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Diabetes he topic of diabetes is a good plot device for thrillers (the wife T in Memento, murdered by an insulin overdose), it adds character on the dimension (the bank manager in Dog Day Afternoon, Jackie in Mad Money), and it delivers sentimental punch (Irma P. Hall as Mama Joe in Soul Food). big screen We’ve asked people in the diabetes community what they think about the portrayal of characters with diabetes and to rate them on a scale of 1 to 5 test strips—1 being badly inaccurate and 5 being on-target.

Al Pacino, : Part III

Michael in The Godfather: Part III (1990) TEST 3 STRIPS

Don Michael Corleone () is weakening in his old age—not good for a Mafia boss. His diabetes affects his vision and causes a “diabetic stroke.” After the has a low Screenwriters blood sugar, his priest notes: “Your can find drama mind suffers and the body cries out.” anywhere—natural What the expert says: “How could anyone argue against the master, disasters, business Al Pacino, even if this movie didn’t ventures, star-crossed live up to the original?” says Kelly lovers. But when the Close, type 1 and editor in chief of diaTribe (diatribe.us), an e-newsletter topic du jour is diabetes, and Web site. “Extra points for how accurately is it portrayed? diabetes visibility (so long ago!) We asked the experts to judge. and for explaining in the movie that corbis blood glucose is sometimes affected by Jennifer Wilson by stress.”

Continued on page 114 » photo: (Pacino)

112 Diabetic Living summer 2009 » Continued from page 112 Popcorn, 1 cup: Movie-theater (no butter), 64 calories, 6 g carb., 4 g fat. Air-popped, 31 calories, 6 g carb., 0 g fat.

Shelby in Steel Magnolias (1989) apartment’s “safe room” after a burglary. High drama—with a few TEST 2.5 STRIPS inaccuracies. Although Sarah eats pizza and drinks regular soda for Who can forget stepping into dinner, her blood sugar plunges Truvy’s Beauty Parlor to find M’Lynn enough to require glucagon. The () force-feeding juice to burglar could have handed Sarah daughter Shelby ()? juice before grabbing the glucagon. Shelby wants children; her doctor What the expert says: “I thought it says it could be deadly. Cue heavy was fairly responsible,” Wilson foreshadowing. says. “Of course, they heightened What the experts say: Reviews are the whole she’s-gonna-die thing, , Chocolat mixed on this one. “Completely but it’s pretty true to life.” irresponsible,” says Paula Wilson, What the expert says: “Kind of the parent of a child with diabetes Steel Magnolias syndrome in terms and regional board chair for the The daughter in Derailed (2005) of drama,” says Leslie Schwartz, Diabetes Research Institute national director of media relations TEST Foundation at the University of 1 STRIP for the Juvenile Diabetes Research ’s Miller School of Medicine. Foundation International. “Diabetes “They used scare tactics that just Addison Timlin plays teenager is a very serious disease, but if you aren’t true.” Amy, whose type 1 diabetes manage it, you’ll be OK. [Dench] Close disagrees. “So Julia severely strains her parents’ was like the proverbial kid in the Roberts goes from fine to severely marriage. Dad () has candy shop.” hypoglycemic in one second—that’s a tryst (with Jennifer Aniston’s not entirely accurate, but that’s the character)—and uses money saved movies,” she says. “A wonderful for Amy’s kidney transplant to Harry Ironminster in The Right diabetes educator reminded me extract himself from the mess. Hand Man (1987) recently that one reason diabetes What the expert says: “So TEST is tough is that the failures are ridiculous,” says Hope Boliss, a 3 STRIPS so public and the victories are so former television producer who private. Everyone remembers this has type 1. “That’s not diabetes. Rupert Everett plays an 1860s movie’s failures. Actually, Shelby Completely over-the-top.” Australian lord who has diabetes. was triumphant in her drive to have When asked why he wouldn’t see children. It was her dream and she a doctor who’s had some success did it, and I was very moved.” The landlord in Chocolat (2000) with treatment, Lord Harry says TEST that he’s too tired to think about it. 2 STRIPS What the expert says: The daughter in (2002) “Unfortunately, no matter where TEST Dame Judi Dench plays Armande you are on the globe, you’ll see 3 STRIPS Voizin, a freethinker with diabetes people ignoring their diabetes,” in perhaps the only uptight French Close says. “It’s not an uplifting S Young Sarah Altman (Kristen town ever. Dench’s character dies portrayal, but I’d be hard-pressed MAGE Stewart) and her mom (Jodie Foster) after she overindulges in chocolate. to say it isn’t accurate.” I are trapped in their new GETTY photo: (Dench)

114 Diabetic Living summer 2009