Diabetes Fairytales: Snow White By Lorraine Brooks

Poet Lorraine Brooks reimagines Snow White living with diabetes to help illustrate practical ways to manage your diabetes on Divabetic’s Diabetes Fairytales podcast.

Snow White by Lorraine Brooks

You’ve got seven people who help you to grow
And we cannot do it alone, this I know!
Who’s on your health team, please tell us Snow White please tell us tonight!
“My endocrinologist keeps my numbers tight.”

And who else does help you with what’s on your plate?
“A nutritionist helps me plan meals that taste great.”

And what for your eyes, so your vision is clear?
“My ophthalmologist treats my eyes with care.”
We all need some feedback sooner or later –
“I work with a diabetes educator!”

Sometimes emotions can make us feel low.
“It’s OK to talk to my therapist though.”
You have to stay active so you’ll be complete.
“Podiatrists work to take care of my feet!”

Snow White, even with diabetes, you rock!
“I pay regular visits to my family doc!”
Let’s take a lesson from Snow White and her team –
Diabetes can’t stop you from living your dream!

Take a page from Snow White’s playbook and create your diabetes care team to stay on top of your self-care. You are the most essential member of your care team. And your team depends on you to tell them how you feel. You may work with several healthcare professionals. Your diabetes care team can include Primary Care Provider, Endocrinologist, Optometrist, Podiatrist, Pharmacist, Dentist, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Therapist, and Fitness Professional.

In addition to your healthcare team, your family and friends can be vital to managing your diabetes, helping with your emotional well-being, attending a doctor’s visit, and supporting you in an emergency.

A few years back, Mr. Divabetic and his merry band of diabetes educators presented Diabetes Fairytales in the Divabetic Pavilion at the American Diabetes Association’s Expo in Pittsburgh, PA. We featured nine popular Fairy Tales, including Snow White, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Beauty & The Beast, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and more! The Diabetes Fairy Tales stage show also included Little Red Riding Hood self-care games, 3 Bears fitness demonstrations, Hansel and Gretel Food Aisle Face-Offs, and diabetes care advice for damsels in distress from the experts.

Listen to Divabetic’s Diabetes Fairytales podcast featuring Connie Frazier RD, CDCES, Lori Bednarz RN, CDCEs, Makeup Artist and Esthetician Sue Perez, Lorraine Brooks, Lorraine Starsky RN, and Neva White CRNP, CDCES.

Favorite Podcasts: Diabetes Roundtable live from ADA Expo

Divabetic

July marks the fifth year anniversary of podcasting diva-style. To celebrate the occasion we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite podcasts. One of Mr. Divabetic’s favorite moments was working was hosting a live remote broadcast in the Divabetic Pavilion of the ADA EXPO in Pittsburgh, PA.

“This is hands down one of my favorite podcasts,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “We never had done a live remote before so the results are hysterical. There we were running around the EXPO floor, interviewing participants, describing the atmosphere and sharing key diabetes self-care strategies. It was a blast!”

The EXPO is FREE and includes health screenings, cooking demonstrations, product and service exhibitors, as well as leading experts talking about diabetes management, research and prevention. Get the latest information on preventing and managing diabetes and its deadly complications to help keep you and your family healthy.

Visit the American Diabetes Association EXPO Pittsburgh and Join the Millions® in the fight to Stop Diabetes®. Learn how to live healthy, be active and change the future of diabetes for you and your family.

 

Divabetic broadcasts live from the American Diabetes Association Expo, in Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Divabetic takes you on the floor and behind the scenes of one of the largest events for people living with, at risk of and affected by diabetes.

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable live from Pittsburgh ADA Expo

Let Divabetic Be Your Fairy Godmother at ADA Expo

Diabetes Fairy Tales

With a wave of our magic wand, Divabetic’s turning boring lecture style diabetes outreach into a big, bedazzling stage show extravaganza, Diabetes Fairy Tales, to be presented for the first-time at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Expo in Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, November 9, 2013.

The program is based on nine popular Fairy Tales including Snow White, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Beauty & The Beast, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood and more! The Diabetes Fairy Tales stage show will also feature Little Red Riding Hood self-care games, 3 Bears fitness demonstrations, Hansel and Gretel Food Aisle Face-Offs, and diabetes care advice for damsels in distress from the experts.

“Fairy tales aren’t just for children. Adults need them too. They can help us feel like we can conquer our fears,” says Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek.

Joining the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic to present “Diabetes Fairy Tales” will be  Connie Frazier RD, CDE, Lori Bednarz RN, CDE and  Lorraine Starsky RN. 

In celebration of Divabetic’s sixth year of headlining the ADA Expo, the Divabetic Pavilion with feature Cinderella’s carriage, colorful, oversized fairy tale books, Old Mother Hubbard’s rocking chair, the witch’s broom, the Magic Forest bushes and trees provided courtesy of Pittsburgh CLO, an organization that produces Broadway-quality musicals in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.

Learn how to manage your diabetes from the perspective of your favorite princess, prince, hero or heroine. LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Fairy Tales podcast  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/05/28/diabetes-fairy-tales

Expo Pittsburgh Takes Out-of-the-Box Approach to Diabetes Education

Mr Divabetic

Nearly 26 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and another 79 million have pre-diabetes or are at risk of developing the disease. Recent estimates predict that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes by 2050. But while the statistics are staggering, there is some hope.

“Knowledge is power,” explained Patricia Bononi, MD, medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center, Allegheny Health Network. “When people know about the resources available to them to manage their diabetes or have access to programs to help prevent diabetes, it empowers them.”

This is the goal of the American Diabetes Association Expo Pittsburgh, now in its 13^th year. This free event, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh, offers health screenings, cooking demonstrations and product and service exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in diabetes management and prevention. Leading experts will talk about the latest issues in diabetes care, including how to deal with complications of the disease, how to raise a healthy family and ways to live a healthier lifestyle with the goal of managing or preventing the disease.

“Everything on the floor at Expo Pittsburgh is about healthier living,” explained Terri Seidman, associate director, American Diabetes Association. “Our speakers and workshops will cover a range of subjects pertaining to diabetes, while our Move and Groove floor will offer people the chance to stay active all day, whether they like Zumba, line dancing or even yoga.

“The cooking demonstrations are always a hit, and we’re also offering free health screenings to help people determine if they are already at risk of developing the disease,” she continued. Screenings include foot, eye, cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI and A1C (estimated average blood glucose) testing as well as a diabetes risk assessment.

The event is also focused on family fun, with an arts-and-crafts area set up for kids and even a skating rink on-site. Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek and his merry band of diabetes educators will present the stage show extravaganza Diabetic Management Skills Inspired by Fairy Tales, using popular fairy tales to help audience members understand more about the disease.

DIABETES FAIRY TALES:   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/05/28/diabetes-fairy-tales

“It’s a very out-of-the-box way to teach people about diabetes, but we want this to be a fun, energetic day where people learn more about the disease in an enjoyable way,” said Seidman. “We want to take diabetes education out of a clinical setting with white coats and put it into a nontraditional setting that people find motivating.”

Dr. Bononi, an endocrinologist, has been involved in the Expo Pittsburgh for the past six years and will be supporting the Allegheny Health Network booth at the event and participating in Mr. Divabetic’s program. “Diabetes is a very important issue to my patients and to me, and this Expo gives them access to information about cutting-edge diabetes care going on in this area as well as nationally,” she explained. “As one of the largest expos in the country, this event has been very successful over the years in providing education and empowering people to learn more about the disease.”

While the day is full of fun, it is hoped that those who attend take home information that they can use. “We want everyone to learn something that they can apply to their lifestyles,” said Seidman. “If they learn even one thing—like how to read the back of food labels, or that moving doesn’t have to be laborious or in a gym, or even how to make a healthier Thanksgiving meal—they’ve gained awareness that they didn’t have before.”

Parking for Expo Pittsburgh is available at the Convention Center and there is also a bus stop nearby. For more information and to pre-register for the event, visit http://www.diabetes.org/expopittsburgh or call 1-888-DIABETES Ext. 4608. Walk-ins are also welcome and can register on-site.

“Reprinted with permission from the Western Pennsylvania Guide To Good Health, Fall 2013 By Vanessa Orr”

LISTEN NOW: September’s Diabetes Roundtable podcast http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/09/10/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-gloria-estefan

Wednesday’s World Premiere Video: Live from the Red Carpet At ADA Expo

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at the 2012 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Expo in Pittsburgh, PA. The EXPO is FREE and includes health screenings, cooking demonstrations, product and service exhibitors, as well as leading experts talking about diabetes management, research and prevention. Get the latest information on preventing and managing diabetes and its deadly complications to help keep you and your family healthy.

Visit the American Diabetes Association EXPO/Pittsburgh and Join the Millions℠ in the fight to Stop Diabetes®. Learn how to live healthy, be active, and change the future of diabetes for you and your family.

GLAM MORE FEAR LESS: The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at the 68th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Chaka Khan celebrating National Diabetes Awareness Month with guests: Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, Pam Butler MS, CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, cookbook author Holly Clegg, Mama Rose Marie and Ginger Vieira, from Burlington, VT living with type 1 diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/11/13/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-chaka-kahn

Mr Divabetic shares a Behind-the-Scene look at presenting diabetes education with DAZZLE at the ADA Expo in Pittsburgh, PA for the past five years

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org 

Giligan’s Island Inspires Diabetes Outreach at ADA Expo

The TV show, Giligan’s Island is inspiring Divabetic’s newest diabetes educational stage show debuting on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at this year’s American Diabetes Association’s Expo in Pittsburgh, PA.  The show’s goal is to help men and women living with diabetes learn how to ‘THRIVE’ not just ‘SURVIVE’ with diabetes so they can avoid diabetes health-related complications.

“The seven characters of the TV show: Ginger, Giligan, MaryAnn, The Skipper, The Professor and the Howells provide the perfect backdrop for us to discuss a wide array of issues concerning diabetes self-care in fun, new way,” says Mr. Divabetic.

Ginger embodies our ‘GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS’ mantra while MaryAnn’s passion for coconut cream pie provides an opportunity for our educators to show people how they can have their cake and eat it too!”, he adds.

The 45 minute, live action show features healthy living advice on nutrition and self-care, fun food games, fitness demonstrations and hot tropical discussions on diabetes with local healthcare professionals. The show’s running hourly from 9 – 4 PM.

Mr. Divabetic plays his nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! with New Yorkers at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Central Park

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes ‘PINK FRIDAY’ Podcast Inspired by Nicki Minaj saluting Breast Cancer Survivors living with diabetes and  raising awareness for Domestic Violence with guests: Connie Frazier RD, CDE, Kathy Gold RN, CDE, Catherine Schuller, Connie Elder, Mama Rose Marie and Leola C., from Grand Rapids, MI living with type 1 diabetes http://ning.it/PUQy9B

See Mr. Divabetic’s nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash!  You must decide which one you’d serve, which one you’d taste and which one you’d trash.

Before you decide to “trash” a veggie for good, why not try to eat it raw? Raw veggies can be more appetizing than their cooked counterparts to people who aren’t crazy about vegetables. The flavors of raw veggies can be milder than those of cooked ones.

Meet Mr. Divabetic on his quest to glamorize good health at the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Expo in Pittsburgh, PA.