Alternative Treatment 3

In general, be VERY skeptical of claims that herbal or alternative therapies can replace insulin treatment in cats or dogs. Please note that many of the charlatans and scammers discussed in this article had ads appearing on this wiki. See the phrases they use to try to hook you at Ad scams and Ad scams 2.

Some direct quotes from an abstract from Ohio State University about alternative treatments:

"Quackery is defined as "Promotion, for profit, of devices, services, plans or products that do not work, or which are untested." "Quackery can delay a person from seeking care for their pet’s problem, be dangerous itself, and delay legitimate research to find an effective cure." "Be wary of "experts" who say that: They or their products can produce miracles. Offer only testimonials to support their claims. (and only positive ones) They have something to sell you. (usually at a handsome profit)"

Some advice from the US Federal Trade Commission on how to spot false claims in health care products:

"When evaluating health-related claims, be skeptical. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Here are some signs of a fraudulent claim: "Statements that the product is a quick and effective cure-all or diagnostic tool for a wide variety of ailments. For example: "Extremely beneficial in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, infections, prostate problems, ulcers, cancer, heart trouble, hardening of the arteries and more." "Statements that suggest the product can treat or cure diseases. For example: "shrinks tumors" or "cures impotency." "Promotions that use words like "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "exclusive product," "secret ingredient" or "ancient remedy." For example: "A revolutionary innovation formulated by using proven principles of natural health-based medical science." "Text that uses impressive-sounding terms like these for a weight-loss product: "hunger stimulation point" and "thermogenesis." "Undocumented case histories or personal testimonials by consumers or doctors claiming amazing results. For example: "My husband has Alzheimer['s disease]. He began eating a teaspoonful of this product each day. And now in just 22 days he mowed the grass, cleaned out the garage, weeded the flower beds and we take our morning walk again." "Limited availability and advance payment requirements. For example: "Hurry. This offer will not last. Send us a check now to reserve your supply." "Promises of no-risk "money-back guarantees." For example: "If after 30 days you have not lost at least 4 pounds each week, your uncashed check will be returned to you.""

Another Case of Pets & People

This is another case where the human product is "transformed" into one for canine and feline diabetes--with a change of a label and small copy changes. As above, the same company is behind all three of these "treatments".

"Alternative Treatment #3" vs FDA Warning Letter-10/12/06

"Alternative Treatment #3"

• "Alternative Treatment" #3

This one was aimed at cats (now cats only) and dogs with diabetes. Here the "Clinical Trials" page was full of links, all of them sourced through the product website and all dealing with various possibilities for human, not feline or canine diabetes. There are many "studies" which purport to show why this product works, but not one of them deals directly with diabetes in cats and dogs--yet you are expected to believe what's said here and hurry to order. Note here that everyone's willing to tell you where to send your check if you choose not to use your credit card. So now we have a company name & address. Doing a Google Search on the company name and state it does business in turns up this most interesting reference from US-FDA:

FDA Warning Letter October 12, 2006 The same person's name shown on the FDA warning letter above is prominently displayed on "Alternative Treatment #3's" website: "Alternative Remedy #3--Same Person's Name as on FDA Warning Letter Note that this is for claims regarding products sold to humans, claiming to treat diabetes and neuropathy. Note that the name of the products FDA sent the person the warning letter regarding and the name of the product on "Alternative Treatment #3's" website are VERY similar. FDA includes a summary of the claims made on the website--sound familiar?

"Alternative Treatment #3
For Cats: "Studies show a 31.9% drop in blood sugar levels." "Lower Blood Glucose Levels" "Less Dependency on Medications" "Feline diabetes is a disease that if you don't take effective action against, it simply gets worse." "Unfortunately, medications only treat the symptoms and usually do nothing to address the underlying causes. The good news is that cutting-edge science and nutrition have come together to create a truly monumental and natural breakthrough for cats with diabetes!"
For Dogs: "Studies show a 31.9% drop in blood sugar levels." "Lower Blood Glucose Levels" "Less Dependency on Medications" "Canine diabetes is a disease that if you don't take effective action against, it gets worse." "Unfortunately, medications only treat the symptoms and usually do nothing to address the underlying causes. The good news is that cutting-edge science and nutrition have come together to create a truly monumental and natural breakthrough for dogs with diabetes."
For Dogs and Cats: "Studies show a 31.9% drop in blood sugar levels." "Lower Blood Glucose Levels" "Less Dependency on Medications" "Diabetes in your pet is a disease that if you don't take effective action against, it gets worse." "Unfortunately, medications only treat the symptoms and usually do nothing to address the underlying causes. The good news is that cutting-edge science and nutrition have come together to create a truly monumental and natural breakthrough for pets with diabetes."

FDA Warning Letter-October 12, 2006

"Studies show a 31.9% drop in blood sugar levels!" "Lower Blood Glucose Levels" "Less Dependency on Medications" "Diabetes is a disease that if you don't take effective action against, it simply gets worse." "Unfortunately, medications only treat the symptoms and usually do nothing to address the underlying causes. The good news is that cutting-edge science and nutrition have come together to create a truly monumental and natural breakthrough for diabetics."

As you can see, the website is hawking the same product for canine and feline diabetes as it was to people with diabetes in 2005, when a previous FDA Warning Letter was written.

• FDA Warning Letter October 12, 2006

"The therapeutic claims on your web site establish that the products are drugs because they are intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevension of disease. The marketing of these products violates the Act". (Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act)

So you see that according to US law, anything claiming to do these sorts of things, no matter what disease and what species, is considered a drug.

"Your website contains disease claims in the form of testimonials, including:"

"Many of the above claims that make your product a drug were brought to your attention in a letter dated September 27, 2005, from Susan Walker, former Director of the Division of Dietary Supplement Programs in FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, yet these claims still remain on your web site."

"In addition, the name of your product suggests that it is intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevension of diabetes, a disease."

"Furthermore, your products are not generally recognized as being safe and effective for the above referenced conditions and therefore, the products are also "new drugs" under section 201(p) of the Act (Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act-21 U. S. C. 321(p)). New drugs may not be legally marketed in the US without prior approval from FDA as described in section 505(a)of the Act (Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act-21 U. S. C. 355(a)). FDA approves a new drug on the basis of scientific data submitted by a drug sponsor to demonstrate that the drug is safe and effective."

All three of the "Alternative Treatment" websites linked here do the same.

The names of "Alternative Treatments" #1 & #3 linked here do the same; you see the admission at "Alternative Treatment" #2's website that their product name had to be changed because of FDA .

"Alternative Treatment #4" vs "Alternative Treatment #3" and FDA Warning Letter-10/12/06

"Alternative Treatment #4" This was aimed at canine and feline diabetes, from the same huckster who brought you "Alternative Treatment" #3and was the recipient of  FDA Warning Letter October 12, 2006 for the company's similar claims to people with diabetes.

Let's Compare "Alternative Treatment #4" with "Alternative Treatment #3" and the FDA Warning Letter from 2006:

Alternative Treatment #4"

"Studies show a 31.9% drop in blood sugar levels." "Reduce or Eliminate the Need for Injections or Drugs" (This shows you just how much the company knows about canine diabetes.) "Less Dependency on Medications" "Diabetes in your dog is a disease that if you don't take effective action against, it simply gets worse." "Unfortunately, medications only treat the symptoms and usually do nothing to address the underlying causes. The good news is that cutting-edge science and nutrition have come together to create a truly monumental and natural breakthrough for dogs with diabetes."

"Alternative Treatment #3
For Cats: "Studies show a 31.9% drop in blood sugar levels." "Lower Blood Glucose Levels" "Less Dependency on Medications" "Feline diabetes is a disease that if you don't take effective action against, it simply gets worse." "Unfortunately, medications only treat the symptoms and usually do nothing to address the underlying causes. The good news is that cutting-edge science and nutrition have come together to create a truly monumental and natural breakthrough for cats with diabetes!"
For Dogs: "Studies show a 31.9% drop in blood sugar levels." "Lower Blood Glucose Levels" "Less Dependency on Medications" "Canine diabetes is a disease that if you don't take effective action against, it gets worse." "Unfortunately, medications only treat the symptoms and usually do nothing to address the underlying causes. The good news is that cutting-edge science and nutrition have come together to create a truly monumental and natural breakthrough for dogs with diabetes."
For Dogs and Cats: "Studies show a 31.9% drop in blood sugar levels." "Lower Blood Glucose Levels" "Less Dependency on Medications" "Diabetes in your pet is a disease that if you don't take effective action against, it gets worse." "Unfortunately, medications only treat the symptoms and usually do nothing to address the underlying causes. The good news is that cutting-edge science and nutrition have come together to create a truly monumental and natural breakthrough for pets with diabetes."

FDA Warning Letter-October 12, 2006

"Studies show a 31.9% drop in blood sugar levels!" "Lower Blood Glucose Levels" "Less Dependency on Medications" "Diabetes is a disease that if you don't take effective action against, it simply gets worse." "Unfortunately, medications only treat the symptoms and usually do nothing to address the underlying causes. The good news is that cutting-edge science and nutrition have come together to create a truly monumental and natural breakthrough for diabetics."

"Clinical Trials" Page for "Alternative Treatment #4"

"Clinical Trials" Page for "Alternative Treatment #3"

The links on both pages are identical; the only difference is in their URLs, where one is geared to take advantage of those treating feline diabetes and the other is geared to take advantage of those treating canine diabetes. The product being sold here-

• for people FDA Warning Letter-October 12,2006

• for cats and dogs"Alternative Treatment #3" website

• and for dogs "Clinical Trials" Page for "Alternative Treatment #4" is the same as well--for all three.

As the FDA Warning Letter points out, the product was not proven to be safe and effective in treating diabetes--not in people--not in cats--and not in dogs.

As suggested, making a comparison of these two web links along with an open window with the FDA Warning Letter October 12, 2006 should convince you that something's not right about this product.