Divabetic's Diva 4 Ever, a pop music-style diabetes education program targeted at women, will add a touch of glamour to the annual WTAE-TV Healthy 4 Life and American Diabetes Association Diabetes Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Aug. 23.

Divabetic is the brainchild of Max Szadek, longtime personal assistant to rhythm & blues artist Luther Vandross, who died in 2005 of complications, including a stroke, that were due to diabetes.

"He never referred to his diabetes," Mr. Szadek said. "That's what ignited my passion. ... I was dumbfounded, grief-stricken. I didn't want to see it happen to somebody else."

Mr. Szadek got the idea of how he could help fight the disease at a tribute concert for Mr. Vandross. "Patti LaBelle was on stage and she said, 'I'm living with diabetes. ... It doesn't control me. I control diabetes.'

" 'Oh,' I said, 'she's a diva,' and that's when Divabetic popped into my head."

He started selling T-shirts with cool slogans like "Anything sugar can do, I can do better" at health fairs, and people asked him what else he could do.

"I attended some lectures and was pretty bored by the ho-hum approach. I learned a lot in my 13 years with Luther, and I have a theater background myself. I decided I could maybe create an entertaining way to teach about diabetic care."

His first education program had a sort of "chandelier and caviar" theme to it. The Diva 4 Ever program he's bringing to Pittsburgh for its inaugural presentation has a broader, get-down and with-it appeal.

"I have a very MTV, BET, VH1 approach to outreach," Mr. Szadek said.

"This whole appearance at the expo is just about really encouraging women with diabetes to live a glamorous life, which is a life without complications."

Why gear it to women? Because, he said, even if they don't have diabetes they can reach family members who have it in their role as caretakers.

Divabetic has four "Diva principles" designed to encourage women at risk for diabetes or already living with the disease. They are to "grab green, move more, think positively and work with a [support] team by developing a healthy care entourage."

Grab green, which is a catchphrase for eating more fruits and vegetables, will be represented at the expo by one of four human divas. Aida Romaine is theatrically costumed in green to look something like a head of lettuce. "She's a motivator, giving words of encouragement," Mr. Szadek said. "She'll be there all day [working in the Diva Zone]."

The other divas are Ivana Moveit, who encourages you to "park farther away from the store and walk"; Anita Entourage and Alota Attitude.

Aida Romaine will be joined in the Diva zone with a Mary Kay makeup consultant; a registered dietitian/diabetes educator who also is a fitness expert; and a plus-size consultant. The latter, Jessica Issler, "will show ways to add more movement to life and also work with Aida on how to go green when they're entertaining."

During a stint on the main stage, Mr. Szadek will give out prizes to Zone visitors.

Though Divabetics no doubt will be the flashiest booth at the expo, the ADA of Western Pennsylvania and WTAE will have "all sorts of things going on," said Terri Seidman, a manager with ADA of Western Pennsylvania.

"We have a big thing on speakers," she said. Among them: Big Mama Brenda Franklin of "Big Mama's House of Soul," who sings when she cooks. Topics of other speakers include "Understanding Insulin," "Who Wants to Be a Diabetic Expert Extraordinaire" and "Living an Uncomplicated Life with Diabetes."

Merck is also a sponsor of the expo, along with the Port Authority, which is offering free transportation from select store locations. For more information, go to its Web site at portauthority.org or call 412-442-2000.