I to have type II diabetes,I'm ashamed to say I don't understand food that is good for me, I just had a heart attack in December, and after 50 years of smoking I can't seem to have the determination to put them down, and it seems like the harder I try to quit the more I smoke. I need help in eating good and able to walk, to help get weight off, i am over weight. I am only 65 and got 6 grandkids and would love to see all of them graduate, gotten 3 thru but got 3 to go. Can you please help me on eating and things that taste good, {oh have arthritis real bad and poor circultion} i just can't seem to win for loosing. thanks for your time Ginny

By Virginia Henderson on April 07, 2013

I am 34 years old and have been chronically sick from birth. I've been in the hospital around 400-500 times. I was born with Sickle Cell Anemia, and I also have Asthma, Blood Clots, Osteoporosis, Osteopenia and now I have a tumor in my skull and I am starting radiation now. My mom has diabetes and high blood pressure, but she is so busy daily helping and taking care of me in so many ways I've lost count. The little things that most people think nothing of doing, I'm unable to do and she does them as well as the harder things for me. She is so busy helping & taking care of me that she has put herself and her health on the side and down the street. She helps keep me on track with all my medical appointments, runs my errands, cooks for me, etc.. She also drives me a hour each way every single week to U of M hospital, sometimes multiple times a week. I was in the hospital last time for almost a whole month, (I have been in there for 3 months at once). I was very, very sick in ICU, and in a coma for almost a week. She never left the hospital once for anything. I really have the best mom in the world! I am one of your biggest fans and watch your show everyday and have made a ton of your recipes. I love to cook when I can, and it serves as a huge distraction from the pain I deal with on a daily basis. One of my favorites, along with many others is your Lady and Sons Chicken. I made it last for my brother and his family when his son was threatened with cancer a week after I went home from the hospital. And they devoured it! My mom and I did make it to the Lady and Sons Restaurant in 2010, but sadly Paula, Jaime or Bobby were not there. That was a big disappointment, I was really hoping to meet one member of the Deen family. But we loved the food! My moms favorites were the hoecakes, which she fell in love with (mine was the fried chicken and oooey gooey butter cake). Due to my health issues, I am unable to work which means I'm on a very, very strict budget I don't think we will be able to get back to Savannah and your restaurant. It would mean so much to be able to say "thank you" to mom in a very special way like being able to come back to your town & restaurant. I would love to be able to meet you one day. I am very glad that you and your family have been able to take control of your health and loose the weight. It is inspirational to more than you know. My mom use to walk at the mall or the track daily, but my health has completely taken over not just my life, but my parents as well. Thank you for being so sweet, and entertaining and sharing your wonderful recipes and family with the world! I hope that one day I will really get to meet you! From one of your biggest fans, Kandace. kandic36@yahoo.com

By Kandace Cunningham on April 06, 2013

I am 34 yrs. old from St.Clair Shores, Michigan, and I have been chronically sick my entire life. I've been admitted to hospitals over 400-500 times. I have sickle cell anemia, which I was born with, asthma, blood clots, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and now a rare tumor on my skull and I am starting radiation now. My loving mom has diabetes and high blood pressure. She helps me daily by doing things most people don't even think about, that I can't cant do. She runs all my errands, takes me to U of M hospital, and hour drive from our house every single week, sometimes multiple times a week. She helps me so, so much that it leaves barely any time for herself to do what she needs to do for her. She has put her health on the side and mine first. A few months ago I was in the hospital and went into a coma for almost a week, and almost died. My mom never one left the hospital for almost a month, the entire time I was admitted. Now she will be driving me back and forth for 5 days straight for the radiation to my brain. I would love to do something special for her. We did make it to your Lady and Sons Restaurant in 2010, but unfortunately neither Paula, Bobby or Jaime were not there! I so disappointed and was really hoping to meet at least one member of your family. I am one of your biggest fans, I watch your show everyday and have made a ton of your recipes. I love to cook when I can and it serves as a huge distraction from the excruciating pain I deal with on a daily basis. One of my favorites were your Lady & Sons Chicken. I've made that and other of your great recipes multiple times, last time I made it when my nephew was threatened with cancer one week after I got out of the hospital for him and his parents & siblings. Because I can't work, due to my health issues I am on a very very tight budget and don't think I will be able to make it back to Savannah to your restaurant. So it would mean a lot to be able to come back with my mom, who fell on love with your hoecakes (for me it was the fried chicken)! I hope that maybe one day our paths will cross and I will get to meet you!!! Thank you for being so sweet and very entertaining and sharing your wonderful recipes with the world! From truly one of your biggest fans, Kandace. kandijewel@yahoo.com

By Anonymous on April 06, 2013

Dear Paula, Bobby and Jamie I have watched your show for years and have always wanted to meetall of you in person. I have been an insulin dependent diabetic sinc 1987 and have had fairly good control of my sugar but in the last few years (I am now 64 yrs old), my diabetes has taken over control of me! I still work 40 hrs a week and am so tired to take on the walking that i know i need to do. I am so inspired by the fact that you really "took the bull by the horns" and made such a wonderful transformation in not only your physical body but have been able to change your thinking and made it so positive. My daughter lives in Greenville SC and we have been trying to get down to the Lady and Sons but something always comes up. My granddaughters who i am always worried they may become diabetic, are 16 and 12 and have also watched your show alot. I have spoken to them about the way you have handled the problem with diabetes and they also are inspired by you. Keep up the good work for yourself and all your fans.

By Nancy Sowers on April 05, 2013

I struggle with Type-2 Diabetes. I have been dibetic since 1995. I now take insulin. I downloaded your "Delicious Living Y'all" . Oh, by the way, DH is now dibetic so the two us have to work at it. So glad you are doing well.

By Candy Dennison on April 04, 2013

loved your recipes on the DR OZ show .....tryed than loved than ...thank you i have type 2 diabetes

By marilyn crimeen on April 04, 2013

People complain about you making all the rich and fattening foods and then finding out you are diabetic. Have any of them seen other chefs who weigh over 200 pounds on the food network. Alot of chefs are big. So what!I am proud of you for letting us know and that you are doing something about it. You can be diabetic and be thin or less than a year old. I tell them to shut up and look at their own bodies. My daughter and I both have type 2 diabetes which we inherited from my side of the family. It isn't just because you eat good tasting food. I think you and your boys are terrific. Thankyou for being there.

By Sandi Flanders on April 03, 2013

I have tried several times to enter the diabetes contest it will not go through, van you tell me if my use try was recieved. I can't tell you how badly I want to win this! Thank you Carol Trytek

By Carol trytek on March 26, 2013

My type two diabetes, really sucks, i have no other way then to say it that way, I went from counting calories to rearranging my plate and portions, So now I am doing it differently again, I've lost nine pounds yet more inches then pounds, ya its a good thing, . This is in the family the doctors say, lol, I have always been active,sports, swimming, running, walking lifting weights, For many of years, even during the raising of my children, (4) Boys, after our youngest graduateded from high school and went off to basic, i joined his father in the truck driving business, Sorry i am a truck driver yet it wasn't my cup of tea, I was a grandma the year before truck driving, A preious little girl, any how, I returned to Oregon and i was a school bus driver, helped with the empty nest I was experancing, only about 7 days into driving a school bus i fell answering my cell phone thinking it was my husband coming home. I thought i dislocated it, so if i stand up it will pop back into place, not a chance, I broke my left ankle in three places, off to the hosiptal I went, in a wheel chair for ten months, none weight baring for serval more months, then only 25 pounds of weight, then full weight, yet type 2 diabetes came into my life, nasty little thing, since then i have been doing low impact exercise, limited, walking when the sun is out, and have odered and waiting on a tred climber to arrive. I still have three plates and ten screws in my left ankle waiting and praying the lord will grant me the words yes will take the hareware out. So I will join you and your boys on this jounery and pray one day will met. Bobby your awesome and I watch your show just don't like the reruns, sorry. Any how y'all My God continue to bless all of you, and many blessing, from OREGON, Marla Francis.

By Marla francis on March 24, 2013

I was diagnosed with late onset type 1 diabetes in November at the age of 38. Talk about abrubt life changes!! I find it difficult to cook for myself and my family. I am a southern girl and I enjoy my fried squash and breads of all kinds. Now, its all about moderation. Instead of having a pound of fried squash, I'll just have 5 or 6 pieces. With warmer weather comes more and more fruits and fresh veggies. I hope that I can continue to be my own advocate for this disease. I am the only one that can control it. Well, me and God. Best dishes to your and your beautiful family!

By Jennie Shelpman on March 23, 2013

Hi Paula, I too have been a fan of yours for a long while now. Love Love Love you and your family. I've been to Savannah three times to see you, have eaten at your place twice. Bought your products, and Bobby and Jamie even signed a bag that I bought at your place, cause you were out on a tour somewhere..I would love to come see you when you are there. Can't get to website to enter contest, you see I too am a diabetic. I have silver grey hair and everyone says I look just like you. Bubbly and all that. Please fix the site so I can enter please. Your fan Jayne

By Jayne Gehle on March 17, 2013

Being from Georgia, I am a die hard Paula Deen fan but I am saddened to see that Paula Deen and her boys are the faces of a contest that does not allow members of the military, weather it be active duty, their families or military retired who utilize Tricare/VA Benifits and/or other Goverment funded Healthcare programs for their Diabetes to enter the contest.

By Michelle on March 15, 2013

I have been trying to change my eating habits to healthy choices & trying to walk more.I would love to meet you & I was going to enter your contest but after reading the email from Sallie Crews I hope she wins it!! Oh! my daughter Kelly is going to be in Savannah Georgia tonight & made plans for your restaurant tonight. I hope she bumps into you!! She is very excited to visit there, on spring break with her friends. Love your show & you are looking marvelous! Janet Collins

By janet collins on March 13, 2013

Hope this message arrives to the right people. I was so happy to enter contest for diabetss, but then noted that medical professionals are not allowed. I am a Registered Nurse, presently working in a Neurosurgical private practice. I am a diabetic, in need of some help, to learn how to behavioral control this disease. My beautiful Mother, deceased, struggled /w diabetes for many years. The medical knowledge of today was not available to her then. Today myself, and a sister and brother are living /w diabetes. I find it very disappointing that I cannot enter the contest. I understand the conflict of interest for Novo Nordisk. If there could possible be a modification for my entry, I would be one happy diabetic for personal improvement, not for my profession. Does that make sense? I hope so. Thank you for considerations. Sincerely, Santina Ziccardi

By Santina Ziccardi on March 10, 2013

Just wanted to share a fantastic Cole Slaw Recipe that I have made up for my two diabetic daughters, who just loved cole slaw. I love it for helping with my weight, but it lets me splurge a little. Diabetic Spring Cole Slaw 2 Cup Light Miracle Whip 1/2 Cup Slenda 1/4 Cup Canola Oil 1/4 Cup Tarragon Vinegar 1/2 tsp. Onion Powder 1/2 tsp. Salt Mix all above in an empty mayo jar, and shake well keeps in refrigerator for a long time. This makes enough sauce for at least one head of cabbage. Just mix in enough sauce to coat coleslaw mix or thinly sliced or chopped green cabbage, very little red cabbage, little carrot and just a bit of green peppers. Hope you all Enjoy!

By Marilyn Gilmore on March 07, 2013

Paula I have type two diabetes and weight 253 pounds. I lost my best friend and (she was also my sister-n-law and we did a lot of things togeather. One of her aunts even commented once at the funeral home where Norma lay that almost our whole life where you see one, you always see the other, meaning norma and me. So I don"t walk or excerise in any way now, but I desperately need to. I also have high blood pressure as well as mytrovalve prolaspe. Please let me come see you as I think you are such a blessing to us and I haven"t even gotten to come there from jax, fla yet. I am 63 years old going on 64 june 30th of this year. Could we see your beautiful gransons also if we get to come and enter the contest. I had four sons and no grand children as of yet. I got them up grown with the Lord"s help as well as my husband"s help, (37yrs of it). Then I went on to become a nanny for a few professional"s little children, so now you see that I love children also. God bless you and your"s Paula, salliecrews@hotmail.com.

By sallie crews on March 07, 2013

I enjoy your website so much. I check it out for new recipes every day. I enjoy southern cooking so much. My daddy was born and raised in Macon Georgia. I love visiting there(it's been a long time). I would love to meet you and your family.

By Joann Ellis on March 05, 2013

Dear Beth, For any problems with the contest web site, please seek help through this contact page: http://www.novonordisk-us.com/documents/form_editor/document/ContactUs.asp. Paula Deen does not directly manage the web site, so you will have to contact Novo Nordisk Inc. Hopefully you can get this resolved and enter the contest! Thanks for visiting Pauladeen.com.

By Jocelyn Morera on March 04, 2013

Dear Paula's people, There seems to be a problem on the Diabetes in a nnew light website, to enter the contest. It refuses to let you enter. Is there another way to enter? I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, after a trip to the Hospital with Pneuomia. What an overwhelming amount of information you have to digest after this diagonsis. Where do I start? What's the best thing to do? I guess it's so scary because I lost a friend and neighbor last year to complications from diabetes, not before she had to have part of one leg removed and her other foot. You and your family seem to have taken it all in stride. You all have made some big changes and are looking terrific. You are an inspiration to all the rest of us, to deal with this huge problem. Thank you so much Beth

By Beth Alexander on March 03, 2013

Paula, Two years ago my doctor said I was pre-diabetic. I have worked so hard losing over 17 pounds. I watch what I eat and excerise 4 days a week. I am so proud of you losing weight and making changes in your life. I so much love watching your show with your son. Have a great day!

By Pam Underwood on March 03, 2013