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Divabetics: Presenting Wellness With A Wow

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    Nonprofit health organization supporting and empowering those living with diabetes

  • Duration 8:25
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Good to see are you having serial this morning for breakfast US coasters as it load it would -- And we love asking for a reason mr.

dean of -- -- here.

Next is they jackets here hi Matt how are you are expert and the sound good morning apparently tell everybody first of all your organization is called diva that makes the dot org that's the website by the -- guys who want to find out more -- -- -- -- talking about today.

His Twitter handle is at the mr.

Dina Bennett.

And we're talking with you next today because this is there's a website there it is fabulous just like you are very colorful Herrera colorful yes and we're talking we hadn't -- -- -- -- that November is national diabetes awareness month.

And this is something that's so near and dear to you.

To make sure that everybody.

Who really needs to have that information gets it.

But the reason you're wearing this fantastic jacket is because that -- speak so speaks volumes of your approach you are mr.

-- betting.

And principle what a great name and before we get into the details tell me the light -- moment when you came up -- been named diva -- The lightbulb moment happened at a tribute concert to Luther Vandross swear word for it and -- about this the ultimate deal up right -- on Broadway right now I got some Fella.

I was onstage performing a -- son and she stopped.

The -- and -- to the crowd that she was living with diabetes and that that is in control -- she controlled her diabetes.

And that's -- I looked at this stage and thought wow you're not a diabetic your deal.

And the word give a battered pop in them I had when I got home from -- -- I wrote down diabetic on the sheet of Paper black game.

And then I took a red marker could it be between the IN NA -- -- that I did a bad day.

And that these symbolize vandross because I worked for Luther Vandross for thirteen years.

Yes again I know we're gonna get into that a little bit -- than later in this conversation that.

I wanna talk about Macs and you know I've I've actually had the privilege of hosting what -- max's -- In New Orleans actually.

-- It if you -- in these events that you have you your idea here of course is to promote early detection prevention support.

And healthy living -- you do -- in such a fun way -- a glamorous way it's very interactive you had this health care game he had diabetes numerology tell me more by your event.

And who's the focus the target audience.

Well I've never I'm not living with diabetes myself so I didn't -- -- come after the someone -- they -- diabetes or someone who had a complication like -- stroke her reputation -- blindness.

I wanted to come out and if you stay healthy could avoid all these things are gonna take on an entertaining approach and just get people empowered and inspired we know that diabetes and some have to live it day after day after day and lot of people out there.

Get burned out overwhelm -- come out of Michael Luther Vandross concert -- -- worked -- and make it entertaining.

So they -- right from the start because I know so many people out there don't wanna deal with diabetes.

With the talk to the whole person and when I did a better we're talking to the whole woman because -- His fan base is largely comprised of African American women when Luther had a stroke in 2004.

Right before the release of depths of my father.

I -- with the what you found him and I brought into the hospital and I was shocked and regretful when they told me that the stroking it and prevent them.

When they reported that he had a stroke but that it make a correlation to diabetes I thought that was a mistake and I wanted to go back to the fans.

Who have supported us for all those years and think and the only way -- -- which was -- talk to African American women.

And help urge them to keep their house -- home because African American women.

Are disproportionately affected by complications like stroke.

So wanted to say thank you to the fans and remind them that you know -- had about fifty people on the road supporting him with his music -- -- But when they came to managing his diabetes he did -- alone.

And I can tell you right now that was a mistake and the way that paddle about with so vocal about it on stage when I first came up with the concept.

Is what has inspired me to kinda get people to talk about their diabetes.

13 of the people in the country are living in denial right now.

Most people living with diabetes have a hard time accepting the diagnosis -- I think because we've been all ingrained in this idea that the touch of sugar.

Now tied it when I found it there on the floor that was more than a touch of sugar that affected -- -- like a roar of a lie and and I think people -- to have this idea that.

Because there's so many we see some amputations that are.

Multiple generations of people living without anything just assume -- gonna happen that -- it's gonna happen it's inevitable and they don't -- -- do anything about it and the truth is if you don't see anyone living well with diabetes you probably don't think you can change -- but I'm here to tell everyone.

You can live well would -- -- to deliver 304050 years and avoid those complications.

-- this really scary right now -- -- -- younger people are being diagnosed with type two diabetes and usually.

We see complications began -- and after twenty or thirty years living on the disease if you're ten years old.

You could start having amputation blindness kidney failure in your -- is.

I'm in my forties I love my wife -- active every day I would think it would be very difficult to have a quality of life.

Living with those complications although I -- some women who -- -- -- are making the most of that which is again.

Why we love this -- -- like a diva at.

Own entourage and then besides the India drive is important it's it you know -- it again if it's if it falls into that whole idea of being glamorous in treating yourself.

You know like you're the star -- the Patti LaBelle on stage you're -- that spotlight your -- -- in the spotlight.

And you walk away from your events with you know some fun gifts goal lead and things like that -- Tell me the take away the message what do you want when someone leaves when -- -- or seminars or goes to what is your to your website.

What's the take away in terms of education.

I wanted them to realize that they're not alone and that they can do it and you have to kind of break it down and manage it day by day and -- things that's most important to me right now.

This -- how to deal with the highs and lows which is why -- -- diabetes numerology.

Because that would go to these events and I were talking women who are living with type one type two at risk.

Or caregiver to someone living with ideas like I was for Luther and they don't know how to deal with a higher -- they're afraid of hypo -- -- like him.

And give them -- confidence through all this great services are talking about about tampering there it's like a -- manicure -- make -- -- many massage.

To feel like they can do it.

That's so important people don't realize that people with diabetes.

Have a tendency now they're finding a link to depression and so you kind of get Wear down by just before even wake up in the morning you don't want to get -- -- -- So they need to feel like they're not -- -- alone they need to have people who support them and encourage them -- and they have to feel that ability that they can do it.

Mets finally.

-- negative Wendell Goler but I want to ask you.

Last question is.

The success story in terms of memories that you have from an.

Give me something that really profoundly and impacting you well right carrier city -- -- -- -- felons who came to my event two years ago I received a big national event here in New York City and he had suffered a stroke since he was in her mid forties.

And she had not really been out of the house and she attended this for the first time.

And in the middle of the event you know I do a lot of crazy things -- the value that a part of -- -- -- -- diva.

Another thing they do suspect the -- -- -- does that inspire someone to bring out their inner diva or do because we did you meant that -- And says she carried out her -- and she got caught up in the moment and was dancing and having fun and two years later she still emails me she -- -- outreach meetings here in New York she comes on my into our chat that our podcast.

And she's involved because she said that gave her back her life well in that moment she realized that she could improve her health and she could improve.

Her lifestyle and I feel so grateful for that I was like have done that for live there and I want to do for everyone out there watching -- we -- -- for sure.

Max.

You -- names.

It is -- that say that because you know it and -- -- even bad.

And that injected usually are about whether -- website again is -- -- dot org his Twitter handle is.

Add to mr.

-- -- he can go to the website -- check out the diet.

Even betting as bad romance is so much information there it's a way that it's broken down to where you are entertain at the same time -- so much maxed.

Gonna go now.

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