Moderation is Key, Whether or Not Paula Deen Feels the Same

Well, guess what y'all? Paula Deen, the southern FoodTV chef known for showcasing butter- and sugar-laden recipes, told the public she was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2008.

Following her annoucement, many have been vociferously expressing their disgust at how she dare promote fatty, sugary food on her cooking show while knowingly having the disorder. By doing so, critics claim she sends the wrong message regarding diabetic eating habits. Honestly, people can accuse all they want, but at the end of the day, Paula Deen does not spoon feed her viewers. They all make choices about what to eat every day, just as she does. 

I'm sure it gets old hearing the trite saying of "moderation is key," but there really are physiological reasons as to how the mantra came about. In terms of blood sugar, moderation is important for the sake of insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating these levels. Type II diabetes occurs when high blood sugar persists due to insulin resistance and decreased secretion. Those who often indulge in various types of carbohydrates eventually exhaust insulin's ability to remove sugar from the blood.

Carbohydate consumption has an effect on one's blood sugar quantified by what is known as the glycemic index, a group of values unique to every kind of sugar. The index refers to how much sugar is released into the blood. Higher index foods cause a rapid increase in blood sugar and force insulin to work extra hard to normalize the level. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains have lower indices while processed carbohydrates and sweets have higher indices. By constantly challenging insulin with fluctuating blood sugar levels, the hormone wares out and diabetes can soon follow.

Moderation of not only the amount of sugar intake, but the type of sugar intake can help prevent diabetes onset; even if genetics make it inevitable, chances of complications can be prevented. Despite the physiological explanation for the necessity of moderation, no one can deny the warm and fuzzy feeling sugar gives us. 

Paula Deen may have her own definition of moderation, but that does not change mine. Here's mine: regularly eat well balanced meals and workout so when I come in contact with foods that are sugar filled I don't feel guilty. There are definitely times when I can get off track for a few days and feel guilty, but so what? If people make it a point to live a healthy life, a few days off track do not mean the end of the world. We only live once, so make this life a long, happy, healthy one. Indulge in moderation and I think you'll be just fine.