Diabetics should seek medical advice before taking products that lower blood sugar, the Department of Health says. The appeal comes after a 48-year-old woman was hospitalised after taking Chinese medicine Yixintangbao Jiangtangning Jiaonang bought on the Mainland recently. She has recovered and been discharged.

The product contains western drug ingredients rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, which are used for diabetes management. Side-effects include headache, dizziness and lower limb swelling. Products containing these drug ingredients can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and under the supervision of a pharmacist.

People who have been using the product should immediately stop taking it and seek medical attention. They should dispose of the product or submit to the department's Pharmaceutical Service, 3/F Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours.

The department has no record of this product having been imported into Hong Kong for sale, or having been submitted to the department for registration. It will inform authorities on the Mainland and in Macau about the case. Enquiries can be made at 2319 2839 during office hours.