Health & Medicine

FDA Issues Warning Letters Against 15 Companies Selling Illegal Diabetes Products

Benita Matilda
First Posted: Jul 24, 2013 09:43 AM EDT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking strict measures to stop illegal sales of products that claim to treat, cure and prevent diabetes.

Nearly 15 companies received warning letters from the agency regarding the sale of their illegally marketed diabetes products that violate the federal law. The agency drafted these letters to foreign as well as domestic companies that sell their products online as well as in retail stores.

The agency has demanded a written response from these companies within 15 business days indicating the course of action the company plans to take to rectify the violations. Legal action will be taken against those who fail to promptly rectify the violations.

Apart from taking strict action against these companies, the agency cautions people to avoid using these products or anything similar to these as they carry harmful ingredients that are unsafe.

"Diabetes is a serious chronic condition that should be properly managed using safe and effective FDA-approved treatments. Consumers who buy volatile 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," FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D, said in a press statement.

FDA reports state that nearly 26 million people in the U.S. suffer from diabetes.  If it is not managed appropriately then it can lead to greater health risks such as heart diseases, kidney problems, blindness and lower extremity amputations.

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