I’m sure you’ve heard the news by now that Paula Deen has confirmed that she does in fact have type 2 diabetes and was diagnosed three years ago. Who is Paula Deen, you ask?She’s a cook on the Food Network who touts the greatness of Southern food (Deen is from Georgia). Known for her high calorie, high fattening, over-the-top gluttonous recipes (think deep-fried chocolate-covered cheesecake and a doughnut-hamburger-fried egg sandwich), she has a particular enthusiasm for butter.A Google search for “Paula Deen and butter” reveals some humorous links. One link shows Deen drinking melted butter.Another shows a picture of her new butter flavored lip balm. “Put a little South on your mouth” the label reads. Eww!
Deen is no stranger to criticism.At an appearance on The View to plug a children’s cookbook, Barbara Walters chastised Dean saying "This is a cookbook for kids. Obesity is the No. 1 problem for kids today. Everything you have here is enormously fattening. You tell kids to have cheesecake for breakfast. You tell them to have chocolate cake and meatloaf for lunch. And French fries. Doesn't it bother you that you're adding to this?" You go Barbara!
Fellow cook Anthony Bourdain, host of the Travel Channel’s No Reservations, has been quite outspoken about his feelings of her unhealthy cooking. In addition to calling her the “most dangerous person in America”, Bourdain says "I would think twice before telling an already obese nation that it is OK to eat food that is killing us. Plus, her food sucks." Come on now, Anthony, that’s not very nice.Her response to him was “get a life”. Touché, Paula. Bourdain seems particularly disturbed that the announcement of her type 2 diabetes comes on the heels of her partnership as a paid spokesperson for diabetes drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk. In an interview with Eater.com, Bourdain had said "When your signature dish is hamburger in between a doughnut, and you've been cheerfully selling this stuff knowing all along that you've got Type 2 Diabetes... It's in bad taste if nothing else.”
It’s going to be interesting to see how this whole thing pans out for Deen. I can see why, though, she didn’t tell anyone for three years about her diagnosis. First of all, it’s none of anyone’s business! Plus, it’s a very emotional thing to be diagnosed with a disease that requires 24 hour vigilance. Maybe she wanted to get her health under control before she made an announcement, or rethink her strategy and start making health food (she does have a campaign coming out called “Diabetes in a New Light”).
If nothing else, she can bring awareness to the disease. The CDC has estimated that in 2007, the total cost for diabetes care was $174 billion. They also estimate that by 2050, if things continue the way they are, 1 in 3 US adults could have diabetes (currently 1 in 10 have diabetes). The good, no… GREAT news is that type 2 diabetes is most often PREVENTABLE!Maintain a healthy weight, don’t be sedentary and you can greatly reduce your risk. That’s it!Easier said than done, I know.
Deen says that what she does for a living is entertainment. "I share with you all these yummy, fattening recipes, but I tell people in moderation ... Like I told Oprah a few years ago, honey, I'm your cook, not your doctor. You are going to have to be responsible for yourself," she added. It’s not diabetes, y’all, it’s livabetes.
I know that people are supposed to watch their diets, but it becomes very difficult when indulgent dishes present themselves. What do you think of Deen's cooking controversy? Should Paula change her recipes to fit a healthier diet or should people just know better?
I know you have an opinion – I would like to know!