Grandpa,
I recently saw another one of those web sites hawking the benefits of certain herbs and plant-based products that are supposed to cure type two diabetes so the patient does not need to use insulin ever again. The web site is (withheld by Grandpa.) There is a list of (several) different flowers that this product has in it. I have never heard of most of these and can’t find info about the plants on the internet. The whole pitch is that we need to use more natural products to clean out our bodies so that the natural insulin we make can do its job. This time the commercial sounds very convincing and the statistics quoted are impressive. I think that with the power of the media behind you, you could find out more about the stuff and let me know if it is legit or not.
Grandpa says: Your letter puts Grandpa into a position that is touchy. Grandpa specifically refuses to endorse or thwart any specific product or merchant. On the other hand, Grandpa is pledged to expose scams of any nature where ever they may lurk. Therefore, when we read your letter, one member of my staff, my typist, left the room and said, “Let me check to see if ‘snake oil’ has any omega 3 in it….”. She has a wicked sense of humor. In the interim I did look up the web site you mentioned. I was not even impressed by the production value, much less the pitch. And at the end, when the pitchman finally got to the price, I see there is little difference between the price of the product pitched and the cost of insulin. We contacted several insurance companies to see if this product was on their formularies; the products for which the insurance will pay. Of five contacted, not one will cover even a portion of the cost. That does not in itself prove the product is a scam. Grandpa has this suggestion for you. Go back to the web site and write down the names of the ingredients as listed. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss this product. If, after you hear what the doctor tells you, you still want to try the product, do so only under close scrutiny by your physician. Keep a journal each day of your health statistics such as blood sugar levels, blood pressure, 02 levels in your blood, weight to the tenth of a pound, and your feelings. Do not discard your medications. Remember! Do not take on this project until your physician gives you the okay. And to her credit, my typist did find that the oil from some snakes does contain Omega 3. Live and learn.
Grandpa says: Mid-Summer scam alert! They are out there, hiding behind legitimate-sounding businesses, snooping into your home improvement projects, worming into your personal information, and boldly lying to you, all in an effort to profit from your hard work. Be wary, be wise, and don’t believe anything that you hear and only half of what you see. God bless.
Got something stuck in your craw? Ask Grandpa. Address your letters to Ask Grandpa c/o The Voice, PO Box 123,
Aurora, IL 60507 or send an E-mail to askgrandpa@thevoice.us.