The Family Genes™

Zippora Katz is a former soloist ballerina with the New York City Ballet, where she performed for over 15 years. Currently, she is a teacher and repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust as well as diabetes patient advocate and spokesperson. Zippora has written a book called The Sugarless Plum about her experiences as a athlete living with diabetes and also writes a regular column for the Huffington Post. I recently got the chance to talk with Zippora about diabetes, dancing, children, genetic testing, and her passion for healthy living.

How old were you when you were diagnosed with diabetes?

I was diagnosed when I was 21, but it took me years to get the correct diagnosis. They thought I had type 2 diabetes when in fact I have type 1.

Some dancers struggle with food and/or weight issues due to the demands of the profession. How did your diagnosis affect your relationship with food and your body?

Very early on in my diagnosis, when I thought I could control my diabetes with diet alone, the diagnosis was actually helpful in getting me on track with a really healthy diet. I knew how important what I ate was, so I was very good about sticking to it. But once I found out I had insulin dependent diabetes, I was overwhelmed emotionally. How was I ever going to juggle insulin with my demanding athletic life as a New York City Ballerina? The emotional hopelessness I experienced, and anger at my body, fueled a self-sabotage that directly related to my food choices. I started sneaking foods I had previously limited. But through the years I learned how to accept the diagnosis and how to have compassion for my body, not rage at it for having a problem. The result of that being my ability to eat for health, and to feel at peace with my body and my life.

Does anyone else in your family have diabetes, type 1 or type 2?

No. There is speculation a great Aunt on my father’s side had diabetes, but I’m not sure which type.

Has having diabetes impacted your decision about having kids?

It’s hard to say. I performed for so many years, and at the same time struggled with my health so I didn’t entertain having children at that time. I just didn’t have the time or the energy, or a partner that wanted kids. Now that I’m 44, and feel healthier than ever I’m open to adopting. I’ve been open to adoption my whole life, even as a kid, before I knew I had diabetes.

There is a lot of debate about testing young children for genetic susceptibilities to diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Proponents of testing argue that knowing this information helps them modify their children’s diet and avoid any known risk factors from a young age. Opponents argue that a healthy diet and lifestyle should be encouraged for all children regardless.  If you could have known from a young age that you had genetic markers associated with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes, do you think it would have impacted how your parents raised you?

It’s hard to say how it would have impacted the way my parents raised me. They thought they were doing things right back then. The truth is that certain studies were not out. I’ve seen studies about milk and juvenile diabetes as well as vitamin D deficiency and diabetes. But neither of those studies were out then. So we would not have known to look for them. I did drink a lot of milk, and recently I was low in Vitamin D. I think so much has changed recently that today parents have much more information than we ever had. But we did eat well and we exercised a lot! Besides my daily ballet lessons, we used to run around at recess, and we played outside after school everyday. So I’m not really sure what my parents could have done differently with the information available at that time.

With that said, if it were today, they could check blood sugar levels, vitamin D levels, and even food allergies like to wheat and gluten. When I was diagnosed 23 years ago doctors were prescribing a high carbohydrate diet. Today it is mainstream to eat lower carbs, which is good for diabetes. I think if someone knows they are susceptible, it very well may make the difference for them to make healthy life changes, because we have the right information available now!

Would it have impacted your career choice to be a dancer?

As far as my career choice, I loved dancing so much that nothing was going to stop me. There are things that could have made my chosen profession easier, had I known they were available. My struggle was in large part due to my lack of the proper education, and my isolation. I did not have a diabetes educator on hand, nor a doctor I felt comfortable communicating my problems with. And I had no role models to watch and know it was possible. All of that is different now, and one of the reasons I wrote my book.

What in your life gives you the most joy?

My loved ones, my cat, and the work I do. I love teaching dance, and I love connecting and motivating others to take care of themselves. My passion is to educate people and inspire them to make healthy choices, to live a conscious and passionate life, for their own health, and the health of the planet.

Click here for more information on Zippora.

Click here for more information on the genetics and inheritance of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, MODY, and neonatal diabetes.

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