Using celebrity chef and Food Network star Paula Deen to team with drugmaker Novo Nordisk to launch a program that aims to help people live with Type 2 diabetes and promote a Novo diabetes drug is akin to using Kim Kardashian as a spokesperson for the sanctity of marriage !
With so many people getting Type 2 diabetes and the rising cost of diabetes (The national cost of diabetes in the U.S. in 2007 exceeds $174 billion. This estimate includes $116 billion in excess medical expenditures attributed to diabetes, as well as $58 billion in reduced national productivity) the last thing that Novo should be doing is using someone who promoted high fat, high calorie cooking and eating as a diabetes spokesperson.
What message does this send to people ? That it’s OK to eat really bad food because diabetes can be treated with Rx drugs ?
This makes NO sense to me what so ever and is a really bad choice. What the industry needs to do is to educate and inform people of the dangers of Type 2 diabetes due to bad diets and lack of exercise. Unless we get a handle on the diabetes epidemic it is going to continue to add a lot of costs to our healthcare system.
Data from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet (released Jan. 26, 2011)
Total prevalence of diabetes
Total: 25.8 million children and adults in the United States—8.3% of the population—have diabetes.
Diagnosed: 18.8 million people
Undiagnosed: 7.0 million people
Prediabetes: 79 million people*
New Cases: 1.9 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010.
* In contrast to the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, which used fasting glucose data to estimate undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes, the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet uses both fasting glucose and A1C levels to derive estimates for undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes. These tests were chosen because they are most frequently used in clinical practice.
Under 20 years of age
- 215,000, or 0.26% of all people in this age group have diabetes
- About 1 in every 400 children and adolescents has diabetes
Age 20 years or older
- 25.6 million, or 11.3% of all people in this age group have diabetes
Age 65 years or older
- 10.9 million, or 26.9% of all people in this age group have diabetes
Related articles
- Paula Deen, type-2 diabetes and ethics (healthyconcerns.com)
Passionate healthcare marketer with over 10 years of experience I believe that what's best for patients is best for healthcare marketers. I also write a monthly DTC Column for PM 360 Magazine and have written many articles on healthcare marketing in an age of empowered patients.
I agree with you only if Ms. Dean insists on her current ways of cooking and eating. However, if her diagnosis becomes life-changing, which is often the case, (regardless of her deal with Novo), Ms. Dean would be wise to re-boot her career and focus on how to cook healthier foods that taste good. If she does this and becomes the poster child for someone who has changed her ways and is working to help others to do the same, she would be the perfect spokesperson for a diabetes drug. The reality is that 1) though substantial weight loss with diet and exercise can reverse diabetes if dealt with early, the reality is that this is really difficult, and more often than not medication is needed, and 2) weight loss is really, really hard and medications can play a role. Don’t know what deal Ms. Dean cut with Novo, but if I was them, and she guaranteed that she would re-launch her career with a focus on healthy eating, I would sign her up ASAP as a spokesperson for Victoza which treats diabetes and can help patients lose weight.
Since Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable through diet and exercise I just cannot understand the logic of using someone who promoted hight fat and high calorie meals. In research a lot of people who get diabetes (type 2) said they were not aware of the risk factors for it and the dangers that the disease poses on their health. Novo would have been better advises to retain her to teach others that there are risks for unhealthy lifstyles.
Rich
I agree with Mr Mintz.
Paula Deen is a woman who has been unrepentant about her love of butter and cream and all things rich in cooking. But we Americans love a good redemption story. If Paula repudiates her wicked, wicked ways, Novo gets the chance to educate the public in a way that is more believable–and interesting–and may be able to sway more people away from the slippery slope.
Update,
I just view the Today Show interview with Al Roker. Not the poster child speech I was hoping for. She is somewhat unapologetic for her cooking, stating “I am your cook, not your doctor!” She does indicate that she will try to provide patients/fans/viewers with lighter recipes and she does mention she has made some lifestyle changes (no more Sweet Tea), but not exactly the re-boot I was hoping for. Check http://www.drmintz.com soon for a blog post on this.