Diabetics who rely on glucose monitors are alarmed by recall linked to 7 deaths
Diabetics who rely on glucose monitors are alarmed by recall linked to 7 deaths
A father’s fatal mistake traced to a faulty glucose monitor
Michael Ford, a 68-year-old man with Type 2 diabetes, relied on his son Davonte Ford for daily care. Davonte, 25, managed his father’s routine, including administering medication and responding to fluctuations in his blood sugar. On a November morning, they were alerted to a low glucose reading via the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor, part of Abbott’s advanced monitoring system. Davonte acted as instructed, giving Michael fast-acting carbohydrates to stabilize his levels.
Eight days later, Abbott issued a recall warning, citing 3 million sensors possibly generating false low readings. The company reported seven deaths and over 730 injuries globally. Davonte, unaware of the issue, continued trusting the device. The reading that morning—68 mg/dL—was described as “catastrophically inaccurate” in a lawsuit he filed. After two cups of coffee with added sugar failed to raise Michael’s levels, Davonte administered more sweetened tea and a cookie, hoping to correct the discrepancy.
Michael’s condition worsened: his speech slowed, and his eyelids grew heavy. Davonte called for emergency aid, only to discover the sensor had misread his blood sugar. Paramedics recorded a reading of 551 mg/dL, over three times the expected range. “My heart just dropped,” Davonte said, realizing the device had led him astray. By the next day, Michael was in a hospital ICU, where he died after multiple cardiac arrests.
“My heart just dropped. Obviously, there’s a problem here.”
Risks of tech dependence in diabetes management
Diabetes, a condition marked by insulin deficiency or resistance, demands constant monitoring. With 40.1 million Americans affected, the condition can lead to severe complications like blindness or organ damage if uncontrolled. The Abbott recall has intensified concerns about the growing reliance on digital tools for managing health, especially when malfunctions occur.
The incident sparked at least three class-action lawsuits in the U.S., including Davonte’s wrongful death claim. Others in California, Washington, and North Carolina plan to sue, citing injuries from faulty readings. Legal experts question whether the recall fully covers all affected devices, as the reported 860 injuries may be an underestimate. Michael’s death, though linked to the sensor, was excluded from Abbott’s tally due to a serial number discrepancy.
Abbott’s response to the recall
A spokesman for Abbott, Lindsy Delco, stated the company was “deeply saddened” by Michael’s passing and takes all adverse events seriously. She noted not all sensors in the recalled lots were defective, and some incidents might not be tied to the issue. The faulty readings, she explained, stemmed from a production line error, which was swiftly resolved. However, Abbott has not yet addressed Davonte’s lawsuit in court.
Dr. Amy Warriner, an endocrinologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, called continuous glucose monitors a “complete game changer” for patients. These devices, an alternative to traditional finger sticks, measure blood sugar levels in subcutaneous fluid automatically. Yet, their reliance has now become a source of anxiety, as flaws in the technology could lead to life-threatening errors.
