Chef Paula Deen found herself as the target of plenty of criticism earlier this year when she outed herself as a diabetic after having pushed the mega buttery and highly caloric food via her Food Channel show. Her three-year secret didn’t just slip out, of course. It instead came as she announced that she was the news spokesperson for diabetes-drug maker Novo Nordisk.

She told Al Roker when the news came out that she wasn’t going to change the way she cooks, but she’s apparently changed her mind about that since she and her two sons have teamed up with Novo to create and promote the website Diabetes in a New Light, which provides recipes and tips to help adults with Type-2 Diabetes. “You know, I still enjoy my favorite holiday foods, but I've changed the way my plate looks,” Deen told the Philadelphia Sun. “I've been doublin' up on my greens and cutting back on the sodium and carbs. I've also added some of the diabetes-friendly recipes that we've made for Diabetes in a New Light to my holiday menu, and now my whole family will enjoy them too!”

Not into celeb chefs? No problem, Novo is covering its spokesperson bases. The Danish pharma company has just signed hip-hop demigod Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, the cofounder of Run-DMC.Continue reading...

Paula Deen confirmed this morning to Al Roker on The Today Show that she has had type-2 Diabetes for the past three years but chose to keep it "close to her chest," despite continuing to espouse butter-laden comfort food (stuffing on a stick or donut burgers, anyone?) on the Food Network.

Deen, who told Roker that she doesn't intend to change the way she cooks now that her diabetes is public, has timed her announcement to the signing of a deal to be a paid spokesperson for Novo Nordisk, which produces the diabetes drug Victoza. The drug company is featuring Deen on a new website (called "Diabetes in a New Light") that offers "recipes, lifestyle tips and support"). Deen's ads for the diabetes drug are slated to appear later this month.Continue reading...