Paula Deen and Diabetes

Apparently, famous southern chef and restaurateur, Paula Deen, has come out and said that she has diabetes.

Did anyone not see that coming?

Ms. Deen -- who has written 5 cookbooks and is known for her high fat, salt, and sugar recipes such as the Lady's Brunch Burger (which I like to call the heart attack hamburger) -- has been keeping the southern tradition of unhealthy eating alive.

Being in the health profession, I am an advocate for good health. As a matter of fact, learning what I did in pharmacy school has scared me into leading a healthier lifestyle (stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure...oh my!). People like Ms. Deen and her collection of southern-fried mess recipes are not making it any easier for people to get on the healthy track, especially in the south. With the amount of butter and lard that most if her recipes call for, it is a wonder why she hasn't developed diabetes earlier than 3 years ago (yes, she has had it for 3 years, but we are just now finding out about it -- go figure.). These recipes of hers, although delicious (from what I've heard, anyway), are irresponsible and a detriment to the people who follow her.

...But, maybe this is a blessing in disguise, a wake-up call to the American people who thrive on this kind of food. Maybe she can be used has an example -- Hey! Try out my recipes and get just like me: overweight and insulin-resistant! -- which, I would hope, would turn most people off. Who knows...

So now she is putting out healthier, diabetes-friendly recipes. It's a shame that it took that diagnosis for that to be possible.

Do you think Paula Deen should ditch her high-fat recipes?