"Hey ya'll!"

That's the greeting Food Network chef Paula Deen uses to start off every episode of her show, "Paula's Home Cooking."

It's a generic southern hello, but there is really nothing generic about Paula Deen.

Lately the firestorm has been raging about Paula's decision to keep her diabetes quiet, even while she cooks up high-fat, high-sugar southern delicacies that no diabetic should regularly consume.

Deen received her type 2 (adult onset) diabetes diagnosis three years ago. Critics speculate she held off making the news public for fear it would wreck her food empire, which includes kitchen products as well as her television shows.

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But Paula may come out of this smelling as sweet as one of her signature desserts.

She has signed on to become the spokesperson for a Danish pharmaceutical company which makes Victozo, a diabetes medication. The company's public relations campaign, 'Diabetes in a new light" is kicking off to promote the drug along with eating lighter foods and an increase in physical activity.

It's the old, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" adage, only this one lives in the business world.

Deen will probably keep her Food Network shows, and now gets even more exposure as a diabetes drug company spokesperson.

Hmmm...

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In response to Deen's spokesperson announcement, Travel Channel host Anthony Bourdain, a New York-based chef who hosts "No Reservations," tweeted recently, "Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later."

A not-so-subtle analogy of Deen's trail of pedaling artery-clogging foods to the world and then flip-flopping when her mood (and the money) strikes her.

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Bourdain has also called her a "diabetic scam artist."

He has continuously blasted Deen for hawking unhealthy foods, and is her loudest critic now that she has accepted an offer to essentially profit off an illness that affects many who eat those types of foods.

Bourdain and Deen have been at each other for a number of years over Deen's endorsement of fatty foods. Anthony called her "the worst, most dangerous person in America" for her stance and show content.

The two have been at it ever since.

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Personally, I have nothing against Deen, as far as her food empire goes. Here's a single mom that worked her tushie off when she was young, running a restaurant to provide for her kids.

But once you're in the limelight, things come into focus pretty easily and you have the eyes of the world upon you - good and bad.

Her timing is not great, and many are left wondering if she would have ever announced her diabetes if the drug endorsement deal had never come to fruition.

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In reality, it's a sad commentary on the business of food, which is truly big business these days.

Maybe sometime down the road these two TV personalities will agree to a grudge match. The tall, spindly Bourdain vs. Deen, the feisty southern dynamo.

It'll probably involve a cook-off, but a toe-to-toe tussle would suit me more and I have faith it'd be pay-per-view worthy.

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I say let them each choose a kitchen utensil of their choice, and let's get it on!

Jerry Hitchcock, who really doesn't endorse violence, especially when it pertains to celebrity chefs, is a copy editor for The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2017, or via email at [email protected].