Can I say it?

Can I say “reverse diabetes” in a telehealth ad?

Usually no. 12 rules fired across 3 sample sentences, and the checker's own text explains why.

The short answer

Usually no. The checker blocks the bare phrase in this setting. The first rule it hits is CG-DIS-004. Its reason: Claiming to reverse a disease or its damage is an efficacy and disease claim.

Source the rule cites: FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance; 21 CFR 101.93(g)

Checked as an ad promoting a clinical service. Context changes the result. The same samples hit these blocking rules: 6 in a drug or device ad, 7 in a supplement ad, 6 in a clinical service ad.

A clear result is not an all-clear. The checker flags wording for review and does not know your evidence, your state or your platform's review. Read the limitations.

Sample wording, run through the checker

These are sentences written to contain the phrase, not real claims. Each ran through the real engine and the shipped rule-set when this site was built.

Sample 1 · actual checker output10 rules fired

Reverse your diabetes with our GLP-1 program.

BlockingCG-DIS-004Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse your diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRE-001Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse your diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRA-001Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse your diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRI-001Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse your diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRK-004Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse your diabetes”
WarningCG-DIS-016Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse your diabetes with our GLP-1 program.”
WarningCG-PLT-001Platform policy. Matched: “your diabetes”
WarningCG-PLT-013Platform policy. Matched: “Reverse your diabetes”
WarningCG-PLT-034Platform policy. Matched: “GLP-1”
WarningCG-PLT-035Platform policy. Matched: “Reverse your diabetes”

Sample 2 · actual checker output9 rules fired

Reverse diabetes in 90 days.

BlockingCG-DIS-004Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRE-001Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRA-001Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRI-001Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRK-004Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse diabetes”
WarningCG-DIS-016Disease claims. Matched: “Reverse diabetes in 90 days.”
WarningCG-TRE-003Efficacy and proof. Matched: “Reverse diabetes in 90 days”
WarningCG-PLT-013Platform policy. Matched: “Reverse diabetes”
WarningCG-PLT-035Platform policy. Matched: “Reverse diabetes”

Sample 3 · actual checker output10 rules fired

Our coaching plan can reverse diabetes for good.

BlockingCG-DIS-004Disease claims. Matched: “reverse diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRE-001Disease claims. Matched: “reverse diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRA-001Disease claims. Matched: “reverse diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRG-003Disease claims. Matched: “reverse diabetes for good”
BlockingCG-TRI-001Disease claims. Matched: “reverse diabetes”
BlockingCG-TRK-004Disease claims. Matched: “reverse diabetes”
WarningCG-DIS-016Disease claims. Matched: “Our coaching plan can reverse diabetes for good.”
WarningCG-TRE-003Efficacy and proof. Matched: “reverse diabetes for good”
WarningCG-PLT-013Platform policy. Matched: “reverse diabetes”
WarningCG-PLT-035Platform policy. Matched: “reverse diabetes”

What to say instead

This version came back with no rule fired:

Our program offers coaching that works alongside your own care team. Book a visit to see what is included.

Actual checker output: no rule fired. It still has to be true for your business.

What the rules themselves suggest:

CG-DIS-004 Describe the lifestyle or care support offered without promising reversal.
CG-TRE-001 Remove any statement that the product treats, cures, prevents, reverses or protects against a named disease. Describe only what an approved label or competent scientific evidence supports.
CG-TRA-001 Remove the disease and cure claim. Describe what the service actually does, cite substantiation for any outcome, and never promise a condition will go away.

The rules behind this answer

Reason, source and citation for each rule that fired, in the checker's own words. Blocking rules come first.

CG-DIS-004 · Blocks approval · Citation checked against stored text
Claiming to reverse a disease or its damage is an efficacy and disease claim.
Source: FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance; 21 CFR 101.93(g)
Safer wording: Describe the lifestyle or care support offered without promising reversal.
21 CFR 101.93(g) · Needs counsel review
CG-TRE-001 · Blocks approval · Citation checked against stored text
Saying a product kills tumors, reverses dementia, replaces sunscreen, controls blood sugar, or treats autism or other named diseases is an unapproved disease claim that supplements, devices and clinics cannot make without FDA clearance and substantiation.
Source: FDCA section 201(g) and 201(h); DSHEA 21 USC 343(r)(6) and 21 CFR 101.93(g) (disease claims on supplements); FTC Act section 5; FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance
Safer wording: Remove any statement that the product treats, cures, prevents, reverses or protects against a named disease. Describe only what an approved label or competent scientific evidence supports.
21 CFR 101.93(g) · Needs counsel review
CG-TRA-001 · Blocks approval
Saying a product or service cures, reverses, clears or removes a named disease, or that a condition goes away or vanishes, is an unapproved drug and treatment claim that is not backed by evidence.
Source: FDCA 201(g)(1) and 201(h); FTC Act section 5, deceptive health claims; FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (2022)
Safer wording: Remove the disease and cure claim. Describe what the service actually does, cite substantiation for any outcome, and never promise a condition will go away.
See source text · Needs counsel review
CG-TRG-003 · Blocks approval
Claiming that a service or product heals, fixes or reverses a named disease, quickly or at the root, is an unapproved disease treatment claim.
Source: FDCA 201(g)(1); FTC Act section 5; FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance; FDA guidance on unapproved psychedelic and stem cell claims
Safer wording: Remove cure, fix and reversal language. Describe the service and who delivers it, and do not promise a condition will resolve.
See source text · Needs counsel review
CG-TRI-001 · Blocks approval
Saying a supplement, device or IV service kills, clears, reverses or cures a serious disease is an unapproved disease treatment claim.
Source: FDCA section 201(g) and 403(r)(6) (disease claims on dietary supplements); FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (2022); FTC Act section 5
Safer wording: Remove disease names paired with cure, clear, kill or reverse. Describe only lawful structure or function support and send people with a diagnosis to their clinician.
See source text · Needs counsel review
CG-TRK-004 · Blocks approval
Claiming a supplement, oil, drip or non-clinical service treats, reverses or regenerates serious disease is an unapproved drug claim.
Source: FDCA 21 USC 321(g)(1) and 352(f); FDA warning letters on unapproved disease claims; FTC Act section 5
Safer wording: Remove disease treatment or reversal claims. Describe general wellness support only, and refer serious conditions to a licensed clinician.
See source text · Needs counsel review

6 more rules fired on the samples. Open the checker to see all of them on your own copy.

Background: Disease claim in the glossary.

Questions

Which rule covers long-term condition turnaround wording?

Rule CG-DIS-004. It cites 21 CFR 101.93(g). The rule's reason: Claiming to reverse a disease or its damage is an efficacy and disease claim.

What should I write instead?

The rule's own suggestion for rule CG-DIS-004: Describe the lifestyle or care support offered without promising reversal.

Does the answer change for a drug, a supplement or a service?

Context changes the result. The same samples hit these blocking rules: 6 in a drug or device ad, 7 in a supplement ad, 6 in a clinical service ad. Pick the type that matches what you promote when you run the checker.

Next step

Check your own wording

Paste your copy into the free checker. Every flag names its rule and its source.

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