Paula Deen's Diabetes Diagnosis Can Help Others

Whether you like celebrity chef Paula Deen or not, she sure has Americans talking about nutrition.

And I think that’s fabulous.

It’s sweeter than her recipe for chocolate cheese fudge, which calls for one-half pound of Velveeta cheese and one cup of butter.

In case you haven’t heard, Mrs. Deen was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes almost three years ago. However, she didn’t confirm the rumors until this week when she also announced that she will be a paid spokeswoman for a pharmaceutical company that makes a diabetes drug.

Hmmm…I can see why critics are turning up the heat.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious and potentially fatal condition often linked with obesity and lack of exercise. It’s the “leading cause of new cases of blindness, kidney failure and amputations of feet and legs not related to accidents or injury,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And roughly 23 million Americans have it.

But I think this is a wonderful opportunity for Mrs. Deen.

She has the attention of many Americans who love her cooking and need to make better choices in the kitchen. This is her moment to educate her fans, show them how delicious food can be healthy, too.

She’s already given up sweet tea.

That’s a good start. Now it’s time to reinvent some of her recipes.

Alice Warchol is a freelance writer and fitness instructor.

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