After revealing on the Today Show that she has lived with Type 2 diabetes for the past three years, Food Network host and guru of Southern cooking, Paula Deen has come under fire for not revealing her condition sooner and for continuing to cook foods that are downright frightening in fat, calories and sugar.  (Have you heard of Gorilla Bread?)

Her revelation has led some to ask, “Did her diet lead to her Type 2 diabetes?”  Its a good and fair question and it seems the answer is both “yes” and “no.”  There is no single food or even a group of foods or a style of cooking that will lead to Type 2 diabetes.  But risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include obesity which is directly linked to an unhealthy diet.

This isn’t the first time Deen has been criticized for her love of butter or her calorie-rich concoctions.  Caving into similar pressure years ago lead her to invite her sons on to her famous cooking show to demonstrate leaner, healthier versions of her recipes.

Deen has incredible star power and could use this as an opportunity to begin the conversation with her fans about ways to cook nutritious foods and how a healthy diet can lead to weight loss and help eliminate Type 2 diabetes.

What do you think?