Global recall of diabetes glucose sensors: French patients impacted
Up to three million distributed sensors provide dangerously low readings
Incorrect readings can prompt diabetes patients to skip insulin doses, leading to adverse side effects. Photo for illustrative purposes only
Kristina Kuptsevich/Shutterstock
A global recall of blood glucose sensors by an American pharmaceutical company includes those distributed in France, after seven deaths and hundreds of issues worldwide were linked to the products.
The recall affects “certain FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors,” said the company Abbott in a press release detailing the affected products.
The faulty sensors provide incorrect low readings of patient glucose levels, prompting potential overconsumption of carbohydrates or skipping necessary insulin doses.
As of November 24, Abbott had received reports of 736 cases of extreme adverse side effects and seven deaths potentially linked to the faulty sensors.
The company says the issue stems from one production line, and out of the three million potentially affected products, around half have expired or already been used.
Users of either model are recommended to head to the company’s website to check if their product is affected, with detailed instructions given on how to verify their device.
If impacted, users must contact the company and will receive a replacement free of charge.
If wearing a faulty sensor, users should immediately stop taking readings and alternatively “use a blood glucose meter or the built-in meter in the FreeStyle Libre 3 reader to make treatment decisions when sensor readings don’t match symptoms or expectations,” the company said in its press release.
Outside of France, the sensors are also distributed in the US, UK, Canada, and several other EU countries.
You can read the full press release here.
