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Butter Queen Paula Deen has type II diabetes. And she’s had diabetes for three years yet has kept the diagnosis a secret. ”I wanted to bring something to the table when I came forward and I’ve always been one to think I bring hope,” she told Al Roker. That ”something” would be a new health campaign dubbed “Diabetes in a New Light” and working as a paid spokesperson for drug manufactuerer Novo Nordisk. Oh, and she doesn’t plan on altering her southern recipes too much either (you know, the ones that likely got her sick in the first place). “Of course, I will continue to share my favorite Southern recipes, just like my mama, grandmother and family shared with me over the years. And now, I’ll be adding a little bit of a lighter touch to some of these wonderful dishes,” she said. On the New Light website (which has ads for diabetes drugs) she writes, “When you look at managing your diabetes in a new light, with healthy habits and a little encouragement, and a treatment plan that works for you, you can manage your diabetes and manage to live the life you want.” Umm…wasn’t her entire appeal about NOT cooking with “healthy habits”. In fact, she made a point of not doing it at every turn. And made millions in the process! She helped Americans on their way to type II diabetes (note: there are often genetic factors associated with type II diabetes but more and more lifestyle choices effect whether or not you will develop type II diabetes) and kept doing it even when she knew she had diabetes and now we are supposed to listen to her health journey. Chef Anthony Bourdain was soo right (According to E!, he called Deen out and said her food was ”f–king bad for you” and labeled her the “most dangerous person to America”).  Bourdain told Eater.com, “When your signature dish is hamburger in between a doughnut, and you’ve been cheerfully selling this stuff knowing all along that you’ve got type 2 diabetes… It’s in bad taste if nothing else.” Not that I condone Bourdain’s activities (and he doesn’t either), but they pale in comparison to the lifestyle and food choices Deen and her sons have profited from. And now the about face they will continue to profit from. I agree with Nancy Nichols at D Magazine. It makes me sick! Especially considering all the people who don’t have a choice about diabetes. The type I kids who fight daily for a healthy lifestyle and relief and with such a huge obesity and diabetes epidemic in this country (and city). It’s a shame that she managed to keep cooking so unhealthily for so long. And it’s even more of a shame that she is ill and will struggle (as so many do) managing her diabetes and learning to cook, eat and think in a different way.