Diabetes Drug Tests POSITIVE for Cancer-Linked Chemical

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is at it again.

The agency that’s supposed to be looking out for OUR health appears to be more concerned with supporting BIG PHARMA’s interests instead.

A batch of a popular diabetes drug recently tested positive for a cancer-causing chemical. And I’ll give you one guess how the FDA responded…

If you predicted the agency looked the other way, you’re close.

But it’s WORSE.

The FDA simply INCREASED the amount of the potentially carcinogenic chemical allowed in the drugs instead.

Last year, Merck racked up $5.3 billion in sales for its popular diabetes drug Januvia. That’s more money than some small COUNTRIES make.

In other words, it’s a VERY profitable medication. And I suspect that may have played a big part in the FDA’s decision to move the goalposts allowing higher levels of a cancer-linked chemical in the drug.

Recent tests revealed the presence of Nitroso-STG-19, or NTTP, in a batch of Januvia (sitagliptin).

NTTP is part of a group of compounds called nitrosamines that have been repeatedly linked to cancer.

You may have even heard of them before. After all, these creepy chemicals have shown up in several drugs in recent years, causing a rash of recalls.

Nitrosamine contamination is becoming more frequent for one simple reason. Pharmaceutical companies now outsource much of their drug manufacturing overseas to save cash.

But the countries where the meds are made often don’t have drug manufacturing guidelines as strict as those in the USA. And this opens the window for cancer-causing chemicals to slip into the drugs…

The FDA’s standard acceptable daily intake level is 37 nanograms (ng) of nitrosamines.

But Big Pharma companies have grown weary of having to recall their drugs when they contribute to… or exceed… those levels. It cuts into their profits.

So, they’ve come up with a new strategy. They’re now pushing the narrative that nitrosamines are just “part of the natural world” and found in many foods we eat.

In other words, we shouldn’t worry about ingesting even more of them in medications.

Of course, the problem with this logic is that if you’re on several medications, the increase in nitrosamine exposure from your meds alone can be significant. For example, many older adults take seven to nine drugs a day, making them particularly vulnerable.

The best way to reduce your exposure to these toxic chemicals is to avoid taking the drugs in the first place. And that means committing to taking better care of your health.

You can start with these four steps…

  • eat a healthy low-carb diet packed with plenty of nutritious proteins
  • get enough good quality sleep
  • exercise regularly
  • use supplements to fill in any nutritional gaps

In many cases, these simple steps can even help REVERSE any illnesses you’re already battling, including blood-sugar issues.

As always, be sure you work with your doctor to make any adjustments to your medication routine. Stopping any drug suddenly could be dangerous.

P.S. Finding a natural solution that works as well as a diabetes drug isn’t that hard. Many prescription diabetes drugs don’t work as expected. Even worse, they can come with horrible side effects. But when the goal is to tame blood sugar, the natural route is often the best one anyway.

Source: “Story: FDA relaxes impurity limit on Merck’s Januvia after testing flags possible carcinogen” https://www.fiercepharma.com

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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