The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning against the use of the glucose management product, Dr Ergin’s SugarMD Advanced Glucose Support.

The regulator asked consumers not to buy and to immediately stop using the product, promoted and sold for blood glucose management due to hidden drug ingredients.

Several SugarMD products are sold online on Amazon as supplements for those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. One of the supplements, GlucoDefense to maintain glucose metabolism is advertised to produce “truly remarkable [results] within just 6 weeks”.

In laboratory tests carried out by the FDA, active ingredients glyburide and metformin were confirmed to be present in the drug. Glyburide and metformin are in several FDA drugs used to treat type-2 diabetes that can only be obtained with a prescription.

Both of these ingredients can pose a serious risk to consumers. Glyburide can result in unsafe drops in blood sugar levels or hypoglycaemia, which can be life-threatening. Metformin can cause a build-up of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis), which can also cause death if left untreated.

The regulator asked consumers to carry out product disposals properly.

In a press statement, the FDA noted: “If consumers and their healthcare providers are unaware that glyburide or metformin are present in a product, they may end up taking a larger combined dose of the diabetic drugs than they intended, which can cause hypoglycemia or lactic acidosis.”

The agency has not yet received reports of adverse events linked to the products’ usage.

Recently, the FDA issued a warning against the use of 26 over-the-counter eye drop products due to the risk of infections that could lead to partial vision loss or even blindness.

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