What do you think?
Rate this book
Sugar High: The Unexpected Journey of an Inexperienced Type 1 Diabetic
“Sugar High is an addicting and engaging mashup of a celebrity memoir and an informative story that millions share.” - Emily Longeretta, US Weekly
“Just brilliant. An absolute page turner, written in Alex’s inimitable voice, and brimming over with entertaining adventures from the film industry and her quest for knowledge of this commonly misunderstood health condition.” - Elizabeth Hurley, Actress & Entrepreneur
Two unrelated yet equally momentous things happened to Alexandra Park at she was cast a lead character in a big American TV show, “The Royals,” and she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Sugar High follows the next four years of Alex’s life as she leaves home and travels the world, vacillating between the highs of starring in a hit TV show and the fear, denial, and loneliness that stem from a life-threatening, commonly misunderstood medical condition.
Sugar High is not a sob story, nor is it a humorless lecture. It is a meditation on dusting yourself off and trying again. The memoir flickers aspirational notes of celebrity and living one's dream while, simultaneously, exploring the struggle of an inexperienced type 1 diabetic. It's about a journey to acceptance, learning to let go of the illusion of perfection, and searching for humor in even the darkest moments but, most of all, it’s about reminding yourself to simply enjoy the ride.
“Just brilliant. An absolute page turner, written in Alex’s inimitable voice, and brimming over with entertaining adventures from the film industry and her quest for knowledge of this commonly misunderstood health condition.” - Elizabeth Hurley, Actress & Entrepreneur
Two unrelated yet equally momentous things happened to Alexandra Park at she was cast a lead character in a big American TV show, “The Royals,” and she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Sugar High follows the next four years of Alex’s life as she leaves home and travels the world, vacillating between the highs of starring in a hit TV show and the fear, denial, and loneliness that stem from a life-threatening, commonly misunderstood medical condition.
Sugar High is not a sob story, nor is it a humorless lecture. It is a meditation on dusting yourself off and trying again. The memoir flickers aspirational notes of celebrity and living one's dream while, simultaneously, exploring the struggle of an inexperienced type 1 diabetic. It's about a journey to acceptance, learning to let go of the illusion of perfection, and searching for humor in even the darkest moments but, most of all, it’s about reminding yourself to simply enjoy the ride.
Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2021
11 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 9, 2021
Let me start off by saying that I now desperately want to be friends with Alex!! We are so much alike it's ridiculous.
Truthfully, I had no idea who she was until my friend sent her instagram post detailing this memoir that she had just published. As a diabetic of 20 years, and having actually never read a book about diabetes (in literally any sense, yikes) I knew I needed to read this one.
I loved how honest and authentic her story was. She was also hilarious which made it even more enjoyable. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone, as it is a brutally open telling on what living with the monster aka type 1 diabetes is like. While reading, I could completely relate and feel all the anxiety, fear, exhaustion, and desperation Alex was experiencing. It is a never ending battle with good ole 'betes. She put all these feelings and thoughts I've had but never said on paper. This memoir was everything I needed. Thank you for sharing your story.
Truthfully, I had no idea who she was until my friend sent her instagram post detailing this memoir that she had just published. As a diabetic of 20 years, and having actually never read a book about diabetes (in literally any sense, yikes) I knew I needed to read this one.
I loved how honest and authentic her story was. She was also hilarious which made it even more enjoyable. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone, as it is a brutally open telling on what living with the monster aka type 1 diabetes is like. While reading, I could completely relate and feel all the anxiety, fear, exhaustion, and desperation Alex was experiencing. It is a never ending battle with good ole 'betes. She put all these feelings and thoughts I've had but never said on paper. This memoir was everything I needed. Thank you for sharing your story.
June 11, 2021
Believe it or not, I wasn’t familiar with Alex Park as an actress before reading this book. Known by most for her starring role on the TV series The Royals, Alex is also someone living and thriving with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that can present at any time in life and hinders your body’s natural ability to produce insulin. This memoir follows her journey through not only this late onset diagnosis, but her almost simultaneous rise to fame as she books her first big TV show!
Though I didn’t fully connect with her writing style, she speaks from the heart and shares moments from her life in a very genuine way. The main reason I would recommend this read is because of its positive impact. So many movies and TV shows that feature characters with diabetes are presenting them in inaccurate ways, or worse, as a stupid punchline. This spreads a ton of misinformation and has left the general public with little to no real understanding of what a person with this disease deals with on the day to day.
As someone who actively has sought out books on Type 1 diabetes in particular, I can tell you this memoir falls into an EXTREMELY niche category. There are not many useful, informative, and emotion-based books out there that tackle this subject. So I really commend Alex for sharing her story, and it definitely gave me a greater level of understanding. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Type 1, I think this can be a really good book to start a conversation with!
Though I didn’t fully connect with her writing style, she speaks from the heart and shares moments from her life in a very genuine way. The main reason I would recommend this read is because of its positive impact. So many movies and TV shows that feature characters with diabetes are presenting them in inaccurate ways, or worse, as a stupid punchline. This spreads a ton of misinformation and has left the general public with little to no real understanding of what a person with this disease deals with on the day to day.
As someone who actively has sought out books on Type 1 diabetes in particular, I can tell you this memoir falls into an EXTREMELY niche category. There are not many useful, informative, and emotion-based books out there that tackle this subject. So I really commend Alex for sharing her story, and it definitely gave me a greater level of understanding. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Type 1, I think this can be a really good book to start a conversation with!
May 21, 2021
I’ve been a big fan of Alex’s since falling in love with her on the Royals and following her on instagram. Growing up there was a student with type 1 in my class at school for as long as I can remember, so sometimes I forget that people probably don’t understand how Type 1 works.
This book was honest and open, and unveiled a behind the scenes struggle I would have never known about. I think this book could be a huge comfort to anyone with a recent diagnosis or who is a friend to a newly diagnosed diabetic. It gives an insight to the constant struggle of something most people take for granted.
If you’re looking for a memoir that delves into dark sordid stories of being an actress this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a refreshingly honest take on someone who has suddenly been thrown unexpected challenges all at once - give it a shot. As always, Alexandra Park is a bright light.
This book was honest and open, and unveiled a behind the scenes struggle I would have never known about. I think this book could be a huge comfort to anyone with a recent diagnosis or who is a friend to a newly diagnosed diabetic. It gives an insight to the constant struggle of something most people take for granted.
If you’re looking for a memoir that delves into dark sordid stories of being an actress this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a refreshingly honest take on someone who has suddenly been thrown unexpected challenges all at once - give it a shot. As always, Alexandra Park is a bright light.
July 7, 2021
Alexandra Park's debut book, "Sugar High," is a very raw, exposed, and honest account of her experience being diagnosed and dealing with adjusting to life as Type 1 Diabetic while pursuing and landing her dream job. As I read her memoir, I laughed, I felt sad, I felt excitement, I felt exhaustion, I felt a little fear and uncertainty, and at times I wanted to yell at her, "Don't do that!".... and that rollercoaster of emotion that I felt coincides exactly with how her life played out as she learned all types of lessons and experienced personal growth through her experience. It was like I was on the rollercoaster ride with her.
This book was very interesting, entertaining, unabashedly honest, yet informative, and would be of great benefit to anyone newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It is also a great non-fiction read.
This book was very interesting, entertaining, unabashedly honest, yet informative, and would be of great benefit to anyone newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It is also a great non-fiction read.
July 5, 2021
This is not something that I normally would do but this book was so special to me that I owe Alex the review she deserves.
Before this book was published, I had no idea that Alex was a fellow diabetic. I was a fan of the Royals when it came out and started watching it again during the pandemic.
I’ve been living with Type 1 diabetes for the past 20 years and I felt so relieved to read in her words my exact feelings and thoughts. I highly recommend this book if you have someone close to you living with diabetes because it can be pretty lonely for sure, and with Alex’s stories and easy explanations, you will be closer to understanding the day-to-day struggles.
I loved the book and it was so easy to imagine her voice as if she were telling me her stories in person.
Before this book was published, I had no idea that Alex was a fellow diabetic. I was a fan of the Royals when it came out and started watching it again during the pandemic.
I’ve been living with Type 1 diabetes for the past 20 years and I felt so relieved to read in her words my exact feelings and thoughts. I highly recommend this book if you have someone close to you living with diabetes because it can be pretty lonely for sure, and with Alex’s stories and easy explanations, you will be closer to understanding the day-to-day struggles.
I loved the book and it was so easy to imagine her voice as if she were telling me her stories in person.
November 7, 2023
Alexandra Park reminded authentic and made sure to write her ups just as much as her lows to help the most people possible know that they are not alone.
This book makes us navigate through her life as it changed drastically in the space of few weeks with her diabetes type 1 diagnostic and her booking the role of Eleanor Henstridge on The Royals, she explains what it was like to learn how to live with T1 at the same time as being on a popular show for the first time and I loved how she explained that she had to work on herself to write some of her decisions during her lows cause she felt ashamed cause it shows how much she wants to help others
I loved this book dearly, we can understand how much it meant for Alex to share her story <3
This book makes us navigate through her life as it changed drastically in the space of few weeks with her diabetes type 1 diagnostic and her booking the role of Eleanor Henstridge on The Royals, she explains what it was like to learn how to live with T1 at the same time as being on a popular show for the first time and I loved how she explained that she had to work on herself to write some of her decisions during her lows cause she felt ashamed cause it shows how much she wants to help others
I loved this book dearly, we can understand how much it meant for Alex to share her story <3
November 30, 2024
I bought this not realizing that it was by a famous actress or that it was a memoir. As someone living with diabetes, I always find diabetic memoirs very interesting. However I was really frustrated at all the dumb decisions Alexandra was making throughout her story and I found her attitude a little sanctimonious.
If you don’t live with diabetes, this book will definitely give you a little window into what living with it can be like day-to-day. You absolutely feel for her and what she’s going through. But if you are diabetic, I think you’ll find this pretty frustrating to read from a T1D perspective. The behind the scenes look into her acting career was really interesting though.
If you don’t live with diabetes, this book will definitely give you a little window into what living with it can be like day-to-day. You absolutely feel for her and what she’s going through. But if you are diabetic, I think you’ll find this pretty frustrating to read from a T1D perspective. The behind the scenes look into her acting career was really interesting though.
January 1, 2023
Wow, what an unbelievable inside look at life as a T1D. You laugh, you cry, you celebrate and you sympathize with Alex as she takes you on her journey of coming to terms with her diagnosis. Being a T1D myself, reading this book felt like I wrote it myself; our journeys mirror one another almost perfectly. As if I couldn’t love Alex anymore, she has won my heart! I recommend this book to ANY type 1 and any parent, significant other, sibling, or friend of a type 1.
July 1, 2023
Alex’s voice is perfect to shed light and share her story of T1 diabetes. I laughed so much through this story. Not because the content is funny but because she made this story real. Something that I could relate to. Rather than writing about just the sad times of T1 diabetes, Alex shared the raw and authentic truth of the struggles and daily modifications of those with diabetes. It allowed me to not feel alone. Beautifully written.
May 26, 2021
I could have read this in one sitting! I was obsessed with the story from chapter 1 till the end, so good!!
It was so encouraging and made me think about my mindset towards my set backs.
If you have seen the Royals or not, you should pick up this book. It’s a book about fighting. Regardless of your battle, it can encourage you.
It was so encouraging and made me think about my mindset towards my set backs.
If you have seen the Royals or not, you should pick up this book. It’s a book about fighting. Regardless of your battle, it can encourage you.
December 26, 2021
I’m a huge fan of The Royals (my Lock Screen may or may not be a picture of Tom Austen) and I love Alex Park especially. I had no idea that she was going through all of this while she was filming it. This book was a great read and a great example of someone going through something so intense that you can’t see on the outside.
November 4, 2022
I loved how raw and witty this book was written. I also learned a lot about this disease one of my best friends struggle with but never talk about. This book sends the right messages whatever chronic disease you may have. In my case chronic migraine. The whole trial and error message makes me feel less guilty when I know I don't follow the rules I should to avoid a crisis.
May 31, 2023
A very real book that reflects what the author had to faced during her diagnosis of diabetis.
She writes in a very calm with so many details that keeps you calm and with your heart pomping in every chapter.
Also is her ride to discover herself and to following her dreams, never giving up in what you love.
I saw her at the Royals and she was really good being Princess Elenor.
She writes in a very calm with so many details that keeps you calm and with your heart pomping in every chapter.
Also is her ride to discover herself and to following her dreams, never giving up in what you love.
I saw her at the Royals and she was really good being Princess Elenor.
April 10, 2022
As I'm familiar with Alexandra's work, I could "hear" her as I read her struggles and successes. And as I also have an autoimmune condition, I can identify with the denial and dismay upon being told your body is no longer functioning the way it should. An enjoyable read about a stressful topic!
October 17, 2022
Great insight into the trials and tribulations of being diagnosed with T1D in your twenties whilst trying to embark on a career and live a "normal" life - especially highlighting the massive gap in healthcare between different countries. Very quick and easy read!
October 17, 2023
I have loved Alexandra Park since she played Princess Eleanor on The Royals, so I was very excited to read this book. Her writing is witty and sharp, but also very informative. I knew very little about type I diabetes before reading her memoir. I love a book that is entertaining AND educational.
January 2, 2026
Appreciated this book so much. Helpful to get perspective on another T1Ds diagnosis. Lots of swearing and drinking so maybe not for younger kids/tweens but found very helpful to get a better understanding of why this is hard for someone to integrate into their life. Thanks for writing.
September 7, 2021
Entertaining. Blew through it so fast
August 1, 2022
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I feel so inspired by it and love that Alex Park ( the author) is sharing her story so other type one diabetics know they aren’t alone!
August 13, 2024
ALEX PARK I LOVE YOU. this memoir was an incredible depiction of what is it like for someone to live with type 1. it’s funny, raw, honest, & emotional. i could not put it down!
May 25, 2021
As a huge fan of The Royals, which my sister and I watched start to finish as it aired, I was so excited to see that Alexandra Park had written a memoir. Princess Eleanor was my absolute favorite character on the show, so getting to see inside the mind of the woman who played her was amazing. Though serious at times, this memoir was mostly light and refreshing--her humor makes the book!
As someone dating someone with T1D and a person who has many friends suffering from it, it was enlightening to read about Alex's ups and downs. I highly recommend this book!
As someone dating someone with T1D and a person who has many friends suffering from it, it was enlightening to read about Alex's ups and downs. I highly recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews