Paula Deen Has Diabetes, But Why Should Blacks Worry?

Paula Deen is best known for her delicious yet deadly Southern cooking. The celebrity chef has recently worked out a multimillion-dollar deal to be the spokeswoman for Novartis, a drug that treats diabetes. After much speculation and hearsay about Deen’s health, the Food Network star sat down with Al Roker from the “Today” show and confirmed that she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about three years ago.

The Lady & Sons restaurant owner and author of five cookbooks has received much backlash for her unhealthy recipes by many TV personalities, including Barbara Walters, who accused Deen of encouraging childhood obesity.

How does this affect you? Well, Deen’s health might not concern you, but her cooking style hits very close to the culinary traditions in the black community. Her fried delicacies are not a new cooking phenom for blacks, but traditional meals that are savored on a rather consistent basis.

One in 4 black women over age 55 suffers from diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, can lead to amputation and kidney failure.

As Deen has and will be changing her lifestyle to improve her health, African Americans should take note and follow suit.

Take a look at other celebrities with type 2 diabetes in our photo gallery.