FDA Issues Alert for Abbott Glucose Meters
FDA Issues Alert for Abbott Glucose Meters
Oct. 28, 2005 -- The FDA and Abbott Diabetes Care are alerting doctors and patients about a possible problem with bloodglucose meters made by Abbott Diabetes Care.
Abbott Diabetes Care, a branch of the company Abbott, isn't recalling the meters.
Patients may continue to safely use the meters, but they should check the unit-of-measurement display each time, says an Abbott news release.
If the meters are set to the wrong measurement unit, patients may misinterpret the meter's readings. That could lead them to mistreat their diabetes and possibly experience high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), a serious and potentially fatal condition.
The meters are sold under several names. In the U.S., Abbott's affected meters are:
The meters are mainly available from doctors and through retail or mail-order pharmacies.
Affected models sold outside the U.S. are:
Test strips aren't affected, says Abbott.
The meters are designed to report blood glucose levels in two different measurements:
"Users in the U.S. should make sure that their meter reading is displayed as mg/dL because an inaccurate reading can lead to taking the wrong dose of insulin or dietary changes, resulting in higher levels of sugar in the blood or hyperglycemia," says the FDA.
The meters can be accidentally switched from one measurement to the other, such as when someone is setting the meter's time and date.
"There also have been reports of the measurement being switched after a meter was dropped or after replacement of the battery. Abbott has not confirmed these additional causes of failure," says the FDA.
Unsure how to check the setting? Check the owner's manual, call Abbott Diabetes Care at (800) 553-4105, or check the company's web site.
If you think you may have been using the wrong read-out on your meter for a long time and are now worried about your health, contact your doctor, advises the FDA.
Abbott Diabetes Care, a branch of the company Abbott, isn't recalling the meters.
Patients may continue to safely use the meters, but they should check the unit-of-measurement display each time, says an Abbott news release.
If the meters are set to the wrong measurement unit, patients may misinterpret the meter's readings. That could lead them to mistreat their diabetes and possibly experience high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), a serious and potentially fatal condition.
Affected Products
The meters are sold under several names. In the U.S., Abbott's affected meters are:
- FreeStyle
- FreeStyle Flash
- FreeStyle Tracker
- Precision Xtra
- MediSense
- Sof-Tact
- Precision Sof-Tact
- MediSense
- Optium
- Private-label brands ReliOn Ultima, Rite Aid, and Kroger blood glucose meters
The meters are mainly available from doctors and through retail or mail-order pharmacies.
Affected models sold outside the U.S. are:
- Xceed
- Liberty
- Boots
- Xtra Classic
- Easy
- SofTrac
Test strips aren't affected, says Abbott.
Check the Display
The meters are designed to report blood glucose levels in two different measurements:
- The U.S. standard, milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL
- The foreign standard, millimoles per liter or mmol/L
"Users in the U.S. should make sure that their meter reading is displayed as mg/dL because an inaccurate reading can lead to taking the wrong dose of insulin or dietary changes, resulting in higher levels of sugar in the blood or hyperglycemia," says the FDA.
The meters can be accidentally switched from one measurement to the other, such as when someone is setting the meter's time and date.
"There also have been reports of the measurement being switched after a meter was dropped or after replacement of the battery. Abbott has not confirmed these additional causes of failure," says the FDA.
Need Help?
Unsure how to check the setting? Check the owner's manual, call Abbott Diabetes Care at (800) 553-4105, or check the company's web site.
If you think you may have been using the wrong read-out on your meter for a long time and are now worried about your health, contact your doctor, advises the FDA.
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