From Health 201FailSystems

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Incident

FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors report falsely low glucose

Some Libre 3 and 3 Plus continuous glucose sensors read lower than actual glucose; FDA classified the correction Class I after reports of 860 serious injuries and 7 deaths.

Sources checked when written 26 September 2026

TierThe automation stayed up and kept producing output that was wrong or went unchecked; there was no outage to fall back from. How tiers are assigned.

What happened

Abbott initiated a correction on 24 November 2025 after finding certain FreeStyle Libre 3 and 3 Plus sensors could give glucose readings lower than actual levels, which could lead users to take excess carbohydrate or skip or delay insulin. FDA classified it Class I. As of 7 January 2026, 860 serious injuries and 7 deaths had been reported. Users were told to check serial numbers, stop using affected sensors and use a blood glucose meter for treatment decisions until replacements arrived.[1,2]

Documented harm

860 serious injuries and 7 deaths reported as of 7 Jan 2026 (FDA).

What it teaches

Sources

  1. Glucose Monitor Sensor Recall: Abbott Diabetes Care Removes Certain FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus Sensors. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 5 February 2026. Primary Official report · link checked 2026-09-26
  2. Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2026: Executive Brief. ECRI, January 2026. Secondary Official report · link checked 2026-09-26

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