The FDA this week warned consumers about a slew of companies making unverified and potentially dangerous claims about products marketed to patients with diabetes.
No less than 15 companies were accused of making unapproved claims and the FDA is "taking action to remove from the market illegal products," according to the notice.
The suspect products include so-called "natural" treatments for diabetes that contain undeclared pharmaceuticals, "dietary supplements" that claim to help fight diabetes, unapproved drugs and homeopathics and prescriptions drugs offered without prescription, the FDA said.
"Diabetes is a serious chronic condition that should be properly managed using safe and effective FDA-approved treatments," FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg said in prepared remarks. "Consumers who buy violative products that claim to be treatments are not only putting themselves at risk but also may not be seeking necessary medical attention, which could affect their diabetes management."
The drugs in questions claim to prevent and treat diabetes, some going so far as to say they "can replace medicine in the treatment of diabetes," the federal watchdog agency noted.