I think the media are encouraging gluttony and bad eating habits with all of these food shows and recipes glorifying fatty foods. As you correctly point out, Paula Deen is part of the problem and this ad campaign is highly irresponsible.

In fact, there are now at least TWO whole TV networks geared towards food and eating. How much time on those networks is devoted towards healthy eating or those wanting to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle? Why do they continue to show roly-poly hosts eating greasy slop at "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" or extreme eating on "Man vs. Food"? We've got an obesity problem in this country and Paula Deen and her compatriots on the Food Network and Cooking Channel should be helping to fight it, not contribute to it.

I was particularly appalled at this southern fried hypocrite's remarks while being interviewed by a talk show host where she said that she had always preached moderation on her shows. Her shows and her recipes were only only intended for those prone to gluttony of the mind and body. Of course now that she has a big contract with a drug company that makes millions from diabetes drugs does she try to show herself in a more favorable light. If she hadn't been stuffing her big round face with deep fried, butter packed, calorie rich food she probably could have avoided diabetes altogether. I can't wait to see what she promotes after she has her quintuple bypass surgery to open up those veins clogged by eating her cholestral packed food. To me she is simply selling out for the bucks that the drug company is paying her. Goodbye Paula Deen.

YOU are responsible for YOU. Are we stupid? Does the government have to continue to make laws about our every move? The person who goes to the grocery and buys, and shoves and gobbles down that Twinkie is to blame. Paula Deen?Seriously. People are fat for many reasons and Paula ain't one of them. Blame yourself if you buy junk, eat it and don't exercise. You are fat because of you. If we do not watch televisions, never saw Paula, and eat wrong, would it be Paula's fault? Many reasons for diabetes including being fat and doctors inform with the diagnosis. Do not blame Paula for one's lack of control. Gosh there are many public figures who we can immulate or choose not to, but in the long run it is our actions and us who are responsible for who we are, what we do and where we want to be.Blaming Paula is a big cop out.Look in the mirror. You won't see Paula telling you how to run your life.

Well, perhaps the if we look at it in the most charitable light we can say that she's clueless, just like many Americans who think that pills can reverse the damage done by not taking care of themselves. But it is a shame that she would perpetuate this belief and sell it to others. I'm sure she has the drug company whispering in her ear and waving the big bucks in front of her. It's no different than the celebs who push the various diets for money... Truly learning to take care of yourself is an important and serious undertaking. As a society, we've got to stop looking to singers, actors and chefs to somehow tell us how to redeem ourselves.

I don't understand how people. An still be so clueless about the food they eat and other. On healthy choices. If people don't care to make choices to be healthy then the rest of us should not have to pay for there illnesses in the form of higher insurance rates. One reader said the government should not need to legislate everything and generally I agree but in the case of people that choose to make no changes when faced with preventable disease there should be laws mandating education and life style changes or they should be forced to pay for their own medical help. I have no sympathy for a person that won't change their diet when faced with diabetes or stop smoking with heart disease or whatever. People should have the right to choose what they want to do but let them pay for their own choices.

Yes, of course we are all responsible for our eating. No one is forcing a twinkle down my throat. However,using Paula Deen as the new face of diabetes management is like having Bob Marley for the "Just Say No" campaign. If she is going to be the new face of diabetes, she must take responsibility and promote a healthy diet. Not be a paid spokes person to say 'Eat in moderation and take this pill".

Paula Deen is shameless, greedy and deceitful. She is a modern day Typhoid Mary of misinformation.

Take away her southern, aw-shucks, feel good, mommy charm, and you may reveal the Devil, herself.

The question 'Do I have problem with this? Yes!! Paula, make some good come of this. Provide for those who struggle to afford their own diabetes medications. Donate the ill-gotten gains to research. Oh Paula, Paula, Paula. How greedy and foolish you look.

Have you seen that Paula Deen has a line of after-dinner mints?

They're butter pats! ;)

I have mixed feelings about this. We haven't watched Paula gain tons of weight while on the Food Network like many of their other stars who seems to constantly go up and down. Paula has always pretty much looked the same, so although she is over weight she's not obese. Also Food Network is more about entertainment than anything else, I dont' know too many people who turn around and try to make the dishes they see made on tv. Additionally, common sense tells you to not go overboard, if you have an unhealthy dish tonight have a salad tomorrow night. It's all about balance and moderation and exercise. As long as I go work out I can have that Venti Frapp from Starbucks. Lastly, you have no right to say she became diabetic solely because of how she eats. Everyone knows it's a combination of factors. You can genetically be pre-disposed to it so that if you do live an unhealthy lifestyle than you're more likely to become diabetic but to blame it only on her cooking I think is off the mark. However, I do agree about not liking that she's now a spokesperson for that company, I think she needs to make more changes in her own life first.

This country has a problem with our food system and with obesity. Believe me, I know.

Paula Deen makes a very handsome living as a food celebrity. Maybe she has a responsibility to be a role model? Same as any overpaid athlete, no?

In any case, we have these problems. She can choose to be part of the problem, or she can choose to be part of the solution.

So far, she continues to be a part of the problem. Thanks for nothin', sugar.

If you make and eat the same food this overpaid hillbilly does on her show, then you deserve everything coming to you. If you are guided by everything you see on TV or the internet, then you deserve everything coming to you.

THINK FOR YOURSELF

Our parents generation was filled with lard and heart disease. Our generation is filled with cancer and "franken-food." Moderation is the key. Paula Deen is of our parent's generation and she has always said in her appearances, "Look, I'm your cook not your Doctor." I applaud her for coming forward and speaking about her health. Will she change how she promotes food on her show? Maybe, maybe not. Keep in mind before we all judge, she has never promoted health....just what tastes good.

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." - Hippocrates