Shakespeare’s quote but that is the question. Do you want to be a diabetic or do you not want to be a diabetic?”
The Center for Disease Control has solid evidence that shows a strong correlation between obesity and diabetes. I love how one author put it “we are eating ourselves into a diabetes epidemic!”
The past weeks have seen a flurry of blogs, news blasts and tweets all commenting on the fact that celebrity cook Paula Deen was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago and is now a paid spokesperson for a pharmacy drug company.
Paula Dean is well loved. It seems people like her because she, first and foremost, is a mom. Not a fancy chef but a good cook who loves her family, wears aprons, puts her fingers in the food to taste it and laughs a lot. I reviewed her recipes (love one recipe name: double chocolate ooey- gooey butter cream cake). Let’s just say not much plant based nutrition going on here, lots of saturated fat and sugar. We need to nourish our bodies with nutrients and foods that heal our bodies. Yes, I know it is hard to change the way we eat but it is no longer an option. Why?
Currently, seven of 10 American adults are overweight or obese. It is known that being overweight and poor eating habits cause disease and it is now understood that there is a codependent relationship between diabetes and obesity. Of those diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, 80-90 percent are overweight or obese.[i] Why do you think that is? For one, greater body weight increases insulin resistance because fat interferes with the body’s ability to use insulin.
Everywhere you turn there is another weight loss plan saying “pick me, pick me”. Please, forget about putting on a bikini for a before/after picture when you lose weight. Instead, pick a weight program that focuses on your health. Think about a better cholesterol level, improved insulin resistance and normal blood pressure.

Courtesy of the Center for Disease Control
There are medications and drugs to help the body utilize insulin more effectively but the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) has shown that weight loss through moderate diet changes and physical activity can delay and prevent Type 2 diabetes. This study showed that people who focused on lifestyle changes reduced their risk of getting Type 2 DM by 58% while the group who received a medication (and information on diet and exercise) only reduced their risk by 31 percent. Not sure how old Paula is, but lifestyle changes were even more effective (71 percent risk reduction) in those ages 60 and older.[ii]
Paula Deen is 5’6 and weighs 160 pounds (sorry got that info from a tabloid) which means her BMI or body mass index is 25.8. According to the BMI charts she is overweight, not obese. In order to get her weight down to a normal BMI she would only need to lose 10 pounds. And research shows that even that small amount of weight (10 pounds) can be enough to improve your blood glucose level and insulin sensitivity.[iii]
My advice to Paula is “Be an advocate by improving your health. Help control your diabetes, lose weight, find a personalized eating and exercise program. These changes just might be the best investment you make for your future”.
Thanks for your time,
Julianne Downes RD

Julianne Downes
Julianne Downes is a nutrition communications expert with over 15 years of integrative medicine training and education. As a registered dietitian and certified weight management trainer, she has been very involved in the development of weight management programs and is the author of personalized meal plans, a dining out guide and a 12 week DVD series.
[i] www.nikkl.nih.gov/type 2 diabetes
[ii] New England Journal of Medicine 2002; 346:393-403
[iii] www.diabetes.org/food