Paula Deen's diabetes: a deep-fried drug endorsement

The year before he died of lung cancer, actor Yul Brynner taped a commercial for the American Cancer Society. “Now that I’m gone,” he pleaded into the camera, “I tell you: Don’t smoke, whatever you do, just don’t smoke.” He didn’t want anyone else to end up like him.

Celebrity chef Paula Deen, known for using doughnuts to bun her bacon-and-egg burgers, could have used her diabetes diagnosis in the same way, in hopes that others wouldn’t make the same mistakes. Instead, she announced yesterday, she is partnering “with a reputable pharmaceutical company” as spokesperson for a $500-a-month diabetes drug (with side-effects that may include pancreatitis and thyroid cancer). Instead of withdrawing her endorsements for Smithfield ham and Philadelphia cream cheese, Paula Deen just added another to the list. It would be as if Yul Brynner’s last breaths were instead spent hawking chemo.

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic amputations, and new cases of blindness. Currently it’s the 7^th leading cause of death in the United States. The good news Paula could have given to the millions of diabetics and prediabetics is that there are natural treatments 500 times cheaper than the drug Paula Deen is pushing. At NutritionFacts.org I upload a new video every day. Here’s my video-of-the-day from Tuesday, showing how for a dollar a month, Indian gooseberry (amla) powder may work as well as a leading diabetes drug without the side effects:

Why treat a disease, though, when it can be reversed with plant-based diet or prevented in the first place? A prospective study of nearly 20,000 vegetarians and vegans published recently found that even after controlling for obesity (and exercise, age, gender, education, income, television watching, sleep, alcohol use, and smoking), those that ate plant-based diets had just a fraction of the diabetes risk. See How to Prevent Diabetes, How to Treat Diabetes, and my other 20 videos on diabetes. Good books on the subject include Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes and Defeating Diabetes.

When the “The Galloping Gourmet” chef Graham Kerr’s wife and childhood sweetheart suffered a stroke, he changed his tune and became a champion for healthier cooking. It is too bad Paula Deen missed this opportunity to embrace healthier Southern traditions, like collard greens and black eyed peas, and instead just chose to add a pharmaceutical side-dish to her deep-fried butter balls.

-Michael Greger, M.D.

Image credit: susie.c / Flickr

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Debbie C.

4:59AM PST on Feb 8, 2012

I want to know where I can find the Indian gooseberry (amla) powder Dr. Greger is talking about in the video. The medicine I take for my diabetes is $35.00 a month with insurance. I'd like to lower my cholesterol, triglicerides, and blood sugar for just a dollar a month and probably feel better without any side effects.

send a green star

Ashley L.

10:29AM PST on Jan 25, 2012

She is handling the situation very irresponsibly.

Pamela C.

2:29AM PST on Jan 25, 2012

Smithfield "farms", developer of swine flu. I wouldn't eat anything Paula Deen touted. Disgusting.

Kennedy C.

12:19PM PST on Jan 24, 2012

If you watch the video of her making a Krispy Kreme burger you will notice she says she's never done that before. And then the final part of the clip makes mention of making a fruit & yogurt parfait. I don't see the issue. Bad vs. Good. We make the choice. And to all the people who scream this is about making a buck? What do you think all the technology is about, for example? Have you really convinced yourself that companies who make cellphones, etc., really care that you can talk to your buds while sipping a latte at the park? HAHAHAHA. It's about the money. iPads? Apps? It's not about you having a better life. It's about the green. Wake up.

Clara B.

9:52AM PST on Jan 24, 2012

You reap what you sow.

Lika S.

11:31PM PST on Jan 23, 2012

I'm not passing judgment. It's not like we don't know that high fat, high sugar diet causes diabetes, and that unchecked diabetes can lead to amputations, blindness and death. We all know that eating natural is fine. A little bit of butter can be stretched far, but she loves to cook with LOTS of butter. So, chef beware. A diet high in butter and sugar can make you fat. Just don't blame everyone else that you didn't know.

At least now she's trying to make it better for people. Sheesh. Does anyone else have a perfect diet to make up for ranking on her like that? People need to think for themselves, and Paula Dean doesn't make you cook and eat like her, the viewers who want to eat that style food willingly pays her to teach them to cook like that, because they love that kind of food.

So, let her try out the meds. Even if it's too late for her, maybe it can help other people. Then that's good.

Sandi C.

12:03PM PST on Jan 23, 2012

so tried of hearing about her!

Cynthia M.

10:41AM PST on Jan 23, 2012

Her diabetes is a result of her high fat, high cholesterol dishes she promotes in her cook books. The woman is walking time bomb. I really hate that she promotes Smithfiled Farms also. They are one of the worse "factory Farms" and slaughterhosues are ound. They torture, beat, and abuse the animals, and have had several charges against them, yet Paula continues to rave about their meats.I want to scream when I see her on commercials.

She needs to take a good look at who and what she is promoting...animal cruelty and a unhealthy diet.. Shame on her!

Emil P.

9:48AM PST on Jan 23, 2012

It is very difficult to find a person who does no suffer with Diabetes.Treatments should continue whether it is cured or not.

Mac C.

9:42AM PST on Jan 23, 2012

If she doesn't know better, she can't do better. She is just going with what makes her feel comfortable. However, it's too bad, she could really turn things around by choosing a plant-based diet over the drug--- use her celebrity and embrace a plant based diet, as Dr Greger suggests, to help people afflicted with this. Thanks for the video.