Beware Fake Diabetes Cures

Filed in archive News on September 28, 2006

Some people will stop at nothing to make a buck. Recent warnings were issued in response to websites selling so-called 'cures' for diabetes.

...regulators on Thursday warned about a number of U.S. and foreign-owned Web sites aiming to sell or advertise dietary supplements which they claimed cure, treat or prevent diabetes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission both said they sent warning letters to dozens of companies in addition to contacting government agencies in Mexico and Canada.

The two agencies said they discovered the sites through an "Internet sweep" for fraudulent sites and products.

Diabetes, a condition in which patients can have too-high blood sugar levels, affects nearly 21 million Americans and can be treated with diet, exercise, insulin shots and other medications. There is no cure.

"The Internet can be a great source of information, but it also is a billboard for ads that promise miracle cures for diabetes and other serious diseases," Lydia Parnes, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. "Our advice to consumers: 'Be smart, be skeptical' when evaluating health claims online."