LA Event: Makeover Maze Is The Star Of The Show

Hi Divas,

Here’s a recap of our recent 'makeover' event at the Paramount Studios in LA. Over 300 women attended the event. Author, motivational speaker and proud DIVAbetic, Mother Love, was a wonderful guest host. She was friendly, funny, kind and caring to all our guests. Special Guest Pat Prescott, from the 94.7 THE WAVE radio station, helped us to kick off the event with a passionate welcoming speech and local guest DJ, Zappman, kept the music pumping all day long.

MAKEOVER MAZE guest stars included life coach, Dana Hariton, (Sweet Inspirations), CDE, RD Carole Yass (Grab Green & Go), LA fitness boot camp instructor, Candice (Twist & Shout), original DIVAbetic, Seveda Williams (Diva For The Day.)

The winning favorite MAKEOVER MAZE station was the newest kid on the block, TUNNEL OF LOVE focusing on love and relationships.

Our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS fashion show, featuring over 40 women of all sizes, shapes and ages, was presented in the luscious Paramount Theater and opened with the world premiere of our ‘Pass the Boa’ slide show featuring diva portraits of power from all our past ‘makeover’ events. We hosted our biggest team of volunteer makeup, hair and manicure specialists ever! Paramount Studios treated our visiting team to a free VIP tour and even provided 3 collector DREAM GIRLS dolls (with costume changes) to help us recognize and reward three women who were living with diabetes the longest at our event. All three ‘DREAM GIRL’ women were shining examples of good health, sparkling personalities and unfailing determination.

Several members of our ever-growing DIVABETIC family were in the house. We had representatives from West Palm Beach (Gay, Eric and Karline), Philadelphia (Bess), Menlo Park (Bill, Terry, Valerie, Gianna, Nick), San Diego (James), Dallas (Robin, Molly and family) and New York City (Johanna, Danielle, Carole, Dana, Seveda) on hand to help us to enrich the lives of women at risk of, affected by or living with diabetes.

Here's a e-mail from one of our lovely LA attendees:

"I attended the event in Los Angeles on June 16, 2007. Thank you for putting together such an informative and fun event. From the moment I approached the registration table I felt welcomed and comfortable. Diagnosed in February of 2003 I've struggled through the ups and downs of this disease, Type 2 diabetes. I consider myself to be pretty informed on the subject, but learned some new things and met some wonderful people at the event, not to mention my spirits were uplifted, as the week before they were a bit down after a discussion with my doctor. Again, thank you again for putting on such a great event."

Best,
Karyn

Upcoming Novo Nordisk Presents Divabetic - Makeover Events:

Saturday, September 15: Washington DC
featuring our very first ‘BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS’ on Sunday, September 16
Saturday, September 29: Cleveland, OH with Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland (dagc.org)

Thursday, July 12: Free DIVABETIC Meeting at the McBurney YMCA featuring belly dancing
Friday, July 13: Free DIVABETIC Meeting at the AVON Training Center in Harlem

Patti LaBelle Declares Herself A 'Diva-betic'!

Yesterday, as I was running errands to get ready for our monthly free DIVABETIC meeting and I stopped by the NYC Chapter of the ADA. Sexy and fabulous ADA Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Dionne Polite, graciously packed a box of essential diabetes education materials for me to hand out at our meeting. Well, I happened to see the Diabetes Forecast magazine article featuring Patti LaBelle on the cover. I opened the magazine and practically fell out of my chair when I read the caption that said, "I'm a diva-betic!" in big pink type. Wow! What a moment.Thanks, Patti for making our day!

May Meeting Update -- How Satisfied Are You With Your Current Health Care?

If you missed last night's meeting here's a quick recap. Our meeting started with a lively tai chi demonstration from writer, Diabetes Positive contributor and DESA board member, Judith Jones Ambrosini. Afterwards, Judith announced that the newly formed New York City Chapter of DESA (Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association) will be hosting their first event, a walking tour of Central Park, in June. This month's meeting topic was: 'How Satisfied Are You With Your Current Health Care.' Women with both type and type 2 diabetes freely admitted to being disappointment with their doctors and current care providers as well asa to being frustrated by the confusing messages regarding self-care. There were a lot of questions about if and when it's okay to raise your voice at your doctor's office and demand better care. The answer, by the way, was a resounding, "yes!" Joy Pape, RN, CDE, answered various questions about the 'normal' range for numbers as well as what's the difference between an 'RD' and nutritionist for the group. Joy stressed the need for all us to go to our doctors before making any changes in our care. Bernie Hughes from Dexcom also joined us with a product preview of the Continuous Glucose Monitor. Our local NYC chapter of the ADA provided free materials to help our divas find more local and online resources to help them build a better healthcare team along with brochures about Duane Reade's free diabetes education program.

New divas attending their first meeting included: Iris and Jean. Vanetta had the biggest diva 'win' of the month! She completed her goal to keep a very detailed food journal to present to her doctor at her next visit. Tomorrow's her doctor's appointment! Way to go! And, Happy 'DB-Day' to Danielle - you look fabulous!

NEXT MEETING:
June's Topic: You Are NOT Your Number! Hosted by: Phyllis (NYC Meeting Leader) & Leslie (Membership Coordinator)
Thursday, June 14, 7-9 PM at the McBurney YMCA

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
ENERGY UP! YEAR END CELEBRATION. Monday, June 25th - Meet RuPaul and Katie Couric. Help encourage young women to stay healthy and upbeat about their bodies, minds and spirits at the annual ENERGY UP! Year End Party hosted by our favorite fitness guru, High Voltage, in midtown Manhattan. 5-9 PM. More details to follow

DIABETES HEALTH Announces The Debut of the 'Tunnel Of Love'

Divabetic Diabetes Program Adds a Tunnel of Love to Its Educational Offerings
Linda von Wartburg
9 May 2007

With its focus on the feminine and its message of community, Novo Nordisk’s Divabetic program is currently making its way across the nation. At Divabetic events, women are invited to explore a “Makeover Maze” of personalized diabetes education that’s light-years from the standard sterile clinical setting.
In an atmosphere of warm and convivial conversation, they learn from diabetes experts and from each other while sprucing up their personal appearance and listening to motivational speakers about how to live well with diabetes. In response to past participants’ expressed desire for more opportunity to talk about intimate issues, Divabetic has just launched the Tunnel of Love, a new educational station in the Makeover Maze where women can talk about how diabetes affects their sexual health and how best to manage their diabetes during pregnancy. It’s an opportunity for them to communicate concerns that they might be otherwise reticent to discuss, while getting answers from experts and support from their fellow Divabetics.
Divabetic is due to appear next in Los Angeles on June 16, 2007, so if a celebration of diabetes education appeals to you, go to www.divabetic.org or www.changingdiabetes-us.com and register for the event.


THE MARCH TO THE PENGUINS

This past Sunday, April 29th, DIVABETIC hosted over 120 participants at our first-ever family fitness program, MARCH TO THE PENGUINS. We co-presented this unique diabetes outreach program, which was developed with the staff from the Hall Family Center for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at Mount Sinai Hospital, to encourage families affected by diabetes to 'team up' and fit fitness into their busy lifestyles. Families affected by or at risk of diabetes were invited to attend this free program.

After visiting DIVABETIC’s 3 interactive educational stations, 'Good, Better, Best', designed to encourage healthier lifestyle (goals, food and fitness) choices in families in the medical offices of Mount Sinai hospital, our 'penguin' walking teams of 10 stopped by Pedro’s Pedometer Palace to receive their official MARCH TO THE PENGUINS snack packs provided by ANIMAS CORP. (filled with a light lunch, water, pedometer and diabetes information) and then posed for photos with Dr. Rapport, the head of the Peiatric department, and their walk team captains (DIVABETIC volunteers) before leaving the offices. Each team entered Central Park at East 98th Street and then proceeded south on the walking trails of the park and stopped at our 3 designated exercise stations (jumping jacks/stretches, lunges, resistance bands/stretch), along the way hosted by the instructors from the Ultimate Karate studios in Harlem. The walk was approximately 2 miles and took our teams over one hour to complete. All eleven teams met at the pond at 72nd Street where we held a healthy picnic, awarded raffle prizes (including prizes from Pressman Toys, AVON, DIVABETIC and Nickelodeon) and presented a diabetes discussion lead by Joy Pape, RN, CDE before heading directly to the penguin exhibit at the Central Park Zoo. Once we reached the Central Park Zoo families were allowed free entrance to the zoo for remainder of the day.

Our next family oriented outreach program will be SCARY POTTER'S BROOMSTICK BASH on Friday, October 26th in the Main Lobby of Mount Sinai Hospital, followed by the faith-based program, The 3rd ANNUAL DIVABETIC HAT BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS on Friday, November 9th at Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon.

DIVABETIC Opens The Tunnel Of Love

Since we kicked off of our national tour of Novo Nordisk Presents Divabetic - Makeover Your Diabetes outreach events, geared towards women affected by, at risk of or living with diabetes and their guests, in February 2007, our staff has found that taking diabetes education out of the clinical setting often times means talking about more aspects of diabetes care than just women's A1C numbers. In the five various cities around the country where the program has already been presented women have expressed interest in learning ways to overcome other issues regarding their diabetes care such as burn-out, depression and often, a lack of desire.

“Women who come to our events want to talk about the things they don’t like to talk about with their doctors, like sex,” says Max Szadek. “I guess it’s because our team wears t-shirts instead of lab coats!”

In response to this interest from divas, DIVABETIC has added a new station to the event’s interactive diabetes education component, THE MAKEOVER MAZE, called the Tunnel of Love. At the Tunnel Of Love, local CDE’s and guest host, Mother Love, will discuss several topics including: the role of lovers, caregivers, and friends and how to effectively help, support, and encourage the people we love living with diabetes as well as how sexual desires and responses are affected by diabetes with participants. Plus, women will have the opportunity to discuss the best ways to manage their diabetes during pregnancy.

“It’s become clear to us that the popularity of our programming is a result of developing new, entertaining ways for people to learn about EVERY aspect of their diabetes and not just what’s tried and true,” said Max Szadek. “Since our education is so personalized (women and their guests interact with CDE’s on a one-to-one basis) we have the opportunity to change topics from city to city and alter our presentation to accomodate their needs."

The Tunnel of Love will make its debut at Novo Nordisk Presents Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes at the Paramount Theater at the Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, on Saturday, June 16th. This event also features personalized diabetes education on food, fitness, foot care, blood pressure as well as an assortment of free spa and salon services such as mini-massages, manicures, makeup applications and image consultations for guests. For more information or to register go to: divabetic.org or changingdiabetes-us.com

DIVABETIC Does Dallas!

Our fabulous 'makeover' team just got returned home from a wonderful trip to Dallas in support of our diabetes outreach event, Novo Nordisk Presents Divabetic~Makeover Your Diabetes. Over 200 Texan women (and a few from Oklahoma City) attended this brand new approach to diabetes outreach guaranteed to make you feel better about yourself and your health at the Crescent Court Hotel. One thing's for sure, Dallas women have spirit! The enthusiastic roars and applause we received from our guests at the kick off kept the energy of the room building all day. I can still hear the screams!! Joy Pape and her team in our Denial's Not My Style station won our MOST FAVORITE station award. Past winners include SWEET INSPIRATIONS and GRAB GREEN & GO! We also unveiled our very first DIVA OF THE DAY, the lovely Belinda, in Dallas. Belinda took the challenge of visiting every component of our program and talking to each team member individually before returning back on stage during the finale and revealing her newly informed 'inner' DIVA as well as her newly styled 'outer' DIVA. And boy, what a reveal it was! She looked stunning. Belinda's wonderful insights and words of encouragement also helped us to guide our guests to greater glory.

We're now looking forward to heading west to meet more divas in Los Angeles this June when we present our program at the Paramount Studios. This is one diabetes outreach event with dazzle you don't want to miss! Once again, I'd like to thank Novo Nordisk, the world leader in diabetes care, and their amazing staff of Dallas representatives for helping us with our outreach efforts and for showing us such a wonderful time!

Makeover Your Diabetes Day at Karline's in Palm Beach on Monday, April 30th

Don't Miss ... "Makeover Your Diabetes Day" in Palm Beach, Florida
Monday, April 30, 2007, 6-8pm

This month’s featured topic, "O Taste and See" focuses on healthy eating and meal preparation. Sharon Greene, Health Promotion and Education Director of the Palm Beach County Health Department, will facilitate the program and will guide participants on how to develop a plan to change their eating habits.The program also features healthy refreshments, including sugar-free cheesecake courtesy of Rima’s Cheesecake and More (Boynton Beach, FL), hand and foot massages and tai chi stretch breaks conducted by Ms. Alice Winn of Riviera Beach, FL. Each participant will receive a "Diva Diary" to track and monitor weight and lifestyle patterns. All participants will be eligible for a drawing to win a glucose meter, courtesy of Dr. Steven Kanner of West Palm Beach, FL, and a $40.00 gift certificate, courtesy of Karline’s.

Sponsored by Karline's of the Palm Beaches, Divabetic and the Palm Beach County Health Department

Karline’s of the Palm Beaches
4047 Okeechobee Boulevard, Suite 230
West Palm Beach, FL

For more information or to pre-register for the 4/30/07 program, call 561-932-0103

MARCH TO THE PENGUINS on April 29th

Join us for DIVABETIC's first family outing of the year! Come learn how to make exercise a part of your family's healthy lifestyle with complimentary passes to the Central Park Zoo > including a picnic lunch, pedometers and raffle prizes plus tours of the penguin exhibit!

Where: Meet at The Hall Family Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Annenberg Building, 4th floor, Madison Ave. at E.100th Street

When: Sunday April 29th, 12 noon

Space is limited. Must RSVP with your name and phone number to:
Helaine Ciporen, Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, (212) 241-8727
vounteers needed! If you are interested in volunteering please contact: max@divabetic.org

DIVAS in the media -- on dLife & Diabetes Positive magazine!

In the coming months, you'll be able to see three sexy members of DIVABETIC's community -- Phyllis, Leslie and Dana -- on dLife. Recently, our version of 'Charlie's Angels' had the opportunity to participate in a new segment being developed for dLife to be presented later this Spring. Just for the record, Dana, is our resident life coach, while Phyllis volunteers as our Meeting Advisor and Leslie volunteers as our Membership Coordinator. I rely on these three 'dazzling, informed, vocal and active' women to help me shape DIVABETIC's programming and to advise me on the overall direction of organization. Without their insight, support, expertise and passion the amazing growth we’ve experienced over the last six months would not have been possible. Please keep your eye out for this three stunning women! Also, grab the newest copy of ‘Diabetes Positive’ magazine because ‘the Original Divabetic & Spokesmodel’ Seveda Williams is featured on the cover! Wow! If you’d like to share your story or you’d be willing to be featured in the media like these four women, please contact me at: max@divabetic.org

New Orleans Divas!

Last Saturday, March 31st we had the pleasure of presenting Novo Nordisk Presents Divabetic~Makeover Your Diabetes in New Orleans to over 250 women at risk of, affected by or living with diabetes with the help of local CDE. Barbara Gibson. Barbara was our 'all-star’ although the winning MAZE station was 'Grab Green & Go!" headed by Jessica Isler. This was the first time we’ve presented our 'show' during the day and we were all pleased with the results. Here's a comment from Toni Gadsden, one of our team members, "I FELT THAT PRESENTING THE PROGRAM DURING THE DAY WAS A TOTAL "WIN"! IT SEEMS THAT WE RECEIVED GAVE GREATER SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE VOLUNTEERS. THE COLLEGE STUDENTS' WILLINGNESS FOR AFTERNOON "WORK" SEEMS MORE ‘DO-ABLE’ THAN LATER IN THE EVENING" One of our favorite divas, DIVA PAL Arthel Neville, joined us during the program on stage to help me to announce the upcoming reopening of the New Orlean's chapter of the American Diabetes Association in early May as well as award some of our 'divas' with wonderful gifts and prizes from many of our vendors including Especially Yours. On a fun note, superstar stylist to the stars, Catherine Schuller, and I appeared on the local CBS Morning TV show on the Friday prior to the event with the help of sexy and sophisticated Jaclyn, the owner of the Voluptuous Vixen, It was a very first MORNING SHOW TV appearance and I was happy the 'whole team' could join us backstage in the green room (the lunch room) to be part of the experience. Our next stop is Dallas, Texas on April 21st. Don't miss it!

Valerie Bertinelli Is Ready to Get Slim

Former Sitcom Star, Now a Size 14, Vows to Lose 30 Pounds
Valerie Bertinelli, best known for her 1975-84 sitcom One Day at a Time, has landed a brand new role: Joining Kirstie Alley as the new celebrity face and body for Jenny Craig, PEOPLE reports in its new cover story.

The 5'2" Bertinelli, who turns 47 this month, vows to lose 30 lbs. by September (from a size 14 to a size 8). Going public with her goal "is the motivation I need," Bertinelli says. "I need to do this in front of millions of people so I can't mess up."

And, she adds: "It is freeing because I can say it first: I know what you're thinking: I'm fat." Read More at PEOPLE.com

DON'T GET DOWN, GET DIVA!

Recently, we have had the good fortune to meet hundreds of wonderful, sexy and beautiful women affected by diabetes in Atlanta and Philadelphia with the support of the world leader in diabetes care, Novo Nordisk. Now my team is getting ready to travel to six more cities to empower and encourage more women to take charge of their diabetes like divas! That’s right, we’re jumping in our pink Cadillac, dusting off the sequins, polishing the rhinestones and fluffing up the boas in order add some ‘spice & support’ to many more lives.

If by chance your city is not listed on our site –don’t get down, get diva!

RAISE YOUR VOICE and help us spread the word about this amazing outreach event developed for women. Did you know that a big part of our outreach efforts is actually just getting people to ‘open up’ and talk about diabetes? Well, we have found that the more people talk about their issues and concerns, the more we’re able to do to guide them to solutions and resources for help. No one should feel isolated or struggle with diabetes alone. ENCOURAGE SOMEONE you love with a friendly e-mail or comforting call about our program and boost their spirits. Your gesture might just be the key they need to overcome an obstacle or negative behavior pattern in their lives. Help us change attitudes about diabetes right now by furthering our efforts to build a national care network of women affected by diabetes. Contact a diva friend, sorority sister or family member living in one of the city’s we will be visiting and spread the word. It’s a great way to tell someone living with diabetes that you care!

DON'T FEEL LIKE A DIVA?

Take advantage of our free monthly 'DIVA' diabetes program aimed to get you back in the game. Meet other women, talk to certified diabetes educators and learn fabulous new skills from knitting to floral design to boost your spirits. Add some flavor to your behavior -- It's free and it's fun! (for more info: www.divabetic.org)

Next Meeting: January 8, 2007, 7-9 PM
McBurney YMCA located at 125 West 14th Street (between 6 & 7th Avenues)

Save The Date: Makeover Your Diabetes New York

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
The Biggest Diabetes Outreach Event of It's Kind ..
Novo Nordisk Presents 'Divabetic ~ Makeover Your Diabetes' Outreach Spectacular
Thursday, February 22, 2007
6- 9 PM, 5:30 Pre-Registration
Gotham Hall on Broadway at West 36th Street from 6-9 PM
check out this amazing venue: www.gothamhallevents.com

Start Spreading The News! Last year, thanks to the New York Chapter of the JDRF we threw the biggest 'MAKEOVER' event of its kind for women living with diabetes in New York City. This year, DIVABETIC's taking it to the next level with the support of the world's leader in diabetes care, Novo Nordisk, and inviting best-selling authors, fabulous boutiques, fitness experts, celebrity makeup artists, image consultants, chefs, live entertainers and the city's most sophisticated certified diabetes educators and registered dietitians to help you take charge of your diabetes like a diva!

Don't miss the most chic, stylish and TOTALLY FREE diabetes outreach event for women in New York City! Come enjoy complimentary spa and salon services (free makeup application, free manicures, free wardrobe consultations and free mini-massages) while learning about diabetes from a woman's perspective in our 'MAKEOVER MAZE.' The 'MAKEOVER MAZE' is a new, fun interactive five station way to customize diabetes education for women. Women and their guests travel from station to station learning how to 'glam more' and 'fear less' to stay healthy and upbeat about all the aspects of their care. Plus! Win prizes, have a diva-size photo shoot and meet other women just like you!

YOU, GO GIRL! Pre-register online at: www.divabetic.org

Enjoy Valentine's Day with Dave Koz

CD 101.9 Valentine's Concert with Dave Koz and Friends on February 14 at the Beacon Theatre!

Celebrate Valentine's Day with CD 101.9 Valentine's Concert with Dave Koz and Friends, featuring David Benoit and Jonathan Butler along with other special guests. Dave Koz is the latest contender for the instrumental pop saxophone throne. He is a world-renowned saxophonist who plays instrumental pop covers & upbeat tunes. Koz's latest album, At The Movies, hits stores on January 30. It's a lush, inspired collection of twelve timeless movie themes, underscoring the crucial role music plays in film.

Don't miss this romantic night of music: CD 101.9 Valentine's Concert with Dave Koz and Friends on February 14 at the Beacon Theatre!