Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s real

Scroll through social media for five minutes and you’re almost guaranteed to see something like these:

“Take this plant extract — it reverses diabetes!”
“Doctors are no longer prescribing this medication.”
“Shrink your goiter with this ancient remedy.”

The ads look convincing. They use medical language, dramatic before-and-after photos, fabricated testimonials and sometimes even stolen images and videos of real physicians. But behind many of these claims is a troubling reality: misinformation that can delay treatment, worsen disease and place patients at real risk.

As physicians, we are seeing the consequences of these fake medical ads more frequently — and more painfully — in the clinic.

Patients come in with uncontrolled blood sugar after stopping their prescribed medications because an online supplement promised a “natural cure.” Others delay evaluation of a growing neck mass after being reassured by an herbal cream advertised to “dissolve goiters.” Some spend thousands of pesos on unregulated products with unknown ingredients, while their actual condition quietly progresses.

The internet has given the public access to a multitude of information, but it has also blurred the line between education and exploitation.

Why endocrine disorders are easy targets

Endocrine diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis and obesity are chronic, often lifelong conditions. They require ongoing management, lifestyle changes and regular follow-up. Understandably, patients may feel fatigued, frustrated, or overwhelmed — and that emotional vulnerability is precisely what makes them targets.

Fake ads are carefully designed to appeal to hope. They promise quick results, minimal effort and freedom from injections, pills, or monitoring. They often frame conventional treatment as harmful, unnecessary, or part of a conspiracy. Science is replaced by anecdotes. Regulation is replaced by marketing. What these ads never show are long-term outcomes, side effects, or what happens when the product doesn’t work.

‘But it’s all natural, unlike medicines’

Did you know that many legitimate medications originally came from natural sources? Metformin traces its roots to the French lilac. Insulin was first extracted from animal pancreases. Aspirin was derived from the bark of the willow tree. Even modern cancer and endocrine therapies have origins in plants, minerals and animals.

The critical difference is what happens next.

In real medicine, natural compounds undergo years — often decades — of rigorous study. Scientists isolate the active ingredient, determine the correct dose, test how it behaves in the body and evaluate its safety and effectiveness in thousands of patients. Harmful components are removed. Benefits and risks are documented. Results are independently reviewed and regulated. What patients receive is not “raw nature,” but refined, standardized and tested therapy.

In contrast, many products sold online skip this entire process. They rely on vague claims like “ancient,” “herbal” or “plant-based” without proof of dose, purity, or benefit. The label may say “natural,” but the contents — and consequences — are unknown.

Red flags every patient should recognize

There are common warning signs that a medical claim is not legitimate:

•Promises of a cure for chronic conditions like diabetes or thyroid disease

•Claims that doctors are hiding the truth or that a product works “better than medication”

•Testimonials instead of data

•No clear ingredient list, dosage, or regulatory approval

•Pressure tactics such as limited-time offers or huge discounts if you buy more 

•Real medicine does not rely on secrecy or urgency. It relies on evidence, transparency and accountability.

The real danger of ‘just trying it anyway’

“Natural” does not mean safe. Some supplements interfere with prescribed medications. Others contain steroids, thyroid hormones, or glucose-altering substances not listed on the label that can be harmful by being taken incorrectly. Some are simply ineffective, allowing disease to worsen unchecked.

In endocrinology, delayed treatment matters. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage. Untreated thyroid disease can affect the heart, bones, fertility and mental health. These are not theoretical risks — they are complications we see every day.

Shared responsibility

Misinformation thrives when trust in science erodes and when healthcare feels inaccessible or impersonal. Combating it requires not only regulation and digital accountability, but better communication between doctors and patients. Medical treatment should come from a doctor’s prescription, not an online purchase.

Before believing — or buying — any medical product online, ask: Is this site legitimate? Do the claims seem too good to be true? Would I be comfortable discussing this with my doctor?  

Because in a digital world where health claims travel faster than science and anyone can sell “health” on the internet, discernment is essential. When it comes to endocrine disease, and health in general, visibility does not equal validity. What appears online is not always medicine, and what sounds convincing is not always safe.