This book is a recollection of the authors journey after finding out she has diabetes. There is more about life as a dancer than about her diabetes and at times there is information that is not needed and left me wondering why it was added. That being said, we get whole picture, not just bits and pieces. Not only do we get a story about her diabetes, we also get a story about her life as a ballerina. Finding out you have diabetes at such a young age and being as fit as she was, was a huge shock. This book tells her story of the fight not let diabetes take over her life. There are a few pages of photos that are a great addition and at the end is a Resource section for people with diabetes. Overall, I liked the book very much and would recommend it to not only aspiring ballerinas or those with diabetes, but to anyone who has a hurdle they are climbing in order to reach their goal in life. (

)

VickiLN | Dec 31, 2009 |

Author Zippora Karz offers an insightful look at her struggle to manage diabetes as a solo ballerina in her memoir The Sugarless Plum: A Ballerina’s Triumph Over Diabetes. Ms. Karz’s love of dance started at an early age and with the encouragement of her family and ballet teacher, she was able to earn a place in the New York City Ballet company at the age of eighteen.

Ms. Karz’s dedication and diligent work ethic earned her many solos including the lead as the Sugar Plum Fairy in numerous productions of The Nutcracker. As the instructors and choreographers were beginning to notice her talent, the ballerina’s began experiencing increased thirst, dizziness, numbness in her limbs, significant weight loss and painful sores under her arms. At first, Ms. Karz wrote these ailments off as the consequences of an intense schedule of morning classes, hours of afternoon rehearsals and evening performances almost every night of the week. As her condition deteriorated, medical advice was finally sought and and an initial and inaccurate diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes was made. When the initial regimen of blood sugar monitoring and maintenance proved to be ineffective for the long term, the author turned to other sources of advice from a specialized diet from her grandmother to homeopathic remedies. Eventually, through the efforts of a trusted doctor, Ms. Karz was found to actually suffer from Type 1 diabetes which added the daunting task of insulin treatment.

Ms. Karz does a wonderful job of chronicling the conflict of managing diabetes and the physical and emotional requirements needed to be a ballerina for one of the most prestigious companies in the world. Her descriptions of life as a ballerina are so insightful. These were my favorite sections of the book. It was a glimpse behind the curtain and showed the extremes these dancers enter into for their moment on stage. The author is honest with her reactions to this disease from denial, defeat and finally acceptance. Anyone who lives with or is close to someone with diabetes will find this an enlightening and beautiful story. (

)

cjz111 | Nov 20, 2009 |

A beautiful memoir that I would recommend to anyone. (

)

knittingmomof3 | Nov 16, 2009 |

This was a fascinating, well-written read. Karz takes us into the world of the School of American Ballet, founded by the great George Balanchine, as well as the New York City Ballet. The world of ballet is tough, dancers often perform with sprains and even broken bones. A week off could be a huge setback in a ballerina's career. A mistake in rehearsal could cost a lead role. They learn to ignore pain, which is why it takes Karz so long to seek medical treatment despite her worsening symptoms and near collapse. And when she is finally diagnosed with diabetes, she is diagnosed with the wrong type, which means the wrong treatment. But she is determined to continue to dance while trying to understand this disease, which she feels has taken over her life and threatens her career. She eventually not only learns about it but becomes a spokesperson.

This book read very quickly, and is definitely recommended for anyone who loves the ballet. Karz gives a really good overview of the ballet world. I have a new respect for these under appreciated athletes. Even if you can't relate to diabetes, it is about taking control of your own health.

my rating 4.5/5 (

)

bookmagic | Nov 12, 2009 |

When I was a girl, in the stone age, I took ballet for 15 years. It was hard work but I loved it so much, I never wanted to stop. When I told my school guidance counselor that I wanted to dance for a living, she shook her head and said maybe I should be a nurse! I did not grow tall enough, so eventually had to abandon my dream, (and no I did not become a nurse either), but I never forgot how it felt to be on stage. It was worth every ache, pain and tear.

That said, I was excited to receive this book by Zippora Karz, "The Sugarless Plum". Zippora studied hard and became a professional ballerina with the New York City Ballet Company, living her dream. The practice, pain and fears were all worth it for her. Years of trianing, injuries and backbreaking work was paying off,when she began to lose weight, and feel weak. Zippora went to a doctor who initially diagnosed her with Type 2 diabetes. Unwilling to accept her diagnosis and thinking she could handle her illness and continue dancing, in the competitive world of profession dance, Zippora changed her diet, and attempted to manage it herself. As her world began to spin out of control. Karz struggled for years before finally accepting and learning to control her misdiagnosed, Type 1 diabetes with insulin and monitoring.

I admired her perseverance, and wanted to applaud her success, as well as weep for her problems.

Even if you are not a ballet fan (and what little girl isn't?) this is such an uplifting story, and you will find it well worth your time.

I received this book from Caitlin Price at FSB Associates, and thank her for the opportunity to read, and enjoy it. (

)

joemmama | Oct 27, 2009 |

date ▼ | votes

Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)

▾Published reviews

no reviews | add a review

view history

▾Common Knowledge

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.

For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.

Series (with order)

Canonical Title

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

New York, New York, USA

Important events

Related movies

Awards and honors

Epigraph

Dedication

In loving memory of my mother, Ellen, and my grandmother, Gloria

First words

I'm twenty-one years old.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Harlequin

Blurbers

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

▾Book descriptions

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0373892039, Hardcover)

For dancer Zippora Karz, a rising young star with the famed New York City Ballet, being diagnosed with diabetes could easily have ended all her dreams. She was just twenty-one when she was plucked from the corps de ballet to dance solo roles like the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker. It was near the end of a grueling season when she became exhausted, dizzy, and excessively thirsty. Heavy pancake makeup covered the sores under her arms that would not heal, but still Karz neglected to return her doctor s urgent calls. When she finally went to the doctor, she learned that her blood sugar was excessively high. If she continued to ignore her symptoms, Karz risked heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and amputation of toes, feet, and legs. Because she was over twenty, doctors misdiagnosed her with Type 2 diabetes, when in fact she had juvenile (or Type 1) diabetes. Her weight dropped and she became dangerously ill as a result of being prescribed the wrong treatment. Once correctly diagnosed and placed on an insulin regimen, she would inject herself with unsafe doses before going on stage in ill-judged attempts to obtain peak performance. The potentially fatal result of Karz s self-experimentation became all too real when she nearly put herself into a coma.

Balancing ballet and her blood sugar would be a long and difficult struggle for Karz, but eventually she learned to value her body and work with it, rather than rage at its limitations. In The Sugarless Plum, Karz shares her journey from denial, shame and mis-education about her illness to how she lead an active, balanced, and satisfying life as an insulin-dependent diabetic and ballet star. Through her fascinating story, those struggling with diabetes and other serious illnesses can find encouragement and inspiration as well as practical advice on achieving physical and emotional wellness.

After sixteen years with the New York City Ballet, Karz retired and took her passion and skills into a whole new arena as a diabetes educator and advocate, where today she inspires people to not just manage their illness, but to thrive and fulfill their passions. The Sugarless Plum takes readers deep into the heart and soul of a young dancer, and is a remarkable testament to determination and perseverance.

(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:24:01 -0500)

▾Open Shelves Classification

The first test round has been closed. Visit the Open Shelves Classification group for details.