No evidence effervescent tablet can cure diabetes, health experts say

The claim was posted on Facebook on June 26, 2023.

The accompanying video, which has garnered more than 920,000 views, shows a man taking a dissolved effervescent tablet and claiming it can cure diabetes symptoms within 40 days.

The post's Burmese-language caption reads in part: "Good news for diabetes patients. Within 10 days, there is no more frequent urination at night. In 20 days, your foot will no longer feel pain and your eyesight will be clearer. In 30 days, there will be no headache and chest pain.

"In 40 days, blood sugar level in your body will be balanced. You don’t need to go to the hospital. It's a cost-effective at-home treatment method. And there is no side effect."

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A screenshot of the false Facebook post taken on July 11, 2023.

Diabetes is a chronic illness where a patient has elevated levels of blood sugar -- also known as blood glucose (archived link). It is categorised into type 1, which usually develops in children, teens and young adults, and type 2 diabetes, which is usually seen in adults over 45 (archived links here and here).

Similar videos promoting the product have racked up more than 1.2 million views in total after they were shared here and here on Facebook, while a webpage here advertising the product claims it is registered with the Food and Drug Administration.

But health experts said the claim is false.

No evidence

Jenna Sherman, program manager for Meedan's Digital Health Lab -- an organisation that tackles health misinformation -- told AFP there was no scientific evidence to support the claim that "Satochi plus" effervescent tablets, or any other supplements, could cure diabetes or other health conditions (archived link).

"There is some evidence that some supplements can benefit overall health or well-being with little to no risk; however, research is typically lacking and no supplements work as a cure for any condition. As a result, any claims that a substance can cure a disease are not based in science," Sherman told AFP on July 7, 2023.

She added there was no record of the tablets being approved by any Food and Drug Administration in Myanmar, the United States, Philippines or India -- all countries where the claims have circulated.

Sherman said there was no known cure for type 2 diabetes and treatment primarily involves lifestyle changes.

Despite promising research, there is currently no effective cure for type 1 diabetes, as explained here and here (archived links here and here).

Insulin treatments are typically needed by type 1 diabetes patients upon diagnosis, she said. While people with type 2 diabetes can manage the condition for up to 10 years via diet, exercise and blood glucose controlling medications, most will eventually still need insulin.

"It makes sense that people would turn to alternative potential treatments for type 2 diabetes given how complex and debilitating the condition can be, but evidence for any cures does not exist yet," she said.

Subsequently, people or companies advertising Satochi plus or similar medications were "likely trying to make a profit".

Dr. Thurein Hlaing Win, the country manager of healthcare website Hello Sayarwon in Myanmar, echoed Meedan's comments and said even in "Western medicine" diabetes was treated through behavioural changes in addition to medication (archived links here and here).

"Although some traditional medicines claim to cure diabetes, none have been proven effective thus far," the doctor told AFP on July 5, 2023.

"Given this, there is no credible evidence to support the claims about these medicines. Therefore, I believe they are deceptive."

AFP has previously debunked other false claims about purported supplements that can cure diabetes here and here.