Among diabetes-related social media websites that allow industry advertising, 67% contained ads from diabetes device manufactures, half featured pharmaceutical manufacturer ads and 13% carried ads purchased by insurance companies, according to a study by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University and CVS Caremark.
The study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Researchers found that diabetes-related social media sites differ in oversight of content and in how they include participation from experts.
According to the sites reviewed, 13% had no clear monitoring of information that was posted.
The study also found that physicians were available to answer questions on 33% of the sites.
Results are based on a review of 15 websites that ranged in size from having 3,074 to more than 300,000 members.
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, "Variations in Structure and Content of Online Social Networks for Patients With Diabetes"