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.
In December, Abbott recalled certain sensors used in its FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus systems, warning they could produce falsely low glucose readings. The company reported 736 serious adverse events potentially 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 by their family is Michael Ford of Oakland, California, who had Type 2 diabetes. On a November morning, the 68-year-old’s FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor reportedly issued a low-blood-sugar alert, prompting his son and full-time caregiver, Davonte Ford, to respond.
Trusting the device and following medical guidance, he told NBC News, Davonte Ford 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 3 million sensors could produce inaccurate readings. Michael Ford’s death is not included in Abbott’s official count of deaths potentially linked to the equipment, although 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 the recall may have overlooked affected devices.
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 led to at least three proposed U.S. class-action lawsuits, including Ford’s wrongful death case, with three others in California, Washington, and North Carolina planning legal action over harm from faulty readings, according to the outlet.
Abbott recalled some FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors in December for false low readings, citing 736 serious adverse events and seven deaths worldwide (Getty Images)
As the sensor continued to show dangerously low numbers, Ford repeatedly gave his father sugary drinks and snacks. A cup of coffee with sugar barely changed the reading, which hovered around 68 milligrams per deciliter – below the typical healthy range of about 70 to 180. Confused, he said he tried again with sweetened tea and a cookie.
Instead of improving, Michael Ford’s condition worsened. His speech slowed and his eyelids grew heavy, prompting his son to call an ambulance. When paramedics arrived and checked Michael Ford’s blood sugar with their own equipment, the reading shocked him: 551 milligrams per deciliter – more than triple what it should have been.
“I felt like I was at fault,” Davonte Ford told NBC News. “Everything was always well – until it wasn’t.”
The lawsuit filed by Ford last month alleges that the reading on his father’s device that morning was “catastrophically inaccurate,” and that the true blood sugar levels were only discovered too late. Michael Ford died the next day in a hospital intensive care unit following multiple cardiac arrests.
Patients and attorneys have questioned whether Abbott’s recall of its FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors was broad enough and whether the actual number of injuries could exceed the incidents the company reported.
Continuous glucose monitors, introduced over 20 years ago, revolutionized diabetes care, providing an easier alternative to frequent finger-stick tests, according to Dr. Amy Warriner, an endocrinologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, NBC News reported.
The devices use tiny sensors under the skin to continuously track blood sugar levels. Abbott’s sensors, roughly the size of two stacked pennies, typically cost up to $20 per month with insurance coverage and offer around-the-clock data that doctors consider reliable.
The death of Michael Ford, a California man, isn’t counted in Abbott’s recall because his sensor’s serial number wasn’t listed, raising concerns the recall missed affected devices (BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
There have been previous recalls involving continuous glucose monitors. In 2024, Abbott recalled several Libre 3 sensor lots for falsely high readings. Dexcom, another major manufacturer, recalled hundreds of thousands of monitor receivers in 2016 and again in 2025 due to audio issues that could cause missed alerts, though the company says these problems have since been resolved.
For patients, discovering flaws in devices they rely on can be frightening. Angela Ivery, 71, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, said she repeatedly went to the emergency room after her Libre 3 sensor falsely indicated low blood sugar, only to find her levels were normal with a traditional finger-stick test, all before receiving a recall notice.
The experience left her with lasting anxiety, including nightmares. She now relies on traditional finger-stick tests to monitor her blood sugar.
“I don’t go out and mingle like I used to,” she told NBC News. “I’m paranoid when I get out. I think my sugar is dropping.”
Abbott has not yet provided an official response in court to the lawsuit filed by Davonte.
Abbott spokesperson Lindsy Delco told NBC News that it is “deeply saddened” by Michael Ford’s death, and that it takes all reports of adverse events seriously, ensuring each is properly documented and investigated. Delco said that the recent problem did not affect every sensor in the affected lots, and that not all reported adverse events are linked to the recall. She advised anyone experiencing issues with their devices to contact Abbott’s customer service for assistance.
Delco added that the incorrect readings prompting the recall were caused by a production line issue, which the company has since corrected, the outlet reports.
The Independent has contacted Abbott for comment.
