Diabetic patients warned against herbal medicine

Speaking to Khaleej Times yesterday, Dr Mohammed Abuelkhair, Head of Drugs and Medical Product at the Health Authority, Abu Dhabi (HAAD), said the Authority had been informed by a UAE national that a diabetes medication claimed to be made of natural herbal mixture was being sold at a shop.

“The man brought the mixture on December 6 to the Authority because he doubted the ingredients. Laboratory analysis showed that the mixture contained ingredients of such diabetes drugs as Metformin and Glibenclamide,” said Dr Abuelkhair.

Metformin is the most popular anti-diabetes drug and Glibenclamide is a medication which is used by patients with maturity onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes. Both medicines are sold at pharmacies as prescription drugs for diabetes.

“The man said he bought the mixture from a honey shop in Dubai and the seller claimed it was natural and made of a combination of herbs,” he said.

Dr Abuelkhair said HAAD will inform the Dubai Municipality authorities to investigate the matter and adopt immediate measures to protect public health. “People in Dubai and other emirates are warned not to buy any herbal products claimed to be 100 per cent natural and a cure for diabetes,” he warned.

Dr Abuelkhair also said HAAD had recently seized a harmful slimming capsule widely sold at malls and nutrition shops in the country.

“We have banned a slimming capsule known as ‘Zein Atat’ sold at malls and nutrition shops across the emirates. The capsule is promoted as herbal while it contains harmful chemical substances that might cause multiple health complications,” said Dr Abuelkhair.