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Paula Deen Says She Has Diabetes

Was diagnosed three years ago.

Known for her rich Southern recipes, Paula Deen has had to decline sweet tea and pecan pie herself for years now—though she only today confirmed that she has type 2 diabetes. “I felt like I had nothing to offer anybody other than the announcement,” Deen, the host of Food Network’s Paula’s Best Dishes, told USA Today. “I wasn’t armed with enough knowledge. I knew when it was time, it would be in God’s time.” Deen’s detractors, including the globe-trotting Anthony Bourdain, have criticized Deen for keeping her disease secret for three years while continuing to serve up high-calorie fare. As if to make amends, 64-year-old Deen said she’ll be launching a campaign called “Diabetes in a New Light” in conjunction with drug maker Novo Nordisk.