Plate Poetry Project asks ‘What’s On Your Plate?”

Plate Poetry Project

If your plate could talk, what would it be saying to you?

Divabetic presented the Plate Poetry Project Workshop at the Divabetic Club at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA . This worthwhile outreach event focusing on the emotional issues surrounding food and eating for people affected by diabetes. 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 an interactive art installation and poetry workshop symposium (featuring both patients and healthcare professionals) Divabetic is providing a safe forum for people to express the words and phrases we say to ourselves when we’re eating, food shopping and/or preparing meals.

Participants were handed paper plates, index cards, markers and pens when the entered the room. Participants were asked to write down one word to describe their relationship to food and/or diabetes or what they say to themselves when they eat and/or a word they would like to see on their plate. This exercise is called, “What’s On Your Plate?” The index cards were used later on in the Plate Poetry workshop portion of the program presented by Monique Gordon.

Plate Poetry Project

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic with Divabetic Club leader, Neva White CRNP, CDE kicked off the Divabetic Club meeting with a quick HOT TOPICS discussion about the latest health headlines including: Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy, Coca-Cola’s pledge to fight obesity and new research findings that marijuana can help control blood sugars. There was a lot of laughter among the audience regarding pot smoking helping with self-care.

Stephanie Garber PharmD, CDE, from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital,  presented a ‘Tips on Blood Monitoring’ followed by a Q & A discussion.

Poet, performance artist and former teacher, Monique Gordon, who is a Divabetic Club member, lead the participants in a 15 minute poetry workshop. Monique asked everyone to write down 3 to 5 words in response to a series of open-ended questions. We were asked to relate our answers to our diabetes, diabetes self-care our health and/or our food. The workshop questions ranged from:

Poet, performance artist and former teacher Monique Gordon

(what’s) ‘In my head?’ Participants shared responses such as: “stress” “taking my medications”

(what’s) ‘On the shelf?’ Participants shared responses such as: “my monitor looking back at me” and “jars of spinach dip” and “exercise DVD’s”

(what I see) ‘On the bus?’ Participants shared responses such as: “I just left my doctor’s appointment and I noticed all the overweight people”

‘At Dawn’: Participants shared “Hope to change and my personal habits”, “second chance to do right” Happy, hopeful, strong and powerful” and “Victorious Conquer”

‘In the end’: Participants shared responses such as: “YOU did a good job!”  and “a different death certificate than my grandmother’s”

After Monique Gordon read all the questions we went around the room and shared our responses with the group.

Monique also read four of her original poems.

At the end of the session, Mr. Divabetic read off all the words (from people’s plates.) The Plate Poetry Project words ranged from: “humble, serious, Love & Trust & True, ‘Yes, I can do it’, Blessed, healthy, jelly, liberty, freedom, cure, guilty, tests, plan, enjoy, grateful, thank you Lord, Less Meds – Less Weight”

All participants enjoyed healthy sandwich wraps, Cabot Cheese, water and strawberries. Giveaways were provided by Max Glucose Meters.

COMING SOON: Join us for Plate Poetry Project at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA on Thursday, October 17, 2013, 12 PM.  Fine Artist Susan McCaslin’s thought provoking art display will be on display, “What’s Eating You?” features tables of dish-ware labeled with assorted words. The words, which range the spectrum 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 can 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.

A Diabetes Resource table featuring diabetes information and nutrition advice will be located adjacent to the Plate Poetry Display hosted by various Thomas Jefferson University Hospital healthcare professionals and volunteers.

Divabetic Club – Philadelphia Today!

Divabetic Club – Philadelphia

Divabetic Club blends diabetes self-management education, group support with online empowerment tools in a way that enlightens participants and motivates them to improve.

Divabetic’s uniquely different outreach and online programming comforts, connects and empowers its community to “Glam More, Fear Less” so that no one has to struggle with diabetes alone or in silence. Regular attendees and professional facilitators often fondly refer to Divabetic Club as the “12 Step Program for women living with diabetes”.

In kind, we have developed our “Divabetic 9” Steps to help women on their journey from diagnosis to diva! All of the Divabetic 9 Steps relate to the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) Self-Care Behaviors: Healthy Eating, Taking Medications, Monitoring, Reducing Risks, Problem Solving, Being Active and Healthy Coping.

Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek

Divabetic Club – Philadelphia is presented by a team of Thomas Jefferson University healthcare professionals and diabetes educators who provide expert advice on food, fitness and self-care management to encourage early action and prevention of diabetes health-related complications. The program is hosted by Mr. Divabetic and features guest speakers, food demonstrations, interactive panel discussions and more.

Divabetic Club – Philadelphia is presented on behalf of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Divabetic.

Thursday, May 23, 2013 12PM- 1PM

Jefferson Alumni Hall , First Floor Eakins Lounge

10th and Locust Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Register: 1-800-JEFF-NOW  

Can’t make it? Tune in to Divabetic’s free monthly podcasts, Diabetes Roundtable on blogtalkradio and/or join Divabetic’s Facebook Fan and Groups pages for daily information and inspiration.

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

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

Please join Divabetic’s growing facebook community.

Mother Your Diabetes: Plate Your Snacks

Mother Your Diabetes

Mama Rose Marie’s Mother Your Diabetes tip featured on May’s Diabetes Roundtable is to PLATE YOUR SNACKS.

“When you eat straight out of the bag and you’re guaranteed to eat more, whether it’s chips, pretzels, or cookies,” says Mama Rose Marie. “To stop yourself from eating the entire bag I suggest that you put a small portion on a plate, seal up the bag and put it away, then sit down and enjoy your snack.The danger of snacks is that they can become more like extra meals if you go overboard using a plate is one way to stop yourself from overeating.”

Mother-to-be, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge,  is inspiring 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?

Mr. Divabetic adds a ‘divabetic’ twist to Kate Middleton’s palace life, pregnancy and interests to  infuse our Hot Topic discussion, 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, Stephanie Garber PharmD, CDE, Mama Rose Marie, Digital Divas, Molly Lepeska from 100Campaign and Liz Wolff, the owner of CURE Thrift Shop who is living with type 1 diabetes.

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

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

 

Please join Divabetic’s growing facebook community.

New Gluten-Free Products Surge in Stores

Divabetic Gluten Free Foods

“So far this year, more than 18% of the new food products put into stores make a gluten-free claim,” said Tom Vierhile, innovation insights director at Datamonitor Consumer, which tracks the introduction of new products into the U.S. market.. That’s compared with 11.5% in 2012 and 11.7% in 2011.

Many of the more recent new products are in the snack-food category, Vierhile said.

Many supermarkets and stores like Target, Walgreens and KMart have entire sections set aside for dozens of crackers, cookies, baking mixes, pretzels and chips made with flours that don’t contain wheat, such as corn, rice or chickpeas.

It’s estimated that about a third of Americans are trying to avoid gluten — some to manage the serious disease called celiac, some for less serious allergies or intolerance and some because going gluten-free has become something of a fad.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

From Jan. 1, 2012, to May 14 of this year, the top five categories with new products making the gluten-free claim and the number of new products, including various flavors and sizes were: cereal bars (297); savory snacks (272); potato chips (162); chocolate (149) and sugar confections, such as hard candies (143).

You might be scratching your head wondering why hard candy or potato chips need to put a gluten-free label on their products, but it turns out there’s a reason that really matters to people who have celiac disease. They can be sickened by eating something that’s made in the same facility with gluten-containing products.

The federal government is soon to issue a definition of gluten-free that would likely mean a product could have no more than 20 parts per million of gluten, but for now there are private certification companies that issue a seal.

“There is probably an upper limit to the market for gluten-free, but it isn’t clear that this limit has been reached yet,” Vierhile said.

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

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

Please join Divabetic’s growing facebook community.

More Than Skin Deep: A Film About Aging And Self-Esteem

Divabetic Documentaries

After spending a summer volunteering at the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield, Connecticut, filmmaker David Gaynes returned to direct and produce the provocative, but brief More Than Skin Deep: A Documentary About Self-Esteem, Aging, and Hairdressing. The Jewish Home for the Elderly is home to 300 female residents. Of these 300, approximately 298 women have regular appointments at the beauty shop located within the nursing home. More Than Skin Deep is a unique exploration of the importance that this weekly ritual has in the life of the facility’s residents, all of whom are women between the ages of 80 and 100.

“Hair is an important part of your body,” says one resident. Taking care of this body part is an important and obvious outcome of going to the beauty shop. However, Gaynes’ focus on six distinctive residents makes it clear that going to the beauty shop is good for the residents’ mental as well as physical health. Sandy, the beauty shop manager, says that looking good makes the women feel better. The beauty shop staff obviously cares about their elderly clients and often the older women will tell the beauticians about aspects of their lives they do not otherwise divulge.

Keeping the regular beauty shop appointments provides an opportunity for the residents to circumvent their usual routine of taking medications, playing bingo, or going to concerts. The staff’s regular interactions with the aged women ease some of the burden of being lonely. The staff speaks respectfully of the residents, demonstrating and delivering concern and even physical affection. They provide another benefit – perhaps the best one articulated in Gaynes’ film – a connection not just to others outside the home, but to that part of the residents that resides in the past with their youth and physical beauty.

Though More Than Skin Deep focuses on this particular diversion from the routine of living in a nursing home, it does not evade the complex issues associated with growing older. The six residents talk about their physical limitations and infirmities – arthritis, senility, hearing loss, depression and osteoporosis, especially common in women. They speak directly of personal loss and loneliness, and most have accepted the inevitability of their own death. In fact, the six women at the heart of the documentary seem to embrace the standard concerns of the elderly more easily as a result of keeping their regular appointments at the beauty shop. In this way, More Than Skin Deep communicates a powerful message about how truly simple pleasures can easily improve the daily severity of nursing home life.

LEARN MORE: http://www.fanlight.com/catalog/films/363_mtsd.php

Serve, Taste or Trash! Game at Apollo Theater

Beyonce joins ‘Mangos & Magnolias’ Stage Show at TCOYD

Mangos & Magnolias

Tomorrow, the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic kicks off his newest diabetes outreach stage show called “Mangos & Magnolias” at the Taking Control Of Your Diabetes Conference & Health Fair in Savannah, GA on Saturday, May 18, 2013. 

This interactive stage show promises to be a sweet one with it’s  fruity combination of nutrition advice, fun workouts, games and prizes and a dash of Southern charm.

“This is our first time visiting Savannah, GA so it’s gonna be a BIG SHOW!,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “I can’t wait to meet all the ‘Divas & Dudes’ so I’m bringing more games, more prizes, more fun and of course, more DIVAS”

In addition to the popular show segments like ‘Dancing In Cars’ Chair Cardio Routines and ‘Single Ladies/Single Servings’ Portion Games and Carb Kitty, the new program features new games such as ‘Mangos & Magnolias’ Diabetes IQ and a Cowboy-inspired fitness demonstration called ‘Rawhide Workouts.’ 

Mangos & Magnolias

The eclectic show’s soundtrack features Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Stronger’, Betty Wright’s ‘Clean Up Woman,’  Selena Gomez ‘Who Says’, Gypsy Kings version of ‘Volare’, Nicki Minaj’s ‘Starships,’ Whitney Houston’s ‘Step By Step,’  ‘Gone With the Wind,’ ‘Rocky’ and “Rawhide’ theme songs, Beyonce’s ‘Love On Top’ and ‘Single Ladies’, Grace Jones ‘Pull Up To The Bumper,’ Shirley Bassey’s ‘I Am What I Am’ and the Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson duet ‘Best Things In Life Are Free.’ 

Plus, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE presents  the ‘Queen of Hearts’ Advice on Blood Pressure Monitoring at Home.  A sneak preview of the  upcoming ‘Diabetes Fairy Tales’ main stage presentation at the ADA Expo in Pittsburgh along with  diabetes talking points from the film, Steel Magnolias and some of Scarlett O’Hara’s attitude to empower women to manage their diabetes with confidence, knowledge and inspiration complete the program.  

Special Guests: Mama Rose Marie, Stan ‘The Announcer Man’ and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE.

Prize giveaways compliments of Werther’s Original Sugar Free, CVS Pharmacy, dLife, Crystal Light, Cabot Cheese and Dr. Scholl’s. 

LISTEN NOW:  ”Blood Sugars, Babies & Belly Bumps” hosted by Mr. Divabetic http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/05/14/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kate-middleton

‘Eye Candy’ Calendar Coming Soon

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 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, 2013 in Chelsea, NY. If you are interested please send face and body shots for consideration to mrdivabetic@gmail.com

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.

10 Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance

Divabetic Serve Taste or Trash

Serve, Taste or Trash! Game podcasts and videos encourage people to become more open minded eaters and learn to love the foods they hate. But in some instances an adventurous palette may lead you to foods that don’t agree with you.

Lately, everyone’s talking about gluten-free foods. Many people living with diabetes are also living with celiac disease. Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats. No treatment can cure celiac disease. However, you can effectively manage celiac disease by changing your diet and eliminating foods containing gluten.

It’s hard to imagine that there are more than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It’s estimated that 99% of the people who have either gluten intolerance or celiac disease are never diagnosed.

It is also estimated that as much as 15% of the US population is gluten intolerant. Could you be one of them?

If you have any of the following symptoms it could be a sign that you have gluten intolerance:

1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation. I see the constipation particularly in children after eating gluten.

1. Keratosis Pilaris, (also known as ‘chicken skin’ on the back of your arms). This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.

1. Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.
2. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis.
3. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance.
4. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or unexplained infertility.
5. Migraine headaches.
6. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pin point the cause of your fatigue or pain.
7. Inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips.
8. Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and ADD.

How to test for gluten intolerance?

I have found the single best ways to determine if you have an issue with gluten is to do an elimination diet and take it out of your diet for at least 2 to 3 weeks and then reintroduce it. Please note that gluten is a very large protein and it can take months and even years to clear from your system so the longer you can eliminate it from your diet before reintroducing it, the better.

The best advice that I share with my patients is that if they feel significantly better off of gluten or feel worse when they reintroduce it, then gluten is likely a problem for them.  In order to get accurate results from this testing method you must elimination 100% of the gluten from your diet.

How to treat gluten intolerance?

Eliminating gluten 100% from your diet means 100%. Even trace amounts of gluten from cross contamination or medications or supplements can be enough to cause an immune reaction in your body.

The 80/20 rule or “we don’t eat it in our house, just when we eat out” is a complete misconception. An article published in 2001 states that for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity eating gluten just once a month increased the relative risk of death by 600%.

LISTEN NOW: Serve Taste or Trash! Game podcast featuring 3 delicious gluten-free recipes http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/01/29/serve-taste-or-trash-1

Angelina Jolie’s Double Mastectomy

Divabetic

Angelina Jolie revealed to The New York Times that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy back in April after she learned that she was at high risk for both breast and ovarian cancer. Now, Hollywood is standing behind the 37-year-old mother-of-six, with everyone from Giuliana Rancic to Elizabeth Banks speaking out in support of Jolie.

Having lost her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to breast cancer and knowing the pain of such a loss, Jolie said she did not want her kids to ever have to suffer like she did. “My mother fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was,” Jolie writes in an op-ed piece.

“We often speak of mommy’s mommy, and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a faulty gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.”

Jolie said she decided to open up about the surgery because she wanted to educate and empower other women who might be at risk to do the same. The Girl, Interrupted actress will be joining the likes of Christina Applegate, Sharon Osbourne, Wanda Sykes, Kathy Bates, Montel Williams and Giuliana Rancic who all have undergone double mastectomies.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable podcast focused on “Breast Cancer & Diabetes” http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/10/09/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-nicki-minaj

Can Women Who Are Halle Berry’s Age Have Healthy Babies?

May’s Diabetes Roundtable

Halle Berry, the 46-year-old actress, who is expecting her second child, worked her pregnancy glow while enjoying a lunch out with fiance Olivier Martinez and 5-year-old daughter Nahla for Mother’s Day.

The number of women giving birth into their 40s, like Halle Berry, and 50s and beyond is at record highs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2007, 105,071 women aged 40-44 gave birth, the highest rate since 1968; the birth rate for women 45 to 54 was 7,349, an increase of 5% in just one year.

“The numbers have really skyrocketed over the last two decades, as research has increasingly shown that older women are able to carry pregnancies and deliver babies safely,” says Mark Sauer, MD, chief of reproductive endocrinology at Columbia University Medical Center and a leading researcher in this field.

A healthy 42-year-old with no medical problems who is in good physical shape and conceives naturally is likely to have just as nice a pregnancy as a woman who is a decade younger,” says Laura Riley, MD, a maternal-fetal-medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and chairwoman of the communications committee of the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. “But there are a fair number of women in their mid-40s getting pregnant through IVF who have a ‘touch’ of hypertension, are a little overweight, or are prediabetic, and that’s where we start running into problems.”

Older women are increasingly at risk for potentially deadly complications. A 2002 University of Southern California study, for example, found that 26% of women ages 50 to 54 suffered from preeclampsia (a life-threatening condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine), and 13% developed gestational diabetes (a temporary form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy)—and that number soared to 60% and 40%, respectively, for those over the age of 55.

“I’m thinking that this is a miracle,” Halle Berry said about her second pregnancy. “I feel really happy. It’s one of the best things that happened in my life, for sure.”

Berry announced she was expecting her first child with Martinez on Apr. 5. “This has been the biggest surprise of my life, to tell you the truth,” she confessed to CNN. “Thought I was kind of past the point where this could be a reality for me. So it’s been a big surprise and the most wonderful.”

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic talks to Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE about the potential health risks related to pregnancy for older women on May’s Diabetes Roundtable podcast.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable podcast inspired by Kate Middleton http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/05/14/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kate-middleton