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Miracle Cure for Diabetes?
A Message to Canadians from
Health Canada, the Competition Bureau,
the Public Health Agency of Canada and
the Canadian Diabetes Association
HC Pub.: 3326
Cat.: H16431/
2006EPDF
ISBN: 0662442075
2006
Help on accessing alternative formats,
such as PDF, MP3 and WAV files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.
(192 KB)
Can Diabetes be Cured?
No. Today, diabetes can be managed, but there is
no cure for diabetes yet. Any product that claims to be a
miracle cure for diabetes is a fraud that could cheat you of time,
money and most importantly, your health.
There are many scams designed to prey on consumers with
diabetes who are hoping to find solutions to living with this
chronic disease.
Until researchers find a cure, the only safe way to manage
diabetes is to follow the treatment program designed by your
health care practitioner.
Approximately two million Canadians have diabetes. Diabetes
occurs when the body can't produce or properly use insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that ensures your body gets the energy it
needs to work. Over time, diabetes can lead to complications
such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, limb amputations,
nerve damage and erectile dysfunction. The risk of longterm
complications can be reduced through effective health
care, education and selfmanagement.
There are three types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, usually
diagnosed in children and adolescents, occurs when the body
makes little or no insulin. Type 2 diabetes, the most common
form, occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough
insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin
produced. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adulthood,
although increasing numbers of children in highrisk
populations
(i.e. Aboriginal, Asian, Hispanic and
African) are being diagnosed.
The third type of diabetes, known as
gestational diabetes, is a temporary
condition that develops during pregnancy
but disappears after the baby is born.
Both mother and child have an increased
risk of developing type 2 diabetes later
in life.
Lifestyle changes can help prevent or
delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Healthy
eating, weight control and physical activity
are important prevention steps.
Type 1 diabetes is always treated with insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is managed through physical
activity and meal planning and may require
medications and/or insulin to help your body
make or use insulin more effectively.
What can I do about Diabetes Scams?
Be skeptical: if it looks too good to be true, it
probably is! There is no pill, herb or "all natural" health
product that will miraculously cure diabetes.
Here are some tips on spotting scams:
- Beware of ads that promise too much. Think twice before
buying a product that claims it can do it all - stabilize blood
sugar, end the need for insulin, regenerate the pancreas,
reduce cholesterol, and cause easy weight loss.
- Steer clear of a product that claims to be a "scientific
breakthrough". Researchers around the world are racing
to find better treatments for diabetes, so genuine scientific
discoveries make frontpage
news. If the first or only place
you learn about a new treatment is through an advertisement
on the Internet, be suspicious.
- Keep your guard up when ads mention scientific
evidence. Ads that are long on technical jargon may be short
on proof. The presence of a doctor in an ad is no guarantee
the product works. Scam artists have been known to dress
models to look like experts.
- Don't be swayed by a questionable "success story" or
so-called "patient testimonial". Despite what the company
claims, there's no guarantee that "John Doe of Hometown,
Canada" has achieved the advertised results - or is even a
real person.
- A money-back guarantee is no proof that a product
works. Scam artists who offer a guarantee have been known
to take the money and run.
Consult your health care practitioner before trying any new
treatment. A doctor, nurse, or health care professional who
knows your medical condition is your best source of information.
The Roles of Health Canada,
the Competition Bureau and the
Public Health Agency of Canada
Health Canada
Consumers should be aware that, before a health product can
be advertised or sold in Canada, the manufacturer must first
provide Health Canada with evidence that the product is safe
and of high quality. The product must also perform as claimed.
Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in
Canada will have either an eightdigit
Drug Identification Number
(DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic
Medicine Number (DINHM)
on the label. These numbers indicate
that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for
safety, effectiveness and quality.
Under the Food and Drugs Act, no person is permitted to
package, treat, process, sell or advertise any drug in a manner
that is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to create an
erroneous impression regarding its character, value, quantity,
composition, merit or safety.
Competition Bureau
The Competition Bureau is responsible for the administration and
enforcement of the Competition Act as well as three labelling
statutes that ensure Canadians are provided with accurate and
meaningful information to make informed purchasing decisions.
Under the Competition Act, all advertisers must ensure that
their claims are true and accurate prior to putting their products
on the market. In particular, performance claims made for the
promotion of a product must be true and must be based on
adequate and proper tests, such as those undertaken by an
accredited scientific facility or recognized expert.
Public Health Agency of Canada
The mission of the Public Health Agency of Canada is to promote
and protect the health of Canadians through leadership, partnership,
innovation and action in public health. The Agency focusses
on effective efforts to prevent chronic diseases, like diabetes,
cancer and heart disease, to prevent injuries and to respond to
public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks. The
Public Health Agency of Canada works closely with the provinces
and territories to keep Canadians healthy and help reduce
pressures on the health care system.
Questions & Additional Information
If you have questions or would like file a complaint relating to a
diabetes product or scam, contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
50 Victoria Street
Gatineau QC K1A 0C9
Toll-free: 1-800-348-5358
National Capital Region: 819-997-4282
TDD (for hearing impaired):
1-800-642-3844
Fax: 819-997-0324
Email: compbureau@cbbc.gc.ca
www.competitionbureau.gc.ca
Health Canada Inspectorate
Graham Spry Building 2003D
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Toll-free: 1-800-267-9675
National Capital Region: 613-946-5095
TTY: 1-800-267-1245
(hearing impaired)
Fax: 613-952-9805
Email:
dgoadgo_bdgbdga@hcsc.gc.ca
www.hc-sc.gc.ca
This information has been provided to you by Health Canada and the Competition Bureau in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Under the Trilateral Cooperation Charter, the Mexico, United States, Canada Health Fraud Working Group (MUCH), Health Canada and the Competition Bureau work to protect, promote and advance human health in North America. To find out more about this group, visit the following address:
www.trilateralcooperation.gc.ca
To obtain more information about diabetes, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's Web site at:
www.phacaspc.gc.ca/ccdpccpcmc/diabetesdiabete/english/whatis/index.html,
or
the Canadian Diabetes Association's Web site at: www.diabetes.ca |
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