This news, of course, has led to accusations that Mrs. Deenis profiting from her promotion of a diet that can contribute to thedevelopment of diabetes. In response to this criticism, Mrs. Deen told
USA Today, "Talking about money is garish.It's tacky. But, of course, I'm being compensated for my time. That's the wayour world works." Mrs. Deen has reportedly agreed to donate a portion of herearnings from this relationship to the American Diabetes Association.
I don't know how much Mrs. Deen plans to alter her diet orthe legendary rich meals she serves up on her show, in her cookbooks or in herrestaurants. I do know, however, that discovering you have a serious medicalcondition—particularly one that can lead to life-altering, long-termcomplications—can be a devastating experience, one that surely must be made thatmuch harder by the glare of the "public eye." I also know that Mrs. Deen is inan excellent position to put a human face on a misunderstood disease that isincreasingly sweeping the nation, to show how lifestyle can contribute to itand to share what she has learned about managing (and maybe even one dayovercoming) her diagnosis.
So until this story plays out, perhaps we should show morecompassion to the embattled Mrs. Deen and support what must be a difficultpersonal struggle—because I believe the public reaction to this news speaksvolumes about how we perceive and treat people who suffer from diabetes. IfNovo Nordisk can help the public overcome some of this stigma by shining alight on Mrs. Deen's cherubic face—well, so much the better.
I wish Mrs. Deen, as she usually gushes at the end of everyshow, "love and best dishes"—or as she now says, "love and lighter dishes."
