The huge fuss over Paula Deen’s type 2 diabetes is understandable. She is, after all, the queen of high-calorie Southern cooking. And diabetes rates are especially high in the South.
Perhaps less understandable is the reaction of the American Diabetes Association. As reported in the New York Times,
Heredity, according to the American Diabetes Association, always plays some part. “You can’t just eat your way to Type 2 diabetes,” said Geralyn Spollett, the group’s director of education.
Wrong. You most definitely can eat your way to type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is closely linked to overweight and obesity. No, not everyone who is overweight develops type 2 diabetes. But most people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight.