These days, you can Google cure-all remedies for any condition. We’ve assembled a list of four treatments that supposedly cure or reverse diabetes, at least according to the internet.
(Many of these supposed cures don’t distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2.)
The Pop-up Ad
After clicking on a small, stock-photo-image that claims a single piece of foreign fruit will destroy diabetes, a new internet tab opens up, prompting a video with a voice-over that doesn’t talk about fruit.
The seller offers a no-risk money-back guarantee and a “limited-time offer” discount that never seems to expire. The particular ad I found talked about a “miracle milkshake” that cures diabetes. The product they’re actually selling is neither fruit nor milkshake, but actually a textbook with information and some recipes that could easily be found for free online.
Additionally, online reviews of the product include a poorly green-screened video review with a doctor superimposed in front of a weirdly-lit doctor’s office.
The Nutritionist
Mike Adams has his foot planted in several different hot-button health topics, including vaccine theories and cancer-fighting foods. His personal story makes the reader feel engaged, he’s done his research, and wants to share the science behind his argument. He promotes a natural way of curing diabetes (we assume Type 2) through a no-processed food diet and commitment to exercise.
Details are scarce for those browsing about this treatment. He likes to give you a common enemy (like pharmaceutical companies) as a reason to keep you in the dark about the particulars of this diabetes cure.
The Recovery Program
The Tree of Life, a rejuvenation center sitting on 180 acres of land in Arizona, hosts various transformative programs that all involve a component of spiritual connectedness. Their Diabetes Recovery Program, which costs a whopping $12,000 at full price, includes a 3-week intensive and a year’s worth of follow-up support.
Program leader and spiritual coach Dr. Gabriel Cousens, who has 35 years of experience dealing with diabetes, uses a holistic approach to treat patients. Similar to the nutritionist, there is a clear focus on dieting, and many testimonials praise the all-natural vegan diet for helping reverse diabetes.
According to the website, almost 30% of insulin-dependent individuals managed to reverse their diabetes, and all people diagnosed with pre-diabetes were healed. Dr. Cousens says that the program “works best for those who love themselves enough to want to heal themselves.”
The New Study
Studies are often published on novel diabetes treatments involving everything from cinnamon to probiotics with headlines that use the trigger word of “cure.” What people don’t realize is the amount of time, funding, and work it takes for science to progress. Also, scientists have gotten pretty good at curing diabetes in mice, but it has proven harder to cure in humans. Any novel treatment option may take years to progress through human trials, and many don’t make the cut.
We can neither confirm nor deny the validity of many internet “breakthrough” treatments; we can say we haven’t seen scientific evidence backing them. Until we hear from scientists that monkfruit actually cures diabetes, we’ll keep providing the best information available about how to keep your blood sugar levels in check with insulin therapy.
Have Type 2 diabetes or know someone who does? Try Type2Nation, our sister publication.
