Paula Deen announces she has type 2 diabetes
January 17, 2012
Diabetes affects more than 18.8 million people in the U.S. with 1.9 million new cases diagnosed annually, according to the American Diabetes Association. The medical condition doesn’t discriminate against race, age, sex or celebrity status as cooking queen Paula Deen recently admitted that she’s been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, People.com reports.
Deen told the news source that she received the diagnosis three years ago, but has just now decided to go public. She said after finding out the news, she wanted to get herself and her family in the right frame of mind before sharing. Deen admitted wanting to be able to help others who may reach out to her when the time to tell came, so she’s been learning more about the disease to be able to do so.
“I said, ‘The one thing that I think endeared me to so many people is I’ve been in very hopeless situations,'” Deen, told the publication. “I had to really get myself into a place when I made the announcement. I would come with information, and I would be armed to be able to help others.”
Now, she’s ready to help others and herself by choosing to eat right and take control of her condition.
People with diabetes, especially type 2, can get numbness in their hand and feet or have blurred vision when their insulin levels are too low or too high, according to the ADA. Those living alone with the condition might want to install a medical alert system as this wearable device gives them a way to reach emergency personnel during an episode.
