Report: Paula Deen to reveal she has diabetes
Paula Deen posed for this photo with Dantanna's Chef Tim Mastalski during her October visit to Atlanta.
Food Network personality and cookbook author Paula Deen has type II diabetes and will soon go public with her condition, according to a report on The Daily website.
The butter-loving Savannah chef is not responding to questions about the report. Her most recent tweets include a links to a ham and bean soup recipe and question asking followers about their favorite Super Bowl recipes, although one recent tweet mentions a workout and includes a link to a photo of her on the treadmill.
(The Food Network’s most recent tweet, by the way: “Get the best price of the season on @Paula_Deen’s Everything Pan http://ow.ly/8sQyl.”)
The Daily report quotes an anonymous source saying Deen is “going to have to start cooking healthier recipes,” and will soon become the celebrity endorser for a pharmaceutical company. (The company also did not respond to questions.) Sources also muse about whether Deen’s Savannah restaurant will axe Paula’s Brunch Burger – a fried egg and bacon on a burger served on donuts instead of a bun – from the menu.
Deen’s affinity for rich ingredients has drawn the ire of some foodies, notably celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who once told TV Guide Deen was “the worst, most dangerous person to America.” His most recent comment regarding Deen came via Twitter on Thursday, in response to another tweeter who evidently asked about Bourdain’s criticism of Deen: “Making fun of Paula Deen has nothing to do with ‘macho’ and everything to do with common sense,” Bourdain tweeted. (It seemed like a par-for-the-course comment from him, not a joke about her illness).
Deen’s 2011 cookbook, “Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible,” which she called her “proudest achievement so far,” made it to the list of Five Worst Cookbooks of 2011 by the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
“Deen’s cookbook includes such nutrition bombs as Hot Buffalo Wings. A single serving of three wings contain 910 calories and 85 grams of fat,” the organization said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the PCRM noted that Deen “is the only chef who has made it into the list twice over the last three years with her high-fat recipes that raise the risk for obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.”
Deen’s supposed diabetes is burning up Twitter right now. “Paula Deen” is a top trending topic. We’ll keep an eye out for any response directly from her.
Deen comes to Atlanta pretty regularly for promotional events. She was here in October for a book signing at the BJ’s wholesale club in Woodstock, and showed up at the Dantanna’s in Buckhead during her visit. She ordered the “Buffalo Trace Bourbon BBQ Giant Beef Rib” menu item, along with potato salad and chicken wings. She apparently raved about the potato salad, saying only her own recipe is better, and had the Krispy Kreme bread pudding for dessert.
- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com
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153 comments Add your comment
Jamie Deen
January 13th, 2012
11:12 am
Paula Deen is the opposite of butter face.
Kharma
January 13th, 2012
11:19 am
Well, it seems that while she was criticizing the First Lady for advocating healthy eating habits, her own poor diet and obesity has caught up with her. Kharma is truly awful isn’t it.
Dee Andrews
January 13th, 2012
11:23 am
It is sad she has diabetes but surely she must have known the types of food she consumes would lead to this. The sad part is there are alot of people that follow her recipes….they too are in danger of contracting diabetes if they have not already. Sad, sad
Donna P.
January 13th, 2012
11:24 am
Paula is not obese. She looks like a healthy weight for her age. It could be hereditary. I’m sure everyone will blame “Southern” food for this diagnosis. Even people who eat healthy and workout can get diabetes.
Sammy
January 13th, 2012
11:26 am
Man, I just want to become as rude as you so I will. Have you ever heard her interview? She talks about how she cant eat all the foods she cooks because they are unhealthy. Why she cooks them I dont know but apparently a lot of people love her food and its not her fault they eat it. You mentioned Karma is awful yet you named yourself that which may be obvious. You are a dork!! What a neat lady. I cant comment on what she said about the First Lady, I can just comment on your own stupidness. Wish I had more to do today than to sit her and type this, but I can not sit around and let your own moronic insults sit there. Ah I feel better. Have a beautiful butter saturated day!
I'm so dumb
January 13th, 2012
11:29 am
OKAY YA’LL! Plop in 8 tablespoons of butter…lets make that 16 tablespoons. That’s what I call ‘good Southern cuisine’! You only live once I tell ya!
imjustduckie
January 13th, 2012
11:29 am
^ @DonnaP O_o really? does anybody who watched her show, read her books REALLY think that it’s not her diet?
I'm so dumb
January 13th, 2012
11:31 am
The first post is a classic! HAHAHAHA!
Ugh
January 13th, 2012
11:37 am
I would love to meet you people who post these vitriolic commentaries on what you think is true. I feel safe in assuming that the first poster is overweight, unattractive, jealous and downright miserable. What a pack of overly critical losers.
Jimmy Dean
January 13th, 2012
11:40 am
“Butter Face” … That was classic!
Fun Size
January 13th, 2012
11:40 am
Sorry to hear she is ill, just because she cooks fattening stuff does not mean she eats it all. She seems like a nice lady, the nutrition nazis need to lay off. We are all responsible for what goes into our bodies. Every thing in moderation, folks….
Donna P you better look again
January 13th, 2012
11:40 am
Donna P if you think Paula is not obese you better look or get your eyes and your head examined…..she is FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT!!!!!!! About time her crappy cooking caught up with her.
Linda
January 13th, 2012
11:41 am
For anyone who reads the National Enquirer, this “news” was out months ago about her having diabetes. Having said that, there are extremely lean people who can have diabetes, Mary Tyler Moore is an example. Diabetes also runs in families and you can be thin and still have the predisposition for this. My husband has diabetes as do other members in his family, wears a medium shirt, is not obese but is extremely vigiligent about his food intake and has said for some time Paula’s food was extremely unhealthy. He never fries food, looks for a sugar content on the labels, stays away from fast foods, knowing the pitfals of not paying attention to your diet when you have this.
joeybiten
January 13th, 2012
11:41 am
Kharma, you’re disgusting…pure and simple
Donna P.
January 13th, 2012
11:42 am
The Mayo Clinic has a great article online regarding diabetes. It states that people with Type 2 diabetes aren’t always overweight or obese.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DS01121/DSECTION=causes
linda
January 13th, 2012
11:44 am
Boy, this is a shock. Really.
Steve
January 13th, 2012
11:45 am
@ Donna P. If not obese, she definitively is overweight. My thing with her is she should not be allowed on TV due to her language. “Southern” is not English. Her “yaw” is disguisting.
Donna P.
January 13th, 2012
11:47 am
@Steve, have you ever been to the New England states where they say “wicked awesome” and can’t pronouce the letters A or R correctly?
Fun Size
January 13th, 2012
11:48 am
All the haters posting here are probably hungry!!
Duh
January 13th, 2012
11:55 am
Donna P., of course not all people who have diabetes are overweight. MOST are because of poor lifestyle choices. You must a big fan of the ‘I’m not fat, I’m big boned’ argument also.
Valerie
January 13th, 2012
12:05 pm
I hope she gets it together. She will have to change her eating habits!
Have another stick of butter with that Fatty Dean
January 13th, 2012
12:09 pm
Hey while you are at it, have another stick of butter with your diabetes there Fatty Dean!
Hate all whiners
January 13th, 2012
12:10 pm
I see the food police are out in force here. Who cares what she cooks or what she eats. If you dont want to eat a hamburger with fried eggs and a doughnut bun…..Don’t! Get over yourselves!
MR164
January 13th, 2012
12:11 pm
These comments have made my day. LMAO
shaggy
January 13th, 2012
12:22 pm
“Paula’s Brunch Burger – a fried egg and bacon on a burger served on donuts instead of a bun – from the menu.”
My heart hid behind my pancreas after I read about that monstrosity. I had to promise “thumper” that I would never feed that to him, or he wasn’t coming back.
Hate all whiners
January 13th, 2012
12:25 pm
I dont care if you eat a stick of butter encased in lard, sandwiched between 2 McRib sandwiches and sprinkled with powder sugar. That’s your business. If your heart explodes after eating it….that’s your business as well. Bon Appetit!
Loopy Lupus guy!
January 13th, 2012
12:25 pm
@ Linda: Mary Tyler Moore has type 1 diabetes- which, like Lupus, is a chronic automimmune desease with no cure. From Wiki: “Most people who develop type 1 are otherwise healthy Although the cause of type 1 diabetes is still not fully understood, it is believed to be of immunological origin.:
This not the same as type 2 Diabetes- which is usually attributed to lifestyle and obesity: From wiki: The primary cause of type 2 diabetes is obesity in someone who is genetically predisposed. Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90% of cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is initially managed by increasing exercise and dietary modification.”
Mr Fernwell
January 13th, 2012
12:27 pm
Best wishes Paula! Hope you stay well!!
shaggy
January 13th, 2012
12:29 pm
Steve,
It’s OK, we think you sound like a nasal, moron, and I will take a sweet southern gal saying “y’all” any day, over a nasty, guttural “you’se guys” spoken by your gals.
Sayitaintso
January 13th, 2012
12:32 pm
You can have a blog topic about today’s weather is cold and sunny…….the first poster will probably say he/she HATES sunny and cold.
Hate and anger will probably kill you quicker than diabetes.
k
January 13th, 2012
12:33 pm
Most of these posters have no idea what they are talking about. Pure cream, real butter, and meat, cheese and eggs are 100% proteen. You can develop a cholesterol problem. Diabetes is a problem with processing SUGAR and CARBS. The doughnut is a problem. All ROOTS and GRAINS are carb problem (Carrots, Potatoes, Breads). Knowing this, limiting the carbs, and near 0 sugar, we have turned things around for my wife, and today she is no longer Insulin dependant.
GWINNETTCHICK
January 13th, 2012
12:35 pm
All of your physicians may need to start pre-med all over again. I know MANY kids who are definitely within their appropriate BMI and they have diabetes. Halle Berry has Diabetes too, god knows she’s larger than Paula Deen, huh? LOL! Ignorance is bliss and stupidity is you!
Dave in Marietta
January 13th, 2012
12:35 pm
If Paula Deen were the only purveyor of rich, fattening food, then I’d say make fun all you want. The fact is America is a nation of gluttons. All you have to do is look at the number of junk food restaurants from coast to coast, not to mention the gargantuan portions sit down restaurants use to lure in customers. The fact is we were pigs long before she became famous. I’m sorry she has diabetes and hope that she takes the right course of action and can teach others from her experience.
janet
January 13th, 2012
12:36 pm
There is a reason that the South is known as the diabetes and stroke belt of the USA. Sorry she is ill, but when you are put into the limelight where you can influence a healthier life for people. you should use your influence to affect positive changes in peoples’ lives. It will be very interesting to see what happens to her recipes now?
Tom
January 13th, 2012
12:36 pm
No wonder the crap she cooks.. Most overrated cook, i can’t call her a chef there is
Wish her the best, don’t wish diabetes on anyone, but why does everyone flock to her restaurant when in savannah.. So many better choices
Kharma
January 13th, 2012
12:37 pm
Paula Deen is obese and obviously her eating habits have been a contributing factor. Not only does she promote stupid and dangerous behavior, she appears to have followed her own teachings. Sometimes when you use your voice to say nasty things about other people, things happen to you that are even worse.
Paula Deen is a good hearted soul
January 13th, 2012
12:38 pm
I think one of my most favorite Paula Deen recipes is her “Fried Salted Stick of Butter on a Stick”
Now, that’s some good eatin’ folks!
Kharma
January 13th, 2012
12:39 pm
The same goes for you posters here.
June
January 13th, 2012
12:39 pm
The same goes for you posters here.
Jeff
January 13th, 2012
12:46 pm
The term “diabesity” has been coined by healthcare folks because of the strong link between the two. I feel bad for Paula. But be assured that fat consumption has nothing to do with obesity. Eskimos have been eating nothing but seal meat, whale meat, salmon, and blubber for centuries and they have no obesity, diabetes, or heart disease. None. It’s the carbs (it’s also not the calories). Carbs are killing America. And as long and you try to lose weight by cutting calories and eating low-fat foods (and exercising), you are destined for failure. Eat the butter, eggs, meat, etc., but skip the donuts (and bread, pasta, starches, sugar, etc.) and watch the pounds (and the type-2 diabetes) disappear.
David
January 13th, 2012
12:52 pm
As the old folks would say “God don’t lke ugly”.
Dawn
January 13th, 2012
12:58 pm
It amazes me how many people judge others instead of taking the time to care about that person and what he/she is going through. Having never met Paula Deen, I can only go on my gut feelings about her and that is that she is a fun loving, giving and caring person. Thanks to Paula Deen’s carrot cake recipe, my boyfriend thinks I hung the moon! It’s the best carrot cake I have ever eaten!!! Thank you Ms. Paula for that recipe. I truly wish you all the best and hope that God takes care of you and yours….
Foodie
January 13th, 2012
1:01 pm
Paula I wish you well! That said: We all start dying the day we’re born. We each choose what we do with that life. I choose to eat what I want, when I want and die happy.
Butta
January 13th, 2012
1:01 pm
Being overweight, bad nutrition, and NOT exercising will cause heart disease too. So you guys that are saying read the Mayo article because Diabetes 2 is not always caused by obsesity and poor nutrition….That attitude is wreckless. I would bet that once she starts watching her diet and exercising, her problem will dramatically improve!
Minus
January 13th, 2012
1:04 pm
People Halle Berry has diabetes so weight can be a factor but not the single factor. Paula does love all the wrong foods and I imagine many people eat too many carbs which hurts diabetics. I had to cut down on the resee cup to control my carb and sugar along with losing a few lbs.
MeaneyMouse
January 13th, 2012
1:10 pm
She appears to be obese. Albeit not morbibdly obese. As a Type II diabetic I can feel her pain. I’m struggling to keep my weight down. I was over 200#’s. With diet and exercise (Competitive5Kwalker) i’m down to 185. However I’m struggling to control it with the assistance of Meds. Good luck Paula
)
johnnywad
January 13th, 2012
1:10 pm
Now type 3 diabetes..That’s what I’m talking about….
edfs
January 13th, 2012
1:13 pm
d bobby flay cooks better than who? And how many competitons have you lost on your OWN show… Really people cook her recipes because they want to we are responsible for what we do amd as adults accept the consequences!!!
Nathan
January 13th, 2012
1:19 pm
Considering I’ve always maintained an extremely healthy lifestyle- jogging every day, eating healthy, gym- I would’ve never speculated I would develop accelerated leukemia at age 31. It just goes to show you can’t prevent inevitable. You can, however, enjoy life and live it to the fullest. While Paula Deen’s dietary choices may not be recommended for daily consumption, she IS a true example of enjoying life and fulfilling dreams – and I’ll certainly give her credit for that.
Treat her the same as a cigarette commercial
January 13th, 2012
1:19 pm
They need to treat her and her cooking (if you can call it that) techniques like a cigarette commercial and ban her from the TV airwaves……she is a lethal as a puff of secondhand smoke….and by the way she is NO CHEF, never will be…..at best she is only hagard old cook.
Loopy Lupus guy!
January 13th, 2012
1:20 pm
.
@Gwinette Chick; good point RE Halle Berry. Curious, I read that Ms. Berry’s diagnosis was initially unclear as to type 1 or 2. Initially she was diagnosed type 1, then later type 2; leading some to joke she has type1.5. But still medical research indicates that 90% percent of type 2 diabetes patients are obese. So, some type 2 folks maybe aren’t obese -or even overweight. Just like 90% of all Lupus patients are women; yet, here I am: a dude with Lupus. So any medical diagnoses is possible; But no one would argue that being overweight increases the risk of type 2 diabetes just like no one would argue that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. Nor would most people argue that Ms Dean looks overweight – if not obese.
tim
January 13th, 2012
1:23 pm
Maybe the Dean of Fat will finally “get it”
Time to end her dumb southern stiick…………
Sherry
January 13th, 2012
1:24 pm
You people are so rude………..Yes Paula might be overweight, but hell who isn’t. Anyway I have type
2 . Hally Barry is Type 2, what’s wrong with that figure(not a damn thing). This is inherited, just like a
lot of things. So before you go picking on someone else, clean up your own back yard………………….May you all be cursed with being FAT!!!!!!!!. you most likely are already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sher Lock
January 13th, 2012
1:31 pm
I have diabetes and am not obese. It’s hereditary.
TT
January 13th, 2012
1:35 pm
Wow .. I did not see it coming……….NOT lol . Have you seen the kind of greasy crap she cooks on that show. Fried this Fried that, Greasy this Greasy that with lots of butter. Yep eating that everyday will give you diabetes and kill you for sure
LCDawg
January 13th, 2012
1:37 pm
Shocking!!!!!!
Hetch Hetchy
January 13th, 2012
1:41 pm
I guess the good news is she’ll have to change her diet, and maybe avoid an early heart attack.
Jane Mason
January 13th, 2012
1:46 pm
Anthony Bourdain has no right to criticize Paula Deen. His diet is just as bad. It seems to be mostly meat-based restaurant food with lots of fat. Power to the new vegetarian revolution!
Linda
January 13th, 2012
1:55 pm
Loopy—- you are telling a person who works in the medical field and has so for well over 40 years the difference in type 1 and 2? I did not say Mary Tyler Moore was type 1 or 2 but I do know what type she is. Now stating that, again I will say type 2 runs in families and you do not have to be obese to have type 2- case in point is my SIL who is probably about a size 5, very slim.
Roekest
January 13th, 2012
1:59 pm
And in other news…gunshots hurt!
2012
January 13th, 2012
1:59 pm
where are you Jennifer? this is just a hate-fest.
Jerry
January 13th, 2012
2:01 pm
There’s apparently more to this story. Paula will also announce that she’s inked a deal with Norvatis to endorse their new Diabetes drug. That’s my girl, never miss an opportunity to make money. And she has been hiding her condition for sometime fearing a loss of endorsements or her television show. Just because her mouth drips with sugar doesn’t mean she’s a nice person. She has exploited you if you are a fan and follow her recipes and she plans on exploiting her illness too. Just an all around lovely person.
Chief Knock a da homer
January 13th, 2012
2:05 pm
Paula Dean will make teh best of this,imo………………She will start making thing good for diabetics to eat now!! It is a manageble disease party people
Globeflyer
January 13th, 2012
2:06 pm
Mr. Bourdain is a pompous ass who I would not cross the street to see, nor eat his “offerings”. Paula is a classic case of overweight, no-exercise, rich diet, Southern lady. This, sadly, should surprise no one; I hope she can get it under control. When her detractors can show me that they have as much tenacity and ingenuity as she had to exhibit (to get where she is now), I will be impressed, and not until.
sherry
January 13th, 2012
2:06 pm
you people are pathetic. @steve… bless your heart! you are a yankee, ain’t ya? i’m not sure what you’re talking about when you say ‘yaw’. only thing i can tell you, my friend… if you don’t like it down south, take I75 north & do us all a favor. jerk!
OtistheDrunk
January 13th, 2012
2:09 pm
Sad to read this and sure glad to see that Bobby Deen has launched a new TV show on the Cooking Channel called “Not My Mama’s Meals” where he takes Paula’s southern recipes and redoes them in a healthy way (like “fried” chicken that he bakes using corn flakes as the coating etc). Wouldn’t surprise me if she publicly reveals her disease on Bobby’s new show..in fact, that may be a great idea!
Hopefully she will let Bobby do all the cooking from now on with his healthier recipes! Best wishes Paula to a speedy weight loss and recovery from this diabetes. You CAN return to normal health!
AJC Negative Blogger
January 13th, 2012
2:15 pm
Seriously people, “southern cooking” is not Paula’s food. Her recipes have been handed down for generations with the exception of any new age cooking using modern food items not found long ago. Even those recipes were derived from more traditional recipes. Y’all will shoot the messenger all day long.
I love how a side of mac & cheese with meat and veggies is considered unhealthy in the South but up North it’s ok to eat a plate of mac & cheese for a dinner entree.
katl
January 13th, 2012
2:18 pm
I am sad to here that Paula Dean has diabetes, I like her shows and I love watching her cook. Diabetes is nothing to play with, but it can be controlled. Now to all the disrepectful,ignorant people that are making fun of her and don’t have anything good to say about her or anybody else..”WE ARE ALL GOING TO LEAVE HERE WITH SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT IMMUNE TO ANYTHING AND JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING NOW DON’T MEAN THEY YOU WANT LATER IN LIFE MY SUGGESTIONS TOO YOU, KEEP LIVING!”
CL
January 13th, 2012
2:22 pm
We all make our own choices. I’m glad to see she’s trying to quit her pack and a half a day smoking habit and wish her well with her diabetes diagnosis.
lisa
January 13th, 2012
2:29 pm
I wish Paula the best as she gets used to life with diabetes. I would take Paula over Anthony Bourdain any day. She brings a smile to my heart; Bourdain, a lot of cuss words to my eyes and ears.
mamaj
January 13th, 2012
2:45 pm
I love Paula Deen, and like she always says, “I’m your cook, not your doctor”, the choice is always yours. Just because she has a show that produces southern cuisine, she is by no means the inventor of southern foods, because some were cooking just like that, before she came on the scene. I hope and believe she will be okay, because she is surrounded by people who love her, and her son’s show was probably born from her recent diagnosis.
To Each His Own
January 13th, 2012
2:50 pm
Yea, but that hagard old cook is laughing all the way to the bank!
Cardiac Physician Assistant
January 13th, 2012
2:51 pm
TO DONNA P.:
Paula Deen IS Obese by ‘ALL’ medical standards…Period! I’ve seen her in person. Type II Diabetes is something that can certainly be side tracked/prevented by a healthy liestyle and has NOT been helped by her PRESUMED eating habits.
Cardiac Physician Assistant
January 13th, 2012
2:52 pm
But…Damn she can cook!!!
Karma to joeybitten
January 13th, 2012
2:57 pm
Thanks. I try hard every day to be disgusting. Truth hurts doesn’t it?
Wendell
January 13th, 2012
2:58 pm
It ain’t the butter, it’s the bread…and the sugar. There’s too much info from the last 10 years, open your minds and research it.
Type 1 Mama
January 13th, 2012
2:58 pm
First off – I am sorry to read of Paula’s diagnosis. It is very possible her Type 2 diabetes is hereditary and that her lifestyle “set it off”. However, if she ate everything she cooked, she would be morbidly obese. I hope that she will make some lifestyle changes and prevent any complications that diabetes can cause.
Onto my soapbox. My very thin, healthy 5-year old has had TYPE 1 diabetes since he was 2 years old. It is autoimmune – cannot prevent it. Cannot cure it. VERY hard to control it. It is a slap in the face to read all of your comments when I work my butt off night and day to keep him healthy and ALIVE!!! Please educate yourselves before shooting off your ignorant mouths (or typing fingers).
@ Linda – just because you work in the medical field doesn’t mean you know anything about diabetes. My son’s former pediatrician didn’t know a thing and darn near killed him.
Harold
January 13th, 2012
3:01 pm
She insults and disrespects the First Lady for promoting healthy eating habits and then has to announce that he has had Type II Diabetes for sometime. There is a God after all.
HENRY
January 13th, 2012
3:10 pm
IT’S OK TO EAT CRAP AND LOTS OF IT IF YOU EXERCISE ALONG WITH IT……I GUESS THE EXERCISE IS SOMETHING NEW FOR HER.
Used to love Paula Deen
January 13th, 2012
3:12 pm
I was once a big Paula Deen fan. I bought 3 of her cookbooks, and have been to her Savannah restaurant on a couple of occasions. However, in February 2011, my husband and I went to Savannah to celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary. We knew there was no way to get in there Saturday evening as you have to be in line around 3 p.m. to get a table. So, we decided to go for Sunday brunch. We got there around the time they opened and there were about 300 people waiting. Now, they don’t take reservations and they are open on Sunday until 5 p.m. We were prepared to wait an hour or two. My husband went to the hostess and was rudely told that “you aren’t getting in here today”. She didn’t apologize or anything. How in the world would she know if we would or would not get in? It’s 11 a.m. and you are open until 5 and there are 300 people? I know the restaurant isn’t that big, but it’s buffett. Unless 90% of those 300 people are going to stay there all day, you can’t turn people away at opening! I went on Paula’s website and informed her of the rudeness of her employee. Got no response. This told me she really doesn’t care about her customers. I still use her cookbooks, because some of the stuff is really good. But I won’t be giving her any more of my money.
mary h
January 13th, 2012
3:16 pm
no one loves to eat more than I do, but alas, I got the diabetes diagnoses last year! Gave up unhealthy living and started walking. Blood sugar is in great control. A1C was 5 at last draw….So good luck to Paula. You are an awesome woman and you can do this….I do love to watch your programs…can’t eat much of your recipes, but love to watch you cook your food!!
Linda
January 13th, 2012
3:18 pm
Type 1 mama- I would hope working as a nurse practitioner in an endocrine group specializing in the treatment of diabetes I have learned some over the years- not only in the early years but we are required to have ongoing studies.
Type 1 Mama
January 13th, 2012
3:19 pm
mary h – good for you for taking control of your health! Keep up the fantastic A1C!! Hope Paula takes a page from your book.
Type 1 Mama
January 13th, 2012
3:21 pm
Linda – you were not specific regarding your background in endocrinology. But with that background, you should know that my statement is sadly true, even if it doesn’t apply to you. Thank you for what you do.
Mythbuster
January 13th, 2012
3:23 pm
Breaking News: Food DOES NOT cause diabetes. Lifestyle and heredity does, as well as yet-to-be discovered metabolic and infectious triggers that are not fully understood.
Muscles burn blood-sugar (glucose) without the use of insulin, so excerise and activity are important. (Sloth is one of the seven deadly sins, after all.)
Since insulin is a hormone, who knows, one day we may learn that certain viruses can cause the body’s immmune response to attack our own endocrine system.
hmmmm
January 13th, 2012
3:23 pm
In other news the sky is blue and grass is green.
Cheryl
January 13th, 2012
3:24 pm
Paula will be fine. She will just have to use portion control and stay away from white bread, white rice, and white pasta, etc. There are ways of making them taste good and keep up with your diab numbers.
Love you Paula
Cheryl
January 13th, 2012
3:26 pm
oh, i forgot exercise
Kevin
January 13th, 2012
3:34 pm
A woman finds out she has diabetes, and you bunch of losers spew vile comments like she deserves it, etc.
You’re a miserable lot and you deserve the miserable lives I’m sure many of you live.
Cold hearts, cold lives.
Loopy Lupus guy!
January 13th, 2012
3:35 pm
@Linda -sorry no offense. my wife is a PA and I would think that as a medical professional, you would make the distinction between type 1 and type 2 which I dont believe you did in your argument for MaryTyler Moore’s diabetes diagnosis. But point still taken.
happy MLK day!
carla roqs
January 13th, 2012
3:38 pm
Enter your comments here
carla roqs
January 13th, 2012
3:41 pm
nasty nasty comments here.
david
January 13th, 2012
3:42 pm
Well there is a shocker. You cannot go through life eating and cooking like she does and not expect problems. Sweetest lady ever, but her food epitomizes what is wrong with American habits.
Linda
January 13th, 2012
3:49 pm
Loopy, did not know I HAD to distinguish between anything, just talking diabetes and stated a fact of Mary Tyler Moore having diabetes, not argument for her having 1 or 2, not on trial here, just saying…..
Kyle
January 13th, 2012
3:52 pm
I am so stunned you could knock me over with a Bazooka.
Get it.
Fatty Patty
January 13th, 2012
3:58 pm
Butter has no carbs so its ok for diabetes. It’s all about the sugar consumption, no exercise, age, and mostly STRESS. Sugar is easy to give up when you have to and anybody can walk but STRESS is not easy to avoid.
joyce
January 13th, 2012
3:58 pm
Shaggy that was priceless. My heart did the same thing. Are you kidding me. Who eats like that?
mitzymy
January 13th, 2012
3:59 pm
It’s not the butter that she cooks with. Doctors have said through research that our bodies don’t recognize margarine. Her food is not meant to be eaten every day and every meal, and she probably does not eat like this herself. Weight gain is something that happens naturally. When a person passes 25 the metabolism starts to slow down, but we don’t recognize it then because we are still active. I wore a size 5 at high school graduation, and now I am a 14. I eat right and exercise regularly, but if I don’t step up the exercise a notch, I gain weight. Paula cooks like that because she has an audience for it. Savannah is a tourist town and her resturant is part of the attraction to visiting that city. She will be fine.
Peter
January 13th, 2012
4:19 pm
If she does have diabetes then it is a testament about the food she makes and eats.
“Deen’s cookbook includes such nutrition bombs as Hot Buffalo Wings. A single serving of three wings contain 910 calories and 85 grams of fat,”
Mostly crap for your body, and lands you over weight as she is !
Yawn
January 13th, 2012
4:30 pm
And this announcement is meaningful to me or any other ajc.com reader because…?
Slow news day???
Prez Obozo
January 13th, 2012
4:33 pm
Since all you Paula criticizers are too stupid to figure out what to eat, why don’t we start more government to tell us what we can buy & eat?? Why don’t you criticizers who are probably overweight to begin with get off you lazy butts & exercise instead of hurring home to watch trash tv like ‘dancing with the stars’, ‘American Idiots’ & ‘desperate housewives’???
Prayers to ya Paula – God bless you!
Chief Knock a da homer
January 13th, 2012
4:34 pm
Too many haters on here. I guess they are jealous of Paula’s success. Quess what ? She will find a way to cook healthy now
Type 1 Mama
January 13th, 2012
4:38 pm
@Linda – yes, you should distinguish since the two types are only alike in name only. Why bring up the name of Mary Tyler Moore in a conversation clearly about Type 2? You are perpetuating the stigma against those with the autoimmune version and keeping ignorance alive and well. As a professional in the field, you should know better!
A friend
January 13th, 2012
4:43 pm
Paula may not always make the best dietary choices, but she does seem to be a very nice lady and I wish her well. Bye yall!!
Bedford
January 13th, 2012
4:43 pm
The people who are crapping on Paula right now must want to eat nothing but gravel. What good is living to 100 if you can’t enjoy life, which includes enjoyable food. She makes food people actually like, not food that ponces claim to like just so they can have a false sense of superiority about themselves.
CC
January 13th, 2012
4:47 pm
Not everyone who eats badly and is overweight gets type 2 diabetes. There are thin and healthy people that develop type 2 also. If that were true all the obese people would have diabetes. But being overweight and / or inactive can raise your risk if you are genetically inclined to have diabetes.
CC
January 13th, 2012
4:49 pm
Halle Berry and Dick Clark are certainly not obese and both have type 2 diabetes.
Ron Burgundy
January 13th, 2012
4:53 pm
Michelle was too late getting themmessage out to help Paula Dean. WHY GAWD WHY!!!!
Ella
January 13th, 2012
4:56 pm
This reminds me of when the guy who started the Atkins diet fad dropped dead of a heart attack. You are what you eat and it will catch up with you one day. Of course Paula eats the food she writes about and promotes – she says it all the time, that this is how she eats. I wouldn’t wish diabetes on anyone, including Ms. Dean, but each of us have to live with the consequences of our actions. She chose to eat a certain way and she’s paying the price. Sad, but true.
David Buffington
January 13th, 2012
5:03 pm
She’s FAT. The fatter she got, the more likely she would become a Type II diabetic. It was inevitable. Now what? Will she actually provide more healthful foods & recipes? Best way to get healthy recipes on the Food Channel? Avoid the FAT chefs.
KA
January 13th, 2012
5:31 pm
It will be interesting to see how Paula changes her cooking. Diabetics have to eat low fat, with a balance of good carbs and protein. I have managed my diabetes with diet and exercise, weight loss, and so I don’t need medication. Dump the butter, Paula, that’s your first step to better health.
Danube
January 13th, 2012
5:41 pm
If Paula was black, a lot of these comments wouldn’t be so supportive.
Katie
January 13th, 2012
5:54 pm
***facepalm***
Usually the South is a kindly place, though not often on AJC blogs.
Type II Diabetes is not an illness, it is a condition.
Fat, in moderation, is not bad and DOES NOT add significant weight – it is a cholesterol issue.
SUGAR, in anything other than a coffee here and there, is stored AS FAT in your body.
The improper metabolization of sugar by lack of insulin causes diabetes.
A leaner body condition is more able to metabolize sugars.
Carbs ARE SUGARS in the body.
Complex Carbs ARE NOT (these are vegetables, BTW)
Everything in moderation. Eating, criticizing, cooking with butter, and hiding behind internet pseudonyms to post hatred.
Y’all be nice. Paula is a lovely woman who battled extreme depression and pulled herself up by her bootstraps and became a successful enterprise. Anthony Bourdain did not.
Linda
January 13th, 2012
6:12 pm
Mama 1- but the only thing is Paula has not officially come out with her diagnosis yet- right? She has not said 1 or 2 – I would think 2 but I never assume as you are usually wrong when you do. Like I said, my hubby has diabetes and I do not eee him suffering any stigma because of his disease. Anyone who thinks you should be looked down on because of this seems a little paranoid to me. Enough said.
roggiep
January 13th, 2012
6:16 pm
I love Paula Deen, but I was never happy with her food choices, most of them are fried and unhealthy. I think you have to have a responsability to your fans to provide something as healthy as possible.The Angry Trainer writes a great article about the news of her diabetes, etc. some harsh words there but I must agree with him. http://www.angrytrainerfitness.com/2012/01/paula-deen-time-to-stop-cooking-crap/
Kurt
January 13th, 2012
6:39 pm
she need to lay off those fatty foods I know it’s hard but for health reasons she need to eat healthier.
T Knight
January 13th, 2012
6:57 pm
Good health wishes for Paula. Many folks love her and are inspired by her.
Does Paula Deen have diabetes? – Los Angeles Times | headlinenewsreport.org
January 13th, 2012
7:06 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Does Paula Deen have diabetes? – Los Angeles Times | U.S.A News
January 13th, 2012
7:12 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Type 1 Mama
January 13th, 2012
7:19 pm
Hmmm…I think you can hypothesize that due to her age and lifestyle it is Type 2. If you think there is no stigma then you have read none of these comments. As long as people group the two types together we (JDRF/ Type 1 community) may not get the funding we so desperately need for better technology and an eventual cure. Clue in – YOU are not the majority and I hope you never work with children. I hope I have made a difference in the minds of the people reading these comments. Advocacy matters. NOW enough has been said.
mr atkins
January 13th, 2012
7:36 pm
@Ella. Atkins did not die of a heart attack. Do your research idiot.
Donna Q
January 13th, 2012
7:38 pm
Donna P, are you kidding? “A healthy weight for her age?” You must be high, girlfriend….
Bob Evans
January 13th, 2012
7:54 pm
Paula Deen?
Yeah, I’d hit that.
Tom
January 13th, 2012
8:08 pm
I also read somewhere that she is a 1.5 pack/day smoker. Her voice also sounds like a smoker’s.
Atlanta Academic
January 13th, 2012
8:46 pm
The Holy Trinity of the South in order of rank is food, sex and Jesus. How do I know this? That which I always suspected, being an avid consumer of mystery novels, was revealed by Southern mystery writer, Patricia Houck Sprinkle.
My view may be different. At least part of me hails from breathtakingly beautiful Millflin County, Pennsylvania, Dutch, from the year 1642. As you know, that is pretty close to Gettysburg. There may be rumors that flamboyant Jeb Stuart enjoyed very different fare from his usual at my ancestors’ table.
Grandfather was a mountain doctor, trained at Pitt. Outside his office door was an etching of the stork delivering a baby hung by a cloth held by beak. He died when I was seven years old. He was asked by Congress just prior to WWI to comment on what we now call podiatry. I can only imagine his commentary on the horrific diabetes epidemic in this country.
My cousin’s husband from a family of doctors died on a road called Breakneck when doctors administered to the people in the mountains. It is a terrible thing that now those treacherous roads are traveled not to deliver babies, but to treat excess.
Hula
January 13th, 2012
9:27 pm
I met Paul Deen in August 2011 & she is a teeny tiny thing. She has a generous chest which I think is what makes her look heavier on tv and photos. I assure you she is very petite
Bob
January 13th, 2012
11:42 pm
You don’t have to be overweight to get Type 2 diabetes, although many overweight people contract the disease.
Bob
January 13th, 2012
11:48 pm
Some of you misunderstand the illness. Fat doesn’t have anything to do with type 2 diabetes, although it isn’t good for your heart, cholesterol, etc. simple carbohydrates like white rice, white flour, white potatoes, white sugar, etc. raise people’s blood sugar and is bad for diabetics.
Fun Size
January 14th, 2012
1:03 am
Geez some of y’all are just plain mean….
James
January 14th, 2012
1:27 am
@ Fun Size, Paula Deen was plain mean! I do not wish her ill but it is kind-of ironic is it it that she criticizes the FLOTUS’s Let’s Move initiative and then find herself in this situation. I do hope she gets well though, maybe take some lessons from Let’s Move instead of criticizing it!
Baltisraul
January 14th, 2012
10:38 am
Steve………..a negative comment about folks Southern accent, posted in the largest Southern newspaper is laugh out loud stupid. Get a life or move back to yankeeland. My guess, you ain’t from round here are you boy?
Bob Evans
January 14th, 2012
11:50 am
I notice Jennifer Brett doesn’t have any problem with all the mean, racist, bigoted comments, critiques on obesity & fat jokes about Paula Deen in this blog, but she refused to allow any comments whatsoever IN THIS SAME BLOG when Mrs. Obama had a public dispute with Paula.
Can we say “racist hypocrite,” Boys & Girls?
Randall
January 14th, 2012
12:20 pm
Amazing all the people here who don’t understand diabetes. I did not read one comment here that mentioned the role of stress and lack of sleep as the main cause of people developing diabetes. I have type 2 and take an unbelievable amount of anti-diabetic pills and insulin but my numbers are not controlled. It can be hereditary however this is mostly just a dodge for people whose doctors don’t want their patients to feel like it is PARTLY their own fault as well. My mother had it and she was a type A neurotic stressed out type as am I. My brother doesn’t have it. He is a calm person. Anyway there are many causes but I have to agree somewhat with the person who made the comment about karma. Americans in particular are now reaping the rewards for trashing their bodies and letting MonSatan (Monsanto) genetically modify almost everything we eat. The answer to most of the problems in our society is to stop consuming! Did you know that the government is at war with people who grow their own food? Do some research.
Randall
January 14th, 2012
12:30 pm
Hey Bob, yes you have nailed the diet aspect of it pretty well as a generalization. People would be well advised to cut out ALL bread from their diets and stop grazing like cattle. Bread is the number one offender and if people want to lose weight than this is the first thing they should do along with quitting ALL fried foods. Fat in itself does not cause diabetes but even the low carb diets suggest minimizing bad fats. Another thing that causes diabetes is Aspartame which is found in most “diet” drinks. Anyone out there who thinks a person can lose weight by drinking diet drinks is delusional. Have people given up thinking for themselves but instead sit in front of the TV and soak up all the corporate commercial propaganda? Attention, everyone…..turn this woman’s show off and instead get up and go out for a walk for the hour shes on. Watch the result.
patricia
January 15th, 2012
2:53 pm
I’m so sorry for you finding you’re type 2 diabetic. But look on the bright side there are plenty of diabetic recipes that you can make that don’t taste nasty. I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for 37 years. Believe me you can survive. Because I have and I know you can, we are both Southern Belles. And I love you and your family. Just take care and eat like the dietitician tells you to. Lovefrom our family to yours.
JOY GROSS
January 15th, 2012
5:30 pm
I enjoy watching Paula. I just LOVE that accent. She’s good at what she does, she’s attractive, she’s funny, and what a cook! I get vicarious enjoyment from watching HER gobble down all those luscious, creamy sweet desserts and share them with her husband and sons (watch out – they may be next!). It’s a perverted, vicarious pleasure for me, as I have been a plant-based eater for 70 of my 84 years. As for the meat dishes, I don’t salivate over those. THAT almost gives me the heaves. Watching Paula, I’ve said to myself many times, “Something’s going to happen to her. There’ll be a price to pay.” And here it is. She needs MY new recipe book, JOY’S RECIPES FOR LIVING YOUNGER LONGER. There’re all plant based and alkalinizing. Meats and Sweets, Paula’s specialties are acid inducing, which predisposes you to whatever you are genetically predisposed to.
Paula’s a great hostess. I wish her the best.
Joy Gross
Does Paula Deen Have Type 2 Diabetes? – Ecorazzi | headlinenewsreport.org
January 15th, 2012
10:05 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Does Paula Deen Have Type 2 Diabetes? – Ecorazzi | Rss News Desk | Daily News Magazine
January 15th, 2012
10:54 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Does Paula Deen Have Type 2 Diabetes? – Ecorazzi | Best News Feed - Daily News Magazine
January 15th, 2012
10:58 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Does Paula Deen Have Type 2 Diabetes? – Ecorazzi | Just Top News – Daily News Magazine
January 15th, 2012
11:05 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Report: Paula Deen to reveal she has diabetes | Weight and Diet
January 16th, 2012
12:10 am
[...] Report: Paula Deen to expose she has diabetes “Deen's cookbook contains these nourishment bombs as Hot Buffalo Wings. A single serving of 3 wings include 910 calories and 85 grams of fat,” the organization mentioned in a statement. A spokesperson for the PCRM mentioned that Deen “is the only chef who has … Examine far more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (web site) [...]
Bob from Cobb
January 16th, 2012
1:35 am
You LIBERALS KILL ME! Paula has always said she is NOT a CHEF!She is a self taught cook. So what if you don’t like her show or what she cooks? DON’T WATCH! No one is holding a gun to you head and making you eat GOOD OLD FASHIONED COOKING!
Speaking of eating,I LOVE LIBERALS like “Kharma” and “Treat her the same as a cigarette comercial”. Yeah,I LOVE YOU. You taste like CHICKEN!;-) LOL!
FAT LADY HAS SUNG ON THIS ONE
January 16th, 2012
1:41 am
WAITING FOR TRIPLE BYPASS SHE WILL HAVE ANY DAY NOW WITH ALL THAT BUTTER AND GOBBLYGOOK IN IT FAT AND THEN SOME
FAT LADY HAS SUNG ON THIS ONE
January 16th, 2012
1:42 am
AS PHONEY AS THE BALONEY SHE EATS WITH HER DONUTS
Holly
January 16th, 2012
5:21 pm
Deen created her diabetes through a very poor diet. That is the bottom line. I think Paula is a nice person, and I hope she can change her diet and lifestyle. Having a bad diet doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. I do hope she will stop with all the fat and sugar so she can live a healthy long life and be there for her kids and grandkids.
fatten up
January 16th, 2012
10:12 pm
diabetes? no surprise with all the fattening stuff she eats all the time.
call michelle!
January 16th, 2012
10:13 pm
paula need to call michelle obama—for lessons on how to lose weight and “get in shape!” michelle know her stuff.
Kevin McGill
January 17th, 2012
2:37 pm
Hey y’all,
Paula Deen confronting Type 2 diabetes is like a lifelong smoker amazed that they have lung cancer
What a joke!
No surprise Deen is using this to make some big dough for a pharmaceutical company to peddle meds for bad behavior..
Ed
January 17th, 2012
3:38 pm
“Not only has the First Lady of the Deep-Fryer been less than transparent about her disease, she has inked a multimillion dollar deal with the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk for its once-daily treatment. It is hard to imagine a stickier ethical affair than making a fortune promoting foods that make people fat — thereby increasing their risk of diabetes — and then having the nerve to try to sell them a drug to treat the diet-related disease that she has had secretly for years.”
This pretty much says it all.
Dana
January 17th, 2012
4:18 pm
The fact she has hid this for 3 years is incomprehensible. This just “screams” fraud to me. And, the Food Network airing her shows in the interim is highly irresponsible, knowing she has Type 2. As a parent of a Type 1 Diabetic (Type 1 Diabetes is autoimmune, where the pancreas produces zero insulin) This is a huge slap in the face to let this woman get away with this. I have to account for EVERYTHING my child puts in her mouth, and give her injections of insulin to keep her alive. I am now officially banning The Food Network. This is just wrong on so many levels.
Cher yl
January 17th, 2012
5:31 pm
@Ed, you said it all and you said it so well!
My Two Cents
January 17th, 2012
6:49 pm
Paula would do well in presenting good tasting low fat recipes that are diabetic friendly.
'tertnmnt
January 18th, 2012
2:07 am
Are her children obese from the diet they grew up on. One’s show is called ‘Not My Mama’s Cooking’