Lay Off Paula Deen

Paula Deen

OK. So she’s the queen of deliciously fattening southern cuisine. And Tony Bourdain is pissed at her: says she’s killing people by virtually handing them recipes for Type II Diabetes.

Well here’s my take. I have Type II or Adult Onset Diabetes so i know just a bit about it.

Paula Deen’s diabetes is her business. Given her corpulence, i assumed she was close to getting it anyway. And that’s too bad. But I don’t feel she has any obligation to her “public” to explain herself. She only has to worry about her own health, which will continue to deteriorate if she doesn’t learn proper portion control. But Bourdain is way off base here. No one is putting a gun to the heads of those folks who eat Paula’s recipes. I do though think it’s a bit tacky that she’s now suddenly pitching diabetes meds.

Type II Diabetes is not a death sentence. It can be managed by proper diet and exercise. I’ve lost 120 pounds, have changed the way I view consumption of food, and exercise regularly. And I’m proud to say that I no longer require insulin. And I haven’t missed a TV review in 10 years. Trust me, people with Type II can have the carb laden Paula Deen extravaganza: but they can’t eat a week’s worth. They key is managing carbs. And you can do that even with the occasional foray into Paula’s tempting dishes. But then you have to get back on the bike and watch what you eat. Believe, I am living proof as a working food critic that it can be done.

So give the old girl a break. And remember, you and only you, not Paula Dean or Guy Fieri or Tony Bourdain control what you put in your mouth. It’s really that simple.