Coppell based registered nurse and board certified nurse coach, Patricia Daiker, RN, NC-BC  weighs in about life with diabetes during the pandemic.  As a Type 1 diabetic herself, she realizes that people with diabetes may face a higher chance of experiencing serious complications from Covid-19.   

The risk of catching Covid19 is accompanied with stress; which is not a friend to diabetes.  According to Daiker, "any sort of stress from illness to worry, can cause blood sugar levels to rise.   Imagine the last 40+ days, that you’re diabetic, following healthy choices but because of stress, your glycemic numbers appear to be off.   It’s the perfect storm for diabetes ‘burnout’ – when you are doing what you have always done, but the numbers don't make sense. If this happens over time, the failures and frustrations may not seem worth the effort and you abandon your diabetes routine. This is diabetes burnout."   "It’s real and dangerous, even on a good day," asserts Daiker who specializes in coaching people through diabetes burnout.

Recently she shared a few strategies to put in place via her 3 min. segment which aired on Mon. April 27th on Fox4 Good Day 

 Approximately 12% of Texans live with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.  Are you diabetic?  How are you doing?  Take this quiz and find out. 

Enjoy a complimentary 45-min. webinar on Coping with the Chaos of Corona Replay: https://betterdiabeteslife.com/webinars/coping-with-the-chaos-of-corona-replay/

What others are saying about the new thriller The Second Law : 

Kirkus "[...] unremitting suspense throughout...Spirited characters, both good and bad, populate this engaging, often surprising thriller."

Rating: 5 Stars Global Energy Thriller. In L.A. Starks' newest thriller, "The Second Law," oil refining executive Lynn Dayton is confronted with a high-pressure alarm at her San Francisco-area facility. Initially thought to be a "computer glitch," Dayton and her team soon conclude the problem was caused by malware implanted in the refinery's control system...clearly sabotage. Meanwhile, another terrorist act is in progress. A giant U.S. oil tanker with a bomb hidden onboard slowly makes its way to a Gulf of Mexico offshore oil terminal. Events move quickly from San Francisco to New Orleans, Vienna, China and back to the U.S. in a compelling plot that features murder, intrigue, espionage and terrorism committed by agents acting primarily on behalf of foreign countries and their respective economic or political interests. Those who enjoy contemporary fiction based on current geo-political events ripped from today's headlines will enjoy and appreciate the technical detail, taut writing and fast-moving plot of "The Second Law." Highly recommended.

      -–Coast Guy, Amazon Reviewer

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Hold on for the ride of your life as you learn about the energy industry and what vulnerability we have based on our competitor's needs and long-term plans. There is a mystery, intrigue, murder, cyber-warfare, international competitive interruptions, and many more twists and turns.

      -–Pam V., Goodreads

Barnes & Noble Kitchen is a relatively new concept in the metroplex.  It's a great blend of bookstore and casual eatery - giving you the flexibility to enjoy a glass of wine, craft beer or sparkling water. Enjoy your beverage in-store or in-restaurant.  Whatever fits best with you.  

Capturing an idea for writing a novel is unique to each author. For Gastroenterologist and Author Michael Weisberg, M.D., it began with a routine medical procedure. Before Dr. Weisberg starts the anesthesia process prior to a colonoscopy, he asks the patient if she or he has any questions.  Over the past 28 years of practicing medicine in Plano, Dr. Weisberg noticed that a common response from patients was,  'what is the meaning to life?'  This question became the basis for writing his recent novel, IN THE END. 

Join Dr. Weisberg as he reflects on his years of practicing medicine as well as IN THE END.  We'll gather at Barnes & Noble Hurst at 1 pm. this Saturday, October 12th.  Here's what others are saying about Dr. Weisberg's new novel: 

"Against a backdrop of an impending catastrophe, five individuals of varying backgrounds, faiths, ethnicities and financial means come together during a complex and difficult medical procedure.

All five have experienced setback, tragedy, accomplishment during their lives.

All are challenged with the meanings of their lives. Is religion the answer? Is there an afterlife? Why are we even here?

Transcending faith and human frailty, "In the End" offers a message of hope and unification in an era of despair and divisiveness.

This novel will keep you thinking for days after you finish it. And that is the mark of a memorable and worthy read." 

-Doug Ross, author of Hard-Boiled

Visit Dr. Weisberg's author website to view his TEDx Talk , read his blog and other reviews.  

Complimentary and open to the public.  

Preston Hollow resident and Licensed Professional Counselor, Denette Mann has a life long mission to growth and well being for herself and to help others interested in that journey.  

Fifteen years ago she began a personal meditation practice.  She sought out further education on the topic of meditation by attending an intense one-week training in MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction) in New York , led by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and Dr. Saki Santorelli.  She returned to New York and attended a week long seminar on ‘Focusing,’ a gentle form of therapy that depends on the person’s ability to go inside for the answers to life’s problems.  Denette is now Dallas' first certified trainer of Mindful Self-Compassion.  She earned this credential through years of training at the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, co-founded by Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Christopher Germer, well known authors and pioneers of research on this topic.  For the past five years, she has taught Mindful Self-Compassion classes in Dallas.  We recently caught up with Denette to learn more about this growing practice.   

Question: You've been practicing meditation for more than a decade, what made you delve into Self-Compassion?

Denette:  Meditation practice changed my life.  Learning to be mindful in everyday moments gave me more choice over how I responded to events and to enjoy the small things that happen to us all but are often missed daily.  When I received notification of a training on mindful self-compassion I didn’t have to think about it; I immediately knew that was my next step in my own personal journey and in my quest to be an always improving therapist.

 Question: Is there an extra benefit of practicing Mindful Self-Compassion instead of just Mindfulness by itself? 

Denette:  Practicing meditation and other mindfulness activities help us change our brain and counter the brain’s built-in negativity bias so we can be in the present rather than being in the past or future worrying, ruminating, regretting and all the other things we tend to do.  What mindfulness doesn’t do is give us tools for getting through tough moments.  Self-compassion uses mindfulness but adds compassion for ourselves in these moments.  The research clearly points to significant additional benefits when mindfulness and self-compassion are used during life’s inevitable tough moments. 

 Question: What are your thoughts on the connection between our society's dependance on mobile devices and our search for meditation, yoga and other ways to practice mindfulness?

Denette:  Our dependence on mobile devices is counter to the movement toward mindfulness in the U.S.   Being on a mobile device puts us in our heads and out of our bodies and emotions.   It also is a poor substitute for real connection that human beings are wired to need from birth to death.  The amount of time spent by some on social mobile devices also wires the brain to increase rumination and worry. 

If you would like more information on Mindful Self-Compassion, visit the research page on Denette's website and also the schedule of classes for adults starting on April 1st.