TV chef Paula Deen, famous for recipes that feature glazed donuts as an ingredient, recently announced that she has diabetes, an admission that comes as no surprise to top heart surgeon Chauncey Crandall, M.D. He characterizes her cooking style as a “time bomb for disaster.”
“Paula Deen repeatedly insulted her body and when you do that, you’re going to pay for it. It’s going to show up as diabetes, high blood pressure, joint disorders, and more,” Dr. Crandall told Newsmax Health.
Also, Dr. Crandall, who has never treated Deen, predicts the southern cooking maven probably has other health problems as well, since Type 2 diabetes rarely occurs without other issues.
“She probably also has high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and probably heart disease as well,” said Dr. Crandall, chief of the cardiac transplant program at the world-renowned Palm Beach Cardiovascular Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Metabolic syndrome is the term used to describe the combination of high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar levels, and excess abdominal fat, which often occur together when people are overweight. Metabolic syndrome sharply increases diabetes and heart disease risk.
Deen made her announcement in an interview with Al Roker on the TODAY show.
Dr. Crandall also took issue with Deen’s statement to Roker that that Type 2 diabetes is a “puzzle,” and that it is caused by other factors, including genetics, stress, and age. While other issues can influence diabetes, the number one risk factor for Type 2 diabetes is obesity. “I have rarely seen someone who was not overweight have it,” he said.
Deen also told Roker that she predicts most baby boomers like her will develop the disease. But Dr. Crandall says this doesn’t have to happen if they keep their weight down and practice a healthy lifestyle.
During the interview Deen acknowledged she had signed an endorsement deal with the drug company Novo Nordisk, a maker of diabetes medications. Deen says she takes the drug Victoza, a once-daily noninsulin injection, to control her diabetes.
Dr. Crandall applauded the chef’s openness in admitting her illness because it could help her and her fans adopt a healthier lifestyle. More than 26 million Americans have diabetes and Type 2 is the most common form.
“This could be a great wake-up call,” said Dr. Crandall. “If Paula puts her energies and talent into promoting a low-cholesterol diet, she can really lead the way, and thanks to her cooking talent and expertise, she has the ability to do just that.”
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