Are You Having A Diabetes ‘Bad Hair’ Day?

Divabetic Bad Hair Days

Do you ever wake up feeling like your diabetes is having a bad hair day?

Diabetes — both type 1 and type 2 — can affect your emotions and, in turn, your emotions can wreak havoc on your diabetes self-management.

Extremes in blood-sugar levels can cause significant mood changes, and new research suggests that frequent changes in blood-sugar levels (called glycemic variability) also can affect mood and quality of life for those with diabetes.

Depression has long been linked to diabetes, especially type 2. It’s still not clear, however, whether depression somehow triggers diabetes or if having diabetes leads to being depressed.

More recent research in people with type 1 diabetes has found that long periods of high blood-sugar levels can trigger the production of a hormone linked to the development of depression.

“Diabetes gives you so much to worry about that it’s exhausting. It can make you feel powerless,” said Joe Solowiejczyk, a certified diabetes educator and a manager of diabetes counseling and training at the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute in Milpitas, Calif. “I think it’s important to acknowledge that, from time to time, you’re going to have a meltdown. You’re going to have days when you feel exasperated, frustrated, sad, in denial and physically exhausted.”

Solowiejczyk, who has type 1 diabetes himself, said these feelings become a problem “when you’re not able to get on with your life, and you’re persistently not taking care of your diabetes.”

We’re here to help. Each month, Divabetic produces a free monthly podcast featuring friendly diabetes educators, sassy experts and marvelous men and women living with diabetes. The  goal of the show is to make you feel more beautiful inside and out.

LISTEN NOW: Listen to Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Kathie Lee And Hoda http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/04/09/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kathie-lee-and-hoda

Serve, Taste or Trash! Food Game with Mr. Divabetic

Diagnosis To Diva: Liz Wolff from Cure Thrift Shop

Divabetic Liz Wolff

May’s Diabetes Roundtable podcast special guest, Liz Wolff, the owner of Cure Thrift Shop in New York, NY. This busy wife and mother is  We hope Liz’s story helps to empower you to manage your diabetes with confidence, knowledge and inspiration (like a diva!) this month.

Diagnosis To Diva Story:  I was diagnosed 18 years ago when I was 11 years old. I was a pretty mature 11 year old and was completely comfortable with my diagnosis. With the help of my parents, I immediately jumped into learning how to manage the disease and live a normal and healthy life. But, after a few years, adolescence took control and I was no longer the “model diabetic.” From around the time that I was 14 years old until I was 21, I was completely non-compliant. I rarely tested my blood sugar and took insulin according to how I felt. At one point my a1c was as high as 13! Finally, after getting married at 21, I realized that I could no longer be selfish about my life and my health. I took baby steps – testing a couple of times a day, then 3-4 times a day, until I got used to the new lifestyle. By the time that I was 22 years old, I completely turned my diabetes life around.

Biggest Self-Care Issue or Concern: My biggest self-care concern was always about having a baby. I feared that all of the years of being non-compliant would prevent me from having a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby. Fortunately, after a tone of testing and tight control, I was given the OK by my doctor to try and conceive. 14 months ago, on my 17 year anniversary of being diagnosed, I delivered a wonderful and healthy baby boy.

Special members of healthcare entourage: My endocrinologist, Dr. Jason Baker is my diabetes hero. He has opened my eyes to a new way of managing myself and my diabetes. He completely guided me and held my hand throughout my pregnancy.

Diabetes Associations/Organizations/Publications You’re Affiliated With: In 2008, I opened Cure Thrift Shop. We are a philanthropic thrift shop benefiting the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. Outside of Cure Thrift Shop, I participate in various fundraising events to raise money for the DRIF.

Favorite Diabetes Resource: Omnipod – it has changed my life Favorite Celebrity Diva (and why): Bethenny Frankel – she is completely self-made,confident, hilarious, and successful.

Favorite Movie and/or TV Show: All Bravo Reality shows – it’s my guilty pleasure, Girls, Game of Thrones, Mad Men

Favorite Song: “Our House” – Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

Motivating Mindset:  My experience with diabetes has not been exactly smooth. There are absolutely days when I just let myself go and don’t take care of myself the way that I should be. My inspirations are my husband and my son – I NEED to be alive and well for them. I want to live a long and healthy life.

Your Motto: Hold onto yourself.

TONIGHT: May’s Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Kate Middleton featuring Mr. Divabetic,Catherine Schuller, Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE,  Kathy Gold RN, CDE, Mama Rose Marie, the Digital divas(Taryn and Jessica), Molly Lepeska from 100Campaign and Liz Wolff, the owner of CURE Thrift Shop in New York, NY http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/05/14/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kate-middleton

The Plate Poetry Project Coming to Philadelphia

The Plate Poetry Project

The Plate Poetry Project is a diabetes outreach program focusing on the emotional issues surrounding food and eating. The goal of the program is to help empower, educate and connect people living with diabetes and healthcare providers about issues surrounding food, nutrition, diet, weight loss and diabetes health.

Through interactive art installations and symposiums (featuring both patients and healthcare professionals) Divabetic is providing a safe forum for people to express the words and phrases we say to ourselves (both negative and positive) when we’re eating, food shopping and/or preparing meals.

Graphic designer, fine artist Susan McCaslin’s thought provoking art display, “What’s Eating You?” features tables of flatware and dish-ware labeled with an assorted words. The words, which range from ‘guilt’, ‘deprived’ and ‘fat’ to ‘hope’ ‘fuel’ and ‘beautiful,’ comprise the private thoughts we say or think to ourselves and/or others when we’re eating and drinking. Visitors rearrange the plates to create their own phrases and statements about food, food issues and diabetes on the interactive table displays.  What is your food saying to you? What are you saying to your food?  These are the questions that the art installation hopes to address.

Plate Poetry Project

A Diabetes Resource table featuring diabetes information will be located adjacent to the Plate Poetry Displays will be hosted by various healthcare personnel, volunteers and students.

In addition, there will be one day symposiums presented by healthcare professionals on ‘emotional eating.’ The symposium will also include an interactive discussion with people living with, at risk and affected by diabetes and hosted by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.

This program will be presented at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Thursday, May 23, 2013, 12 – 1 PM. For more information visit: www.divabetic.org 

LISTEN NOW: Tribute podcast to Luther Vandross featuring former band mates, singers, friends and fans  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/04/19/tribute-to-luther-vandross-the-80s

Mr. Divabetic Shakes It Up with Sherri Shepherd

Divabetic

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic is ready to roll out the Red Tomato Carpet at Sherri Shepherd’s Plan D Booking Signing event on Tuesday, May 7  at the Wayne YMCA located at  1 Pike Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470. The event will be moderated by one of our favorite ‘Divabetics’ Fran Carpentier. She’s FABULOUS!

For years, TV show host, actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd was told that she was pre-diabetic. And for years, she ignored her doctor’s advice to lose weight and get healthy before she developed full blown diabetes. When she finally got the big-D diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, the same disease that took her mother’s life, Sherri vowed that she’d change her ways so that her son wouldn’t be left alone, without a mother, as she had been.

With the help of her doctor, she created this Plan D program, lost more than 40 pounds, and she looks great and has more energy than she did in her twenties. Sherri’s diabetes is under control, and she was happy to show her stuff, wowing the world on Dancing with the Stars.

With tools to help you live a long and healthy life, Plan D is a smart and supportive plan designed to help you lose weight safely, make exercise a real, and fun, part of your life, and control your sugar sensitivity. And through it all, Sherri Shepherd is there, like a trusted friend, offering advice, encouragement, and of course a healthy dose of humor.

READ MORE: http://sherrishepherd.com/plan-d.html

 

Serve, Taste or Trash! game at Apollo Theater

Divabetic is Looking for Mr. Goodbar for Eye Candy Calendar

Divabetic Eye Candy Calendar

More over Diane Keaton, Divabetic is searching for twelve gorgeous men to help raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way.

Divabetic is casting for male fitness models to appear in upcoming Divabetic’s ‘Eye Candy’ 2014 Calendar promoting health and wellness.  The calendar features twelve hunky guys along with tips for managing your diabetes like a diva. This year, images by NYC-based photographer, Royce Bugarin, who has shot several major ad campaigns (roycebugarin.com), will be featured in the calendar.

The new Divabetic ‘Eye Candy’ 2014 Calendar hopes to raise awareness for sexual dysfunction issues facing women living with diabetes. More than a third of women with diabetes may experience sexual dysfunction related to their disease, according to the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

Symptoms of female sexual dysfunction include:

• Decreased or total lack of interest in sexual relations
• Decreased or no sensation in the genital area
• Constant or occasional inability to reach orgasm
• Dryness in the vaginal area, leading to pain or discomfort during sexual relations

Proper diabetes management is crucial for avoiding or minimizing sexual problems.High blood sugar, for example, can damage the blood vessels and nerves that make intercourse enjoyable. Nerve damage may make it difficult or impossible for women to achieve orgasm.

Divabetic’s ‘Eye Candy’ 2o14 calendar will be sold online at www.divabetic.org and at Divabetic’s various live outreach events later this year. Proceeds from the calendar will go directly to Divabetic’s ongoing outreach efforts to empower women to manage their diabetes with confidence, knowledge and inspiration.

Interested models must be fit, athletic and be willing to appear shirtless. There is no compensation for this photo shoot but you will receive photos from the shoot for your portfolio.  The calendar shoot is scheduled for Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, 2013 in Chelsea, NY. If you are interested please send face and body shots for consideration to mrdivabetic@gmail.com.

Divabetic Eye Candy Calendar

Divabetic is a national 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization (www.divabetic.org) with a mission to help empower women manage their diabetes with confidence, knowledge and inspiration. Divabetic has presented a fun and engaging approach to diabetes and health education in over 20 major cities.  Calendar sponsors contact: mrdivabetic@gmail.com

GLAM MORE FEAR LESS: The happy healthcare host, Mr Divabetic plays the hilarious Serve, Taste or Trash! Game with Mother Love and the attendees at the American Diabetes Association’s Expo in New York, NY. You might be surprised by the results. In the game, you’re given three choices of popular foods. You must decide which one you’d serve, which one you’d taste and which one you’d trash.

Daytime TV Divas, Drinking And Diabetes

Divabetic’s Diabetes Roundtable podcast

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic takes on the hot topic of  ‘Drinking Divas & Diabetes’ with inspiration from Kathie Lee and Hoda.

Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb always seem to have a drink in hand for the fourth hour of the Today Show.  If you’re around a TV at 10 AM with nothing to do, you should be watching the fourth hour of Today filled with Hoda and Kathie Lee’s theater reviews, occasional dancing, wine reviews and women issues. It’s eclipsed The View as my new favorite hour of mid-morning television.

Find out how alcohol can effect your diabetes.  While moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels. If you are in doubt about whether drinking alcohol is safe for you, check with your doctor.

Mr. Divabetic leads an all-star line-up of real life divas living with diabetes and fabulous guests, including Divabetic’s “Charlie’s Angels of Diabetes Outreach,” Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie in a lively discussion of hot topics, self-care, upcoming Divabetic stage show appearances and all things diva. Tune in to get inspired, to give a shout-out or to play Divabetic’s Diabetes Numerology game based on ‘Thelma & Louise.’

Listen to Diabetes Roundtable podcast Inspired by Kathie Lee And Hoda about drinking, diabetes and divas!   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/04/09/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kathie-lee-and-hoda

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 the diabetes and its related complications. Since its inception, Divabetic has presented outreach programs in 15 major U.S. cities, reaching hundreds of thousands of women, their families and health care professionals.

Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at www.divabetic.org

“Can I Have A Baby?” on May’s Diabetes Roundtable Podcast

Diabetes Roundtable podcast in May 2013

Today health care providers no longer discourage women with diabetes from becoming pregnant. Women who manage their diabetes well during pregnancy can have a relatively normal pregnancy and give birth to healthy babies.

The key to a healthy pregnancy for a woman with diabetes is keeping blood sugars in the target range—both before she is pregnant and during her pregnancy.

Since no one’s pregnancy is being more closely watched than mother-to-be, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, she’s inspiring us to talk pregnancy, motherhood and diabetes from a diva’s point of view on May’s upcoming Diabetes Roundtable podcast.

Kate Middleton has impressed the world with her modest fashions, charitable efforts and down to earth persona.  She was recently named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and Vanity Fair’s Best Dressed Pregnant Lady. Her fairy tale romance is a good, old-fashioned love story.  Prince finds a common girl.  Prince falls in love.  They get married and live happily ever after. But how would she fair if she was living with diabetes.

Mr. Divabetic adds a ‘divabetic’ twist to Kate Middleton’s palace life, pregnancy and interests to  infuse our Hot Topic discussion, Dining Out with A Dietitian, Sexy Little Numbers, Digital Diva Reviews and Diabetes Numerology Game segments.  Joining Mr. Divabetic for this one hour whirlwind of wellness are: Divabetic Image & Style Advisor,Catherine Schuller, Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE,  Kathy Gold RN, CDE, Mama Rose Marie, the Digital divas(Taryan from Boston and Jessica from Cincinnati), Molly Lepeska from 100Campaign and Liz Wolff, the owner of CURE Thrift Shop in New York, NY who is living with type 1 diabetes.

Plus, Divabetic’s GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS Squad dish celebrity moms-to-be style choices from Kim Kardashian toHalle Berry.

COMING SOON: Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Kate Middleton  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/05/14/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kate-middleton

One Soda A Day Raises Diabetes Risk

Drinking just one 12-ounce soda a day may increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

A new study is published today (April 24) in the journal Diabetologia  reports people who drank a 12-ounce sugar-sweetened soda daily were 18 percent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes over a 16-year period compared with those who did not consume soda. And people who drank two sodas daily were 18 percent more likely to have a stroke than those who drank one; those who drank three sodas daily saw the same risk increase compared with those who drank two, and so on.

The results held even after the researchers took into account risk factors for Type 2 diabetes such as age and physical activity levels, body mass index (BMI) and the total daily calorie intake.

The findings agree with earlier studies in the United States, which found daily soda consumption increased the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 25 percent.

 

By: Rachael Rettner, MyHealthNewsDaily Senior Writer 
Published: 04/24/2013 06:05 PM EDT on MyHealthNewsDaily

READ MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/25/can-of-soda-diabetes-a-day-risk_n_3154464.html

NYC Super Soda Ban with Mr. Divabetic

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable podcast Inspired by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb featuring news on divas, drinking and diabetes http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/04/09/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kathie-lee-and-hoda

Diabetes Plate Poetry Project

http://youtu.be/BB86NJgyVAc

Coming Soon Divabetic’s Eye Candy 2014 Calendar

Divabetic Eye Candy Calendar

Divabetic is casting for male fitness models to appear in upcoming Divabetic’s ‘Eye Candy’ 2014 Calendar promoting health and wellness.  The calendar features twelve hunky guys along with tips for managing your diabetes like a diva. This year, images by famed NYC-based photographer, Royce Bugarin, who has shot several major ad campaigns (roycebugarin.com), will be featured in the calendar.

“In the spirit of Marie Antoinette, says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek,” we  want to let ‘em eat (beef)cake!”

All kidding aside the new Divabetic ‘Eye Candy’ 2014 Calendar hopes to raise awareness for sexual dysfunction issues facing women living with diabetes. More than a third of women with diabetes may experience sexual dysfunction related to their disease, according to the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

Symptoms of female sexual dysfunction include:

• Decreased or total lack of interest in sexual relations
• Decreased or no sensation in the genital area
• Constant or occasional inability to reach orgasm
• Dryness in the vaginal area, leading to pain or discomfort during sexual relations

Divabetic Eye Candy Calendar

Proper diabetes management is crucial for avoiding or minimizing sexual problems.High blood sugar, for example, can damage the blood vessels and nerves that make intercourse enjoyable. Nerve damage may make it difficult or impossible for women to achieve orgasm.

Divabetic’s ‘Eye Candy’ 2o14 calendar will be sold online at www.divabetic.org and at Divabetic’s various live outreach events later this year. Proceeds from the calendar will go directly to Divabetic’s ongoing outreach efforts to empower women to manage their diabetes with confidence, knowledge and inspiration.

Interested models must be fit, athletic and be willing to appear shirtless. There is no compensation for this photo shoot but you will receive photos from the shoot for your portfolio.  The calendar shoot is scheduled for Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, 2013 in Chelsea, NY. If you are interested please send face and body shots for consideration to mrdivabetic@gmail.com.

Divabetic is a national 50 (c) (3) nonprofit organization (www.divabetic.org) with a mission to help empower women manage their diabetes with confidence, knowledge and inspiration. Divabetic has presented a fun and engaging approach to diabetes and health education in over 20 major cities.  Calendar sponsors contact: mrdivabetic@gmail.com

Gabrielle Douglas with Mr. Divabetic at the Egg White Delight McMuffin Launch

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable podcast Inspired by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb featuring news on divas, drinking and diabetes http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/04/09/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kathie-lee-and-hoda

Kate Middleton Inspires Diabetes Roundtable for Mother’s Day

Kate Middleton inspires Diabetes Roundtable

Most women living with diabetes are interested in knowing how their diagnosis can effect pregnancy. Today, health care providers no longer discourage women with diabetes from becoming pregnant. Women who manage their diabetes well during pregnancy can have a relatively normal pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby.

We now know that the key to a healthy pregnancy for a woman with diabetes is keeping blood sugars in the target range—both before she is pregnant and during her pregnancy.

Mother-to-be, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge,  is inspiring the conversation on pregnancy, motherhood and diabetes on May’s Diabetes Roundtable podcast.

Kate Middleton has impressed the world with her modest fashions, charitable efforts and down to earth persona.  She was recently named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and Vanity Fair’s Best Dressed Pregnant Lady. Her fairy tale romance is a good, old-fashioned love story.  Prince finds a common girl.  Prince falls in love.  They get married and live happily ever after. But how would she fair if she was living with diabetes?

Diabetes Roundtable podcast in May 2013

Mr. Divabetic adds a ‘divabetic’ twist to Kate Middleton’s palace life, pregnancy and interests to  infuse our Hot Topic discussion, Dining Out with A Dietitian, Sexy Little Numbers, Digital Diva Reviews and Diabetes Numerology Game segments.  Joining Mr. Divabetic for this one hour whirlwind of wellness are: Divabetic Image & Style Advisor,Catherine Schuller, Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE,  Kathy Gold RN, CDE, Mama Rose Marie, the Digital divas(Taryan from Boston and Jessica from Cincinnati), Molly Lepeska from 100Campaign and Liz Wolff, the owner of CURE Thrift Shop in New York, NY who is living with type 1 diabetes.

Plus, Divabetic’s GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS Squad dish celebrity moms-to-be style choices from Kim Kardashian toHalle Berry.

COMING SOON: Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Kate Middleton  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/05/14/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kate-middleton