without HIV and some HIV medicines may increase blood glucose levels and lead to type 2 diabetes.
World AIDS Day is December 1, a fitting occasion to speak with Dr. Mandy about the link between HIV medications and diabetes prior to our podcast interview.  

Q: I’ve read that some HIV medicines may increase blood glucose levels and lead to type 2 diabetes. Can you explain why could happen? 

Dr. Mandy Reece: Some HIV medication cause insulin resistance with insulin deficiency which increases risk for Type 2 diabetes. Specifically, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) (zidovudine, stavudine and didanosine) and protease inhibitors (indinavir and lopinavir/ritonavir) increase risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Q: Do you feel people taking HIV medicines should check their blood glucose? If so, what do you recommend? 

Dr. Mandy Reece: Yes, they should check their blood glucose before they start their medication and then every few months as recommended by the U.S. Department of Health.

According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is recommended to have either fasting blood glucose or hemoglobin A1c when entering into care for HIV, initiating or modifying antiretrovial therapy and annually if glucose or A1c were in target range at least measurement. Target range is < 5.7% for hemoglobin A1c and <126 mg/dL fasting blood glucose.  It is advised to have fasting blood glucose or hemoglobin A1c tested every 3 – 6 months if above target range at last measure. 

(Guidelines for Use of Antiretrovial Agents in Adults and Adolescents Living with HIV. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/html/1/adult-and-adolescent-arv/3/tests-for-initial-assessment-and-follow-up. Updated October 25, 2019. Accessed November 18, 2018.

Q:Dealing with two or more chronic conditions could be complicated and time consuming. What medication organizing tips can you recommend to help make life more manageable?  

Dr. Mandy Reece: Personally, my favorite tool for organizing medications is a pill box where medication is stored by day and time of day.  It is easy to identify visually if medication has been taken.  Many pharmacies have medical refill reminder calls which work wonderfully if you get all of your medications from the same pharmacy. Pharmacies can utilize a medication synchronization system which allows for your getting all refills at same time.  Additionally, there various apps such as Round Health, Medisafe -Pill & Med Reminder and Pill Reminder – All in One would provide digital reminder system.  Services such as PillPack sorts and organizes medication by dose and timing each dose with monthly delivery. 

Q: With the holidays quickly approaching what advice can you give to people about managing their medications during this busy time of year? 

Dr. Mandy Reece: Taking time to get organized is absolutely key.  An easy way to get organized is to using a pill box or service such PillPack to organize your medications, and utilizing reminder system to follow through on taking medications.  Ensure that you have at least a 10 day supply of medication on hand at all times is essential.  Remember keeping your health a priority hence taking your medication during this busy season is key as it has lasting effects that you will not see or feel in the moment.

Q: Holiday travel can lead to long delays and/or missing luggage. What advice can you give to traveler’s 

Dr. Mandy Reece: Always pack all of your medications in your carry bag rather than checked luggage.  It is absolutely vital to have your medication available at all times. 

Sara (Dr. Mandy) Wilson Reece, PharmD, CDE, CDE, BC-ADM, vice-chair and associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice. ‘Dr. Mandy’ shares practical information about medications for people living with diabetes on her blog, Reece’s Pieces. Follow her on Twitter @ReecesPiecesDi and Instagram ReecesPiecesDI

Don’t miss December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music from Kelly Clarkson’s Wrapped In Red album courtesy of SONY Music on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, 6 PM, EST.

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 (!). Plus, one lucky listener tries their luck during Mr. Divabetic’s Wrapped In Red’ Health Game challenge. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold  RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Delivery Necklace co-creator Kris Maynard, Dr. Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE, BC=ADM, BCACP, FAADE, Maria Sakowitz, MS, RDN, LDN, CLT, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

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.”

‘Homeless With Diabetes’ On December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast

We’re excited to announce our December edition of Diabetes Late Nite. Kathleen Gold, RN, MSN, CDE, will stop by the studio to share her experience working with homeless people and Kelly Clarkson will provide musical inspiration from her holiday album, Wrapped in Red.  Join us here on Tuesday, December 4, 2018  from 6 – 7:30 PM.

One of the Diabetes Late Nite featured songs this month is Kelly Clarkson’s “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” This is a poignant inspiration song to gain perspective from Kathy prior to our podcast interview on the biggest obstacles homeless people face who are living with diabetes.

As a diabetes advocate for over 20 years at Unity Health Care Clinic at the Community for Creative Nonviolence, a shelter in Washington, D.C., Kathy helped homeless people check blood glucose logs, made referrals to specialists, and discussed ways to best manage their health. “What I try to do is spend as much time with them as they need,” Gold said in an interview for Diabetes Forecast. “We touch on other issues, not just diabetes: food, food stamps, depression. … They really are very motivated, and they try to make good choices.”

Q: I would think that for homeless people with diabetes the stress of living with so much uncertainty every day must play a big factor in managing their diabetes. What do you advise?

Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE: Yes, this is a major problem. They frequently don’t know when or if they will get their next meal or where they may be sleeping that night. I first try to address their living situation. Locating a shelter and a place to receive meals on a consistent basis is the main priority. Until these needs are met you can’t address their diabetes or their healthcare needs.

Q: What type of meal planning advice do you give to homeless people with diabetes who are relying on food stamps, the kindness of others, and prepackaged foods to carry them through the day?

Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE: I connect them with various food kitchens and food banks, so they know where to access food. Also, we discuss options for how to spend their food stamp dollars wisely. I help them create a shopping list of non-perishable items they could always have available. We also discuss portion control. I encourage them always to choose vegetables, whole grains and fruit if available. In DC the primary food bank offers a “diabetes meal” which provided an extra serving of vegetables.

Q: How do you advise homeless people with diabetes to create and/or adhere to a daily diabetes management routine if they don’t have a set schedule? 

Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE: This is a big struggle as the timing of meals is such a difficult thing to predict. It is important to use medications cautiously if the individual does not have access to meals at a predictable time. Oatmeal is always a lifesaver because all they need is a cup of hot water and they have instant nourishment. Educating the homeless about how and when their medications work to avoid a low blood sugar reaction is very important and ties in with the appropriate use of food stamps. The newer insulins make a huge difference in controlling blood glucose levels as they can be taken with meals. It is much more difficult if individuals are forced to use the older insulins where there is little flexibility.

Q: What kind of medical services and supplies are available to homeless people with diabetes?

Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE: A lot depends on where they live and if and how they are covered under Medicaid. Not all Medicaid plans cover the newer medications. In DC we are fortunate that all patients could have a meter and strips to test their blood glucose and our medication formulary was quite extensive. This is not the case in all states. Education is key. I found that if patients were educated, their expenses dropped, and the risk of complications greatly decreased. At the Homeless Shelter we saw significant savings and complication reductions but not everyone has access and that’s sad.

Q: Do you feel homeless people with diabetes are more likely to develop health-related complications? If so, can you share some insight into the types of health complications homeless people with diabetes are more likely to develop.

Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE: Many homeless individuals have a history of alcohol or drug abuse which places them at risk of many health issues besides diabetes. Kidney disease is a major complication, since many individuals also suffer from hypertension. Mental illness is widespread, and it is difficult to manage these individuals because they frequently don’t take their medications. Diabetic neuropathy, depression and feeling overwhelmed are very prevalent in this population. Hypoglycemia is also a frequent complication because of their inability to eat on time, which can cause them to be unresponsive, confused and/or disoriented. Severe hyperglycemia, if they stop taking their medications, can lead to ketoacidosis or a very elevated blood glucose level. It is necessary to deal with these health issues first, so they can manage their diabetes.

I found that people who overcame with addictions were very successful in managing their diabetes because they had the tools to make behavior change.

Q: I have read that homeless people with diabetes may sell their supplies in order to afford basic living needs. What’s your experience? 

Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE: There is a black market for strips and meters. In DC these supplies were provided, so we didn’t see as much of it. But there were some people who constantly “lost” their meters and they may have been selling them. People get desperate.

Q: How can our Diabetes Late Nite listeners help?

Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE: If you donate food, please stick to healthy foods such as vegetables and fresh fruit. Volunteer at a homeless shelter and prepare healthy meals. Whole grain cereals, oatmeal, peanut butter for protein and nuts for a good snack are good options. Avoid sugared cereals, processed foods that are high in salt, sugar, and fat.  Arrange with local restaurants or farmers markets to donate their foods to a homeless shelter. Offer to teach a simple cooking class at a food bank or a shelter. Donate brown rice instead of white rice and include some recipes that use foods you donated. Donate to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council https://www.nhchc.org/

Don’t miss December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music from Kelly Clarkson’s Wrapped In Red album courtesy of SONY Music on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, 6 PM, EST.

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 (!). Plus, one lucky listener tries their luck during Mr. Divabetic’s ‘Wrapped In Red’ Health Game challenge. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold  RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Delivery Necklace co-creator Kris Maynard, Dr. Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE, BC=ADM, BCACP, FAADE, Maria Sakowitz, MS, RDN, LDN, CLT, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

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.”