Barre Time – MoToMove #19

Do you trust me? Do you believe me? What would you say if I told you that after nearly fifty-five years of being a PWD1 and at age sixty-five plus I have become a ballerina?

Do you trust me?  Do you believe me?  What would you say if I told you that after nearly fifty-five years of being a PWD1 and at age sixty-five plus I have become a ballerina?

We wake up each morning with the gift of a new day.  There is hope and perhaps even a sense of adventure about the possibilities of the day.  One thing we understand is the importance to keep moving with our diabetes.  Unless one is an extreme athlete or virtuoso dedicated to a single sport, it’s kind of refreshing for us average Jane’s and Joe’s to mix things up and try new methods to achieve the goal of keeping active.  Challenges are a good thing and It is also interesting to observe how blood sugars react to different types of exercise and movement.  Here’s where the technology of insulin pumps and CGM’s come to our aid in figuring out what we need to do to manage blood sugars before, during and after activities.

And so, with this idea of challenging myself to venture off to a new horizon in exercise I signed up for a barre class. No not a bar class to sample wines and spirits but rather a ballet barre class.   One thing I learned rather quickly was how difficult it is to stretch, kick, point and plie, releve, passé for one hour non-stop while standing at the barre.  I also learned that barre class is a terrific aerobic and toning exercise workout.  The day after the first class I was quite sore and bg’s ran a little on the low side. Two days later I went back to class. Now I am in the rhythm of taking two barre classes each week with stable bg’s and notice the difference in balance and the ease in which I can do other activities.  I even feel a little hop in my daily walks.

Am I or will I ever be a ballerina … I think not…. or should I say …. not on stage. But in my mind as I stand at the ballet barre pointing and flexing I picture myself alight as a feather, a leap within the dancer. And that’s just fine.  By the way you can read about a real ballerina (and many other remarkable women), the magnificent Zippora Karz, in my book The Sisterhood of Diabetes _Facing Challenges, Living Dreams.  Zippora,who as a PWD1, was a soloist dancer with the NYC ballet for many years.  She claimed the role of Sugarplum Fairie in The Nutcracker for thirteen years. Her story is both fascinating and inspirational. 

In our ever growing diabetes community there are many role models and great achievers to look up to and emulate.  If you need a little push or nudge look around and you are sure to find many persons of interest to get you moving again.  Excuse me now while I put on my ballet slippers…….