Diabetic Deen

Shocking news from TV land: Paula Deen has type II diabetes.

The news really shouldn’t be all that surprising. The Food Network personality is known for whipping up southern dishes that usually include large amounts of butter and a deep fryer.

For example: Paula’s Gooey Butter Cake, Ultimate Fantasy Deep-Fried Cheesecake and Skillet Fried Apple Pie.

One of her most offensive recipes is the Lady’s Brunch Burger. This bad boy calls for a hamburger patty topped with a fried egg to be placed between two glazed-doughnut buns.

Fellow Food Network personality Anthony Bourdain hasn’t kept his disdain for Deen secret. He’s called Deen the most dangerous person in America for her high-fat cooking.

Now that she has confirmed her 3-year-old diagnosis to the world, Bourdain is continuing to slam Deen.

“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,” he said in an ABC News story.

Bourdain isn’t the only one criticizing Deen.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Paolo Lucchesi called the TV announcement sad and infuriating because, “Deen was diagnosed three years ago and failed to do anything, and that there was not one modicum of regret or culpability for her entire persona and recipe encyclopedia, which is pretty much a butter-lubed bobsled ride to Diabetesville.”

Bourdain and others are also slamming the Southern cook for her decision to become a paid spokeswoman for diabetes drug-maker Novo Nordisk. Her new campaign with the company is called, “Diabetes in a New Light.”

“Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later,” Bourdain tweeted.

Deen’s son, Bobby Deen, is also using mom’s diagnosis to launch a new effort. The Deens recently announced his new Cooking Channel show, Not My Mama’s Meals, which features Gooey (With Less) Butter Cake among other leaner versions of Paula’s cooking.

Since the diagnosis, Deen has reportedly given up sweet tea and has started walking about a mile a day on the treadmill. She’s also reportedly said she won’t give up butter, but she does plan to scale back.