‘Divine words can defeat diabetes, says research’ – not exactly - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 3, 2021
A post is being widely shared on social media with the image of a news article claiming that divine words can defeat diabetes. The post even claims that Bhagavad Gita could be used to cope with illness, especially chronic diseases such as diabetes. Let us fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: ‘Divine words can defeat diabetes, says research’.
Fact: The supposed study cited in the claim is a review article and not a research paper. A research paper is based on original research done after collecting and analysing raw data which is different from a review article, which does not report original research but is based on other published material. However, the article cites verses from the Bhagavad Gita to show how one may cope with the stress of illness such as diabetes. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
A google search with relevant keywords directs one to a Times of India article published on 31 August 2018. The article makes this claim that it was according to a study published in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
The article refers to a supposed study titled, ‘Coping with illness: Insight from the Bhagavad Gita’ published in the year 2018 and can be seen on the website of Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. However, it is a review article, not a research paper.
A research paper is based on original research done after collecting and analysing raw data; the conclusions would be based on the analysis and interpretation of this data, which is different from a review article, which does not report original research but is based on other published material.
So, the study referred to in the Times of India article is not an experimental paper that describes empirical results from treating patients with diabetes. The article cites verses from the Bhagavad Gita to show how one may cope with the stress of illness such as diabetes. According to the article, ‘we may read the Bhagavad Gita to find out how Lord Krishna helps Arjuna cope with his stress. We can then utilize the same coping skills to cope with illness-associated stress such as diabetes distress.’
To sum it up, ‘Divine words can defeat diabetes, says research’ – not exactly.