Glitzy show delivers diabetes information
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When Max Szadek knocked on his boss' door for a meeting in 2003, no one answered. Sensing trouble, he forced his way inside to find his boss on the floor, the victim of a stroke.
His boss, Grammy Award-winning singer Luther Vandross, had Type 2 diabetes and would die in 2005 at age 54. But finding Mr. Vandross that day inspired Mr. Szadek, as Mr. Vandross' personal assistant, to help others.
In 2004, Mr. Szadek created Divabetic, a program sponsored by insulin producer Novo Nordisk that uses entertainment, pop music and fashion, all in a game-show format, to educate women about diabetes and motivate them to better manage their disease.
"I'm the Bob Barker of diabetes outreach," Mr. Szadek said. "I'm trying to stop one more stroke from happening."
Mr. Szadek will present his Divabetics program today during the Diabetes Expo, which is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
WTAE Healthy For Life and the American Diabetes Association of Western Pennsylvania sponsor the expo, which will feature 85 exhibitors providing product demonstrations and free samples with the latest products, services and information. Special workshops are scheduled throughout the day on topics including people without insurance, diabetes in the African-American community and diabetes and pets.
Medical professionals will answer questions and give lectures and information about cooking, nutrition and exercise. WTAE news anchor Sally Wiggin and Steelers defender Casey Hampton also will participate. People can register at the event, which is free to the public.
"It is everything you need to know about diabetes under one roof," said Terri Seidman, associate director of the ADA of Western Pennsylvania.
While Divabetic will focus mostly on women, Charlie Kimball, 24, of Camarillo, Calif., will be on hand with his IndyCar to discuss how he continued racing after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in October 2007.
Following two weeks of anger, he said, he turned his attention to learning about insulin, nutrition, exercise and the effects of travel and schedule variations on blood-sugar levels.
One key challenge was controlling blood-sugar levels while driving competitively. Inside his IndyCar, he wears a continuous-glucose monitor with his blood-glucose reading appearing at the center of the steering wheel alongside gauges that show lap time, gear number and fuel level.
He also wears a special helmet with a tube leading from a bag filled with orange juice to a bite valve so he can drink juice whenever his blood-sugar levels dip.
Diabetes, Mr. Kimball said, has posed challenges that have made him a better athlete.
"I'm a better racing driver because I'm more conscious of exercise, nutrition and making choices, and each lap has extra meaning," he said.
In his first race in Europe after his diagnosis, he finished second, convincing him he could continue his racing career with diabetes.
His next race will be Oct. 9 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. He's currently racing in the Firestone Indy Lights Circuit, with hopes of reaching the IndyCar Racing Circuit.
More information is available at www.diabetes.org/pittsburgh.
First Published September 12, 2009 12:00 am
