Drug giant Novo Nordisk has nabbed Paula Deen, the celebrity chef who popularized, among other things, cheeseburger meatloaf and hamburgers served with eggs and bacon on doughnuts instead of buns, as a new spokeswoman to help raise awareness about type 2 diabetes – which she has. Many in the drug industry wish it weren’t so, but without major legal and regulatory changes, such matches between celebs and drug firms are as certain as the sun rising in the east. That’s too bad, because it may not be the best thing for the drug firms themselves over the long run.
Deen gave no comment when it was requested through the Food Network. But a source close to the network tells Fox411 that they found out about Deen's condition only a week ago , and they will take her lead on whether her show’s programming will change.
Some of Deen’s fans expressed outrage that the 65-year-old chef had found what they believe is a way to capitalize on a diagnosis she kept a secret for so long.
“I understand she has an empire and a huge following to protect, but working with Novo Nordisk is just adding another revenue stream, and that is tweaking people like me who are in the diabetes education community,” said Carl Moore, a longtime fan of Deen’s who has her cookbooks in his home (though he has always modified the recipes to include less sugar and less butter). Moore, a type 2 diabetic and an educator on diabetic issues, said the news didn’t come as a surprise to him and others with the disease.
“Many of us have watched the Buttuh Queen for years cooking with no thought for the consequences and waiting to hear she was diabetic,” he said.
Betsy Lampe, who has struggled with type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, said Deen has already missed her first opportunity to educate victims of the disease.
“She didn’t tell us anything on the 'Today Show'; she got really defensive,” Lampe told Fox411. “She didn’t tell us what her blood sugars were. You know, diabetics want to entertain and cook too. If I were her I would have announced a whole new show for entertaining as a diabetic. It was just offensive to me.
Deen gave no comment when it was requested through the Food Network. But a source close to the network tells Fox411 that they found out about Deen's condition only a week ago , and they will take her lead on whether her show’s programming will change.
Some of Deen’s fans expressed outrage that the 65-year-old chef had found what they believe is a way to capitalize on a diagnosis she kept a secret for so long.
“I understand she has an empire and a huge following to protect, but working with Novo Nordisk is just adding another revenue stream, and that is tweaking people like me who are in the diabetes education community,” said Carl Moore, a longtime fan of Deen’s who has her cookbooks in his home (though he has always modified the recipes to include less sugar and less butter). Moore, a type 2 diabetic and an educator on diabetic issues, said the news didn’t come as a surprise to him and others with the disease.
“Many of us have watched the Buttuh Queen for years cooking with no thought for the consequences and waiting to hear she was diabetic,” he said.
Betsy Lampe, who has struggled with type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, said Deen has already missed her first opportunity to educate victims of the disease.
“She didn’t tell us anything on the 'Today Show'; she got really defensive,” Lampe told Fox411. “She didn’t tell us what her blood sugars were. You know, diabetics want to entertain and cook too. If I were her I would have announced a whole new show for entertaining as a diabetic. It was just offensive to me.
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