Health Concerns

Paula Deen Confirms Diabetes Reports, Drug Advertising Deal [Updated]

Deen's new diabetes video.
Deen’s new diabetes video. Photo: Diabetes in a new light.

Last week, the Daily reported that Paula Deen would soon be coming clean with her type 2 diabetes diagnosis, and today that’s exactly what she did. She hit Today this morning, opened up to USA Today, and even launched a new diabetes-drug site.

Deen tells USA Today about her decision not to say something sooner: “I felt like I had nothing to offer anybody other than the announcement. I wasn’t armed with enough knowledge. I knew when it was time, it would be in God’s time.”

She also confirms the rumors that the Daily first reported: She’s signed on as a sponsor for a diabetes medicine, although it’s with drug-maker Novo Nordisk. (The Daily first reported that the deal was with Novartis.) There’s a snazzy new website and everything. But! Paula doesn’t want to talk about how much money she’s making off the deal. She tells USA Today, “Talking about money is garish. It’s tacky. But, of course, I’m been [sic] compensated for my time. That’s the way our world works.”

Update: Here’s her appearance on Today:

Paula Deen spreads word about diabetes in down-home manner [USAT]
Earlier: Paula Deen Has Diabetes

Paula Deen Confirms Diabetes Reports, Drug Advertising Deal [Updated]