Warning: Fake Videos Targeting People With Type 2 Diabetes

The New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
is warning people with type 2 diabetes to be cautious about
health advice on social media, especially videos that appear
to be from New Zealand doctors.

Some of these videos
are “deepfakes” — fake videos created with artificial
intelligence (AI) to make it look like a real doctor is
speaking, when they are not. The AI uses real video footage
to create a copy of someone’s face and
voice.

“Until recently, deepfakes mostly
targeted celebrities. But now, some fake videos are
pretending to be New Zealand doctors selling unproven and
potentially unsafe treatments,” says NZSSD President Dr Jo
McClintock.

Be careful with medical
advice on social media:

• Do not stop or change
  your medication based on social media advice — even if it
  looks like it is from a New Zealand doctor in a photo or
  video.
• Deepfake videos often make big claims, such
  as a new “ground-breaking” treatment that “works for
  everyone.” These are not trustworthy. Check with your
  doctor or healthcare provider before buying a diabetes or
  weight loss treatment online.
• Type 2 diabetes is
  different for each person. Treatment should always be
  personalised, taking into account other health conditions
  and medications.

“There is no single cure for
type 2 diabetes,” explains Dr McClintock. “Any changes
to your treatment should only be made with advice from your
healthcare team.”

Get reliable information from
trusted sources:

• Healthify
  NZ 
• Diabets
  NZ 

If you’re unsure about an ad
you’ve seen online, check with the trusted sources above.
If you are thinking about changing your medication, check
with your doctor or diabetes nurse first. If you have paid
for a product after seeing one of these ads, you can report
it to the NZ Police by calling 105 or
online.

© Scoop Media