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FDA Warns of Faulty Results with Blood Sugar Tests

By: Food and Drug Administration
Updated: Mon 10:42 PM, Aug 17, 2009

The Food and Drug Administration is warning diabetes patients that certain blood sugar tests can give inaccurate results in patients taking other medications.

Public health regulators told consumers not to use certain glucose testing strips from Roche, Abbott Laboratories and other companies in combination with dialysis and other biologic drugs.

According to FDA, those formulations can falsely elevate blood sugar level results, raising the risk of insulin overdose.

People with the disease often have to inject insulin, which helps break down carbohydrates, because their bodies have become resistant to the protein.

Brands affected by the action include Roche's Accu-Chek Comfort Curve strips and Abbott's Freestyle test strips.

Reporting adverse reactions:
Consumers may report adverse reactions related to glucose meters or glucose test strips to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program online, by phone, FAX or mail.

Online: MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program
Phone: 1-800-332-1088
FAX: 1-800-FDA-0178
Mail: use postage-paid FDA form 3500 mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787


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