Diabetics Alarmed Over Deaths Linked to "Faulty" Glucose Monitors

Diabetes patients and their families are raising concerns—and in some cases filing lawsuits—after Abbott Diabetes Care recalled glucose monitors linked to seven deaths, Erin Keller reported for The Independent.

In December, Abbott recalled sensors used in its FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus systems, warning they could produce false low-glucose readings. (Photo: Abbott) 

In December, Abbott recalled sensors used in its FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus systems, warning they could produce false low-glucose readings. The company reported 736 adverse events tied to the issue, including 57 in the United States, along with seven deaths worldwide.

One person in the U.S. whose death has been linked to the equipment is Michael Ford of Oakland, California, who had Type 2 diabetes.

In November, the 68-year-old’s FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor issued a low-blood-sugar alert, prompting his son and caregiver, Davonte Ford, to respond.

Trusting the device and following its guidance, Davonte gave his father fast-acting carbohydrates to raise his blood sugar—unaware that just eight days later Abbott would issue an urgent warning that about three million sensors could produce inaccurate readings.

Michael Ford’s death is not included in Abbott’s official count of fatalities linked to the equipment, even though his sensor came from one of the recalled production lots.

Abbott did not list the specific serial number of his device in the recall, leaving families and legal experts concerned that some affected devices may have been overlooked.

According to a lawsuit Davonte Ford filed last month, the reading displayed on his father’s device that morning was “catastrophically inaccurate.”

The recall has triggered at least three proposed U.S. class-action lawsuits, including Ford’s wrongful-death case, with additional legal actions being prepared in California, Washington and North Carolina over harm from faulty readings.