Diabetes Snake Oil: Avoiding the Scams

Diabetes Snake Oil: Avoiding the Scams (Tara Winstead/Pexels)

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that has the power to transform your entire life. Because of its gravity, there is a large motivation to deny a diagnosis and seek out unorthodox, alternative, and sometimes risky remedies to “cure” the condition. While diabetes is completely manageable, don’t fall for the scams that put your health at risk. Skin Grip is here to show you how we escape the scams and keep our diabetes in control.

Anyone offering a “cure” is suspicious.

There is no cure for diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes. While the condition can be managed, once it has developed, there is no current treatment that will magically regrow a person’s pancreas. Scammers who offer patches, potions, or diets that will “cure” your diabetes are putting your health at risk, especially if they encourage you to quit taking your medication or using insulin. Avoid a trip to the ER and stick with the treatment plan you develop with your healthcare providers.

Some diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes, may be able to control their blood glucose levels with diet and exercise. While this is a great goal for anyone willing to make lifestyle modifications, it is unfortunately not a “cure” as much as a treatment option. People with diagnosed diabetes will still need to follow up with their healthcare providers regularly to ensure the A1c remains at a healthy level.

Products that do too much probably don’t do anything.

Snake oil sellers love to promise the world and deliver nothing. You might see products that guarantee you will lose weight, cure diabetes, boost your energy, and reinvigorate your sex drive. These products are almost certainly nonsense. At most, they may give you an upset stomach. While gas station pills might seem like a viable option, especially when compared to the cost of insulin or other prescription drugs, these alternative remedies are not effective.

For best control of your diabetes, consult with doctors and nurses who specialize in diabetes treatment. If you dislike certain aspects of treatment, take those concerns with you to appointments and discuss alternative treatments with your healthcare providers. You are your best advocate at the doctor’s office and most doctor’s love to answer questions and concerns from their patients. Not only does it show that you care about your health, it gives them better information about what works and what doesn’t work in your treatment.

“Scientific breakthroughs” that you haven’t heard of might not be real.

Scammers know that people trust science and doctors and they aren’t afraid to use that trust against us. Some ads or product websites may claim that their product is made with a secret scientific breakthrough that the rest of the medical world hasn’t discovered yet. They may even have a “doctor” who vouches for its safety and effectiveness. Be sure to research these products or doctors before paying for what might be a scam. Is the science well-reported in newspapers and scientific journals? Is the doctor vouching for the product’s success a real medical doctor? Or are they a doctor of chiropractic, philosophy, or some other unrelated field.

If you are unsure, you can always take your research and concerns to your endocrinologist. Ask your doctor if the product you’re considering is effective or if their other patients have tried it. Some diets, herbal remedies, or other therapies may be completely supported by your doctor, especially if they help you feel better and don’t interfere with your blood glucose management. Your doctor may steer you away from other “remedies” that are unsafe and put your health at risk. Keeping honest dialogue open with nurses and doctors can help you make the best healthcare decisions for you and your family.

Get as much information as possible.

Skin Grip believes that the best way to gain power and control over your health is by getting as much information as you can. Knowledge is power, especially when considering how your body works. If we know that diabetes is an endocrine problem that affects our pancreas, we know that any remedy that doesn’t affect those systems in our body likely won’t be effective. Miracle berries from the steppes of Timbuktu might taste great, but will they cure the lack of insulin producing cells in our pancreas? If a salesperson says yes, ask them how. When the information isn’t forthcoming, that’s your cue to run.

At Skin Grip, we make our products as transparent as possible. That’s why we offer FAQs, free samples, and a running blog of educational topics for people with diabetes. We want to empower the entire diabetes community to manage their blood sugars without any fear. Our tape and adhesive patches for the Dexcom G series, Freestyle Libre, the Guardian, and other diabetic sensors are a great way to keep your CGM where it belongs and your information as up-to-date as possible.