FACT CHECK: Diabetes ‘cure’ ad uses stock photo, name of dead doctor

Claim: Japanese doctor Shigeaki Hinohara endorses Golden Insu, which claims to be the “number 1 diabetic product in Japan.”

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the Facebook video bearing the claim has over 1.5 million views and 6,200 reactions.

What the video shows: At the 2:08 mark, the video shows an advertisement with images of the product, a male doctor, and text that identifies him as “DOC Hinohara Shigeaki.”

The bottom line: It’s impossible for Hinohara to endorse Golden Insu because he died in 2017. The video uses a stock photo that it claims to be Hinohara.

Died in 2017: Hinohara was a famous physician known as Japan’s longevity expert. According to reports from Reuters, The New York Times, The Japan Times, and CNBC, Hinohara died from respiratory failure on July 18, 2017, at the age of 105.

Before his death, Hinohara was the honorary head of St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo and was known for continuing his practice as a doctor even after turning 100.

The Reuters report said Hinohara, an advocate of healthy living, contributed to making Japan a leader in longevity by introducing the so-called “human dry-dock system” – a comprehensive set of annual physical exams as part of Japan’s preventive medical system.

Golden Insu used stock photos: The alleged photo of Hinohara in Golden Insu’s Facebook post is not a legitimate photo of the centenarian doctor, but a picture from the stock image platform LovePik.

The photo is titled: “Image Of Elderly Doctors Wearing White Coats Photo Picture.” Photos of the same model in other poses can also be seen on the website. 

Unregistered: As of writing, Golden Insu is not on the Philippine Food and Drug Administration list of registered food and drug products.

Previous false claims: While there is no reported cure for diabetes, posts promoting supposed diabetes treatments continue to circulate, often using the names or photos of renowned physicians without their permission. Rappler has fact-checked similar claims:

• FACT CHECK: Glufarelin not endorsed by PGH, US doctor as diabetes cure
• (May 12, 2023)
• FACT CHECK: Quote cards about diabetes used to promote Glufarelin fabricated (April 6, 2023)
• FACT CHECK: CNN’s Dr. Gomez ‘does not promote any medication’ for diabetes (April 6, 2023)
• FACT CHECK: NIH, Leachon do not endorse Glufarelin as diabetes cure (March 27, 2023)
• FALSE: Glufarelin milk treats diabetes by completely controlling blood sugar levels (July 13, 2022)

– Lorenz Pasion/Rappler.com

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