Glucose sensors are hijacked on social networks and presented as tools that help lose weight…
- On social networks, some influencers promote the use of glucose sensors to lose weight.
- These are medical devices for monitoring blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.
- A law, promulgated on June 9, plans to sanction influencers who do this type of advertising.
Installing glucose sensors to lose weight… A practice that has been in vogue for several months on social networks and strongly denounced by people with diabetes, who need this type of device.
Glucose sensors are medical devices for diabetics
On his Instagram account, @coco_and_podie denounces this practice in a video : “a disturbing “trend”, which we diabetics, disgusts us to the highest degree. It’s the surge of “wellness influencers” who ask themselves sensors without health problems. The “body positive” neurosis goes so far as to put on a device that thousands of patients would like to do without.”
In the National Assembly, this issue was also addressed: “the promotion of medical devices and drugs not reimbursed by Social Security, such as continuous glucose sensors, used for personal comfort purposes by certain influencers (fact) thus running the risk of a supply disruption, believed in session the parliamentarian Nathalie Bassire. Even though these products are essential to the health of people with diabetes.”
A law to limit this type of practice
The law which was promulgated on June 9 will perhaps curb this practice. It aims to regulate commercial influence and to fight against the excesses of influencers on social networks.
“The objective is to better fight against certain observed abuses and scams (incitement to dangerous diets, cosmetic surgery, excessive bets, promotion of counterfeits…)”can we read on the government website. In the event of non-compliance with the law, influencers will risk a prison sentence, fines (up to 300,000 euros in certain cases) and a ban on practicing.
In France, more than 3.5 million people are treated with medication for diabetes, i.e. 5.3% of the population, according to Public health France. Type 2 diabetes is due to improper use of insulin – a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels – by the body’s cells, according to health insurance.
On the other hand, type 1 diabetes is due to an absence of insulin secretion by the pancreas and is generally present from childhood or adolescence. But whether it is one or the other, this disease characterized by too high blood sugar levels, hyperglycemia. Blood glucose sensors therefore make it possible to monitor the level of sugar in the blood and to inject insulin accordingly… A medical device therefore, which is not intended to make its users lose weight.
