What's the Fuss with Paula Deen......

So we all heard that Paula Deen has Diabetes this week.  I am very sad to hear about this.  Now everyone is talking about her, and how she should have come out and told everyone about her disease years ago when she was diagnosed.  Yes, I agree that she should have come "clean" when she first found out about the disease, but then how could she carry out her "food kingdom".......

If you know Paula's story, you would know that she was very poor after her hubby left her years ago, and had to make ends meet for her two boys and herself.  Paula started a business, with her cooking, she made lunches for the business men of Savannah, GA, and her then little boys went around town selling them.  Sure enough she made enough money and opened up her restaurant, "The Lady & Sons".....never been there, but I would love to one day.  She did a good thing, she took care of her little boys, and herself....you may say someone else would have gone on welfare, and mooch off the government, like so many people do, but she chose not to.  Then a great opportunity for her to have her own cooking show, wow, what a dream come true!!!!

You know it's very hard for one to share about a disease, especially Diabetes, it's a disease related to "what you eat, when you eat, and the worst.....what not to eat!"  And if you love food, like me, it's very hard to share that you have Diabetes

I have Diabetes, I have had it now for years, and like Paula, I love food, I love to cook for my family, friends, to share my recipes, it makes me happy.  So, am I to stop cooking, baking, and loving food?  Am I a hypocrite like people are calling Paula Deen?

I have shared my recipes with you all over the past several months, yes, some are high in calories, like the desserts that I make, but I don't eat the whole cake, pie or tart, even though sometimes I may want to.... some humor is needed right now.  I cook everyday meals for my family, and yes on occasion I will cook a fatty meal, or dessert, and I will enjoy it.

I have to say when I was diagnosed years ago, I was very upset, cried for days.  My father had the disease and was very sick with it, I felt for him, and wished I didn't have to "inherit" his disease.  But I did.  My doctor told me to get moving, lose weight, and I sure did.  I lost a lot of weight, and have kept it off now for almost 4 years!  Being a diabetic you have to eat....not skip meals.  Eating a snack before bed is encouraged, so how on earth are we suppose to lose weight by eating before bed?  It's very hard to keep it all level....and you have to eat food to keep your blood sugar level, and at times it can be so frustrating.  Sometimes I don't want to eat before going to 8:15 am early church service, I'm not hungry, but I know if I don't eat, my blood sugar will drop, and I will feel awful.  Stress brings on the disease, it elevates your blood sugar levels, and I do get stressed out often, hey I'm a Mom of a teenager! 

What I'm trying to say is, someone like Paula, someone like me, who has this disease can still cook, can still eat foods made out of sugar, and butter, but we have to eat them in MODERATION....we can still enjoy them, but not every day.  On the weekends, have a piece of cake, then go for a long walk afterwards, so your blood sugar remains level.  Yes, I love salad, and love veggies, and if you know me, we have fresh veggies with every meal.  I choose whole wheat bread over white, and I choose regular whole wheat breads over rolls....I make the rolls and bread for my family, life still goes on, just because I can't eat them doesn't mean my family can't.   And when I make my homemade pizza, I always serve and EAT a big salad to go with it.  I like to balance our meals, and you know that's how I kept the weight off too.  Sure I want to lose more, but then I'll have to buy a whole new wardrobe AGAIN and I got some GREAT CLOTHES!

Paula, you go girl, ignore all the negativity, continue cooking, perhaps calm it down some with all the butter and sugar, and let me tell you those artificial sweeteners taste awful, been there..... done that with making desserts with artificial sweeteners, big waste of time, and they taste nasty!

So, perhaps you are reading my blog and think I'm a hypocrite?  No, I'm just a lover of food, and I want to encourage you all to cook for your loved ones, and yes I live with a bad disease, and I'm trying to enjoy life and food....all in MODERATION!