Diabetics who rely on glucose monitors are alarmed by recall linked to 7 deaths
Abbott Glucose Monitor Recall Sparks Concern Among Diabetics After 7 Deaths
Michael Ford, a 68-year-old man with Type 2 diabetes, had a manageable condition—until a November morning in Oakland, California, when his son Davonte Ford, his full-time caregiver, received a low blood sugar alert from the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor. This device, part of Abbott’s advanced glucose monitoring system, was trusted by Michael to track his levels reliably. Davonte followed medical advice, administering fast-acting carbohydrates to stabilize his father’s condition. Little did he know, the reading displayed that day would prove to be a life-threatening error.
Eight days later, Abbott issued an urgent recall, citing 3 million FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors that could deliver false low readings. The company reported seven deaths and over 730 serious injuries globally, prompting concerns among patients. Davonte’s lawsuit, filed last month, described the number on his father’s device as “catastrophically inaccurate.”
The Fatal Misreading
Michael’s blood sugar level stubbornly hovered around 68 mg/dL, despite Davonte’s efforts to correct it. After giving him a cup of sweetened tea and a cookie, Michael’s speech slowed, and his eyelids drooped. Davonte, now panicking, called for an ambulance. When paramedics arrived, they revealed a shocking truth: Michael’s blood sugar was 551 mg/dL, nearly three times the expected range. “My heart just dropped,” Davonte said in a
statement to NBC News. “Obviously, there’s a problem here.”
The lawsuit claims Michael’s death in the hospital intensive care unit followed multiple cardiac arrests, all due to the monitor’s faulty readings. While his sensor came from a recalled batch, Abbott excluded its specific serial number from the recall, leaving Michael’s case unaccounted for. The company’s spokesperson, Lindsy Delco, stated that the issue stemmed from a production line error, which was swiftly resolved. However, she acknowledged that not all sensors in each batch were affected, and not every adverse event is tied to the recall.
A System Under Scrutiny
Continuous glucose monitors, introduced over two decades ago, revolutionized diabetes management by replacing frequent finger sticks with automatic readings from subcutaneous fluid. Yet, their reliance has now raised alarms. With an estimated 40.1 million Americans living with diabetes, uncontrolled levels can lead to severe complications, from blindness to organ damage. The Abbott recall highlights the vulnerability of patients dependent on such technology, as well as the psychological toll of trusting faulty devices.
At least three class action lawsuits have been filed in the U.S., alongside Davonte’s wrongful death claim. Other individuals in California, Washington, and North Carolina plan to sue, according to their attorneys. Patients and legal representatives question whether the recall adequately addressed all affected units, suspecting the true number of injuries may be higher than the 860 cited in Abbott’s latest report. The company has not yet responded to Davonte’s lawsuit in court.
