The Sugarless Plum: A Ballerina’s Triumph Over Diabetes by: Zippora Karz
When I was in high school, I had a friend that was diagnosed with diabetes. At the time I didn’t understand what exactly that meant — other than I knew it had to do with “not being able to eat sugar.” Yes, this was in the 80’s, and yes my understanding has come a long way since then. Especially since I have known many more people that have struggled to overcome this disease. But at the time I remember wondering why my friend viewed this as some kind of death sentence. It was almost as if she went on a self destruct mission. She would start every morning with a chocolate doughnut, and a huge diet drink. (The life blood of everyone during the 80’s, as if the diet cola would off set the doughnut. And by the way — you even find reference to this diet in this book!) But there was something very self destructive in her actions. It was as if she always took pleasure in trying to kill herself or something, through her eating choices.
Reading this book has provided me with a very interesting counter point to my first experience with this disease. Many of the people I have known that have it have all had a very ambivalent approach to the problem. From the very worst, (as shared above), to the very best of which they would eat what ever they want — and then just trust that the prescribed insulin would take care of the problem. (Assuming of course that they didn’t leave it home.)
Ms. Karz, an unusual case from the beginning, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in her early 20’s. And I was quite intrigued with her approach to this disease. This is one of the few that took a proactive approach from the beginning. Rather than seeing this as a death sentence — she sought out the life changes that were necessary, to make it possible for her to live with this disease. Even when the disease was misdiagnosed — her own choice made it possible to survive her demanding lifestyle, and the misdiagnosis, and still going on with her life. And while this book also provides a crash course in the American Ballet, it also gives the reader a look into how possible it is to live not just an average life, but one that is very demanding, and full.
I found Ms. Karz approach to not only the memoir, but to her road to learning to live with diabetes to be actually quite refreshing, from many that I have known. She looks at how invaluable her training in ballet became when she used that same dedication and drive to master her diabetes as well. And while I know this is the point of a memoir that deals with overcoming disease, this is quite well done. Ms. Karz doesn’t just give the reader the statement that she learned to be well disciplined through dance. She provides the reader with the demanding, rigorous lifestyle required of someone that dances with the New York City Ballet Company. The reader comes away understanding the determination, and commitment involved, when it comes to overcoming something as life changing as diabetes. And in the end, the reader comes to appreciate how difficult that struggle can be for those afflicted with this disease.
This is a book that was provided to me by the publicist of the author, and one that I was not at first too enthusiastic to read. Mainly because I felt like you already know the outcome, going in. After all, the book was written, and the writer obviously has something to say. But this book is actually very well done. I didn’t find it overbearing. And in fact the combination of the life of a professional ballet dancer combined with the struggle to overcome diabetes actually provided a great combination for a great approach in learning how to deal with this disease, and combine it with a very normal, and amazing life.
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