FACT CHECK: Fake supplement claims total cure to diabetes
Claim: Defunct health program Salamat Dok promoted a food supplement that can cure diabetes completely.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The claim came from a video ad in Facebook posted by “Healthy Solutions” which has already accumulated 1,800 reactions, 461 comments, and 549,000 views, as of writing.
It shows Alvin Elchico of the now defunct ABS-CBN medical program, Salamat Dok, with endocrinologist Dr. Roberto Mirasol. Their voices were altered to make it appear that they are talking about a product known as “Diabeticure” that can allegedly cure diabetes completely and help lower blood sugar levels.
The facts: The original video is from the October 21, 2018 episode of Salamat Dok, which shows program hosts Alvin Elchico and Bernadette Sembrano talking about diabetes. They were joined by Roberto Mirasol who answered questions about the disease and how to properly regulate one’s blood sugar level.
Nowhere does the program mention Diabeticure. Mirasol and Elchico also never publicly endorsed the product anywhere in their social media platforms or on television.
Not FDA registered. The product being promoted is not in the database of the Food and Drug Administration upon a search on its online verification portal. The FDA also published an article in 2023 warning consumers of fake diabetes treatment supplements and medicines.
The bottom side of the video indicates: “FDA Advisory No. 0052-A Series of 2024.” However, the FDA advisory identified in the video is of an unregistered brand of sweet chili sauce.
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No proven diabetes cure. Along with the edited video ad, Mirasol is heard saying that Diabeticure has been scientifically tested and screened by experts to completely cure diabetes.
This is false as currently, there is still no cure for diabetes. While there are effective treatments to manage the condition, a complete cure remains to be an ongoing area of medical research.
In addition to medication, which can include insulin or oral drugs, managing diabetes often requires a healthy lifestyle such as eating healthy, managing body weight, and staying active. Experts also remind patients to always consult their doctors before taking any supplements to curb the effects of diabetes.
Rappler has already fact-checked false claims about false diabetes treatments and cures:
- FACT CHECK: Ad for diabetes ‘cure’ uses fake PGH Facebook page, FDA website
- FACT CHECK: There is no discovered cure for diabetes
- FACT CHECK: ‘Diabetes cure’ ad uses unrelated photo of World War II survivor
- FACT CHECK: Diabetes ‘cure’ ad uses stock photo, name of dead doctor
– Jerry Yubal Jr./Rappler.com
Jerry Yubal Jr. is a graduate of Aries Rufo Journalism fellow of Rappler for 2023-2024. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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