FDA warning: massive recall of diabetes test strips

Diabetics who use glucose test strips might need to toss them in the trash.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just issued a warning about the massive recall of strips made by Nova Diabetes Care. Up to 62 million strips might have been compromised, the agency reports.

False readings

The strips have been found to show incorrect and abnormally high readings because of chemical contamination that occurred during the manufacturing process. The chemical interferes with the product's ability to provide an accurate reading.

The products being recalled are Nova Max Glucose Test Strips and Nova Max Plus glucose meter kits that contain test strips.

"This is especially worrisome for patients who use insulin, as they depend on their fasting blood sugars to determine the amount of insulin they require," said Dr. Alyson Myers, an endocrinologist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., on HealthDay News. "As a result, patients may over-correct their blood sugars, causing hypoglycemia [low blood sugar], which in severe cases can lead to loss of consciousness or permanent neurological damage."

What to do

Nova Diabetes Care claimed it has notified registered users, health care providers, distributors and pharmacies about the recall.

Patients who have been using the strips are advised to stop immediately and to contact Nova Care to determine if their strips are from the recalled lots. Visit the company's website or call 1-800-681-7390 for more information.

Patients should also be aware of the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and should contact a health care provider if acute symptoms are present, the FDA said.

Source: HealthNews Day