Ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee defended his role Sunday as a paid endorser of pills meant to cure diabetes, the effect of which medical professionals have called questionable at best.
The GOP presidential candidate has been accused of selling snake oil to diabetics with the “Diabetes Solution Kit,” which advocated using cinnamon and chromium picolinate to cure diabetes. Huckabee, who appeared in infomercials for the product, previously lost 100 pounds and reversed his Type 2 diabetes — though he never used the kit he was selling.
“I don’t have to defend everything I’ve ever done. I’m not doing those infomercials obviously now as a candidate. But if that’s the worst thing that somebody can say to me is that I advocated for people who have diabetes … then I’m going to be a heck of a good president,” Huckabee said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Analysts have questioned Huckabee’s involvement in the product, saying it was irresponsible to use his celebrity to promote something that had no proven health benefits. But Huckabee said it was a “misnomer” that he was selling pills, saying healthy eating and exercise were major points raised in the infomercials.
“One of the elements of the plan was dietary supplements, but it was not the fundamental thing,” Huckabee said.
