Sherri Shepherd: Diabetes Saved My Life
Sherri Shepherd cites diabetes as the reason she has the life she had today, according to her new book "Plan D: How to Lose Weight and Beat Diabetes (Even If You Don't Have It)."
The co-host on "The View" revealed the factors that led to her now-healthy lifestyle in the new memoir.
Shepherd also credited her diabetes with saving her life while speaking to USA Today.
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"If I didn't have diabetes, I would probably be at the International House of Pancakes eating a rack of pancakes with butter and syrup," admitted the star.
Moreover, without the diagnosis, Shepherd said she would likely "be 250 pounds. I wouldn't be going to the doctor. I wouldn't be married to my husband (Lamar Sally). I wouldn't be healthy for my son."
However, the television personality admitted that at first, she ignored her predisposition toward developing diabetes.
"Mostly everyone in my family had diabetes," Shepherd said this week. "We called it 'the sugar,' we didn't call it diabetes."
The former "Dancing With The Stars" contestant continued to explain her misconception of the disease as being "kind of cute."
"If something was going wrong in your life, there was a peach cobbler to fix it," she said.
Nevertheless, when doctors diagnosed Shepherd with Type 2 diabetes in 2007, they added that she would not be around to raise her son if serious changes were not made.
"I was going through a nasty divorce at the time and I thought, 'I'll be damned if my husband's girlfriend is going to raise my son,'" recounted the 46-year-old.
The television personality promptly committed to a work out regime and incorporated more vegetables into her diet, resulting in the loss of almost 50 pounds.
Consequently, Shepherd imparted valuable advice.
"If you have diabetes, it's not a death sentence," said the TV host. "If you're prediabetic, don't sit back in the dark and try to ignore it. So many people are paralyzed with fear, but knowledge is power."
Similar to Shepherd, Food Network star Paula Deen has also spoken out about living with the disease.
The Southern food specialist has previously stated that her favorite foods include butter, salt, cream cheese, and all things fried- but lately, Deen has seen serious changes.
"It's all about moderation," Deen told Woman's Day magazine. "I just needed to learn to eat a normal portion size and not overindulge."
Deen's efforts have paid off, as the five-foot-six, 65-year-old chef has lost almost 40 pounds and has kept the weight off.
