Doctors took to Twitter to slam Patanjali Wellness' claim that use of ayurvedic products could cure Type 1 diabetes.
Representational picture of a child with Type 1 Diabetes taking his insulin shot. Doctors warn patients not to quit use of insulin. (WIkimedia Commons)
A recent newspaper ad by Patanjali Wellness made claims about curing several ailments using traditional medicine, including Type 1 diabetes — sparking a twitter storm by doctors, who debunked most of the claims.
The Patanjali Wellness ad promised the cures with an “integrated treatment”, using what is known as “basti therapy” — as well as a “balanced diet” including cucumber, bitter gourd, tomato, gooseberry, and aloe vera and giloy juices.
For endocrinologists, the red flag was the inclusion of Type 1 diabetes in the company’s claims about “curable” diseases.
Many took to Twitter to debunk the ad and advise those with Type 1 diabetes against stopping any prescribed intake of insulin or other medications.
Any such step could even prove to be fatal, the doctors warned, especially in children with Type 1 diabetes.
The answer is a definite and resounding NO, said Dr PV Rao, a renowned endocrinologist from Hyderabad.
He explained that Type 1 diabetes, which is mostly seen in children, was earlier called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes. And with good reason. Once diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, the person is dependent on insulin.
“At no cost should they stop the use of insulin. Any such move can even send the patient into a coma, and even prove fatal,” Dr Rao told South First.
There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes is a condition that occurs when one’s pancreas is unable to produce enough of the hormone insulin. This hormone helps glucose move from the blood into the cells to produce energy.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and people can be born with it. It can even be triggered by a virus or an injury to the pancreas.”
Most children are diagnosed with Type 1 between 4 and 14 years of age. Sometimes they even get diagnosed as an adult,” said Dr V Mohan, chairman of Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centre, said.
Dr Mohan was among the doctors, especially endocrinologists, who took to Twitter on Sunday, 4 December, with a photograph of the Patanajali Wellness newspaper ad which was published under the headline “Misconceptions Spread by Allopathy”.
In the ad, the company claimed: “Save yourself and the country from the misconceptions spread by pharma and medical industry. Let’s make India disease-free.”
The ad went on to say that the company’s products could cure “BP, Type 1 diabetes, thyroid, eye and ear diseases, liver diseases, skin diseases, arthritis, asthma, incurable disease”.
Dr Mohan was among those who reacted sharply to the ad, warning against believing it. His Tweet read:
Those with type 1 diabetes please do not be misled by such misleading advertisements. It is risky to your life if you stop Insulin. As of now there is no cure for type 1 diabetes. Insulin is life saving. Please continue it #type1diabetes #insulin @Rssdi_official pic.twitter.com/ULFKMs1rrA
— Dr.V.Mohan (@drmohanv) December 4, 2022
Another renowned endocrinologist, Dr Ambrish Mithal, chairman, Max Healthcare, also put up the same advertisement clipping and said:
Today’s newspaper-
Most statements in this ad are blatantly false. #misinformation
But some are downright dangerous
Curing type 1 #diabetes? Leaving insulin??
Request all type 1 DM NOT to give up #INSULIN
It can be fatal #DiabetesAwareness pic.twitter.com/mOhuENXUW1— Dr Ambrish Mithal (@DrAmbrishMithal) December 4, 2022
Replying to this tweet, Dr Babu KV, Kannur-based opthalmologist and health activist, said action should be taken against advertisements violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, or DMR(OA) 1954, as well as the Central Consumer Protection Authority guidelines of 9 June, 2022.
Advertisements violating DMR(OA) 1954 & guidelines of Central Consumer Protection Authority dated 9th June 2022 is prohibited in our country. Is this Ad carried by the #Tribune ?
My communication with its editor in chief pending with them. Any similar Ads in future actionable
— Dr Babu K V (@drbabukv) December 5, 2022
However, speaking to South First, Dr Latha N, an ayurvedic doctor from Bengaluru, said the she would never advice her patients to give insulin.
“We never ask our patients to stop use of insulin. Everyone knows that insulin is the only drug currently available for treatment of Type 1 diabetes,” she said.
“We can surely use amla (Indian gooseberry) and the other products mentioned to regulate diabetes. We can’t cure Type 1 diabetes through Ayurveda,” she agreed.
There were, however, those who wanted to know from the doctors Tweeting against the Patanjali Wellness ad how people survived before the invention of insulin.
Before Diabetes and Insulin were invented , how was this condition of the body managed in the past. Did everyone die or had perennial bad health assuming this condition would have come up. This question is scientific one and not in support or against any one way of treatment.
— Soumendu Mukherji (@SoumenduM) December 5, 2022
To this, Dr Mohan replied: “Yes. All children with Type 1 diabetes died within days, weeks or months till insulin was discovered in 1921. Please do read up before making such statements.”
Yes. All children with type 1 diabetes died within days, weeks or months till insulin was discovered in 1921. Please do read up before making such statements
— Dr.V.Mohan (@drmohanv) December 5, 2022
Dr Rao said several of his Type 1 diabetes patients stop taking insulins during yoga sessions, certain therapies, and during religious prayer days, etc. But they all come back very soon with blood sugar levels shooting up and some added complications.
“There are some centres that promise stem cell treatment which can regenerate pancreas, etc. Many people go for such things, too, and stop insulin. Within days, they start experiencing dryness of mouth and blood sugar levels shooting up. They may even go into coma,” he said.
“They go through the Hyperosmolarity phase where blood sugar shoots up to the 600-700 level, the blood becomes thick, the heart and lungs then stop functioning. It can be fatal,” Dr Rao added.
Children with Type 1 and even adults with this condition are usually insulin dependent for up to four times a day, said Dr Rao, who is also the president of the NGO Changing Diabetes In Children, started at the initiative of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
The NGO supplies free insulin injections to nearly 700 children free of cost every day.
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